Anyone who has ever planted that first seed of a crop knows, as dedicated farm families, we are always at the mercy of Mother Nature.

We have witnessed that over and over again this summer season as our friends in West Kentucky have experienced continual record heat conditions and drought, while those in Eastern Kentucky have been inundated with storms and rainfalls of biblical proportions. 

Our hearts go out to all those being affected by these unprecedented events and while we always know the weather will dictate so much of how our growing seasons go, it’s never easy to face the conditions we have endured this year.

For our neighbors being affected by the worst flooding in the history of this state, please know we are monitoring the situation continually. The total impact of these devastating storms won’t be fully realized for weeks to come, but our prayers are with you, and I know our dedicated county members will be doing all they can to help move their respective communities forward.

It won’t be easy, and it will take time. But the resolve of the people in this Commonwealth is unbelievable and I have no doubt we will get past this.

For our farm families in the west who are dealing with a totally different situation, we always understand that weather conditions can turn a season quickly as we have seen over the last several weeks. But the most intense conditions have occurred at a critical time for our crops, especially for corn producers.

In looking at information from the Kentucky Mesonet weather data system, you can see where some counties in West Kentucky received very little rainfall during July while certain areas in the east had more than four times the monthly average.

One thing is for certain, we can’t change the weather conditions, but we can decide how we react to them. And I know we are once again seeing a coming together of friends and neighbors doing all they can to help.

From a farming perspective, we can continue to utilize the resources we have to make the best production decisions possible, given the situations each of us face. As I have said before, we are fortunate to live in a state with such a comprehensive agricultural network to help in times like these.

For the folks who have lost homes, possessions, and most importantly, loved ones, in these deadly floods, our hearts are breaking for you and our prayers are constant.

I have heard from many of our county volunteer members who are helping with the cleanup in any way they can. Many of them have been affected themselves but reaching out to help our communities, especially in times of need is something our members are known for.

As we continue to monitor all these situations from one end of the state to the other, let’s be mindful of those most affected by these weather events. You are our friends and neighbors and we want to help you get through these tough days ahead. May God bless you all.

Mark Haney, President

Kentucky Farm Bureau