 In December 2010, he launched a joint investigation with Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway into claims that the Eastern Livestock company had not paid Kentucky cattlemen for $130 million in livestock.Farmer was limited to two terms by the Kentucky Constitution, and in October 2009, the "Lexington Herald-Leader" reported that he was "in discussions" about running for governor in the 2011 election.In August 2010, Farmer announced that he would be "running for something" in the upcoming election and would announce his plans within weeks after the Kentucky State Fair.