Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
$4,654,561 Invested in Kentucky Agricultural Diversification
Frankfort, KY. (May 19, 2006)-The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Ernie Fletcher, approved $4,654,561 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth during their monthly board meeting on May 19, 2006 at Embassy Suites in Lexington, Kentucky.
State and County Agricultural Development Fund projects approved for funding at the May meeting include:
$364,816 Henry County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc.
The Henry County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc. was approved for $364,816 in Henry County funds to administer a menu approach for nine model programs including the Cattle Genetic Improvement Program, Cattle Handling Facilities Program, Farm Livestock Fencing Program, Hay Straw & Commodity Storage Program, Technology Program, Goat & Sheep Diversification Program, Dairy Diversification Program, Timber Program and the Agricultural Diversification Program.
$84,000 Powell County Livestock Producers Association Inc.
Powell County Livestock Producers Association Inc. was approved for $84,000 in Powell County funds to administer a menu approach for three model programs including the Hay, Straw & Commodity Storage Program, Farm Livestock Fencing Program, and the Forage Improvement and Utilization Program.
$130,362 Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc.
Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc. was approved for $130,362 in Franklin County Funds to administer a menu approach for six model programs including the Cattle Genetic Improvement Program, Cattle Handling Facilities Program, Hay Straw & Commodity Storage Program, Farm Livestock Fencing Program, Technology Program and the Agricultural Diversification Program.
$134,000 Carroll County Agriculture Development Fund
Carroll County Agriculture Development Fund was approved for $134,000 in Carroll County funds to administer a menu approach for six model programs including the Cattle Genetic Improvement Program, Cattle Handling Facilities Program, Farm Livestock Fencing Program, Hay Straw & Commodity Storage Program, Forage Improvement & Utilization Program and the On-Farm Water Enhancement Program.
$30,000 Carroll County Agriculture Development Council
Carroll County Agriculture Development Fund was approved for $30,000 in Carroll County funds to administer a menu approach for four model programs including the Agricultural Diversification Program, Dairy Diversification Program, Timber Program, and the Goat and Sheep Diversification Program.
$190,000 Washington County Cattlemen Association, Inc.
Washington County Cattlemen Association, Inc. was approved for $190,000 in Washington County funds to administer a menu approach for five model programs including the Hay Straw & Commodity Storage Program, Cattle Genetic Improvement Program, Cattle Handling Facilities Program, Farm Livestock Fencing Program, and the Forage Improvement and Utilization Program.
$54,690 Oldham County Farm Bureau Federation
Oldham County Farm Bureau Federation was approved for $54,690 in Oldham County funds to administer a menu approach for ten model programs including the Cattle Genetic Improvement Program, Cattle Handling Facilities Program, Farm Livestock Fencing Program, Hay Straw & Commodity Storage Program, Technology Program, Goat & Sheep Diversification Program, Dairy Diversification Program, Timber Program Agricultural Diversification Program and the Swine Diversification Program.
$55,000 Ohio County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc.
Ohio County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc. was approved for $55,000 in Ohio County funds to administer a menu approach for five model programs including the Cattle Genetic Improvement Program, Cattle Handling Facilities Program, Forage Improvement & Utilization Program, On-Farm Water Enhancement Program and the Farm Livestock Fencing Program.
$200,000 Wayne County Agricultural Development Council, Inc.
Wayne County Agricultural Development Council, Inc. was approved for $200,000 in Wayne County funds to administer a menu approach for ten model programs including the Cattle Genetic Improvement Program, Cattle Handling Facilities Program, Farm Livestock Fencing Program, Hay Straw & Commodity Storage Program, Technology Program, Goat & Sheep Diversification Program, Dairy Diversification Program, Agricultural Diversification Program, Forage Improvement and Utilization, and the Swine Diversification Program.
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 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 $165,479 and included:
$25,541 Edmonson County
$13,000 Garrard County
$28,000 Hopkins County
$9,500 Madison County
$5,000 Mason County
$42,438 Scott County
$42,000 Washington County
The Cattle Genetic 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 $231,660 and included:
$25,160 Kenton County
$16,000 Laurel County
$30,000 Lincoln County
$40,000 Madison County
$50,000 Mason County
$40,000 Rockcastle County
$30,500 Scott County
The Cattle Handling Facilities program assists with the implementation of best management and health practices that augment efficient production and marketing opportunities for beef and dairy producers in the Commonwealth. County Cattle Handling Programs approved by the Board totaled $359,052 and included:
$81,000 Garrard County
$30,000 Lincoln County
$45,000 Madison County
$50,000 Mason County
$10,000 Meade County
$40,000 Rockcastle County
$15,000 Rowan County
$20,552 Scott County
$67,500 Taylor County
The Dairy Diversification program assists existing and new dairy producers throughout the Commonwealth in renovating and modernizing dairy facilities. County Dairy Diversification Programs approved by the Board totaled $107,875 and included:
$7,875 Edmonson County
$45,000 Lincoln County
$15,000 Mason County
$40,000 Taylor County
The Fencing Improvement program improves net farm income through improved pasture quantity, quality and efficient use of fencing for livestock producers. County Fencing Improvement Programs approved by the Board totaled $632,960 and included:
$81,000 Garrard County
$26,200 Kenton County
$100,000 Laurel County
$70,000 Madison County
$100,000 Mason County
$15,100 Meade County
$50,000 Metcalfe County
$100,000 Robertson County
$10,000 Rowan County
$80,660 Scott County
The Forage Improvement program improves pastures to allow for improved grazing by animals, reducing producer costs for feed, and improving feed quality. County Forage Improvement Programs approved by the Board totaled $571,426 and included:
$110,000 Bracken County
$33,416 Edmonson County
$28,000 Jessamine County
$80,000 Lincoln County
$130,000 Madison County
$40,737 Metcalfe County
$75,000 Pendleton County
$43,773 Scott County
$30,500 Taylor County
The Goat and Sheep Diversification program works to assist producers as they venture into goat and sheep production. County Goat Diversification Programs approved by the Board totaled $52,625 and included:
$26,300 Kenton County
$10,000 Laurel County
$5,000 Meade County
$5,000 Rowan County
The Hay, Straw, & Commodity Storage program allows producers to increase the quality and marketability of products to improve the overall farm income. County Hay, Straw and Commodity Storage Programs approved by the Board totaled $929,256 and included:
$150,000 Adair County
$41,000 Edmonson County
$79,000 Garrard County
$80,300 Graves County
$51,500 Kenton County
$70,000 Lincoln County
$50,000 Mason County
$16,100 Meade County
$108,396 Metcalfe County
$56,100 Ohio County
$70,000 Rockcastle County
$100,300 Taylor County
$10,000 Webster County
The On-Farm Water Enhancement program allows producers to adopt a proactive and systematic approach to expanding existing water supplies or to develop alternative water sources. County On-Farm Water Enhancement Programs approved by the Board totaled $47,730 and included:
$20,000 Metcalfe County
$27,730 Scott 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 $10,989 and included:
$1,725 Meade County
$9,264 Metcalfe County
The Technology program allows producers improve net farm income through cost share on technology that will improve farm operation efficiency and assist producers already exploring the use of technology in their operations. County Technology Programs approved by the Board totaled $320,526 and included:
$150,000 Christian County
$8,000 Garrard County
$105,000 Hardin County
$6,500 Madison County
$16,100 Meade County
$9,426 Scott County
$25,500 Taylor County
The Timber Production, Utilization & Marketing program allows producers to enhance timber production and processing on rural lands, while developing new revenue sources by growing and utilizing existing and new natural resources. County Timber Production, Utilization & Marketing Programs approved by the Board totaled $35,000 and included:
$13,000 Garrard County
$22,000 Scott County
The Governor Ernie Fletcher and the Kentucky General Assembly continues to make great strides towards lessening Kentucky’s dependence on tobacco production while revitalizing the farm economy by investing 50% of Kentucky's Master Settlement Agreement into the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund. Of this 50% allocation, 65% of the Fund is set aside for regional and statewide agricultural projects, while 35% is earmarked for individual counties on the basis of their tobacco dependence. Since the inception of the program in January 2001, the Agricultural Development Board has approved over 2,466 proposals committing over $205 million to an array of county, regional, and state projects designed to increase net farm income and create sustainable new farm-based business enterprises.
****** Please contact the County Extension Office for more information regarding the model programs and when the sign up will take place in your county.**********