Vol. 140 No. 18

AGRICULTURE

Jeneen Wiche
Tips from the weekend gardener

Every couple of years we see an increased incidence of a disease called fire blight on ornamental and fruit trees including apple, crab apple, serviceberry, pear, plum and cherry. Fire blight is a disease caused by a bacterium that over-winters in sunken cankers on the tree. Once temperatures warm in the spring, the bacterium oozes out of the canker, insects land on the sticky substance and spread it with efficiency as they travel from blossom to blossom.
In a typical year, fire blight is favored by warm weather; this year, however, freeze damage may be the determining factor in its spread. Warm, cold, wet and warm again is the trend thus far. While the fire blight incidence remains to be seen, it is likely we will see blackened branch tips because of our spring weather. Ornamental and fruit trees bloomed early because of warm weather; then we had a several hard freezes which caused frost cracks within the blooms and along stems. Freeze damage has opened up the tree which will allow the bacterium to gain access into the stems. The recent rains and current warm temperatures facilitate the spread further.
University of Kentucky plant pathologist Dr. John Hartman warns the risk of fire blight is high. The symptoms will begin to show in June so it is a waiting game for now.
Symptoms of fire blight include sudden wilting of blossoms, leaves and twigs that curl under and hang down. The most distinguishing symptom, however, is that the twigs turn black as if they were scorched by fire. This is an important symptom to check because it will help you determine the difference between freeze damage from early April and an actual case of fire blight. Frost damage will include blackened leaves and a straight fracture along the branch; fire blight appears scorched with a sunken, water-soak area (the canker).
If you notice minimal signs of infection you can prune out the scorched branches as they appear but be very careful with your pruning technique. Our tools and hands can also spread the disease so use rubbing alcohol to clean your pruners after each pruning cut that you make. Remove the infected branches about 12 to 15 inches above the damaged plant tissue (that part which is blackened) and destroy it.
Trees with a high rate of infection should not be pruned until fall. If significantly infected trees are pruned now, it will encourage new, succulent growth that requires higher sugar concentrations. This will take energy away from the tree’s ability to fight the existing infection and you are more likely to spread the disease further through the pruning process. Because many trees had to push secondary growth because of the freeze, we definitely don’t want to add insult to energy by forcing more new growth.
So, the bottom line is: if we experience significant fire blight infections (25 percent or more of the tree), wait until fall to prune out infected branches, after the trees go dormant. If you prune in the fall, make your pruning cuts about five inches above the infected area.
Tip of the Week
Many of us take tropical houseplants outside for the summer, but do not put them in direct sun right away; if you do the leaves will get scorched. Acclimate your plants to the increased light by gradually moving them into the sun; an eastern exposure is best with a little morning sun and shade in the afternoon and evening hours.

Phase I programs,
applications now available

Ag Notes

Kim Strohmeier
County Agriculture Extension Agent

The Owen County Agriculture Development Board recently approved three programs for funding for Owen County farmers. They are:
•Perimeter Fencing Program
•Agricultural Diversification Program
•Hay & Feed Handling Equipment Program
General Guidelines for All Programs – Each program is intended for an Owen County farmer, to be determined by receiving at least 20 percent of gross household income from a farming operation. Applicants who don’t meet this 20 percent eligibility requirement will be considered for funding on a case-by-case basis.
Applications will be considered based on the information provided by each applicant in the Supplemental Application Form. It will be in the best interest of the applicant to fill this out carefully and completely.
Cost-share is on a 75/25 basis of eligible expenses for the Perimeter Fence and Ag Diversification Programs and 50/50 for the Hay & Feed Handling Equipment Program, retroactive to Jan. 1 of this year. Program improvements or installations must be made within six months of application approval. Please note that there will be no deadline extensions made this year.
The board reserves the right to request more information on income (including tax forms) and farming operation before considering application approval.
Producers will need to list how much they received in each program in previous years. This information will be available at the Extension Office.
There is a maximum cost-share amount in each program paid per farm/producer partnership. There is any number of different family and partner farming arrangements across the county. The intent is that this is the maximum for each household and operation.
There is a lifetime maximum of $15,000 for the Perimeter Fence and Ag Diversification Programs.
This money is considered government funds and must be accounted for. The local board has determined that the best way to do this is to have each producer fill out a form listing pertinent information at reimbursement time to set a baseline, and again one and two years later (depending on the program) as a means of judging success of the program. Any producer making application agrees to fill these out.
This money is for the long-term improvement in agricultural profitability. For the best possible use of the money, improvements and installations may need to be demonstrated to others. By making application, a farmer is agreeing to host an on-farm demonstration, if asked.
The board may make the determination to lower the maximum paid per producer, depending on the number of approved applications received.
The deadline to turn in all applications is May 29.
Perimeter Fencing Program – This program helps with the cost of building or upgrading a boundary fence. It will pay 75 percent of the cost of materials, up to a maximum of $5,000, for this fence. Twenty percent of the total reimbursed can be used for dozer work to clean out an old fencerow. If a person’s farm is at least 187 acres, they are eligible for the full amount; if less acreage, they’ll be reimbursed at a rate of $26.75 per acre. You’ll need to retain ownership of the land with the new fence for at least five years. Educational program attendance is recommended, and you’ll be put on a mailing list to receive timely forage and cattle information.
Ag Diversification Program – This program cost-shares the expense of developing or expanding some specific types of alternative farming enterprises. Enterprises that are eligible are a fruit, vegetable, ornamental horticulture, horticultural greenhouse, rabbit, honeybee, pastured poultry or other fowl, direct-to-consumer livestock, aquaculture, agri-tourism, commercial or certified kitchen, sod production or equine operation. Additional information on production and marketing plans and budgets are required for the diversification program. There is also an educational session attendance requirement, relating to the management and marketing of the particular enterprise. New this year are some changes relating to labor. Your own labor can’t be used for cost-share, but it can be used for the project’s matching funds for construction projects. You can charge your own labor at $16 per hour, up to 25 percent of the total project coat. However, you will need to document your labor, so it will require some record-keeping.
Hay and Feed Handling Equipment Program – Eligible equipment for 50/50 cost-share are: Hay spears and forks, scissor jacks, round bale wagons, hay elevators, bale kickers, kicker wagons, mechanical bale loaders, gravity bed wagons, round bale silage wrappers, in-line feeders, creep feeding equipment, tub grinders, and TMR mixers. Farmers would need to retain ownership for at least five years.
Cattlemen’s Association Bimonthly Meeting – All Owen County cattle producers and their families are invited to attend the next Cattlemen’s Association meeting, to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at the Extension Office. The program will be “A Taste of Beef” and will focus on the end use of the product you sell. Supper will include an assortment of sample beef recipes, so if you enjoy eating beef, you’ll love this program. However, it’s going to be important that we know how many folks to prepare for, so you will need to call the Extension Office at (502-484-5703) for reservations today.

Market Report

Owenton Livestock Exchange, May 2
Last week: 595; previous week: 696. Compared to the previous week: slaughter cows 1.00 to 3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls 4.00 to 5.00 higher. Feeder stears and heifers steady to 2.00 higher, except feeder heifers under 600 lb. steady to 2.00 lower.
Slaughter cows:
Breakers: 75-80 percent lean, 990-1,520, 48.00-52.50; high-dress, 53.50-59.50.
Boners: 80-85 percent lean; 880-1,425, 48.50-51.50; high-dress, 51.50-57.50, ind., 60.50.
Lean: 85-90 percent lean; 820-1,080, 44.50-48.50; hi-dress, 51.50; 655-790, 35.50-44.50
Slaughter Bulls:
#1: 1,460-2,160, 78-81 carcass boning percent; 61.50-66.50; 82 carcass boning percent; 69.00-71.50.
#2: 1,540-1,680, 76-78 carcass boning percent; 60.50-65.00.
Feeder Steers:
Medium and Large #1-#2: 300-400, 118.00-126.00; 300-400, 140.00, fancy; 400-500, 121.00-129.00; 500-600, 113.00-126.00; 500-600, 134.00, fancy; 600-700, 102.00-116.00; 800-900, 100.00-101.50.
Medium and Large #2: 200-300, 116.00-119.00; 300-400, 85.00-111.00; 400-500, 95.00-116.00; 600-700, 92.00; 700-800, 96.00.
Feeder Steers Small and Medium #1-#2: 300-400, 115.00; 500-600, 98.00; 600-700, 94.00.
Feeder Holstein Steers:
Large #3: 400-500, 89.00-94.00.Feeder Heifers:
Medium and Large #1-#2: 200-300, 108.00-110.00; 300-400, 105.00-113.00; 400-500, 100.00-107.50; 500-600, 95.00-110.00; 600-700, 85.00-99.50; 700-800, 86.50-92.00; 800-900, 84.00.
Medium and Large #2: 200-300, 110.00; 300-400, 101.00-104.00; 400-500, 80.00-85.00; 500-600, 83.00-104.00; 600-700, 82.00-92.00.
Large #1-#2: 400-500, 85.00-98.00; 500-600, 88.00-89.00; 600-700, 85.00-91.50.
Small and Medium #1-#2: 200-300, 107.00-113.00; 300-400, 105.00; 400-500, 85.00-102.00; 500-600, 89.00; 600-700, 87.00-88.00.
Feeder Bulls:
Medium and Large #1-#2: 300-400, 110.00-125.00; 400-500, 117.00-128.00; 400-500, 131.00, fancy; 500-600, 106.00-124.00; 600-700, 99.00-113.00; 700-800, 85.00-98.00; 800-900, 76.00-87.50.
Small and Medium #1-#2: 400-500, 100.00-109.00; 600-700, 90.00-92.00.
Stock Cows and Calves: Medium and Large #1-#2: 3-8 year old cows with 100-350 lb. calves, 760.00-930.00 per pair, few 970.00-1,175.00 per pair; Aged cows, 480.00-700.00 per pair.
Stock cows: Medium and Large #1-#2: 3 to 8 year old cows, bred 4 to 8 months, 590.00-780.00 per head.