The courts have recently awarded a $100 million judgment in their favor.

The premise behind the case is that when the Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association was formed in 1922, that its members were being represented to distribute the tobacco crop to lots of potential customers in Kentucky, the USA, and the world.

Since the Federal government ended its price support for tobacco, MUCH less tobacco is being sold – and of those Kentucky farms that are growing the crop, most of those are under contract directly with cigarette companies – and the association wasn’t really doing anything for its members.

But, the association did hold a VERY large cash reserve of tens of millions of dollars.  The association says that they are required to hold that much in reserve as required by the Federal government for any potential losses on loans made by the co-op Commodity Credit Corp.

The case was filed on December 31 2003 against the co-op, and 54 of its officers and directors.

Kentucky farms and farmers that were a part of the organization can expect to receive approximately $430 each as their proceeds for the case.  Attorneys will be allocated 15% and the original 8 plaintiffs that filed the case will receive a special payment in the amount of $10,000 each since it was their efforts that got the ball rolling on this matter in the first place.  The case was originally filed in Fayette County District Court, and was later moved to Fayette County Circuit Court.

The one upside for the Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative is that it avoided being required to be dissolved as was originally demanded by the plaintiffs.

Kentucky Tobacco Farmers to share $100 million is a post from: Kentucky Horse Farms and Equestrian Real Estate Blog

The Kentucky Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service released crop yield figures and the drought definitely made an impact.

Corn production overall was up approximately 16% to over 175 million bushels compared to the 2006 crop – but this is primarily caused by more acreage being planted in corn in the first place. Corn production yields on a per acre basis dropped from 129 bushels per acre to 112 bushels per acre – a 17 bushel per acre decrease.

Soybean production for Kentucky farms were hurt even more. Estimates this year put production at 29 million bushels, a sharp decrease of 52% from last year’s production in 2006. Fewer acres were planted, and the drought both played a decisive role in the lower figures. Yield on a per acre basis was 27 bushels compared to last year’s production of 44 bushels per acre.

Predictions are already coming in for a good 2008 so hopefully they’ll remain true and we’ll get back to more normal weather conditions for Kentucky.

Kentucky Farms Crop Yields Hurt by Drought is a post from: Kentucky Horse Farms and Equestrian Real Estate Blog

Darren Foster

Stephanie Smith

Their job is to assist in providing rural development assistance primarily focusing on thee Single Family Housing Program. Both previously worked at the New Castle location.

Welcome to Shelbyville Darren & Stephanie!

Rural Real Estate Development in Shelbyville KY is a post from: Kentucky Horse Farms and Equestrian Real Estate Blog

Still, it did help the Kentucky farms that have housed tobacco for drying.  With the hot and dry weather we’ve been having, the tobacco was drying too quickly and was starting to burn and get a poor color.

Half of Kentucky farms have reported that their pastures were in very poor condition.

31% said their pastures were poor.

A whopping 84% of Kentucky farms said they do not have adequate hay for winter.

Additionally, the dry weather has caused other crops to mature faster than normal.  97% of Kentuckys corn crop has been harvested, compared to 84% at this time last year.  69% of Kentuckys soybean crop has been harvested, compared to 38% at this time last year.

But, its not all doom and gloom.  Forecasts show cooler and wetter weather on the way – hopefully, it’ll be enough to bring some relief to the Kentucky farms that have been hit fairly hard this year.

The Farmers Almanac has predictions for a relatively decent next year for Kentucky – so hopefully those will come true.  We just have to get through this winter first.  Probably would be a good idea if you haven’t already done so to stock up on your hay.  With 84% of Kentucky farms saying that they have insufficient hay to get them through this winter, you can expect hay prices locally in Kentucky to start moving up.

Rain helps Kentucky Farms is a post from: Kentucky Horse Farms and Equestrian Real Estate Blog

This apparently occurred 2 days prior to the opening of the Churchill Downs Fall Meet.

Trainer David Carroll has stated that one of his 3 year olds didn’t look right on Thursday morning and was acting particularly un-coordinated. A vet came and checked the horse, and he was immediately sent to Hagyard-Davidson-McGee clinic in Lexington.

Results came back that the horse has low levels of the virus in his system. [Low levels indicate a much lower chance of it spreading to other horses.]

The unfortunate part is that even though the other horses in the barn probably do not have the virus, they are to remain under quarantine for nearly all of the 4 week meet. Quarantines usually last 21 days.

Horse Herpes Virus Causes Churchill Downs Barn to be Quarantined is a post from: Kentucky Horse Farms and Equestrian Real Estate Blog

It refilled the Guist Creek Lake, which is the source of our local water supply.  Over the past 2 days, the lake has risen 56″.  [Its still 33" below normal, so don't break out the party hats yet.]

Fortunately, the persons that had been complaining about the bad taste or smell from the water, should be able to drink again without complaint.  The cooler weather (and rainfall) has removed any potential offensive odors or tastes from the water.

Shelbyville KY Water Advisory Lifted is a post from: Kentucky Horse Farms and Equestrian Real Estate Blog

There is however some bright spots and places to fill up right now that are in the $2.60 per gallon range.  Most of these are on the outskirts of the Louisville Kentucky metropolitan area in places like Simponsville, Shelbyville and La Grange.

The average price per gallon for the Louisville Kentucky area is $2.77 per gallon.

Most experts believe that the rise in the cost of oil is being pressured by concerns about potential disruptions of the oil supply in the Middle East, as well as concerns that there is insufficient oil being produced to meet estimated 4th quarter demands in the US.  The feared disruptions is in part due to Turkey sending forces into northern Iraq to look for Kurdish rebels, and that this could spill over into the crude oil production and interrupt the supply being sent over to the United States.

With the current expenses for the local farmers and horse farms feeling pressure from low crop production yields, as well as much higher hay costs – it looks like its going to be an expensive winter for many Kentucky farms.  Many farmers have been feeding their horses hay since August – creating much more demand for hay, and stretching an already abysmal hay supply beyond its capacity.  When winter actually gets here, hay prices are expected to continue to rise.

There is a bright spot however, we did finally get SOME rain today and there is a forecast for more potentially later this week.  Hopefully, it will be enough to stimulate some fast growth in the hay fields, and maybe farmers can get a second cutting of hay thats decent to help tide things over this winter.

Louisville Kentucky Gasoline Prices is a post from: Kentucky Horse Farms and Equestrian Real Estate Blog

Various groups exchange information to try and get a better understanding of how severe and widespread the drought in Kentucky actually is.  Reports state that there are private wells in southeastern KY that are going dry, and many small lakes are quite low. [I know that 1 of our 2 ponds, is in that same position.  Its down to approximately half the level that it should be.]

Fortunately for our area in Louisville and Shelbyville Kentucky, things are bad, but not as bad as they are in other parts of the state.  In southern Kentucky, they were in a drought late last year and had have very little rainfall.   Estimates of 18 inches of rain below normal cover a lot of towns and communities in the southern part of the state.

Of Kentucky’s 120 counties, 66 are under a water shortage watch.  35 water systems have issued water conservation advisories to limit and regulate water consumption for unnecessary uses.

According to Stuart Foster, who is a state climatologist, says that if you compare conditions today across since records began being kept, this is one of the most serious droughts we’ve had in Kentucky’s history.  He goes on to say that many places are going to have their driest year EVER.

Hopefully we can get some relief soon.  Some good long soaking rains would definitely perk things back up before heading into winter.

Drought in Kentucky is a post from: Kentucky Horse Farms and Equestrian Real Estate Blog

Their forecast for soybeans is down 21% from the August 1 forecast (and is 43% down from the 2006 crop).  Estimated yields are expected to be 30 bushels per acre.  This is down 8 bushels per acre from the August 1 forecast.

Burley Tobacco crops are down 5% from the August 1 forecast.  Estimated yields are expected to be 1,900 pounds per acre.

This is primarily due to the hot and dry weather during this summer – with an extreme lack of moisture and rain.  This killed/stressed many crops in the Louisville Kentucky metropolitan area and across the state.

There is however some bright spots in the crop forecasts.  Corn production is overall up 6% – but most of this can be attributed to a large increase in the amount of acres planted.  Yields on a per acre basis are expected to be 120 bushels per acre – which is approximately 26 bushels per acre less than 2006.

Hopefully, we can have a relatively mild winter (though many farmers I’ve spoken to around here in Shelbyville have said that the last time that weather was like this was the summer of 1977 – and everyone remembers the winter that year, and the snow of 1978).  We’re even considering purchasing a home generator so that if power goes out this winter, that we can at least keep the pipes from freezing and bursting in our home.  Hopefully, it won’t come to that – but its better to be prepared than it is to wish to have been prepared.

Kentucky Farms Lower Crop Expectations 2007 is a post from: Kentucky Horse Farms and Equestrian Real Estate Blog

Livestock & their products created receipts of $2.71 billion.  Crop-wise, the receipts for those were $1.3 billion.

Horses and Kentucky Horse Farms are the leaders for cash receipts totals providing $1.11 billion.  Poultry came in 2nd overall.

And tobacco which was the state of Kentucky’s leading crop for many, many years is now in 6th place overall.

It appears that the initiatives from KEEP, and other organizations are doing their job well in keeping Kentucky horse proud by promoting Kentucky as a place for horses and horse farm owners.  They do this not only through advertising, but by creating incentives for other horse owners and aspiring horse farm breeders to relocate to Kentucky with their operation.

Many non-racing breeds of horses now qualify for incentives if they breed and foal in Kentucky and as such, a lot of horse farm operations are relocating to our state.

Kentucky Farms cash receipts over $4 billion for 2006 is a post from: Kentucky Horse Farms and Equestrian Real Estate Blog