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AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES

NEWSLETTER

Bourbon County Cooperative Extension Service

Bourbon County

Extension Service

603 Millersburg Road

Paris, KY 40361

Office: (859) 987-1895 Toll Free: 1-888-317-2555

Fax: (859) 987-3210

February

2018

Save the Date! Feb. 5th Pesticide Applicators Certification 10:00 AM

Feb. 10th KY Small Ruminant Grazing Conference; Madisonville, KY

Feb. 12th Dicamba Training; Mason County Extension Office 6:00-8:00 PM

Feb. 13th BQA & Cattle Handling & Care 6:00 PM

Feb 14-17th National Farm Machinery Show; Louisville, KY

Feb. 19th Sheep & Goat Workshop; Clark Co. Extension Office 6:30 PM

Feb. 20th Regional Tobacco Meeting; Sharpsburg, KY 6:00-8:00 PM

Feb. 22nd KY Alfalfa & Stored Forage Conference; Cave City, KY

Feb. 23-24th Eastern KY Farmer Conference; Hindman, KY

Mar. 2-3rd KY Beef Expo; Louisville, KY

Ray Tackett

Agent for Horticulture

Kay Denniston

Agent for Family & Consumer

Sciences

Lois Carter

Agent for 4H Youth

Development

Soil Testing Now is the time to start thinking about soil testing!

Soil test bags and soil probes are available through the Bourbon County

Extension Office.

*Notice*

Due to soil probes not being returned, the Bourbon County Extension Office

will now be requiring a $40.00 deposit when checking out soil probes. If soil

probes are not returned within two weeks from the check out date, your

deposit will not be returned.

Onl ine Farm Resources : Tobacco Farmer Newsletter: http://modtob.blogspot.com/

Forage News Available Online: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/

UK Grain Crops Update: http://graincrops.blogspot.com/

Bluegrass Equine Digest Online: http://equine.ca.uky.edu/bed

Bourbon County UK Agriculture Extension Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/BourbonANR

University of Kentucky Ag Programs: http://www.ca.uky.edu/anr/

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CATTLE HANDLING AND CARE & BQA

Bourbon County Extension Office

Cattle Handling and Care & BQA has been scheduled for:

Tuesday, February 13th

at 6:00 PM

This session will count as the educational requirement for the CAIP program and

will also allow you to update your BQA certification.

Cost is $5.00 per producer and must be paid for producers to receive certification

through the Kentucky Cattleman’s Association.

BQA Certification is required to participate in the Large Animal (Cattle)

Investment Area of the CAIP program and to sell cattle through the CPH 45

program.

Please call 859-987-1895 to register

COST SHARE PROGRAM UPDATE

The Cost Share application deadline has now passed for the 2017 application period. Phase I Cost Share

applications have been scored and letters have been mailed. Projects completed after May 1st 2017 will qualify if you

are approved for funding. Updates will appear in this portion of the newsletter as well as the newspapers. Please keep

the following important information in mind as you begin cost share projects. Changes may have occurred since you last

applied and received funds. If you have questions about projects, it is always best to ask!

Reminders for turning in completed projects:

NO CASH PURCHASES

No reimbursements for purchases from or payments to immediate family members

No purchase of transport equipment (trailers, wagons, carts)

No purchase of fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide, and soil amendments. Lime is covered.

Reimbursements for rental of spray equipment, safety switches & rollover bars have been added.

Certification for Educational Requirement (Purple Form) is required. You must attend at least one educational

session and provide the signed form for reimbursement. *If you go to another county extension office to complete

your educational portion of your CAIP application, you must get that agent’s signature.

Only one individual per household is eligible to receive CAIP funds within a program year. If applicable, proof of

residency may be requested to verify that multiple individuals within the same household are not applying.

Tenant farmers are required to obtain written permission from the landowner to use the landowner’s FSN on a CAIP

application.

For funding, a producer must submit all paperwork: Producer Report, Educational Certification, cancelled checks,

receipts, pictures and any additional documentation required

Beef Quality Assurance Certification (BQA) is required for ANY purchases made in the Large Animal category.

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Remember Safety with Standby Generators on the Farm Sources: Doug Overhults, UK extension professor in

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering; National Fire

Protection Association, American Red Cross, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention

Standby generators provide emergency

electrical power during disruptions caused by

winter storms and other disasters. However, you

need to take some special precautions to ensure

safe, efficient operation of these generators.

Purchase a generator that will supply more

than what you need, so you don’t blow a fuse or

damage the equipment you plan to attach to the

generator. You’ll find power information on the

labels of appliances, lighting and other equipment.

The wattage on a light bulb indicates the amount

of power it needs.

The main hazards of using a generator are

carbon monoxide poisoning, electric shock and

fire. There are some precautions you can take to

make sure you don’t have a mishap.

Use a double-throw type transfer switch if

you’re connecting a standby generator directly to

an existing electrical wiring system to provide

power for a home, farm or small business. A

double-throw switch allows you to place the

switch into two different positions.

One position feeds normal power from the

utility line to the load, such as the household or

building circuit, just like the power flows under

normal circumstances. In the other position, it

disconnects the utility line and feeds power from

the standby generator to the household or building

circuit.

Remember, anytime a standby generator is

wired or directly connected into a household or

building wiring system, a transfer switch must be

used for the connection.

A double-throw type transfer switch is

required by the National Electric Code and by

electric utility companies for two very good

reasons. First, it prevents power backflow from the

standby generator through the utility power line.

This prevents possible electrocution of utility

linemen working to restore service to the power

lines. Second, it prevents damage to the standby

generator when electrical service is restored;

otherwise, the generator could be damaged

extensively when power is re-established.

You won’t need to use a double-throw type

transfer switch if you’re plugging individual

appliances like a refrigerator, freezer, sump pump

or power tools directly into a small portable

generator.

These are some more safety considerations to

remember when using standby generators:

Ground the generator using No. 6 copper wire

and an 8-foot ground rod that is properly bonded to

the electrical grounding system.

To avoid the possibility of carbon monoxide

poisoning, never operate a standby generator in a

basement or other enclosed area or near windows

or doors that may lead into living spaces. Use

battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors, and if

you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak while using a

generator, get fresh air right away.

Use extreme caution when operating the

generator in wet conditions.

Use only approved containers to store fuel.

Never refill fuel when the generator is running or

while the engine is hot; always allow ample time

for it to cool down first.

Do not shut off the generator under load.

For more information on transfer switches and

other necessary measures for safe installation and

use of standby generators, contact your local

electric utility company or a qualified electrician.

The Bourbon County Cooperative Extension

Service also has information on safety practices

around the home, farm and business.

Educational programs of the Kentucky

Cooperative Extension Service serve all people

regardless of economic or social status and will not

discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic

origin, national origin, creed, religion, political

belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,

gender expression, pregnancy, marital status,

genetic information, age, veteran status, or

physical or mental disability.

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Mid-South Stocker Conference March 7th 2018 9:00AM

Logan County Extension Office; Russellville, KY

Sessions will include topics such as: mineral supplementation, alternative forage options for stockers and confinement cattle housing conditions, accessing international markets, managing health disorders in feeder calves and virtual tours of Kentucky and Tennessee stocker operations. There will also be a trade show during the lunch hour.

To register: https://ag.tennessee.edu/midsouthstockerconference Photo: Aimee Nielson, Ag Communications Specialist

2018 KY Department of Agriculture

Public Pest and Recycling Assistance Programs

The Public Pest and Recycling Assistance Branch is here to help the citizens of Kentucky with environmental concerns by providing pro-active, voluntary programs, with no financial or regulatory

cost to the participants.

Mosquito Control Program

Nuisance Weed Spraying Program

Black Fly Spraying Program

Bird Control Program

Agriculture Chemical Collections Program

Rinse and Return Recycling Program

Best Management Practices (BMPs)

For more information please contact the Bourbon County Extension Office or follow the link below for forms and additional information

http://www.kyagr.com/consumer/pest-and-recycling.html

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Extended Cold Spells Pose Risks to Livestock BY AIMEE NIELSON. UK AGRICULTURE COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Kentuckians already are deep in the throes of winter with a

long stretch of below-freezing temperatures and bitter wind

chills. Lingering periods of extreme cold put livestock at risk.

“Normal temperatures this time of year are supposed to be in

the low-to-mid 40s, with lows dipping into the 20s,” said

Matthew Dixon, meteorologist for the University of

Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

“Statewide temperatures from Dec. 27 through Jan. 2

averaged 18 degrees below normal, with sub-zero

temperatures widespread on the morning of Jan. 2. The last

time Kentucky had widespread sub-zero temperatures was in

late winter of 2015.”

As arctic air builds, livestock become vulnerable to

deteriorating outside conditions. Dixon said that over the next

week and possibly into early February, the livestock cold

stress index will hover in the danger and emergency

categories for much of Kentucky.

“We want to remind livestock producers to take proper

precautions to keep their animals safe during periods of cold

stress,” said Jeff Lehmkuhler, UK livestock specialist. “Don’t

forget tokeep yourself warm while caring for your animals

avoid getting frostbite, especially when working on waterers

to keep the water flowing.”

Livestock producers should make sure animals have adequate

shelter, water, dry bedding and feed to make it through this

cold spell. Pet owners should bring pets indoors. UK

livestock specialists said animals have a higher requirement

for energy in the colder months, so producers should have

high-quality forages and grains on hand to meet their needs.

“There’s always a risk for animals falling through the ice, as

they search for water sources and end up walking out onto

ice-covered ponds,” Lehmkuhler added.

The average horse, with a lower activity level, should eat

between 1.5 and 2 percent of its body weight in feed per day

to maintain its weight. UK equine specialist Bob Coleman

said feed requirement goes up in the winter, as the horse uses

more calories to keep warm. He recommended providing

extra hay and adding grain to the diet if forage supplies are

not adequate. For mature horses at maintenance, a good

quality legume-grass mixed hay should be adequate, while

young, growing horses or broodmares in late gestation

require a concentrate in their diets to meet the increased

calorie needs due to the colder temperatures.

Those adding concentrate for the first time need to make the

additions gradually to prevent digestive upsets. In addition,

horses need shelter to provide protection from the wind and

precipitation. It’s also important for horses to have access to

clean water to ensure they will eat adequate amounts of feed

and to reduce the risk of impaction. All horse owners need to

take extra time observing horses during cold snaps. Some

horses will need extra attention.

Ambient temperatures can impact the amount of dry matter

cattle eat, providing an opportunity to compensate for

increased maintenance energy needs. Producers either need

to increase their

animals’ feed intake

or increase the

energy density of the

diet by feeding

higher quality hay or

adding more grain or

fat to the grain mix,

Lehmkuhler said.

He recommended

that producers

continue to monitor

cows during the winter and make sure to maintain the

animals’ body condition.

“Poor quality hay may not provide adequate energy to

maintain gestating cows that are entering the third trimester,”

he said. “Consider having your hay tested to determine if you

need to supplement during times of possible cold stress,

especially for the enduring cold spells.”

He said to consider separating younger and thinner cows that

may not have the same internal insulation as conditioned

older cows and supplement them accordingly or offer them

higher quality forage if available. Coleman said equine

owners can employ similar strategies and separate animals

according to body condition score.

“Producers should move cows to fields with natural

windbreaks or provide man-made windbreaks, which are not

the same as a barn,” Lehmkuhler suggested. “Poorly

managed barns combined with poor ventilation may actually

hamper efforts to improve the environmental conditions.

Remember, energy, or calories, are what animals really need.

If the protein level in the forage is adequate, do not make

supplement decisions based on protein level; rather purchase

the most affordable calories.

The lower critical temperature (LCT) value for cattle is the

lowest temperature or wind chill at which cattle require no

additional energy to maintain core body temperature.

“As the temperature declines below this lower critical value,

the maintenance energy value for the animal is increased to

maintain core body temperature,” he said. “Animals maintain

core body temperature by increasing their metabolism

resulting in greater heat production, as well as other heat

conservation strategies such as reducing blood flow to the

extremities, shivering and increased intake.” Lehmkuhler

said several things can influence lower critical temperature

value.

“Both external and internal insulation influences the LCT.

External insulation is basically the depth and thickness of the

hair coat, condition of the hair coat and thickness of the

hide,” he said. “Thin-hided breeds such as dairy cattle tend to

have a lower insulating factor than most beef breeds. The

condition of the hair coat is extremely important as an

external insulation barrier.”

PHOTO: Aimee Nielson, UK Agricultural

Communications Specialist

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The hair coat acts as insulation similar to home attic

insulation that traps air, enhancing the insulating value. If the

hair is wet and full of mud, air is excluded, reducing the

insulating value and increasing heat loss from the skin to the

environment. The density of the hair coat and if it is wet or

dry impacts the wind chill temperatures at which cold stress

is considered mild, moderate or severe. As little as 0.1 inch of

rain can immediately impact cold stress severity by matting

the hair down reducing its insulating ability. Acclimation

time, hide thickness, fat cover and other factors will also

influence the degree of cold stress that animals experience.

Extreme cold can have other detrimental impacts on

livestock. Frostbite on the scrotum of bulls can lower fertility

for a couple months. Lehmkuhler recommended that all bulls

have a breeding soundness exam conducted by a veterinarian

prior to the breeding season, especially after a severely cold

winter. Those calving during winter months should be

prepared to warm calves if needed. Advanced planning to

warm calves born in winter months can increase newborn

survival.

Another cold front will cross the region Jan. 3, bringing

another shot of arctic air to the Lower Ohio Valley.

“Lows will once again dip into the single digits to lower teens

over the next few nights along with wind chills dropping

below zero at times,” Lehmkuhler said. “Warmer

temperatures finally make a return late in the weekend and

into early next workweek. For much of Kentucky, Jan. 8

could actually be the first time we see above normal

temperatures since Dec. 23.”

Long-range outlooks farther into next week and into mid-

January point toward near- to below-normal temperatures for

Kentucky.

For more information about agricultural weather visit the UK

Ag Weather Center at http://weather.uky.edu/.

R e g i o n a l t o b a c c o m e e t i n g

February 20th

6:00-8:00 PM

Sharpsburg Community Center

7781 W Tunnel Hill Rd, Sharpsburg, KY

*Program* 6:00 GAP Training with Dr. Bob Pearce

7:00 Dinner

7:00 Disease with Dr. Kenneth Seebold

7:30 Market Update with Dr. William Snell

*This training is required for anyone that plans to sell tobacco in 2018*

Sponsored by the Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association and Storm Insurance

Dicamba Training

Mason County Extension Office

6:00-8:00 PM

800 U.S. 68 Maysville, KY

RSVP to 606-564-6808

This training is ONLY for those producers

who plan to use Engenis (BASF),

Xtendimax (Monsanto), and FeXapan

(DuPont).

These are now classified as “restricted

use” pesticides.

For additional training locations &

information, contact the Bourbon County

Extension Office at 859-987-1895 or visit

https://weedscience.ca.uky.edu/content/

mandatory-training-dicamba-products

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Public Not i f icat ion of Procedure for Fi l ing a Complaint :

The Cooperative Extension Service prohibi ts discr iminat ion in i ts programs and employment on

the basis of race, color , age, rel igion, gender , disabi l i ty, or nat ional or igin.

To init ia te a complaint a t the college level , contact Tim West in the Business Off ice at 859 -257-

3879. At the Universi ty level , Terry Allen and Pat ty Bender in the UK Off ice of Inst i tutional

Equi ty and Equal Opportuni ty

(859 -257-8927) may be contacted. Addi t ional ly, employee or cl ientele complaints involving any

research or extension sponsored program or act ivi ty may be directed to the USDA, Director

Off ice of Civi l Rights ,

Room 326 -W Whitten Bldg. , 14th & Independence Ave. SW,

Washington DC 20250 -9410 (202 -720 -5964) .

For More Plate It Up Recipes, Visit: http://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/content/plate-it-

kentucky-proud

Reduce Stress with Good Record Keeping Sources: Steve Isaacs, Extension Agricultural Economist

Record keeping may not be every farmer’s favorite

activity, and probably not the reason someone chooses

farming as a career. With time, patience and a commitment

to get it done, it can make your financial life a lot less

stressful.

Record keeping doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s a way

to keep track of things about your operation that will help

you make better long-term decisions. You can use a ledger

book or a computer—whatever helps you maintain

consistency. Software programs can make your data more

meaningful.

Software has become more user-friendly over time,

and while it may not make the record keeping process fun,

it could help you see the overall picture of your operation.

Some programs track purchases and how you use each item

on a particular enterprise or field. You’ll be able to keep

track of repair and maintenance records for specific farm

equipment and produce balance sheets, income statements

and cash flow budgets.

For many livestock operations, a good time to start

keeping records is when the veterinarian comes to check

your animals. Vets usually charge per head, so that data can

help you develop a list of animals that need attention. You

can use the same data to develop health histories of your

animals, which will lead to more informed exams and

diagnosis in the future.

Make record keeping a team effort for your family. Sit

down and work on the records and budget together.

Perhaps one person can read the information while another

person types it into the software program or writes it in the

ledger book. Also, if you do a little bit each day and don’t

save it all up for the end of the year, you won’t become

overwhelmed.

If you’ve done the work throughout the year, year-end

procedures can feel more satisfying. You can generate year

-end reports with a few simple clicks and not have to sort

through stacks of bills lying around the home or office.

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture,

Food and Environment’s Department of Agricultural

Economics has several tools online that could help with

budgeting and decision making. Visit http://www.uky.edu/

Ag/AgEcon/extbudgets.php to see what is available.

For more information about record keeping and a

variety of other farm management topics, contact the

Bourbon County Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative

Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic

or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of

race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion,

political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,

gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic

information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental

disability.