Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
$717,186 Invested in Kentucky Agricultural Diversification

Frankfort, KY. (January 19, 2007)-The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Ernie Fletcher, approved $717,186 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth during their monthly board meeting on January 19, 2007 at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office in Frankfort, Kentucky.

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

$105,000         Bath County Conservation District
The Bath County Conservation District was approved for $105,000 in Bath County funds to administer a menu approach for three model programs including: Hay, Straw, and Commodity Storage, Forage Improvement, and Agricultural Diversification.

$100,000         Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc.
The Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc. was approved for $100,000 in Jackson County funds to administer a Heifer Replacement Program.

$4,286             Lawrence County Farm Bureau, Inc.
The Lawrence County Farm Bureau was approved for $4,286 in Lawrence County funds to purchase marketing materials as well as certified scales and tables for the vendors of the Lawrence County Farmers’ Market to utilize.

$10,000           Rockcastle County Goat Producers Association
The Rockcastle County Goat Producers Association was approved for $10,000 in Rockcastle County funds to administer a menu approach for two model programs including the Goat and Sheep Diversification Program and the Farm Livestock Fencing Improvement Program.

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 Cooperative Extension Office.

The Agricultural Diversification Program is designed to assist producers in the development and expansion of new agricultural products and through the development of new ways of working with existing agricultural commodities. There are twelve investment areas represented in this program. County Agricultural Diversification Program approved by the Board totaled $43,000 and included:

$43,000           Roberson County

The Cattle Genetic Improvement Program increases the genetic quality of beef and dairy cattle in Kentucky through the selection of superior sires, either through purchase/lease of sires or artificial insemination (AI). County Cattle Genetics Improvement Program approved by the Board totaled $63,000 and included:

$63,000           Bourbon 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 in the Commonwealth. County Cattle Handling Programs approved by the Board totaled $85,000 and included:

$70,000           Harrison County

$15,000           Metcalfe County

The Commercial Poultry Diversification Program was created to enable farmers involved in poultry production to expand the scope of their enterprise and/or modernize their facilities in order to improve profitability, assist farmers who have not previously been involved in poultry production, encourage additional processes that will add value to the market price, and impact producers affected by loss of income resulting from cuts in tobacco quota. County Commercial Poultry Diversification Programs approved by the Board totaled $104,000 and included:

$104,000         Ballard 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 $19,000 and included:

$19,000           Robertson County

The Forage Improvement & Utilization 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 $107,500 and included:

$20,000           Boone County

$52,500           Greenup County

$35,000           Jessamine 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 Program approved by the Board totaled $75,000 and included:

$75,000           Harrison 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 Program approved by the Board totaled $1,400 and included:

$1,400             Floyd County

Governor Fletcher and the Kentucky Legislature continue to make great strides toward lessening Kentucky’s dependence on tobacco production while revitalizing the farm economy by investing 50 percent of Kentucky's Master Settlement Agreement into the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund.  To date, Kentucky has invested more than $231 million to an array of county, regional and state projects designed to increase net farm income and create sustainable new farm-based business enterprises. The diversification programs represent more than 2,745 projects that have been funded through Agricultural Development Fund, since the inception of the program in January 2001.

*Please contact the County Cooperative Extension Office for more information regarding model programs and when the sign ups will be held in your county.