The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Ernie Fletcher, approved $3,807,412 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth at the monthly Board Meeting on June 18 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

Agricultural Development Fund Projects approved for funding at the June meeting include:

$5,060             Bullitt County Chamber of Commerce

The Bullitt County Chamber of Commerce was approved for $5,060 in Bullitt County funds to purchase tents, tables and certified scales for the Bullitt County Farmer’s Market.

The Caldwell County Conservation District was approved for $1,000 in Caldwell County funds to conduct a Progressive Farmer Home and Farm Safety Day at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton, Kentucky.

The Fulton County 4-H Club was approved for $420 in Fulton County funds to assist with the development of the local 4-H program. Fulton County funds will be used to establish a library of educational books, CD ROMs and videos to be made available to all 4-H students for education purposes.   Funds will also be used to purchase metal panels to construct a show ring, for training and educational purposes.

The Meade County Farmers’ Market, Inc. was approved for $1,000 in Meade County funds for the marketing and promotion of the Meade County Farmers’ Market.

$105,000         Metcalfe County Conservation District

The Metcalfe County Conservation District was approved for $105,000 in Metcalfe County funds to implement a lime cost-share program for local producers.

The Owen County Farm Bureau was approved for $31,800 in Owen County funds to establish a lime cost-share program for local producers.

$6,290             Riverview Farmers’ Market

The Riverview Farmers’ Market was approved for $6,290 in Carroll County funds to purchase tables, certified scales and tents for use at the market. Carroll County funds will also be used for signs and additional promotional materials for the Riverview Farmers’ Market.

Siemer Milling Company was approved for $5,000 in Caldwell County, $75,000 in Christian County, $33,947 in Simpson County, $60,000 in Todd County and $826,053 in state funds as a forgivable loan to construct a new wheat mill at the current facility in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The new mill will purchase non-food grade wheat flour at prices comparable to food grade flour, to be used in the production of glue extender. Siemer’s new facility will create for Kentucky producers a market for wheat which would otherwise be rejected or sold at deep discounts. 

$7,000             Webster County Conservation District

The Webster County Conservation District was approved for $7,000 in Webster County funds to purchase a manure spreader for a shared-use program for Webster County producers.

County model programs are designed to provide farmers with cost-share funding to allow them to improve and diversify their current production practices. The Agricultural Diversification program is designed to assist in the transition into ten new areas of agriculture including dairy, aquaculture, and horticulture. The Fencing Improvement program improves net farm income through improved pasture quantity, quality and efficient use of fencing for livestock producers. The Forage Improvement program improves pastures to allow for improved grazing by animals, reducing producer costs for feed, and improving feed quality.  The Cattle Handling and Cattle Genetics programs allow for assistance to purchase equipment and animals to improve the health and profitability of cattle.  The Goat Diversification program works to assist producers to venture into this relatively new area of agriculture in Kentucky.  The Hay, Straw, & Commodity Storage program allows producers to increase the quality and marketability of products to improve the overall farm income.  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. The County Model Revolving Loan Program will give counties the ability to invest county funds in a loan program that will last beyond the life of Phase I funds. The following is a list of county model programs that were approved for funding at this meeting.

County Agricultural Diversification Programs approved by the Board totaled $392,166 and included:

$60,000           Barren County

$30,180           Casey County

$29,486           Jessamine County

$65,000           Marion County

$25,000           Nelson County

$26,500           Owen County

$53,500           Scott County

$102,500         Taylor County

County Fencing Improvement Programs approved by the Board totaled $472,250 and included:

$75,000           Gallatin County

$51,500           Kenton County                       

$212,000         Owen County

$133,750         Scott County

County Forage Improvement Programs approved by the Board totaled $83,340 and included:

$19,000           Caldwell County

$25,000           Grayson County                     

$26,500           Owen County

$12,840           Scott County

County Forage Improvement – Shared Use Program approved by the Board totaled $11,515 and included:

$11,515.00      Crittenden County

County Cattle Genetics Improvement Programs approved by the Board totaled $136,500 and included:

$55,000           Breckinridge County

$40,000           Casey County                        

$35,000           Hancock County

$6,500             Webster County

County Goat Diversification Programs approved by the Board totaled $163,505 and included:

$35,000           Adair County

$8,125             Anderson County

$50,000           Casey County 

$20,000           Gallatin County

$10,000           Nelson County 

$10,600           Owen County

$4,280             Scott County

$25,500           Taylor County

County Cattle Handling Programs approved by the Board totaled $529,116 and included:

$19,000           Caldwell County

$125,000         Casey County

$52,500           Estill County

$35,000           Gallatin County

$20,000           Hancock County

$100,000         Marion County

$42,400           Owen County 

$50,000           Rockcastle County

$24,610           Scott County

$50,000           Taylor County

$10,606           Webster County

County Hay, Straw and Commodity Storage Programs approved by the Board totaled $595,300 and included:

$83,200           Cumberland County

$75,000           Gallatin County

$35,000           Hancock County 

$50,500           Hart County

$93,000           Nelson County

$53,000           Owen County

$40,000           Robertson County

$85,600           Scott County       

$80,000           Taylor County                       

County On-Farm Water Enhancement Programs approved by the Board totaled $166,150 and included:

$118,000         Fayette County                       

$48,150           Scott County

County Revolving Loan Program approved by the Board totaled $100,000 and included:

$100,000         Ohio County

The Kentucky Legislature 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 1750 proposals committing over $160 million to an array of county, regional, and state projects designed to increase net farm income and create sustainable new farm-based business enterprises.