The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Ernie Fletcher, approved $7,181,351 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth during their monthly Board Meeting on May 20 at the Franklin County Extension Office in Frankfort, Kentucky.

State and County Agricultural Development Fund projects approved for funding at the May meeting include:

$2,991,561      Allied Food Marketers West, Inc.

Allied Food Marketers West, Inc. was approved for up to $2,991,561 in state funds for the two-year development of a marketing distribution model, which will provide Kentucky producers access to retail markets that small producers and niche products are currently unable to enter. Allied Food Marketers West will work with Kentucky producers to create a business incubator that will assist farmers in the steps that they must go through to pursue their business ideas and create viable Kentucky Proud products with solid marketing programs.  

$31,500           Ballard County Conservation District

Ballard County Conservation District was approved for $31,500 in Ballard County funds to establish an equipment cost-share program that will provide grain producers in Ballard County assistance in purchasing equipment needed to battle soybean rust.

$17,375           Castle Hill Farm, Inc.

Castle Hill Farm, Inc. was approved for $17,375 in Woodford County funds to purchase wine making equipment for the expansion of the winery in Woodford County. Along with the winery, Castle Hill Farm will provide a retail outlet for Kentucky agricultural products.

The Mountain Cattlemen's Association was approved for $5,986 in Perry County funds to establish a Heifer Replacement Program for producers in Perry county with a cow herd size of 25 or less. 

$6,000             Valentine’s Gourmet Ice Cream, LLC

Valentines Gourmet Ice Cream, LLC was approved for $500 in Franklin County and $5,500 in state funds to purchase equipment, allowing them to increase their capacity to produce ice cream, which will contain fruit from Kentucky producers.

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 $339,854 and included:

$31,500           Breathitt County                      $14,000           Carroll County

$26,250           Carter County                         $50,000           Christian County

$70,000           Fayette County                        $19,000           Jessamine County

$20,000           Laurel County                          $18,666           Madison County

$10,000           Mason County                         $45,438           Scott County  

$35,000           Woodford 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 $564,178 and included:

$52,000           Bath County                            $25,000           Caldwell County

$19,000           Carroll County                         $31,500           Carter County

$36,000           Franklin County                       $50,000           Green County 

$50,000           Lewis County                          $25,000           Lincoln County

$41,696           Madison County                      $6,482             Meade County

$55,000           Nelson County                        $32,500           Scott County

$20,000           Trimble County                       $20,000           Woodford 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 $623,664 and included:

$19,000           Carroll County                         $78,750           Carter County

$36,000           Franklin County                       $69,615           Garrard County

$30,600           Kenton County                        $90,000           Laurel County

$30,000           Lincoln County                        $53,326           Madison County

$4,630             Meade County                         $31,191           Morgan County

$49,000           Nelson County                        $35,000           Ohio County

$21,552           Scott County                           $55,000           Trimble County

$20,000           Woodford 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 $288,500 and included:

$6,500             Edmonson County                  $45,000           Hardin County

$60,000           Lincoln County                        $48,000           Mason County

$39,000           Mercer County                        $90,000           Metcalfe 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 $770,200 and included:

$124,800         Bath County                            $15,000           Bullitt County

$20,000           Caldwell County                      $29,000           Carroll County

$78,500           Carter County                         $18,000           Franklin County

$72,450           Garrard County                       $50,000           Lewis County

$70,455           Madison County                      $8,334             Meade County

$100,000         Rockcastle County                 $83,661           Scott County

$40,000           Trimble County                       $60,000           Woodford 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 $380,931 and included:

$31,000           Carroll County                         $21,000           Carter County

$21,600           Franklin County                       $17,900           Kenton County

$42,000           Lincoln County                        $20,000           Lincoln County

$119,728         Madison County                      $4,630             Meade County

$48,073           Scott County                           $35,000           Trimble County

$20,000           Woodford 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 $203,176 and included:

$10,500           Breathitt County                      $19,000           Carroll County

$26,250           Carter County                         $40,000           Hardin County

$21,172           LaRue County                         $18,540           Lawrence County

$25,000           Lincoln County                        $1,389             Meade County

$10,000           Rockcastle County                 $6,325             Scott County

$25,000           Spencer 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 $799,124 and included:

$25,000           Caldwell County                      $29,000           Carroll County

$105,000         Carter County                         $53,500           Edmonson County

$18,000           Franklin County                       $97,650           Garrard County

$90,000           Laurel County                          $75,000           Lincoln County

$74,115           Madison County                      $21,298           Meade County

$55,000           Nelson County                        $50,561           Scott County

$55,000           Trimble County                       $50,000           Woodford 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 $42,730 and included:

$22,730           Scott County                           $20,000           Woodford 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 $54,240 and included:

$20,475           Garrard County                       $1,854             Lawrence County

$3,241             Meade County                         $1,820             Mercer County

$6,850             Rockcastle County                 $20,000           Trimble County

The Swine Diversification program allows new and existing swine producers to establish or renovate pork facilities. County Swine Diversification Programs approved by the Board totaled $20,000 and included:

$10,000           Nelson County                        $10,000           Washington 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 $88,527 and included:

$14,100           Madison County                      $42,000           Ohio County   

$12,427           Scott County                           $20,000           Woodford 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 $53,805 and included:

$50,000           Lewis County                          $3,805             Scott 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 2,000 proposals committing over $177 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.**********