Kentucky.gov

118 out of 120 counties take part in the K.A.R.E Program

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Governor Steve Beshear today acknowledged the overwhelming participation in the Kentucky Agricultural Relief Effort (K.A.R.E.) by county organizations on behalf of Kentucky farm families.

The governor unveiled the $8.15 million K.A.R.E. initiative in March that is helping farmers whose crops were damaged by last spring’s late freeze and the extensive drought that occurred throughout the summer and fall.

“Not only did 118 out of 120 counties eligible take part in the K.A.R.E. program, but several counties committed additional County Agricultural Development Funds towards this initiative for a total of over $9 million,” said Gov. Beshear. “The cost-share assistance made available through the K.A.R.E. program is allowing our farmers to make needed improvements to help lessen the impact of future weather related disasters.”

The K.A.R.E. program is utilizing the infrastructure already created through the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board’s existing programs to help farmers make improvements and investments related to water availability and forage improvement.

K.A.R.E. Program information is posted on the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy’s website at http://agpolicy.ky.gov/drought/drought.shtml.

To date, Kentucky has invested more than $265 million to an array of county, regional and state projects designed to increase net farm income and create sustainable new farm-based business enterprises. Over 3,000 diversification projects have been funded through Agricultural Development Fund since 2001.

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