<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" version="2.0">
  <channel>
    <title>Bourbon County</title>
    <link>https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/in-your-community/bourbon-county</link>
    <description>Bourbon County</description>
    <copyright>Copyright Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.</copyright>
    <lastBuildDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 22:55:57 GMT</lastBuildDate>
    <atom:link href="https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/in-your-community/bourbon-county.rss" type="application/rss+xml" rel="self" />
    <item>
      <title>'If you want to gamble, go farming': Bourbon County farmer hit hard by drought</title>
      <link>https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/in-your-community/if-you-want-to-gamble-go-farming-bourbon-county-farmer-hit-hard-by-drought</link>
      <description>The U.S. Drought Monitor shows Bourbon County as being in a 'moderate' drought.  Farmer Tim Pope tells LEX 18 it feels more than moderate.</description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 22:55:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Ellen Ice</author>
      <guid>https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/in-your-community/if-you-want-to-gamble-go-farming-bourbon-county-farmer-hit-hard-by-drought</guid>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<html lang="en">    <head>        <meta charset="utf-8">        <meta property="op:markup_version" content="v1.0">                    <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/in-your-community/if-you-want-to-gamble-go-farming-bourbon-county-farmer-hit-hard-by-drought">                <meta property="fb:article_style" content="default">    </head>            <p>The U.S. Drought Monitor shows Bourbon County as being in a 'moderate' drought. Farmer Tim Pope tells LEX 18 it feels more than moderate.</p><p>"You want to gamble and play the lottery, go farming," said Pope, who owns Pope Family Farms.</p><p>Right now, he says they're projected to lose at least 20% of this season's revenue due to weather conditions. His pastures are nearly bare, and its forcing him to supplement his beef cattle's feed.</p><p>He says he has relied more on his greenhouses to get his crops a running start before planting them during this unpredictable Kentucky spring.</p><p>"You typically just put a lot more time and money into a dry year and have a lot less yield," said Pope.</p><p>He tells LEX 18 farming is a risky business - one that he hopes his community appreciates.</p><p>"You can work 80, 90 hours a week and put in the same effort and have a totally different result," said Pope. "We aren't guaranteed a paycheck or pension you just go with it and pray and hope you make it in the long run."</p><p>To see drought conditions across the Commonwealth, <a href="https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?fips_21017">click here</a>.</p>    </html>]]></content:encoded>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>
