Kentucky Program Ensures Safe Farm Products

By Blake Jackson

The University of Kentucky’s Division of Regulatory Services (DRS) plays a key role in making sure agriculture in the state is safe and fair. Though not widely known, this one-story campus building quietly supports consumers and farmers by testing seeds, feed, fertilizer, milk, and soil.

DRS enforces four important state laws related to the quality and labeling of animal feed, fertilizers, seeds, and raw milk. The division also works with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to monitor hemp and agricultural lime.

Stephen McMurry, the executive director since early 2025, began working with DRS in 1998. With a team of about 50 people, including nine field inspectors, the division collects and tests thousands of product samples each year.

“We help keep things fair for everyone — whether you’re a farmer buying fertilizer, a feed manufacturer trying to stay compliant or a consumer who just wants confidence in what they’re buying,” said Stephen McMurry, newly appointed DRS executive director. “If you’ve ever bought seed, feed or fertilizer in Kentucky, chances are our team helped make sure it was labeled honestly and met state and federal standards.”

The Feed and Milk Program, led by Alan Harrison, tests around 3,000 animal feed samples and 200 raw milk shipments annually. Feed is checked for proper nutrient levels, and milk is tested for butterfat and protein so farmers and buyers get fair value.

Jonathan Collett leads the seed testing lab, which checks both store-bought and farmer-submitted seeds for purity, germination, and weed contamination. About 3,000 seed samples are tested every year to ensure labels are truthful.

In the soils and laboratories program, now led by Solomon Kariuki, labs in Lexington and Princeton process up to 40,000 soil samples annually. These tests help determine nutrient levels and guide proper fertilizer use. The lab also checks ag lime and hemp samples to meet state laws.

“Any major changes usually come from law or budgetary adjustments,” said Stephen McMurry. “Still, our guiding principle remains: consumer protection and a fair marketplace. We exist so that what people buy is what they actually get and that reputable businesses aren’t undercut by unregistered or substandard products.”

Photo Credit: university-of-kentucky