Kara Keeton, Communications Director

Angela Blank, Communications Officer
Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy
(502) 564-4627          http://agpolicy.ky.gov

The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Ernie Fletcher, approved $1,612,965 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth at the monthly Board Meeting on September 17 at the Franklin County Extension Office in Frankfort.

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

$15,000           Barren River Regional Livestock Center, LLC

Barren River Regional Livestock Center, LLC was approved for $15,000 in Warren County funds to assist with the cost of installing holding pens specifically designed to contain goats.

$40,000           Breckinridge County Soil Conservation District

Breckinridge County Soil Conservation District was approved for $40,000 to continue to offer a cost-share lime program in Breckinridge County.

$4,673             Breathitt County Conservation District

Breathitt County Conservation District was approved for $4,673 in Breathitt County funds to purchase shared-use equipment to be used by small farmers in the county.

$22,500           Cave Region Agritourism, Inc.

Cave Region Agritourism, Inc. was approved for $500 each in Warren, Monroe and Barren, $750 in Allen County funds as well as $20,250 in state funds to assist in implementing a regional marketing education plan designed to increase revenue of farm based tourism enterprises.

$10,000           Chaney’s Dairy Barn, Inc.

Chaney’s Dairy Barn, Inc. was approved for $10,000 in Warren County funds to support the newly constructed Dairy Barn facility that will serve as a marketing outlet for Kentucky products.

$110,000         Cumberland Meat Products, LLC

Cumberland Meat Products, LLC was approved for $110,000 in state funds as a forgivable loan for the renovation costs associated with bringing an existing processing facility up to USDA standards in Cartersville for the processing of goats and sheep.

$4,000             Jefferson County Farm Bureau, Inc.

Jefferson County Farm Bureau, Inc. was approved for $4,000 in Jefferson County funds to support the Ohio Valley Harvest Festival. The Festival pairs producers with restaurants, and the chefs prepare dishes, which are then sold to the public.

$25,000           Pulaski County Horticulture Association, Inc.

Pulaski County Horticulture Association was approved for $25,000 in Pulaski County funds to administer a cost-share fruit program to producers starting or expanding a fruit production operation.

$25,000           Pulaski County Horticulture Association, Inc.

Pulaski County Horticulture Association was approved for $25,000 in Pulaski County funds to administer a cost-share vegetable program to producers starting or expanding a vegetable production operation.

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 in the transition into eleven new areas of agriculture including dairy, aquaculture, and horticulture. County Agricultural Diversification Programs approved by the Board totaled $106,300 and included:

$75,000           Grant County                           $6,300             Magoffin County

$25,000           Menifee 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 $311,250 and included:

$131,250         Bracken County                      $50,000           Clinton County

$100,000         Grant County                           $30,000           Jessamine 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 $459,000 and included:

$184,000         Bourbon County                      $85,000           Breckinridge County

$50,000           Casey County                         $75,000           Fayette County

$40,000           Grant County                           $25,000           Jessamine 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 $142,500 and included:

$105,000         Bourbon County                      $11,000           Jessamine County

$26,500           Owen 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 $27,742 and included:

$13,000           Allen County                            $5,000             Grant County              

$9,742             Jessamine 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 $110,000 and included:

$110,000         Breckinridge 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 $160,000 and included:

$40,000           Breckinridge County               $100,000         Grant County

$20,000           Warren 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 $40,000 and included:

$40,000           Breckinridge 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 1850 proposals committing over $165 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.**********