Kentucky Agriculture Helps Keep Economy Strong

May 01, 2019 at 07:48 AM CST
Kentucky is best known for horses at this time of year, and the most recent Census of Agriculture shows horses aren’t the only livestock contributing to the agricultural economy. Results from the 2017 Census of Agriculture show that producers raised and sold over $5.7 billion worth of crops and livestock. The 145^th Kentucky Derby is May 4 and likely the winner will have been raised in Kentucky. In fact, 110 of the previous winners have been Kentucky born horses, including 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. While horses are an important part of our agriculture, poultry, cattle, and several field crops contribute significantly to farm sales. Production of chickens and eggs accounted for $1.3 billion in sales, the leading enterprise on farms in 2017. Most of the poultry is raised in Western and South Central Kentucky near grain production. Kentucky ranked 8^th in the sale of chickens nationwide, and 14^th in the sale of chickens and eggs.

May 01, 2019 at 07:48 AM CST

Kentucky is best known for horses at this time of year, and the most recent Census of Agriculture shows horses aren’t the only livestock contributing to the agricultural economy. Results from the 2017 Census of Agriculture show that producers raised and sold over $5.7 billion worth of crops and livestock.

The 145^th Kentucky Derby is May 4 and likely the winner will have been raised in Kentucky. In fact, 110 of the previous winners have been Kentucky born horses, including 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. While horses are an important part of our agriculture, poultry, cattle, and several field crops contribute significantly to farm sales.

Production of chickens and eggs accounted for $1.3 billion in sales, the leading enterprise on farms in 2017. Most of the poultry is raised in Western and South Central Kentucky near grain production. Kentucky ranked 8^th in the sale of chickens nationwide, and 14^th in the sale of chickens and eggs.