Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
$1,508,124 Invested in Kentucky Agricultural Diversification
The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Ernie Fletcher, approved $1,508,124 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth during their monthly Board Meeting on November 18th , 2005 at General Butler State Resort Park in Carrollton, Kentucky.
State and County Agricultural Development Fund projects approved for funding at the October meeting include:
$182,500 Kentucky Community and Technical College System
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) was approved for $182,500 in state funds to teach farmers how to effectively use computer technology.
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 $82,750 and included:
$15,750 Breathitt County $50,000 Lewis County
$5,000 Grayson County $12,000 Nicholas 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 $80,000 and included:
$10,000 Bullitt County $20,000 Whitley County
$50,000 Larue 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 $67,207 and included:
$10,207 Bullitt County $7,000 McCracken County
$50,000 Larue 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 $100,000 and included:
$100,000 Hart 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 $461,342 and included:
$117,212 Bracken County $30,000 Larue County
$42,000 Breathitt County $65,000 Fleming County
$25,000 Bullitt County $174,720 Nicholas County
$7,410 Campbell 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 $180,750 and included:
$15,750 Breathitt County $40,000 Grayson County
$40,000 Breckinridge County $10,000 Hopkins County
$40,000 Breckinridge County $16,000 Washington County
$19,000 Bullitt 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 $195,050 and included:
$21,050 Calloway County $104,000 Nicholas County
$70,000 McCracken 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 $65,000 and included:
$40,000 Breckinridge County $25,000 Nicholas 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 $14,078 and included:
$9,928 Grayson County $4,150 Harrison 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 $74,197 and included:
$53,674 Graves County $20,523 McCracken 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 $5,250 and included:
$5,250 Harrison 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 2,250 proposals committing over $191 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.**********