Kara Keeton, Communications Director
Angela Blank, Communications Officer
http://agpolicy.ky.gov 
(502) 564-4627

The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Ernie Fletcher, approved $824,438 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth at the monthly Board Meeting on December 17 at the Franklin County Extension Office in Frankfort.

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

$15,750 Henry County Boer Goat Association
The Henry County Boer Goat Association was approved for $15,7500 in Henry County funds to purchase handling equipment and pens to be rented to individual producers, youth groups and livestock organizations for Henry County events.

$100,000 Hancock County Conservation District
The Hancock County Conservation District was approved for $100,000 in Hancock County funds to implement a cost share program to assist farmers with installing subsurfacing drainage systems as a way to improve crop yields to poorly drained soils.

$35,000 Warren County Conservation District
The Warren County Conservation District was approved for $35,000 in Warren County funds to implement a cost share program to assist farmers with installing subsurfacing drainage systems as a way to improve crop yields to poorly drained soils.

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 $52,500 and included:

$52,500 Bracken County

The Cattle 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 $25,750 and included:

$25,750 Mercer 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 $91,588 and included:

$15,000 Jessamine County
$50,000 Mercer County
$26,588 Muhlenberg 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 $20,000 and included:

$20,000 Powell 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 $201,000 and included:

$105,000 Bracken County
$21,000 Clark County
$75,000 Pendleton 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 $10,000 and included:

$10,000 Powell 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 $272,850 and included:

$50,000 Bullitt County
$70,000 Clark County
$36,750 Marshall County
$84,250 Montgomery County
$20,000 Powell County
$11,850 Wolfe 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 1900 proposals committing over $167 million to an array of county, regional, and state projects designed to increase net farm income and create sustainable new farm-based business enterprises.