As many hay producers make their first cutting, they are finding lower-than-normal yields. The lower yields are due to a variety of reasons and depend on the type of hay produced and the producer’s location, said Ray Smith, extension forage specialist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.

An unseasonably mild winter and a warm March allowed the hay crop to mature quicker than normal. But many areas in Western Kentucky have had very little rain this spring, which could be one explanation for lower yields of grass hay. 

Kentuckians in the 21 counties who have lost work or whose businesses were damaged due to severe weather that occurred Feb. 29 – March 3, 2012, may be eligible for disaster unemployment assistance.

The counties in which DUA is currently available are: Ohio, Bath, Campbell, Carroll, Grant, Grayson, Kenton, Johnson, LaRue, Lawrence, Laurel, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan,  Pendleton, Rowan, Russell, Trimble and Wolfe. The deadline to apply is April 16.

The Green River Area Community Foundation (GRACF) named G. Dan Griffith of Owensboro its new executive director at a press conference this morning at the Chase Bank Building in downtown Owensboro.

According to Jiten Shah, outgoing chairman of the Foundation and chair of the search committee, “Griffith is uniquely qualified to lead the Green River Area Community Foundation because of his involvement in both state and community philanthropic organizations and his experience in non‐profit management.”