Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles was in Elkton Thursday morning for the Todd County Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Appreciation Breakfast, outlining some of the successes and challenges for the farming industry.
Quarles noted agriculture makes up 20 percent of the state’s economy—second only to manufacturing—and it’s the top sector in Todd and most surrounding counties. He praised farmers for keeping the country fed during the pandemic and for working together and persevering during multiple recent bouts with severe weather.
He says cleanup from the December 10 and 11 tornadoes will remain a challenge across much of Kentucky, as farms that didn’t sustain significant damage may have been a landing zone for debris.
Commissioner Quarles says inflation is hurting farmers just like it is all Kentuckians and supply chain problems are being made worse by the conflict in Ukraine.
He says Kentucky has to be sure good use is made of federal dollars that are earmarked for expansion of high-speed broadband internet access in rural areas.
Quarles, who is thought to be a potential contender for the Republican nomination for governor in 2023, criticized Governor Andy Beshear for not communicating with his office or with the Kentucky Cattleman’s Association when American Foods Group was considering Commerce Park No. 2 near Pembroke as a potential site for a beef processing plant that would have created 1,400 jobs.
American eventually chose a location in Missouri after some local elected officials and Pembroke community members asked the company to look elsewhere due to multiple concerns—including increased traffic, lack of available workforce and potential odors from the plant.
H&R Agri-Power placed the winning $3,000 bid on a B&B Farms country ham, with the cash to go to the Todd County FFA and 4H chapters.
