The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Ernie Fletcher, approved $2,874,325 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth at the monthly Board Meeting on July 16 in Frankfort, Kentucky.

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

 $11,585           Anderson County Farm Bureau Federation
Anderson County Farm Bureau Federation was approved for $11,585 in Anderson County funds to purchase a lime spreader to establish a shared-use equipment program for producers in Anderson County.

$5,000             Boyd County Conservation District
Boyd County Conservation District was approved for $5,000 in Boyd County funds to establish a lime cost-share program for producers in Boyd County.

$75,000           Buffalo Trace Area Development District, Inc.
Buffalo Trace Area Development District, Inc. was approved for $75,000 in Robertson County funds to implement a Hay Handling project in Robertson County, as an extension of the Lewis County pilot project.

$2,000             Economic Development Authority, Inc.
Economic Development Authority, Inc. was approved for $2,000 in Spencer County funds to assist with the advertising of the Taylorsville Main Street Farmers’ Market.

$10,000           Farmer’s Market Association, Inc of Taylor County
Farmer’s Market Association, Inc was approved for $10,000 in Taylor County funds for an expansion to the existing Farmer’s Market structure which would include storage, water, electrical hookups, and a shelter area for producers.

$37,000           Franklin County Fair Board
The Franklin County Fair Board was approved for $37,000 in Franklin County funds to construct a covered, open-sided sale and exhibition pavilion.

$13,434           Hopkins County Conservation District
Hopkins County Conservation District was approved for $13,434 in Hopkins County funds to continue an agricultural and environmental education program for local students in K-8.

$17,260           Jackson Purchase RC&D Foundation
Jackson Purchase RC&D Foundation was approved for $17,260 in Graves County funds to establish a shade cloth cost-share program to assist tobacco and horticultural producers in Graves County.

$42,000           Jackson Purchase RC&D Foundation
Jackson Purchase RC& D Foundation was approved for $42,000 in Graves County funds to establish a cost-sharing program for equipment to implement precision agriculture into local farming operations.

$1,000,000      Little Kentucky Smokehouse, LLC
Little Kentucky Smokehouse, LLC (LKS) was approved for $1,000,000 in state funds as a forgivable loan to expand their meat processing plant, with an emphasis on pork products that will have an annual capacity of fourteen million pounds. This expansion project will allow LKS to develop a source verified “Kentucky Fresh” pork product line, utilizing Kentucky raised hogs.

$8,142             Owsley County Conservation District
Owsley County Conservation District was approved for $8,142 in Owsley County funds for the purchase a manure spreader and two post hole diggers for shared-use.

$37,750           Sheltowee Farm, Inc.
Sheltowee Farm, Inc. was approved for $3,000 in Bath County and $34,750 in state funds as a forgivable loan for the expansion of year-round organic mushroom production and to increase production and add variety to help secure larger market contracts for Kentucky grown mushrooms.

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 eleven new areas of agriculture including dairy, aquaculture, and horticulture. County Agricultural Diversification Programs approved by the Board totaled $230,532 and included:

$3,472             Campbell County                   
$20,000           Daviess County                     
$26,250           Edmonson County                 
$25,000           Elliott County              
$28,310           Fleming County                     
$36,000           Logan County
$10,000           Nelson County                       
$40,000           Robertson County
$31,500           Washington 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 $297,631 and included:

$60,000           Boone County                        
$32,631           Elliot County                       
$60,000           Fleming County                       
$100,000         Hart County
$45,000           Jackson 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 $82,164 and included:

$16,137           Campbell County                   
$10,000           Elliott County                     
$26,027           Fleming County                      
$30,000           Rockcastle County

The Forage Improvement Shared Use program provides shared use equipment like no-till drills, pasture renovators, silage wrappers and baggers designed specifically for pasture improvement and improved forage utilization.   County Forage Improvement – Shared Use Program approved by the Board totaled $13,100 and included:

$13,100      Laurel County

The Genetic Improvement program improves high quality herd genetics through the purchase of bulls, bull semen or bull leases. County Cattle Genetics Improvement Programs approved by the Board totaled $216,088 and included:

$52,500           Allen County                           
$4,650             Campbell County                   
$105,000         Hart County                            
$15,000           Jackson County
$38,938           Logan County

The Goat Diversification program works to assist producers to venture into meat goat and dairy goat production.  County Goat Diversification Programs approved by the Board totaled $65,500 and included:

$20,000           Christian County                    
$10,500           Edmonson County                
$35,000           Marion 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. County Cattle Handling Programs approved by the Board totaled $239,097 and included:

$10,065           Campbell County                   
$25,000           Elliott County
$109,534         Fleming County                      
$52,500           Hart County                
$30,000           Logan  County                        
$11,998           Pulaski County

The Cattle Handling Shared Use program provides shared use equipment for best management and health practices.   County Cattle Handling - Shared Use Program approved by the Board totaled $9,866 and included:

$9,866             Menifee 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 $336,364 and included:

$15,300           Campbell County                   
$75,000           Christian County                    
|$53,500          Edmonson County                 
$126,064         Fleming County                      
$50,000           Logan County                         
$16,500           Lyon 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 $125,000 and included:

$75,000           Christian County                    
$50,000           Jackson 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 1800 proposals committing over $163 million to an array of county, regional, and state projects designed to increase net farm income and create sustainable new farm-based business enterprises.

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