2021 Agriculture: The Future of Farming

AGRICULTURE THE FUTURE OF FARMING

MESSENGER-INQUIRER • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021

2 AGRICULTURE: THE FUTURE OF FARMING

ABOUT THIS SECTION

Messenger-Inquirer Wednesday, January 20, 2021

What does the future of farming look like? It looks like cattle grazing on the horizon, students rolling up their sleeves to learn about equipment engines, homegrown honey, and drones buzzing over rows of corn, documenting the state of the farmland. It looks like thriving after-school programs, engaged citizens and devices that work as hard as implements.

Industries change with the times, and agriculture is no different. In many ways, it’s leading the charge into the future.

Drone technology provides precision ag from the air

BY DON WILKINS

MESSENGER-INQUIRER

For agronomist Shawn Kand, looking down from 250 feet in the air is sometimes required for his job.

And to achieve that bird’s-eye view, he employs a drone that can capture instant high-resolution video or photographs of cropland to address issues such as nitrogen deficiencies, irrigation problems and seeding concerns.

“It’s autonomous,” said Kand about his four-propeller drone. “I’ll plug in the boundar y of the farm, set my parameters at no more than 350 feet and set the speed I want to fly. I hit go and it will take off on its own and it will fly a specific pattern over that field, taking images about ever y two seconds.”

Those images can be transferred to Kand’s iPad in flight, which can take about 40 minutes to cover a 64-acre field.

Fr om ther e, Kand, who owns BackRoads Consulting, said he stitches hundreds of photos together to create a normalized dif ferent vegetative index (NDVI) map, revealing vital information that can save the farmer time and money.

“Ever ything in green is showing extreme health,” said Kand of a wheat field he flew his drone over in the spring of 2019. “Ever ything in the yellow and red is falling below that (healthy) level. And actually, with this map, I can create zones to potentially variable rate nitrogen onto those acres. It breaks down how many acres are in the red and in the green pretty precisely. … Now you’re applying product where it actually needs it more and applying less product where it may not need it due to the health of the crop.”

Kand said the same drone and software technology can be used to track how fields are performing to format

Photos by Don Wilkins, Messenger-Inquirer

Above: Shawn Kand, owner of BackRoads Consulting, shows an image taken by his drone on his iPad in January 2020. He can download images from the drone while it’s in flight and email them to clients before the drone lands. On the cover: Shawn Kand flies his drone over a Daviess County farm off Hill Bridge Road. The drone can capture instant high-resolution video or photographs of cropland to address issues such as nitrogen deficiencies, irrigation problems and seeding concerns. variable rate planting and seeding maps as well.

“You can take yield maps from several years and you can actually stack them all together and come up with one map,” Kand said. “It shows you places in that field that are constantly above the (yield) average of that farm

and places in that field that are constantly below the average. …What you can do then is say, ‘Well, I don’t need to be spending as much money on seed in this (area) because it’s not producing. So I can spend less money there but still maintain that yield level.'”

Kand purchased his drone in the spring of 2018.

He said he can often tell from the ground whether or not a crop is growing as it should, but there are moments when a special tool is required.

“You can’t use ever y tool for ever y

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 Messenger-Inquirer

HOW ELSE DOES TECHNOLOGY IMPACT AGRICULTURE? Robots, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, and GPS technologies are now routinely employed within the agricultural industry.

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture notes that the value of such technologies cannot be understated. Thanks to the technologies at their disposals, farmers no longer have to uniformly apply water, fertilizer and pesticides to their farms. Technology now allows them to use only the minimum amounts required as they zero in on individual plants and target specific areas of their farms. The utilization of these technologies produces some very real benefits, including higher crop productivity; reduced impact on natural ecosystems; less runoff of chemicals into rivers and groundwater; and increased worker safety.

270-691-9100 www.joneswoolfolkins.com

AUTO-HOME-FARM-BUSINESS LIFE-HEALTH SCOTT BAIRD PLUMBING & HEATING CO. INC.

Industrial-Commercial-Residential M E

GER-INQU EN IR SS

CE

2020

P L AT I N U M

C

Phone 683-6427

Call Jeff, Dylan, John or Beth

270.314.4317 • 270.256.3434 • 270.314.3075 720 Hwy 431- Livermore, KY

S’

OI

ER

H

• Top Quality Seeds for Farm and Home • Ag/Processor Marketing Services • Precision Planting Sales and Services • Field View Services and mapping • Hunting plot seeds/feeds and Dog Food

ER

Editor’s note: This story appeared in a January 2020 edition of the MessengerInquirer.

724 Time Dr. • Owensboro, KY

D

with a drone and I can download it to my iPad and email it out before the drone even lands on the truck,” Kand said. “So it’s pretty power ful to send instant data, instant information to a customer. … I do see growers embracing it. Data is so important. And the more data you have, the more information you can pull from. … It’s about looking at farms in a different way to make them more profitable.”

JONES INSURANCE AGENCY

REA

job,” said Kand, who car ries his drone ever ywhere he goes. “Sometimes you have to have a specific tool to do a specific task. I look at a drone as just another tool in my toolbox that I can pull out when I need to get an aerial view of a situation that I can’t see from the ground.”

But to fly it as part of his business, Kand had to be licensed as a commercial drone pilot through the Federal Aviation Administration. He took a 60-question test that took him about two hours to complete.

And with the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airpor t nearby, he uses a smartphone app to ensure he doesn’t fly into restricted flight zones.

Kand said knowing where and how high he can fly drones is about safety for ever yone.

“The reason for the test — and I agree with it — is it gives you an understanding of what’s happening in the sky,” said Kand, who can legally fly his drone up to 400 feet. “It’s so you have an understanding of air-traffic control, Class C and D airspace.”

But overall, Kand said having the drone at his disposal is a way he can provide the best ser vice to his clients.

“I can snap a picture of a field

3

AGRICULTURE: THE FUTURE OF FARMING

Lic. #MO1723

1911 Old Henderson Road One Block South of 9th & Crabtree

We are NOW a

WARD

Co-op location.

We carry Feed and Farm Supplies

IMPLEMENT COMPANY, INC.

Hwy. 56 • Beech Grove, KY • 1-800-264-0206 wardimplementco.com

“Celebrating our 67th Year” Your Local Dealer for . . .

Macdon

WOODS®

H&S NEW & USED EQUIPMENT

Service & Parts for All Makes & Models

Stop in today and let us help you with all your Post Frame Building supplies!

Ace Hardware & Building Supply Hwy. 431 Livermore • 270-278-2816 Mon.-Fri. 7-5 • Sat. 7-2

4 AGRICULTURE: THE FUTURE OF FARMING

Messenger-Inquirer Wednesday, January 20, 2021

FFA molds today’s students into tomorrow’s agriculture leaders

BY JODI KEEN

MESSENGER-INQUIRER

The Future Farmers of America program is well known in agricultural communities, and Gr eater Owensboro is no exception. Schools in Daviess and the sur r ounding counties have a longstanding histor y of strong FFA programs designed to equip students with purposeful knowledge in farming, agricultural and environmental practices. And while the programs are rooted in agriculture, their benefits extend to the entire community.

STARTING THEIR ENGINES

In addition to agriculture and animal science programming, area FFA students also have the opportunity to learn about the mechanical engineering that powers farm machiner y. At Daviess County High School, FFA students study welding, fabricating, measuring and soldering, receiving a hands-on education in essential equipment.

“This is stuff they’re around ever y day and that they’re going to use; the skills they lear n in here may save them some money down the road,” DCHS teacher Clint Howard said in a 2020 inter view. “… We see what makes it tick and look at the par ts and figure out the basics of what makes it go.”

Photos by Alan Warren/Messenger-Inquirer

Above: Teacher Craig Howard gives out instructions to FFA students on small engine repair during class Feb. 11, 2020, at Daviess County High School. Left: Daviess County FFA students plant a tree in the bottom land in April 2019.

CONTINUING LEGACIES

Many local FFA students go onto invest their knowledge and skills back into their hometown. David Moore is one of them. Par t of the family behind Don Moore Automotive, David star ted showing cattle around age 9 and was a four-year member of Daviess County High School’s FFA program. He even pursued agriculture economics while at the University of Kentucky before going into the family’s automotive business. Now, he raises cattle on the family’s 175-acre farm in Maceo, helping “keep my dad’s plan alive,” he said in an March 2020 inter view.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Because farming is crucial to the region, the agriculture community invests in students as its future.

An example is Owensboro Grain, which recently gifted $3,000 each to the FFA programs at Apollo, Daviess

“This is stuff they’re around every day and that they’re going to use; the skills they learn in here may save them some money down the road.”

Clint Howard

Daviess County High School teacher

County and Owensboro Catholic high schools. It was the company’s second such donation in three years and one that the company prioritizes.

“It’s impor tant to us because our company has been around for many, many years — over a centur y,” said

John Wright, Owensboro Grain’s executive vice president. “And we rely on the Future Farmers of America to continue to help our business prosper.”

W ith those donations, Apollo plans to fund educational trips for

its members; Owensboro Catholic will construct a new greenhouse; and Daviess County will be able to offset fundraiser losses sustained because of the pandemic.

“This money is a tremendous boost to our budget, because $3,000 goes a long way in a high school ag program,” said Aaron Tucker, an FFA teacher at Apollo.

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 Messenger-Inquirer

AGRICULTURE: THE FUTURE OF FARMING

5

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

FFA programs also work to promote civic engagement. In October, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles put out a call for FFA members and alumni to sign up to be poll workers in November’s general election. Although the FFA is considered a nonpolitical group, civic knowledge and engagement are encouraged of all members.

“While we are a nonpolitical organization, we encourage our members to take part in the political process as individuals who will be personally affected by governmental decisions,” FFA president Malor y White said in October. “In order for our organization to reach its goal of ensuring members achieve personal growth, we must encourage them to take part in activities that will help them to shape their values and define their goals.”

Reporting by Don Wilkins and Jacob Mulliken contributed to this story.

Katie Murphy shows Homer, her lightweight class feeder calf steer, during the 4H/FFA Feeder Calf Show at the 2019 Daviess County Lions Club Fair.

Photo by Alan Warren, Messenger-Inquirer

DAVIESS COUNTY FARM BUREAU MEMBERS “Voice of Kentucky Agriculture”

2021 Scholarship Programs

Applications are now being accepted online for the 2021 Daviess County Farm Bureau and Kentucky Farm Bureau Scholarship Programs.

*Note: New this year, Daviess County Farm Bureau is offering a scholarship for current college students pursing a degree in agriculture, see below.

Daviess County Farm Bureau Scholarship - awarded to a student of a Daviess County Farm Bureau member.

Tom Curtsinger Scholarship - awarded to a student of a Daviess County Farm Bureau member pursuing a degree in agriculture or a related field; or they are the child of a farm family.

Daviess County Young Farmer Scholarship – awarded to a student of a Daviess County Farm Bureau member pursuing a degree in agriculture or a related field; or they are the child of a farm family.

Daviess County Farm Bureau and some of its members receive top recognition for winning contests held in 2020 with Kentucky Farm Bureau.

Congratulations to the following……

Don Wilkins won the Communications Award.

Leigh Ann Kuegel won the County Information Awards Program.

Daniel L. Turley Scholarship - awarded to a student of a Daviess County Farm Bureau member.

Daviess County Farm Bureau Insurance Agents Scholarship - awarded to a student of a Daviess County Farm Bureau member.

“New” Daviess County Farm Bureau Continuing Education Ag Scholarship – Awarded to a current college student of a Daviess County Farm Bureau member pursuing a degree in agriculture.

To apply, go to https://www.kyfb.com/federation/youth-development/scholarships/ and click on the application button at the bottom of the page. **All applications must be submitted online by NOON on February 28, 2021.**

Daviess County Farm Bureau received the County Growth Incentive Award.

Brandon Gilles won the Discussion Meet Contest and will represent Daviess County at the American Farm Bureau Virtual Convention to be held January 10 -13.

Daviess County Farm Bureau won the Kentucky Farm Bureau Safety Award for District 2.

Daviess County Farm Bureau placed in the “Top Five” for the County Activities of Excellence Award with Kentucky Farm Bureau and went on to place in the “Top Twelve” nationally with American Farm Bureau.

Visit our website at daviess.kyfb.com for all your local Farm Bureau information or kyfb.com for all your state wide information.

3329 Wathens Crossing • Owensboro, KY • 270-683-1715

6 AGRICULTURE: THE FUTURE OF FARMING

Messenger-Inquirer Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Area farmers continue their families’ legacies

BY JODI KEEN

MESSENGER-INQUIRER

Going into the family business is a common track for young people, and in western Kentucky, that often means following parents into farming.

Martin and Joan Hayden established Hayden Farms in 1983, raising cattle and growing tobacco. In the late ‘90s, the family began raising chickens for Perdue Farms, a partnership that has grown and strengthened in the two decades since.

Of the family’s five children, the youngest, Daniel, rejoined the family business and eventually purchased it from his parents. He oversees around a dozen chicken houses, herds of cattle, and the farm’s poultry education center. He’s also president of the Daviess County Cattlemen’s Association, a member of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Poultry advisory committee, and a member of the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association’s executive committee, and he serves on the Kentucky Board of Agriculture.

For his work innovating Hayden Farms, Daniel was featured in an episode of Amazon Prime’s docs-series “Regular Heroes” in 2020, after being referred to Amazon by Perdue Farms.

Cousins Mitch and Matt Knott are another example of continuing their family’s farming legacy. After helping their family grow row crops and raise chickens in Sorgho, in 2019 they bought a 100-acre farm near St. Joseph. As fourth-generation farmers, agriculture has always been in their veins, but that doesn’t mean their learning has stopped.

“Once you own your own piece of ground, you really know what it costs to do everything,” Mitch Knott said in a March 2020 interview. “It makes you more aware, and it helps us when we’re working with our uncles to know why they do some of the things they do.”

At Cecil Farms, carrying on the family tradition has been important to Gary Cecil’s children. Having purchased the farm from their father, Ryan, Katie and Suzanne Cecil operate a busy farm while managing outreach within the community.

They also work to benefit future generations of farmers. During the summer, the farm hires high school and college students as seasonal help, but Cecil Farms aims to also impart years of experience and wisdom for the next generation of agricultural leaders.

“I was a high school teacher before I did this, and so it’s ingrained in me; I

Photo by Greg Eans, Messenger-Inquirer

Students Alyssa Frey, left, and Mallory Robertson set up the Cecil Farms vegetable stand in the parking lot of Owensboro Health Regional Hospital in June 2020.

Photo by Alan Warren, Messenger-Inquirer

Right: Matt Knott, left, and Mitch Knott talk about their partnership in acquiring a 100-acre farm as they stand next to a Case IH Titan 4530 Floater on March 2, 2020, on their family’s farm in Sorgho. really take these kids in,” director of operations Suzanne Cecil White said in July 2020. “Whether they want it or not, I’m developing leadership and I take that on as part of my role. I’m not just having them do tasks. I’m developing independence and leadership in them. That’s in the back of my mind with everything I do.

If they don’t naturally do it, I force them to start making decisions for themselves.”

Like the Cecils and Haydens, Matt Knott says the decision to join the family business was based more on the “family” part of the equation.

“It’s just been in our blood,” he said.

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 Messenger-Inquirer

Growing Toward Tomorrow

AGRICULTURE: THE FUTURE OF FARMING

A heavy-duty offer for a heavy-duty tractor.

Radio Solutions Channel Partner

Agriculture and farming has changed a lot over the years. In this day and age farmers and growers need to communicate quickly with their employees in the office and in the field. They need to get their products to market quickly, a delay could cost thousands of dollars. Ohio Valley 2-Way Radio has the experience to provide farmers and growers in Kentucky and nationwide a comprehensive wireless communications program.

270-683-4963

Compact Tractors

Performance-matched attachments

20.9-62 HP

Save big on our #1 selling* sub-compact and compact tractors, featuring the

www.ovradio.com

2035 East Parrish Ave., Owensboro, KY

versatility to handle every job and a wide range of performance-matched attachments. Stop in for a demo and to claim this offer on select models today.

$0

DOWN

0%

APR

PLUS

SAVE UP TO

60

MONTHS

$1,000 VISIT US TODAY FOR THIS LIMITED-TIME OFFER

3 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU 8”MOC TOE STYLE #804-3800 • 8” STEEL TOE • WATERPROOF • SLIP RESISTANT • ELECTRICAL HAZARD

Hagan’s OUTDOOR

325 Salem Dr. Owensboro, KY 270-684-8488

EQUIPMENT

5600 Old KY 54 Philpot, Ky 270-729-4721

Power

MACHINERY & IMPLEMENT

6320 Hanson Rd. Madisonville, Ky 270-322-8181

www.gohagan.com $804-3800 KubotaUSA.com

Locally Owned & Operated 2768 Frederica Street Wesleyan Park Plaza • 270-686-7508 NEW HOURS: 9AM-8PM Monday-Saturday • 12PM-6PM Sunday

*Based on EDA tractor sales data of under 20 horsepower models from 2009 to 2019. © Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2021. $0 Down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 60 months on purchases of new Kubota BX2680, B2301, B2601, B2650, B3350, L3301, L3901 equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to qualified purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Example: 60 monthly payments of $16.67 per $1,000 financed. Customer instant rebates of $500 are available on qualifying finance or $1,000 on cash purchases of L3301 and L3901 equipment. Additional instant rebate of $500 is available with purchase of one new qualifying implement. Some exceptions apply. Offers expire 3/31/21. Terms subject to change. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the use of this material. For complete warranty, disclaimer, safety, incentive offer and product information, consult your Dealer or KubotaUSA.com.

7

8 AGRICULTURE: THE FUTURE OF FARMING

Messenger-Inquirer Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Beekeepers working to preserve the future

BY JODI KEEN

MESSENGER-INQUIRER

What once seemed a niche hobby, beekeeping has become a staple in 21st centur y agriculture, and a McLean County apiarist says that trend demonstrates people’s growing consciousness of the food they consume as well as their concern for the environment.

Jay Jones, a retired U.S. Ar my colonel, r uns OneW ildHoney Apiar y Farm with his wife, Denisse. A Beech Grove native, he recalls being “fascinated” as a child by a neighbor’s hive. He’s spent the past 20 years beekeeping, first on the east coast and then in McLean County, where he and Denisse relocated about three years ago. They purchased land adjoining the farm of Jay’s brother, Sam, who has his own apiar y. Jay and Sam each oversee 10 colonies, but while living in Virginia, Jay says his collection grew to as many as 25 colonies.

Jay calls his and Denisse’s business “a small apiar y. We do about 600-1,000 pounds of honey. … Ours is a small operation; we provide honey for the local community and farmers markets.”

Their stock includes local comb honey and local raw honey, as well as apple cider vinegar, elderber r y cough syrup and a yarrow and plantain salve. They aim to make only organic, sustainable products and herbal medicines.

Interest in beekeeping has grown noticeably in recent years, although Jay says that trend has been boosted by the current global crisis.

“The pandemic has driven it a lot,” Jay says. “Younger folks are taking a keen interest in (beekeeping). People are tr ying to go back to fermenting vegetables, canning, having a sustainable lifestyle. Honeybees are a natural progression of that.”

Jay says that, even before the pandemic, he noticed people yearning to lead a more self-suf ficient lifestyle.

With gardening and beekeeping, he says, people have “that feeling of, ‘I want to do it myself, I want to be able to grow my own vegetables, I want to know where (my food) came from, I want the feeling that I can depend on myself.’”

“These are things 100 years ago

Photos by Christie Netherton, McLean County News

Above: Col. Jay Jones raises bees on his farm in McLean County, where he operates OneWildHoney, selling a line of locally produced products made with honey and other natural ingredients.

Left: Jay Jones displays an array of his local honeys, balms, herbal remedies and cider.

IF YOU GO OneWildHoney Apiary Farm 712 Honeybee Lane Calhoun, KY 42327-2225 www.OneWildHoney.com

that were common for our ancestors,” he adds. “Raising bees is just a part of what we used to do. … Growing something from the soil, helping

points out, go hand in hand.

“It helps your fr uits and vegetahoneybees be prosperous — being bles. I had just a prolific garden this a beekeeper is something you can (past) year, and that’s right back to honeybees, pollinators,” he adds. really be proud of.”

Gardening and beekeeping, Jay “My brother has a fr uit orchard,

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 Messenger-Inquirer

AGRICULTURE: THE FUTURE OF FARMING

and he had three times the fruit this (past) year.”

Although Jay operates a farm, he says space isn’t an issue for those interested in keeping bees.

“You don’t need a whole lot of space; you can use a backyard,” Jay says. “You want to have at least two (colonies), because one may die, and that’s normal. You use that learning experience to do better next year.”

“You’re always learning in beekeeping,” he says.

The Joneses do a lot of mentoring of area residents who are interested in beekeeping, and Jay encourages new apiarists to seek out area beekeeping clubs for their knowledge and networking.

To Jay, bees are more than a business; they’re a vital par t of the ecosystem and, as bee populations keep dwindling, a cause worth fighting for.

“It’s impor tant that we continue to protect the bees. They’re dying of f,” he says.

“We need to do ever ything we can to save the honeybee, because they’re our future.”

Col. Jay Jones and his brother, Sam, perform a hive inspection to determine the health of the hive and pull fresh raw honey to be extracted.

Photo submitted by OneWildHoney

Daviess County Gun Club

14 station Sporting Clays Skeet & Trap www.daviessky.org

2021 OPENING WEEKEND Friday, March 5th Contact us for your fund raisers and private events 7740 KY 2830 Maceo, KY 42355

(270) 313-5800

9

10 AGRICULTURE: THE FUTURE OF FARMING

Messenger-Inquirer Wednesday, January 20, 2021

CROP DIVERSITY Greater Owensboro remains a stalwart producer for Kentucky

BY JODI KEEN | MESSENGER-INQUIRER

When it comes to feeding America, western Ken- McLean, Muhlenberg and Ohio counties’ 2019 corn tucky farmland remains a fertile area. Beef and milk har vest went well too, yielding 169, 170 and 157 cattle graze the fields, sprigs of green soybeans bushels per acre, respectively. burst from the ground, and each August, golden stalks of corn reach their arms toward the sky.

Soybeans are also highly grown in District 2, and Daviess County remains one of the top soyDaviess, Hancock, McLean, Muhlenberg bean producers in Kentucky, consistently comand Ohio counties all factor into the second of ing in behind only Henderson County in terms of Kentucky’s six agricultural districts. Along with annual yield. Although slightly lower than its 2018 Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, Henderson, Hop- season, in 2019 Daviess County farmers produced kins, Logan, Simpson, Todd, Union and Webster a little more than 4 million bushels of soybeans, counties, the Midwestern district accounts for a good for 54.5 bushels per acre. While the overall significant portion of the state’s crops. (In fact, soybean yield in District 2 has dipped each year, Daviess County in particular has for the past sev- it still accounts, far and away, as the top soybeaneral years ranked fourth in the state for most crop- producing region in the state. land.) Although most crop statistics haven’t been released yet for Kentucky’s 2020 harvest, data from The region also gets mileage out of baling recent years show an agricultural region growing in hay, keeping cattle, raising chickens and growing strength and diversity. tobacco. In particular, dark air-cured tobacco can be found on area farms; of the 19 million pounds Corn is king in District 2; in 2019 alone, it pro- grown in Kentucky in 2018, 14 million pounds came duced over 125 million bushels. (For reference, the from regional farms. Daviess County produced 1.53 next-highest yield came from the central Kentucky million pounds, good for 2,550 pounds per acre district, with almost 50 million bushels.) Daviess and the state’s third-best yield in 2018. But dark and McLean counties continue to rank among the air-cured tobacco can also be found in McLean, top corn producers in Kentucky; for the past three Muhlenberg and Ohio counties; the three counties years, Daviess County has hovered around the No. combined accounted for 1.75 million pounds in the 5 spot, while McLean has come in around ninth 2017 har vest, and all landed in the list of top 10 place. tobacco producers in Kentucky.

And the rate of yield has continued to impress: Burley tobacco and wheat are grown regionally According to the USDA, in 2019, Daviess County to a lesser extent; the latter, when grown in District farmers planted 69,000 acres of corn and harvest- 2, is primarily found in Logan, Todd and Christian ed 68,000 acres, yielding 173 bushels per acre. counties.

All statistics from the USDA

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 Messenger-Inquirer

Miss a special publication?

Visit our archive online messenger-inquirer.com/ special_sections

AGRICULTURE: THE FUTURE OF FARMING

Supply Company, Inc. Your Place for Pipe, Valves, & Fittings 1611 West 7th Street Owensboro, Ky. 42301

270-685-4919 800-787-6803 WWW.PVFSUPPLYCO.COM

Apollo Automated Valve Service Center Electric & Pneumatic Actuated Valves Stainless, PVC, CPVC, Carbon, and Special Alloys Pipe, Valves, Fittings

“Experience Suspension!”

FINANCING AVAILABLE! FERRIS ISX3300

w/ Forefront Suspension 61 & 72 Models Available

Electric Motor Sales and Service We repair up to 500hp QUALITY COMES FIRST!!

Troy-Bilt Garden Tillers

609 E 14th Street Owensboro, KY 42303 Hwy 431 - Livermore 270.278.3043 www.southernoutdoorsofky.com

11

PH: 270-683-9855 www.owenboroelectricmotor.com shop@owensboroelectricmotor.com

12 AGRICULTURE: THE FUTURE OF FARMING

Messenger-Inquirer Wednesday, January 20, 2021

CASE IH FARMALL A-SERIES The 47th annual Ag Expo, presented by the Grain Day Committee, has been canceled.

VALUE AND DELUXE FEATURES!

The Case IH utility Farmall® A-Series is a nononsense tractor, compact enough for smaller acreage farms and jobs, but with enough power and standard features to handle any task you throw its way. Stop by and check out what model is a great value for your operation!

Horsepower Range: 53- 70 (PTO: 45-62) Proven Tier 4 B/Final engines Reliable electronic fuel injection system Independent hydraulic flow to implements Lift capacity of up to 1,940 lb

PLUS MANY MORE FEATURES!

plus

ASK ABOUT

SPECIAL FINANCING ON CASE IH FARMALL SERIES TRACTORS

See H&R Agri-Power for complete offer details.

Organizers plan for the expo to return in 2022.

7274USHIGHWAY431 OWENSBORO,KY42301

270-926-2627