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It is a busy time of year, but an exciting time

As we make our way through the weeks of summer, it won't be long until school starts again, the state fair arrives, and our harvesting duties begin.

Yes, it is a busy time of year, but an exciting time as we anticipate all of these events and activities.

A good place to begin this message is to congratulate our students who will soon be heading to their postsecondary school choices. Supporting education at all levels is such a big part of what we do at Farm Bureau, and I'm proud to announce that the amount of our state and county scholarship programs has once again reached a new record with 601 college, technical, and proprietary scholarships awarded this year, totaling $810,150.

This continued support showcases the commitment our county Farm Bureaus have for their communities and their young people. I can’t tell you how many times I have spoken to past winners who said these scholarships helped them to achieve their educational goals.

It’s incredibly important we support our young people, be it from an educational standpoint or for their endeavors in the state’s agricultural industry. We simply must foster this new generation in our communities and on our farms to ensure we have a bright future for all of us. 

That is the very foundation on which we have built the Kentucky Farmland Transition Initiative. We received word recently that many of the provisions included in Senator Mitch McConnell's Preserving Agricultural Farmland Act made their way into the One Big Beautiful Budget  Bill Act.

Also included in that bill was $66 billion worth of ag-related programs sorely needed by farm families across this country, including support for farm safety net enhancements.

Protecting our farms and the people who help grow our food supply should always be a top priority for our lawmakers. And we appreciate the efforts by all who helped to ensure the voices of agriculture were heard when creating and passing this critically important legislation.

The provisions included in this bill can give farm families a sense of relief when it comes to strengthening core safety net programs, enhancing risk management tools, and locking in important tax provisions.

Having that bit of stress relief on the farm should help farm families enjoy a little time away during the upcoming Kentucky State Fair, an event that not only rounds out our summertime activities but gives folks of all ages and walks of life a chance to see the good in Kentucky’s agricultural industry.

This 121st edition of what we think is the best state fair in the country will showcase state agriculture and bring those people who may have never experienced life on the farm, closer than they have ever been. 

While the fair is a great place to see and recognize the good things that make our commonwealth the best, I think we can all celebrate throughout the year a state with a rich agricultural heritage, abundant rural community spirit, and a promising future.

Eddie Melton, President
Kentucky Farm Bureau

Over the years, my job has taken me to many places, allowing me to meet some wonderful people doing great things in brilliant ways. But a recent visit with Cathy and Larry Moore must be near the top of my favorites.

This retired couple, from Pleasureville,  has taken the word “teamwork” and elevated it to new levels in their efforts to serve God and raise daylilies.

Both had careers in state government. Larry, a Vietnam vet, is 82 and said he didn’t mind if I said that. He has reached the point in life, for more than one reason, that he needs a bit of help getting around. His cane helps, but his true dependence is on Cathy, who never seems to be too far from his side.

Cathy, on the other hand, gets around well, and, by the way, I did not ask her how old she is. But through a series of medical events, she has lost most of her eyesight. Larry helps her to see what she cannot. 

But despite their disabilities, their ability to serve their church has never wavered. They’re usually the first ones there on Sunday mornings in addition to the trips they make through the week to do a variety of church-related chores.

Cathy also plays the piano at every Sunday service. While she can't really see the music and words in the hymnal any longer, she certainly knows them from memory and never ceases to amaze everyone with her musical ability. I should also mention she plays the autoharp and guitar, as well.   

What one of them can’t do individually from a physical sense, the other one can, and they seem to work in tandem in all that they do.

Now, to the daylilies. The Moore’s 16-acre farm is a tract of land once owned by Squire Boone. It is adorned with tall trees, plentiful streams, and a huge patch of daylilies that light up the sky. 

The daylily garden is something Cathy has planted, grown, and nurtured for many years. She knows every variety, but because of her loss of sight, she can now only make out the colors.

Larry still takes care of most of the mowing and yard work needed to keep their farm in shape for visitors, while Cathy tries to keep the deer away. It seems daylilies are a favorite food of the local deer population.

She is always so happy for summer to arrive, knowing that her labor in creating this vast array of floral delights comes to life once again, every year.

This couple exudes the meaning of "team" in that they have not let disabilities or the slowing with age keep them from working together in their activities at church, at home, or in all they do.

When I asked Cathy the secret to doing so much with her limited eyesight, she said she plays her music from listening and memory, and sees her garden of brilliant daylilies with her heart.

Imagine how much more we could see if only we all looked more often through our hearts, as we travel down the backroads.

Tim Thornberry, Editor
Kentucky Farm Bureau News

As of mid-summer, crop conditions are mostly favorable despite the rocky start.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Depending on where one lives or how much moisture certain areas received earlier this year, the beginning of the growing season was difficult for most. Deadly storms and historic flooding caused not only great heartache to many, but also extreme difficulties on the farm during the crucial planting season.

As of press time, the average rainfall for the year in Kentucky is 43.77 inches. That is 15.52" above normal for this time of year (155% of normal). That makes it the wettest year on record.

Chad Lee, Director of the Grain and Forage Center of Excellence and Grain Crops Extension Professor at the University of Kentucky's Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, noted that the season has presented its fair share of challenges.

“I think ‘challenging’ is the word that just about every farmer has used when discussing planting corn and soybeans this year, getting wheat harvested, and getting double-crop beans in,” he said.

As of mid to late July, Lee noted that the majority of the state’s corn crop was already at the silking stage.

“Even though we've been very warm during pollination, we've had cooler mornings, and so we're probably pretty good at pollination,” he said. “And we've had adequate water over most of our fields in the state to get us into successful seed set as well.”

Lee noted that adequate rainfall would be needed later in the season to help finish out the crop, but at this point in the season, he is cautiously optimistic, feeling assured about most of Kentucky’s corn crop.

Much of the younger corn was at a point in mid-July of rapid growth due to warmer weather and, luckily, in need of less water.

“I think the biggest surprise is I haven't seen as much sidewall compaction and other mistakes that we often make in wet seasons,” Lee said. “There are some places where sidewall compaction is a real thing, but considering the amount of rainfall that we’ve received, and how disruptive it was to our normal planting cycle, I'm very impressed with how the corn crop looks as a whole.”

Lee emphasized, however, that there are exceptions.

“But if you'd have told me we had this much rain up until June and the crop looks as good as it does right now, I would've been extremely surprised and very pleased,” he said.

Lee said the story for this year’s soybean crop is much the same as corn as of mid-July.

“For the most part, it's the same story, just a second verse relative to corn,” he said. “We had a lot of double-crop beans that went in late for what we normally expect, but we were also quite warm at the end of June and in the early part of July. With those warm temperatures, it's helping those double-crop beans emerge quickly and grow quite rapidly.”

Lee hopes that by the end of August and early September, those double-crop beans have caught up to where they would normally be historically in growth and development. As of this writing, Lee said it’s too early to forecast that, but, overall, crops are looking good as of mid-July.

“We have had a good year up to this point, even when you consider all the headaches and the challenges of getting the crop in and the logistical nightmares that farmers have had to work with,” he said. “All of that considered, we've got crops that look very good, and that gives us some hope that all of this work is going to pay off positively during harvest.”

In looking at the recently harvested wheat crop, Lee said most of the crop was in the field a little longer than desired, mostly because of the wet conditions experienced around harvest time.

“Overall, the crop is a little bit better than we probably expected it to be, in part because of the amount of rain that came in,” he said. “However, when you get rainfall on mature wheat, that's usually a negative for overall wheat quality, and we've got some reports that the quality is off a little bit this year, but still within spec.”

Lee added that he thinks a lot of farmers are still able to sell some high-quality wheat, which is good, but that also means there'll be a few more fields that don't make spec this year. Those fields will sell at a lower price, and that's the last thing producers need in this economic climate right now.

• Collegiate Day at the State Office
• Collegiate Day at Frankfort

The Collegiate Discussion Meet is a competition that simulates a committee meeting to analyze agricultural issues and develop solutions. Participants engage in active discussions, enhancing their leadership and communication skills. The discussion challenges participants to use their logical thinking and listening abilities to build collaborative solutions. Successful applicants are productive thinkers who help implement solutions and highlight Farm Bureau's involvement.

The contest is held at the annual Young Farmer Leadership Conference.

Each school year, mini-grants of $500 are offered to Collegiate Farm Bureaus to aid in chapter recruitment, leadership development, community service outreach, officer development, purchase of educational materials, and registration costs for conferences. Applications are due during the Fall Semester through the American Farm Bureau’s Application Portal.

Elizabeth is your local Jefferson County Farm Bureau insurance agent!

Kentucky Farm Bureau has provided residents of the Bluegrass with quality insurance since 1943. As your local agent, I’m proud to serve the Jefferson County community and take care of all your insurance needs with prompt service and personal attention. That’s what being Kentucky’s insurance company is all about. We offer home insurance, auto insurance, life insurance and more. Contact me today for a free quote!

Elizabeth joined KFB in 2016, bringing years of experience in insurance with various carriers in multiple states. A graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics, she also has a family background in farming. Elizabeth spends her free time cheering for her Boilermakers, watching multiple sports, traveling, exploring the restaurant scene in Louisville, and anything Disney related. As a resident of Jefferson County, she has worked with many community organizations and served on multiple boards, even earning several awards.

• Board Member of Mortgage Bankers Association of Louisville (MBAL); Treasurer 2022 to present, has served as Associate Director 2019, Secretary 2021; Associate Member of the Year 2022 and 2019
• Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP); Current First Sergeant of Membership Committee; Gala Committee Co-Chair 2025; First Sergeant of Cares Committee 2023-2024; Daniel J. Rettig Patriot of the Year Award 2023
• Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR) member; Fashion Show Committee member; Diamond Sponsor 2022
• WO Network Founding Member
• Member of the Purdue Alumni Association
• Member of the John Purdue Club
• Former member of Giving to Grow BNI Chapter; served as President, Vice President, and on Membership Committee
• Nominee Louisville Business First Journal Top 40 under 40 (2024 and 2025)
• Jefferson County Farm Bureau Women's Committee

Kentucky is in our hearts, not just in our name. That’s why it’s important to us to help you navigate life’s mishaps. Welcome to Life’s Blueprints, a blog by Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance. Here, you’ll find information that will help keep you and your loved ones safe and savvy – whether you’re on the road or at home.
 

Welcome to Collegiate Farm Bureau, where students with a passion for agriculture come together to grow, learn, and connect! Our program is designed to enhance your future through professional development, industry networking, and educational activities, all while building awareness of Kentucky Farm Bureau.

Why you should join:

• Professional Development: Sharpen your skills and prepare for a successful career in agriculture with workshops, seminars, and leadership experiences.
• Industry Networking: Connect with industry professionals and fellow students who share your agricultural interests. Build valuable relationships that will last a lifetime.
• Educational Activities: Dive into engaging and interactive activities that expand your knowledge and keep you ahead in the field of agriculture.
• Campus Chapters: Join one of our chapters at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), Kentucky State University (KSU), Morehead State University (MSU), Murray State University (MSU), University of Kentucky (UK), and Western Kentucky University (WKU).