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Chinese Delegates visit Kentucky Farms

The Shelbyville Kentucky newspaper, The Sentinel-News reported today that Chinese delegates visited some local Kentucky farms during a recent visit.  These delegates are representatives of poultry farms in China, and came to Kentucky to exchange ideas on methods and productivity.

They spent some time with Jack & Gwyn Trumbo on their farm studying lots of things, including soybean production.  [Jack is the chairperson for the Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board.]

The big item that got their attention seemed to be the farm equipment as most of the farms in China have rather rudimentary means of growing and cultivating their crops compared to most United States and Kentucky farms.

Other topics of discussion including growing of tobacco.

Its always good to…

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Farms desire a distinction of Hemp from Marijuana

There is a growing movement among farms and farmers across the country.  The desire of a distinction between Hemp and Marijuana is growing.

Hemp, which lacks the potent hallucinogenic effects of its relative marijuana, can be used for many products including fabric for clothing, to automobile door panels, to even floor carpet backing.  Currently, it takes a federal approval for a farm to grow hemp.  Advocates for a distinction between the two claim that you can smoke a length of hemp as long as a telephone pole - and not get high from its use  (though a strong headache is far more likely).

The law as it is currently slated on the books, however is much more stringent.  It treats all forms of Cannabis sativa L. as being the same.

The active…

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Abundance of Draft Horses

The Lexington Kentucky newspaper, The Lexington Herald had an article today about the abundance of Draft horses and a resulting plummet in their prices to a 20 year low - with colts bringing as little as $250 at a recent sale in Topeka Indiana.

Other motivating factors include since there was a ban put in place in America on the slaughter of horses as well as a surge in high prices have coupled together to bring down their novelty to being a burden of cost for their owners. The drought in Kentucky and other states has caused a steep increase in the cost of hay, with many places costing in the $200 per ton range (which is up approximately 40% from their $140 per ton price range a year ago). Kentucky is still for the most part in the $165 per ton range for…

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2007 Shelby County Kentucky Farm City Banquet

      The Shelbyville Kentucky newspaper, The Sentinel-News announced the Shelby County Kentucky Farm City Banquet is going to be held on Tuesday November 20 2007 in Floral Hall at the Shelby County Fairgrounds, and will begin at 6:30 pm.

This banquet is long standing tradition for the past 50 years, and is held each week during Thanksgiving to honor the farms and their positive impact on businesses in Shelby County.  It is organized by the Shelbyville Kiwanis Club.

The 2006 Farm-City Banquet Farmer of the Year was Edward “Hoppy” Bennet, owner of Undulata Farms here in Shelbyville Kentucky.  His horse farm is home to many of the communities more talented (and expensive) horses, and has been one of the examples of a successfully run horse farm can truly…

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Farms Bill is put on hold

The Louisville KY newspaper, The Courier-Journal highlighted an interesting article today about the proposed farms bill that has been proposed and is under debate from top government lawmakers and politicians.

The most recent farm bill expired on September 30 2007, and farms have been operating under it on a temporary extension.

This new farm bill would broaden crop & dairy programs and subsidizing that includes features like nutrition programs.

A Republican filibuster on the bill by attaching unrelated amendments, and a threaten of a vote from President Bush - has stalled efforts to get the new farms bill passed, so it currently has been put on hold.

When the vote came, it failed to pass by 5 votes with voting coming in at 55 to 42.  So instead of…

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2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Ticket Sales

The first phase of ticket sales for the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington Kentucky ended on November 15 2007.

The first phase was opened up early to members of the United States Equestrian Federation. The sales were a big hit with one exception: North Dakota. 49 states including the District of Columbia, US Virgin Islands, Bermuda, and Canada all had members reserving tickets for the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games - but no one in North Dakota had made reservations.

Part of the reasoning may be attributed to the fact that North Dakota ranks 48th in the US for population with a little over 640,000 persons.

As of November 9, a total of 8911 reservations had been made totaling $2.4 million in deposits that…

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Regulations on Horse Sales Proposed

The Lexington Kentucky newspaper, The Lexington Herald-Leader wrote an article yesterday about regulations on horse sales proposed.  Lawmakers in Frankfort KY have received requests for additional regulations, and had contemplated creating new laws to satisfy those requests, but the Kentucky horse industry has proposed regulations on policing itself which seems to have satisfied the lawmakers and many critics.

The proposed additional horse sales regulations include:

Including a code of conduct for agents into sales contracts

A voluntary confidential ownership registry

Ban on use of anabolic steroids and prohibition of cosmetic practices which include injections behind the knee (that may disguise a horse’s discomfort or problem to a potential…

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Frankfort KY Horse Therapy Barn Fire

The Lexington Kentucky newspaper the Lexington Herald-Leader had an article today regarding a barn fire for a Frankfort KY horse farm. The barn was located in southern Franklin County Kentucky and killed 6 out of the 7 horses. A secondary sad aspect is that the horses were used in a therapy program for disabled riders.

It is believed that lightning struck the Stewart Home School barn at approximately 7:00 pm on Monday which started the fire. A cook saw the lightning strike, and managed to get 1 of the horses out. The lone survivor was Tia Marie. She had scorched hair on her back, but no serious injuries.

The Stewart Home School has 400 students on its 850 acre horse farm and was established 114 years ago for students with intellectual disabilities. More…

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Keeneland Breeding Stock Sales - World Record

The Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper reported on the Keeneland Breeding Stock Sales and that a world record for a broodmare had been set.

Playful Act sold for $10.5 million to Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.  It was the 4th highest price ever for a horse sold at a public auction.  The previous record was a little over $9.1 million for the sale of Magical Romance at the 2006 Tattersalls December sale.

Playful Act is the daughter of Sadler’s Wells and Magnificent Style.

Not surprisingly, the 2 bidders inching up the price were Coolmore Stud and Sheikh Mohammad.  The Dubai ruler won out.

Another horse that did quite well in the auction was Spun Sugar which sold for $4.5 million.  Spun Sugar is currently in foal to A.P. Indy.   This…

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Grade 1 Winners sell for millions in Fasig Tipton November selection mixed sale

The Lexington Kentucky newspaper the Lexington Herald-Leader had an article today about the Grade 1 winners that were put up for sale at auction at Keeneland on Sunday November 4, 2007.

The 2 top horses were of course Round Pond, and Octave.

Round Pond sold for $5.75 million to John Ferguson who is a bloodstock agent that purchased on behalf of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashin al Maktoum.  This price was the highest sale since 1985 during when Oceana sold for $7 million.  Round Pond is a 5 year old mare, and the daughter of Awesome Again.  This mare’s race career included a 5.5 length win in the 2006 Breeder’s Cup.

Octave was bid for $4 million also to Ferguson - but there was controversy as Ferguson signed the ticket.  Apparently,…

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