Agriculture economists at the University of Kentucky (UK) are forecasting an upturn in cash receipts from horses in the Bluegrass state in 2013 after the equine industry experienced steady sales in 2012.

While total 2012 cash crop receipts for Kentucky won’t be released by the USDA until mid-2013, projections for this year and next were provided Dec. 6 during the annual meeting of the Kentucky Farm Bureau in Louisville, Ky.

Also, during an interview with the Louisville Courier-Journal at the meeting, state Agriculture Commissioner James Comer said he expects a casino bill to be presented during the 2013 session of the state’s General Assembly that convenes in January 2013.

"After dropping drastically in 2009 and 2010, Kentucky equine receipts rallied considerably in 2011, reaching $800 million," the UK agriculture economists report said. "Receipts are still well off the $1 billion levels reached in 2006-08, but this change was a welcomed improvement since the market had previously experienced weak sales. Sales were steady during 2012, but prices were generally improved. Total receipts are likely to decrease slightly in 2012, but the equine market appears to be showing signs of improvement