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Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
$689,245 Invested in Kentucky Agricultural Diversification
Frankfort, Ky. -The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Steve Beshear, approved $689,245 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth during their monthly board meeting on Friday, October 17 at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office in Frankfort, Ky.
State and County Agricultural Development Fund projects approved for funding at the October meeting include:
$485,000 Foothills Products and Services, Inc.
Foothills Products and Services, Inc. was approved for County Agriculture Development Funds from Clay County ($2,000), Clinton County ($1,000), Russell County ($3,000), Pulaski County (2,500), Wayne County ($5,000) and a $471,500 loan in state funds to purchase Foothills Country Meats, a USDA inspected custom processing facility.
$7,500 Franklin County High School
Franklin County High School was approved for $7,500 in Franklin County funds to build a greenhouse on the grounds of Franklin County High School.
$20,000 Johns Custom Meats, LLC
Johns Custom Meats, LLC was approved for $10,000 in Barren County funds and $10,000 in Warren County funds to complete the construction of their current livestock processing facility and purchase new equipment.
Menu Approach Programs
$50,000 Appalachian Alternative Agriculture of Jackson County
Appalachian Alternative Agriculture of Jackson County was approved for $50,000 in Jackson County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with four model programs including: Dairy Diversification, Goat & Sheep Diversification, Swine Diversification, and Timber Production, Utilization & Marketing.
$31,200 Carroll County Agriculture Development Fund, Inc.
Carroll County Agriculture Development Fund, Inc. was approved for $31,200 in Carroll County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with six model programs including: Cattle Genetics Improvement, Cattle Handling Facilities, Farm Livestock Fencing Improvement, Forage Improvement & Utilization, and Hay, Straw, & Commodity Storage, and On Farm Water Enhancement.
$5,200 Carroll County Agriculture Development Fund, Inc.
The Carroll County Agriculture Development Fund, Inc. was approved for $5,200 in Carroll County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with six model programs including: Agricultural Diversification, Dairy Diversification, Goat & Sheep Diversification, Swine Diversification, Technology, and Timber Production, Utilization & Marketing.
County model programs are designed to provide farmers with cost-share funding to allow them to improve and diversify their current production practices. For more information regarding the sign-up period and guidelines of programs funded in a specific county please contact the County Cooperative Extension Office.
The Agricultural Diversification Program is designed to assist producers in the development and expansion of new agricultural products and through the development of new ways of working with existing agricultural commodities. There are twelve investment areas represented in this program. County Agricultural Diversification programs approved by the Board totaled $52,500 and included:
$52,500 Bath County
The Cattle Genetics Improvement Program increases the genetic quality of beef and dairy cattle in Kentucky through the selection of superior sires, either through purchase/lease of sires or artificial insemination (AI). County Cattle Genetics Improvement programs approved by the Board totaled $37,445 and included:
$37,445 Clinton County
The Shared-use Equipment Program allows producers who cannot justify ownership expenses associated with certain equipment by helping them access technology necessary to improve their operations in an economical manner. County Shared-use Equipment programs approved by the Board totaled $400 and included:
$400 McCreary County
Governor Beshear and the Kentucky Legislature continue to make great strides toward lessening Kentucky’s dependence on tobacco production while revitalizing the farm economy by investing 50 percent of Kentucky's Master Settlement Agreement into the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund. To date, Kentucky has invested more than $269 million to an array of county, regional and state projects designed to increase net farm income and create sustainable new farm-based business enterprises. The diversification programs represent more than 3,391 projects that have been funded through the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, since the inception of the program in January 2001.
*Please contact the County Cooperative Extension Office for more information regarding model programs and when the sign ups will be held in your county.
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