Ryan Quarles said many ag initiatives are underway
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com
At a meeting with members of the Bowling Green Noon Rotary Club, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles said the state should be proud of its agricultural contributions.
“We are one of the nation’s leaders when it comes to farming and what you can do with it,” he said, according to the Bowling Green Daily News. “Farming is a story about small towns. It’s a story about family farms. It’s a story that almost every American can relate to if you go back far enough in your family tree.”
Quarles said the United States is producing more food with less land and credits Kentucky farmers, research and innovative agricultural practices for it.
During the meeting, Quarles also touched on developing alternative crops, notably industrial hemp.
“Industrial hemp has a future in our state. It’s a crop that connects our past to our future.” He added that over 4,000 acres of hemp have been planted and the department will also study hops, canola and chia.
He discussed the issue of people in Kentucky going to bed without a meal, and the anti-hunger initiative that’s being worked on.
“Some early solutions are helping farmers harvest unmarketable produce,” he said. “Some edible food goes to waste because of a few blemishes. That produce could be harvested and taken to food banks.”