The Pendleton Country Conservation District is sponsoring the local cost share program for Pendleton County Landowners, to help with the cost of cover crop wheat and/or rye cover crop seed.

It’s time to think about cover crops! In recent years there has been a decline in the use of cover crops, since crops such as tobacco, silage corn, or even vegetable gardens are harvested late in the season.  However, without the winter cover, the soil is left to the mercy of wind, snow, water and ice.  Remember also to be in compliance with your FSA (Food Security Act) Conservation Plan, you must sow your cover crop by the end of November.  USDA recommends a rate of 90 pounds per acre.  Cover crop is a vital component to your farming operations.

It’s that time of year again to order tree seedlings from the Kentucky Division of Forestry.  Start making plans now to get your choice of seedlings and plan your planting time.

Agriculture Sectetary Tom Vilsack announced the Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who allege discrimination by the USDA in past decades can file claims between September 24, 2012 and March 25, 2013.

The process offers a voluntary alternative to litigation for each Hispanic or female farmer and rancher who can prove that USDA denied their applications for loan or loan servicing assistance for discriminatory reasons for certain time periods between 1981 and 2000.

The Pendleton County Champions Coalition needs your help with gathering data. This month’s billboard focuses on 24/7 smoke free campuses.  As a coalition we understand community members have an opinion.  What Champions need is to hear your opinion.  Your opinion on welcoming or not welcoming the 24/7 smoke free campus thought can be shared on our Facebook page or by tweeting us.  Champions have also set up an email account for those who do not want their opinion publicly shared with all of the social media responders.  The email is pencochampions@gmail.com.

Why 24/7 Smoke free campuses?

1. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention smoking and smokeless tobacco use are initiated and established primarily during adolescence. More than 80% of adult smokers begin smoking before 18 years of age. Additionally, adolescent smokeless tobacco users are more likely than nonusers to become adult cigarette smokers.

The week of Sept. 23-29, The Partnership at Drugfree.org is launching the Medicine Abuse Project, a multi-year effort to raise public awareness about and curb prescription drug abuse. Most of us will take a prescription medication at some point in our lives. It’s important to remember that medicine a doctor prescribes you is only intended for your use.

Social media are very much a part of our culture, and many young people and adults regularly use the sites to connect with their friends and family. When used appropriately, social media can be very positive. When misused, there can be serious consequences for a family. Instances of cyberbullying and sexting have increased with the popularity of social media. In some cases, thieves have used social media accounts to find their next victims.

Some social media sites have member guidelines, such as Twitter and Facebook that require account holders to be at least 13 years old. However, some young people falsify their ages to gain entry into a site.

Lindie Huffman, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources

It is important for farmers to use respiratory protection to safeguard their lungs against dusts in the coming weeks and months as they harvest crops, clean out grain bins, open silos, and strip tobacco among other seasonal farming activities.

A disposable toxic dust respirator will filter out fine dust particles that can deeply penetrate the lungs. It is needed for protection from potentially harmful dusts in confinement hog or poultry housing, grain dust and mold from grain, hay or silage. Agricultural workers should use a toxic dust respirator anytime they will be exposed to dusty operations or activities.

The 62nd annual meeting of the Pendleton County Extension Homemakers was held on Thursday, September 13, at the Extension Center with the theme “Celebrating Kentucky.” More than 68 member homemakers and guests were welcomed and recognized by out-going Pendleton County Extension Homemaker Council President, Shirley Seever. Among the guests was State Representative Tom McKee who spoke for a couple minutes thanking the homemakers for all that they do.

John McCauley, state executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency, urges livestock producers affected by natural disasters such as Hurricane Isaac and continuing drought to keep thorough records of their livestock and feed losses, including additional expenses for such things as feed purchases because of lost supplies.

The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) requires all foreign owners of US agriculture land to report their holdings to the secretary of agriculture.