Agriculture
House passes restrictions on filming food production, farming operations
After rejecting protections for whistleblowers and accidental violations, the House on Tuesday approved Senate Bill 16 restricting drone photography of food production plants and animal feeding operations. Democratic Rep. Al Gentry of Louisville offered an amendment protecting whistleblowers who film violations of safety or health laws.? Overbroad bill risks turning food plant workers, government inspectors, […]
‘Power grab,’ says Beshear of bill to move Fish and Wildlife to agriculture department
LOUISVILLE — Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear on Monday called a Republican-backed bill that would move the state’s wildlife management agency from his administration to the agriculture department an unconstitutional “power grab.”? Beshear also called out Senate Republicans for refusing to confirm his appointees to the Fish and Wildlife Commission.? “It’s time for them to stop […]
Divided Kentucky Senate advances bill attaching Fish and Wildlife to agriculture department
FRANKFORT — The GOP-dominated Senate narrowly advanced a controversial change for Kentucky’s wildlife management agency Friday while also voting to administratively attach the racing commission to the state agriculture department as well.? Sportsmen’s and wildlife conservation groups have strongly opposed the proposal, and lawmakers echoed their concerns during Friday’s debate.? Senate Bill 3, primarily sponsored […]
Kentucky hunters, anglers decry proposal to put Fish and Wildlife under agriculture department
FRANKFORT —Wildlife conservation and sportsmen groups on Tuesday voiced strong opposition to a bill that would put wildlife management under the purview of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and its Republican commissioner.? Senate Bill 3, sponsored by Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, would move the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) from the tourism […]
Kentucky Senate advances bill creating new hurdles for utilities to retire power plants
Republicans in the GOP-dominated Kentucky Senate advanced a bill Tuesday largely on a party line vote to create new hurdles before utilities can retire fossil fuel-fired power plants in the state, touting the legislation as a way to keep the state’s electricity supply reliable and available.? Senate Bill 349, backed by Senate President Robert Stivers, […]
Legislature should reject sludge regulations that could harm farmers, damage farmland
On March 11, the Administrative Regulations Review Subcommittee will consider a set of revisions to Energy and Environment Cabinet regulations that weaken protections for farmers, farmland and the public from the application of contaminated sludges from municipal wastewater treatment plants. Called “biosolids,” the sludges remaining from city treatment of residential, commercial and industrial wastes contain […]
Runway project at Bluegrass Station loses key support after local outcry
FRANKFORT — Key supporters of a proposed airport expansion at Bluegrass Station, a state-owned industrial park at Avon in Fayette County, have changed their tunes after strong local pushback. Sen. Steve West, who represents Bourbon County, on Tuesday became the latest to abandon his earlier support for including the project in the next state budget. […]
Kentucky Senate takes aim at ‘harassing’ drones photographing livestock, food production
FRANKFORT — A bill backed by Kentucky’s poultry industry and approved by the Senate Thursday would subject drone operators to new restrictions that opponents warn could help hide health and safety hazards in food production. Critics worry that Senate Bill 16, sponsored by Sen. John Schickel, a Republican from Northern Kentucky, could criminalize more activities […]
Warren Beeler will serve as Jonathan Shell’s deputy agriculture commissioner
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner-elect Jonathan Shell has named Warren Beeler, a veteran of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and a former University of Kentucky Extension specialist, as his deputy commissioner. Beeler, who served as Republican Shell’s campaign chairman, held positions in the state agriculture department for 17 years. Republican Gov. Matt Bevin in 2016 appointed him […]
How can Kentucky tackle veterinarian shortage? Working group presents its ideas.
Kentucky’s Veterinary Shortage Working Group met Tuesday to finalize a report 18 months in the making.? The report includes ways Kentucky can bring more veterinarians, especially those who practice on large animals, into the profession and give them further support to practice in Kentucky. The group, which is under the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, has […]
The ‘voice’ of Kentucky agriculture: Commissioner’s race takes a partisan turn
Any “red meat” in campaigns for commissioner of agriculture has usually pertained to Kentucky’s large beef herd — until now. Republican Jonathan Shell, a former state House floor leader, is dishing out political red meat in his quest for the office, vowing to fight “woke liberals,” serve as “guardian” to the “unborn” and “save” Kentucky […]
The farm bill is on the verge of expiring. Congress is months away from a new version.
WASHINGTON — As the deadline for Congress to pass a new farm bill looms this weekend, staff members of the House and Senate Agriculture committees say it will be months — if not longer — until they reach agreement on a new bill. Lawmakers must rewrite the sweeping farm bill every five years to set […]