According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture the number of Kentucky farms has dropped by 6,500.    With there being far fewer small farms which are under 180 acres.   Farm shortage can be related to fewer young families continuing to farm.  The land is then sold and purchased for development.

It is a struggle to be a young farmer in the state of Kentucky. The cost to purchase and operate a family farm is extremely expensive to due the rising cost of land prices.  Not to mention the rising cost of inputs such as equipment, supplies, fertilizers, soil etc.

Cooperative Extension Service offers services that are available free of charge to help farmers.   These services include hay and soil testing, plant and insect disease diagnostic services and access to University of Kentucky Extension Agents and Specialists.

Greenup County Extension Agriculture Agent worked closely with a small farm family on an ornamental chrysanthemum decline problem this summer.  The farmer had planted the chrysanthemum crop in pots to grow in the spring. In July the farmer noticed a decline in the crop with a large percentage of the crop turning yellow and stunting.   Without intervention the crop was going to be a financial loss.  

The chrysanthemums were taken to the University of Kentucky Diagnostic laboratory for analysis by the Greenup County Extension Agriculture Agent.  The laboratory concluded after two days that the plants had an iron deficiency.   The problem was easily corrected within a couple of weeks with applying iron and fertilizer.   

The University of Kentucky Diagnostic Laboratory report and information was instrumental in saving the small farmer’s crop. The young farm family sold 1,334 for a total of $13,340 this fall.