Childhood obesity is a  tough issue to tackle and more widespread than many Americans may realize.

Studies show that nationwide, 32 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 17 are overweight or obese.  In Kentucky that number climbs to 37 percent giving us the second highest rate of childhood obesity in the United States.

A number of factors amplify the problem.  Lack of physical activity and poor eating habits are two principal causes.

Here are some guidelines to help your child achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

1.  Offer fruits and vegetables every day.  Prepare them so they are tender but still crisp or offer raw vegetables as an alternative.  Ask children to help prepare vegetable recipes. They are more likely to try new foods when they are involved in cooking them.

2. Invest in family mealtimes.  Regular mealtimes promote better nutrition.  For families that sit down together to eat, this means more fruits and vegetables, fewer fried foods and fewer high-sugar soft drinks.  When children get the nutrition they need, it helps cut down on the desire for “empty” calorie foods.

3. Physical Activity Suggestions:
a. Encourage noncompetitive family sports such as jumping rope, Frisbee disc, tag, or hide-and-seek.
b. After a family meal, take the family outside. Go for a 10-minute walk or bike ride. It will help keep the family from settling in front of a screen for the rest of the evening.
c. Even if you cannot go outdoors, you can still do a little physical activity.  Put on music and dance or check out an exercise video from your local library. 
d. Perhaps most importantly, make sure that your children see you participate in some physical activity.  If you do not take physical activity seriously, how can you expect them to?

Children with excessive body weight are more likely to be overweight as adults which can lead to higher risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other illnesses.

One way to find out if your child is at risk for excessive weight is to determine his or her Body Mass Index (BMI).  This formula is a measure of weight for height taking into account total body makeup.  Ask your pediatrician to assess your child’s BMI, discuss the results and any additional steps that need to be taken.

For more information about keeping your children healthy, contact the Pendleton County Cooperative Extension Service.

Lindie Huffman, Agriculture and Natural Resources

Humidity and condensation in the greenhouse present big challenges especially during winter when moisture tends to build up on roofs and side-walls.  Large numbers of plants grown in fairly crowded conditions produce even more moisture which adds to an inviting environment for plant pathogens like fungi and bacteria.

Relative humidity greater than 90-percent slows the drying of foliage and increases the amount of time condensation and overnight dew remain on plants.  High humidity also favors plant diseases that thrive on warm air, such as powdery mildew.

The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) requires all foreign owners of  U.S. agriculture land to report their holdings to the Secretary of Agriculture. Foreign persons who have purchased or sold agricultural land in the county are required to report the transaction to FSA within 90 days of the sales closing. Failure to submit the AFIDA report could result in civil penalties of up to 25 percent of the fair market value of the property.

If you have any questions, please call (859) 654-3374.

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Kentucky Adjutant General Edward W. Tonini, left, and Agriculture Commissioner James Comer flank the Homegrown by Heroes logo. (Kentucky Department of Agriculture photo by Chris Aldridge)

Agriculture Commissioner James Comer launched two new programs to help Kentucky military veterans find jobs in agriculture and sell their farm products.

Kentucky Proud Jobs for Vets connects veterans looking for work with farmers who need labor. Homegrown by Heroes is a new logo that identifies farm products produced by Kentucky veterans. The programs will operate out of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

“Kentucky Proud Jobs for Vets and Homegrown by Heroes enable Kentucky veterans to pursue careers in agriculture,” Commissioner Comer said in a news conference at the Boone Center National Guard Army Aviation Support Facility in Frankfort. “With these programs, the department is doing its part for those men and women who have already done their part to protect our great nation.”

Now is the time when we start thinking about filing our income taxes from the previous year.  Even though it’s an annual event, it can cause anxiety for many. By preparing now, you can ease the process for yourself and your tax preparer.

The Internal Revenue Service tracks everyone by their Social Security number. Make sure you have your number and that of your spouses if filing jointly, plus the number(s) of your dependent(s). In addition to your W-2 or like form, you want to include information about any interest you earned from savings accounts, stocks or mutual funds as these are also taxable.

Even though it’s the middle of winter, it’s not too early to start thinking about summer camp or summer jobs. 4-H has a way to combine both. All 4-H camps are now hiring staff for the summer camping season.

Many opportunities for rewarding summer jobs have recently been posted. Applications must be completed online at http://www.uky.edu/hr/ukjobs. For more information about the application process, go to http://www2.ca.uky.edu/4-h/camp/employment. The deadline for applications is March 4.

Agriculture Commissioner James Comer addressed the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors met in Lexington on a variety of agriculture topics, including industrial hemp.  After his address, the Chamber Board voted unanimously to support the industrial hemp legislation. Comer says Senate Bill 50, filed by Senator Paul Hornback, has broad bi-partisan support in the General Assembly, and the Chamber’s endorsement will strengthen that coalition.

All youth need opportunities to develop leadership skills. By learning to interact with others and becoming engaged members of their communities, youth learn that they can make a difference.

Cutting, chopping, mincing or dicing are a part of virtually all our food preparation activities.  A cutting board, along with a good knife, is an essential tool in the kitchen.

Whether you use a wood or plastic cutting board, following proper food handling and sanitation practices can help prevent cross-contamination that can lead to foodborne illness.

Designate specific boards exclusively to cut raw meat and poultry.

Lindie Huffman, Agriculture and Natural Resources

The Pendleton County Cooperative Extension Service is now offering 20 free soil samples per sampling category. The categories are as follows:

A: Agriculture

C: Commercial Horticulture

H: Home, Lawn, and Garden

A farm serial number must be provided for agriculture samples.

Each soil sample thereafter will cost the individual $5.00 per sample. The Extension office will cover shipping costs of the samples.

Why soil sample you may ask? Soil sampling is a quick, efficient, and cost effective best management practice that provides important information to make decisions concerning:

• How much lime to use in crop fields, lawns, vegetable or flower beds.

• How much fertilizer to use on lawns, vegetables, flowers, and shrubs.

• How to adjust the soil pH for optimum growth of acid-loving plants such as azaleas and rhododendrons.

• How to apply soil amendments and fertilizer to improve soil quality.

• Nutrients that are lacking or in excess in the soil.

• Amount of lead or other metals in the soil.

For more information regarding the soil sampling program or process, please contact the Pendleton County Extension Office at 859-654-3395.

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