After years of legislative consideration, the University of Kentucky (“UK”) recently harvested in mere minutes its first legal hemp crop under the Industrial Hemp Program. In September, UK yielded ten-foot stalks at Spindletop Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. The harvest marked Kentucky’s first legal hemp harvest in seventy years. UK planted the hemp in conjunction with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (“KDA”) under the Industrial Hemp Program (“Program”) established by the Federal Farm Bill.
No Horsing Around: Brits Announce Zero-Tolerance Steroid Policy
In the Bluegrass State, the fall season is yet another reason to celebrate Kentucky’s title as the horse capital of the world. Most notably, Keeneland’s September horse sale is the world’s largest yearling sale, attracting both domestic and international buyers. However, a new regulation set forth by the British Horseracing Authority limiting the use of anabolic steroids in horses poses a potential threat to future horse sales worldwide.
California is Waging War on Plastic Bags
On Tuesday, California Governor Edmund Gerald “Jerry” Brown signed into law Senate Bill 270, executing the nation’s first statewide prohibition against grocery stores providing single-use plastic bags as a way to address litter concerns. "This bill is a step in the right direction -- it reduces the torrent of plastic polluting our beaches, parks and even the vast ocean itself," Brown said. "We're the first to ban these bags, and we won't be the last."
Pipeline Pipe Dreams: Natural Gas Pipelines Face Strong Opposition While Attempting to Gain Easements
The modern world requires an ever-increasing amount of energy in order to heat homes, cook food, generate electricity, and provide for the desires of the consuming public. As a result, natural gas is very important to the continued functioning of daily society. Despite its importance, many natural gas companies face opposition from environmental activists and concerned citizens who fear the repercussions of having a pipeline full of combustible material travelling through their land and near their homes.
How the Kentucky Grape and Wine Council’s Grants Promote Kentucky Wineries
With a seemingly Dionysian blessing, Kentucky has once again become a wine producing state. Prior to Prohibition, “Kentucky was the third largest grape and wine producing state in the nation.” Prohibition, which placed a cork in this production, deeply hurt Kentucky wineries with the resurgence of Kentucky wineries occurring only in the past two decades. “‘Ten years ago, Kentucky had only two or three wineries….” Now, over sixty wineries and vineyards thrive in Kentucky.
Coming to a Cornfield Near You: The Global Race to Precision Agriculture and Use of UAVs
The days of the horse-drawn plow are far behind us, and the age of precision agriculture is quickly taking over. By “collecting real-time data on weather, soil and air quality, crop maturity and even equipment and labor costs and availability” farmers can make predictive decisions about how to manage their crops. Scientists around the world believe that precision agriculture will be the solution to answering the world’s food production challenges that will inevitably arise as the global population increases.
The Cost of Being Beautiful
Urban Decay NAKED eye shadow palette (pictured above): $54.00. Guerlain Exceptional Complete Mascara: $52.00. Make Up For Ever foundation: $42.00 for one ounce. Crème de la Mer moisturizing face cream: $295.00 for two ounces. Many women swear by these products, despite the lofty price tags. The cost of being beautiful is high, and some consumers are turning to online shopping to find deals on name-brand cosmetics.
Coal Country Can’t Catch A Tax Break
Kentucky has long been known for its coal resources. Other than environmental opposition, coal companies encounter further obstacles in business practices via Congressional acts imposing stricter standards for any company that adversely impacts the environment. In recent litigation, coal companies attempt to fight back, but not with the stringent regulations of which they are required to comply, but the taxes imposed on exported coal.