As Commissioner of Agriculture, I know the value, both from a quality-of-life standpoint and economically, agriculture has for Kentucky and its residents. The positive agricultural bills passed …

The Trump Administration may grant U.S. agriculture special exemptions from parts of its ever-changing tariff regime but it can’t exempt it from everyday economic reality. That mainstay of …

Kentucky Pork producers Eric Heard and Sarah Hawkins traveled to Washington D.C. on April 8 through April 10 to participate in the National Pork Producers Council Spring Legislative Action Conference …

M edicaid looks to be one of the big corks Congress hopes will help plug an estimated $4.7 trillion flood of red ink that accompanies tax cuts Republicans plan to pass this spring. They’re …

Down goes Frazier.” I have heard that quote many times this week with the passing of the former boxing heavyweight champion, George Foreman. In 1973, Foreman defeated Joe Frasier to capture the …

I believe in the future of agriculture… Many of us grew up saying these words as we began to recite the FFA Creed in high school, and I would bet most of you readers could finish that first …

Serving as president of the American Soybean Association has been interesting at least and challenging at most, and I am only three months in! I was elected in December of 2024, and, as you all know, …

I couldn’t imagine a more appropriate theme for National Ag Day 2025 than what the Agriculture Council of America chose, Together We Grow, especially for my current life season. Starting a new …

If it’s Tuesday, the White House’s long promised tariffs against Canada and Mexico are on again but if it’s Thursday, they–well, many that its Big Biz backers don’t …

I remember soon after I became a Christian I starting feeling a condemnation that I was suddenly supposed to do everything right. People would be watching me and I needed to be holy. It was a guilt …

Even when Speaker of the House Mike Johnson finds enough baling wire to lash together the votes needed to pass the split, almost six-months late 2023 federal budget, it’s little more than a …

I am not a guy who knows a great deal about music, but as meeting season closes out, I can’t help but hear Johnny Cash singing in my head. You see, in 1996, the Man in Black released a song …

FFA chapters and agriculture teachers all across Kentucky need your help.  If you are not currently active in helping a local FFA chapter or high school/middle school agriculture education (ag …

Kentucky 4-H consist of agents, volunteers, alumni and supporters who choose each day to assist youth in finding their spark and helping them thrive; these individuals play a vital role in the life …

Dairy farming in the summer of 2023 has been extremely challenging.   The huge milk price drop of over 30 percent coupled with high feed prices has put a strain on all dairymen.   Dairy …

At the height of the mid-August heat wave, I was relieved when an old friend canceled his planned trip to attend a sprawling, old farm machinery show amid central Illinois’ endless, sweltering …

The real answer to that question is Kentucky and Kentucky agriculture. I have the honor to chair and present the Kentucky Poultry Federation scholarships each year at our annual meeting in October. …

A U.S. Department of Agriculture grant could mean big things for some Kentucky agricultural producers. Recently, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture was awarded $8.6 million through the …

When asked to describe war, Union General William T. Sherman noted that “War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it.” Later, in a speech, Sherman did refine his easily forgettable …

I’ve been thinking about storytelling. We are overwhelmed with information, nearly everywhere we turn. How do we cut through the noise and tell a memorable story that leaves a lasting impact on …

I   am involved in a number of organizations, from the county level to serving as a member of the Executive Committee of the American Soybean Association. Each organization is unique, but I …