Kentucky
Capital: Frankfort
Population: 4,092,891
Founded: June 1, 1792 (15th state)
State Bird: Cardinal
State Tree: Tulip Tree
State Flower: Goldenrod
Number of Counties: 120
Largest City: Lexington Population: 260,512
Climate
The state of Kentucky has a moderate
climate, characterized by warm, yet moist
conditions. Summers are usually warm, and
winters cool.
Monthly average temperatures range from a
high of 87.6° F to a low of 23.1° F.
Kentucky’s weather patterns are influenced
by the Gulf of Mexico, especially during
summer.
Much of Kentucky’s average 46" of precipitation
a year falls in spring, the rainiest
season. From south to north, precipitation
decreases.
Southern Kentucky receives the highest
average precipitation, about 50" a year, while
the north averages only 40".
Kentucky is located in a path several storm
systems follow. Storms happen year-round;
however most storms occur between March
and September.
Soil
The Crider soils are extensive, making up
about 500,000 acres in Kentucky and occurring
in 35 counties in the state.
The Crider series consists of very deep, well
drained, moderately permeable soils on
uplands.
The Crider series was established in Caldwell
County, Kentucky, in 1957. It is named after a
community in the county.
Crider soils are highly productive. Corn, small
grain, soybeans, tobacco, and hay are the main
crops grown in this soil.
General
Farmland covers 13,600,000 acres, or 54%, of
the total acreage in the state.
Kentucky has about 90,000 farms. It ranks 4th in
the number of farms behind Texas, Missouri
and Iowa and is tied with Tennessee.
The average size of a Kentucky farm is 151
acres.
Crops
Lexington is the world’s largest burley
tobacco market. Annually, Kentucky produces
262,500,000 pounds of burley tobacco.
Union county is the top producing county of
both corn and soybeans in the state.
Kentucky ranks 2nd in the production of nonalfalfa
hay. In 2000 they grew 5,280,000 tons.
Animals
Livestock and livestock products account for
about half of Kentucky’s farm income.
Kentucky ranks 1st in both the thoroughbred
horse breeding industry and in the value of
sales at $790 million.
Kentucky ranks 8th in Total Head of Cattle with
1,060,000.
