Final-minute touchdown by Southwestern drops East, 37-30

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I knew it - East Jessamine always were Colts at heart!...read more...

Final-minute touchdown by Southwestern drops East, 37-30

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Kind of looks like Mr. Stark had gotten bored reporting about East Jessamine in the third to last pa...read more...

Two candidates eyeing Jessamine County clerk seat

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Finally someone else running against her! Joseph Hagen, you have my vote and my support for your cam...read more...

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U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced in early February that the 2010 H-2A program rules will go into effect on March 15, 2010.

The biggest change for most producers is that wages are changing once again. In fact, producers are looking at around a $1.70 per hour increase in wages to employees.

Rick Alexander with the Agriculture Workforce Management Association (AWMA) explained that employers must continue to pay the higher of the federal minimum wage, the prevailing hourly wage, or the adverse effect wage rate. The difference is that the adverse effect wage rates in the 2010 rules will revert back to the National Ag Statistics Service Farm Labor Survey combined Field and Livestock Report, and the wages will be $9.71 for all crop activities for Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Along with the increase in wages, the rule also requires that the employer pay the visa and border crossing fees of the H-2A workers they employ and cover the costs associated with the transportation from the worker’s place of recruitment to and from the place of employment.

Alexander did say that employers that have already submitted their H-2A application and have agreed to take at least one worker before May 15 would fall under the 2008 Final Rule.

For those that haven’t filed their paperwork, Alexander recommends employers should contact their contractors to find out when the deadline is for applications.

To review a list of highlights of the new 2010 H-2A rules visit the AWMA Web site at www.awmalabor.com.

For more information about the new H-2A Rule, visit www.dol.gov.

Kentucky Dairy Partners to meet

The third annual Kentucky Dairy Partners meeting is set for March 2 and 3 at the Cave City Convention Center.

Dairy producers, industry representatives and anyone interested in the dairy industry are welcome to attend.

Exhibit viewing begins March 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. and continues throughout the meeting. Participants can register at 8:30 a.m. March 3.

Sessions will start at 9:20 a.m.

Opening sessions include a presentation about educating the public about the dairy industry from Chuck Cruickshank of Dairy Management, Inc. and information about feeding dry cows from University of Illinois Extension Dairy Specialist Mike Hutjens, a regular contributor to Hoard’s Dairyman magazine.

University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Extension Dairy Specialist Jack McAllister will lead a discussion titled “Past Research and Extension Gave Us Today’s Practices — What Does the Future Hold?”

The day will wrap up with “Lessons Learned from Weathering the Storms,” a farmer-led panel discussion.The fee for other participants is $25 per person.

All registrations will be taken at the door.

To view a complete schedule, visit www.uky. edu/ag/AnimalSciences/Dairy/schedule.pdf.

Sheep-shearing school in March

Some of the most basic skills in sheep management are the most important.

For instance, learning to shear the animal to separate it from its winter wool is vital to having a quality flock.

Producers who shear their own sheep can save valuable dollars and have the satisfaction of making their enterprise more self-sufficient.

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture will offer sheep producers a chance to learn shearing techniques in a hands-on shearing school for beginners March 30 at UK’s Animal Research Center in Woodford County.

“Shearing is an important part of a good sheep management program” said Don Ely, UK sheep coordinator and professor of ruminant nutrition in the College of Agriculture’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences. “This hands-on school will offer students an opportunity to learn about equipment care and management, wool care and actual shearing.”

Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. Preregistration begins March 1 online at www.uky.edu/afs/sheep/sheepinfo.html.

A registration fee of $75 is due by Tuesday, March 23.

For more information, call or e-mail Ely at 859-257-2717, dely@ uky.edu.

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