Cash receipts from sales of horses and stud fees in Kentucky again made equines the top agriculture product in 2008, according to state agriculture commissioner Richie Farmer.

Horse sales and stud fees totaled $1.08 billion, down 4% from 2007, as Kentucky farmers reported a record $4.84 billion in farm gate cash receipts in 2008.

“Our producers keep raising the bar year after year,” Farmer said. “They had some difficulties to overcome last year–a very dry summer and declining commodity prices the second half of the year. Yet Kentucky’s farmers rose to the occasion and set another record while exceeding $4 billion for the fourth time in the past five years. I congratulate them on a job well done.”

Farmer expressed confidence that Kentucky’s producers will have another banner year in 2009