“As agriculture continues to evolve and change, it is imperative that we have a support system that can provide the information necessary to today’s farmers in a timely and professional fashion. However, we must all work together and pool our resources so that we have this Grain and Forage Center of Excellence to ensure that agriculture meets the demand of the consumer to feed, fuel and clothe our world!” — Ryan Bivens, Farm Bureau National Farmer of the Year

“We are pleased that our checkoff dollars were invested in land to help UK researchers complete studies to benefit farmers in Central Kentucky.” — Jim Barton and Bob Barton, Kentucky farmers

“Among the unique features of Kentucky agriculture is its latitude. Lexington straddles the 38th parallel... (Other) grazing lands which share this attribute include: Central Virginia, southern Missouri, the flint hills of Kansas as well as the Pampas of Argentina and New Zealand. We can grow grass–and not just KY 31 fescue. The fact that Kentucky is home to more cattle than any other state east of the Mississippi River is a great place to start to take our forages to a new level. To capitalize on this resource, we need to manage the resource as well as the livestock which harvest it. Livestock and forages share a symbiotic relationship, after all.” — Bill Payne, Kentucky farmer

“No-tillage agriculture, pioneered by UK professor Dr. Shirley Phillips, greatly advanced soil conservation and reversed long-term soil degradation from the loss of soil organic matter. In the last 30 years, this system has resulted in a 200 percent increase in Brazil’s agricultural productivity. This is why, with the advent of the 50th anniversary of no-tillage in Brazil, the Brazilian Federation of No-Tillage honors Dr. Phillip's contribution not only to Brazil's agriculture but to the world's.” — Franke Dijkstra, Brazilian farmer

Dr. Chris Teutsch is an extension agronomist in Forages who has joined our team at the University of Kentucky. Chris moved into to his new (soon-to-be-renovated) office at the Research and Education Center in Princeton the first of January. He is getting the basics, like phones and emails working and he is starting to make the rounds to visit people. Back when Chris agreed to join our team, we asked him to become part of our task force. Now that he is here, he can focus more attention on forage issues regarding Kentucky and regarding the Grain and Forage Center of Excellence.