Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
$4,931,814 Invested in Kentucky Agricultural Diversification
Frankfort, Ky. -The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Ernie Fletcher, approved $4,992,661 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth during their monthly board meeting on June 15, 2007 at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office in Frankfort, Ky.
State and County Agricultural Development Fund projects approved for funding at the June meeting include:
$142,811 Anderson County Farm Bureau
Anderson County Farm Bureau was approved for $142,811 in Anderson County funds to administer a menu approach for eleven model programs including: Agricultural Diversification; Dairy Diversification; Farm Livestock Fencing; Hay/Straw & Commodity Storage; On-Farm Water Enhancement; Cattle Handling Facilities; Cattle Genetics; Swine Diversification; Timber Production & Utilization; Goat & Sheep Diversification; and Forage Improvement.
$350,000 Casey County Farm Bureau
Casey County Farm Bureau was approved for $350,000 in Casey County funds to administer a menu approach for eleven model programs including: Agricultural Diversification; Dairy Diversification; Farm Livestock Fencing; Hay/Straw & Commodity Storage; On-Farm Water Enhancement; Cattle Handling Facilities; Cattle Genetics; Swine Diversification; Timber Production & Utilization; Goat & Sheep Diversification; and Technology.
$60,000 Cumberland County Board of Education
Cumberland County Board of Education was approved for $60,000 in Cumberland County funds for the construction and equipment cost of a greenhouse to be located at Cumberland County High School.
$49,000 Edmonson County Conservation District
Edmonson County Conservation District was approved for $49,000 in Edmonson County funds to administer a menu approach for eight model programs including: Agricultural Diversification; Dairy Diversification; Hay/Straw & Commodity Storage; Cattle Handling Facilities; Cattle Genetics; Goat & Sheep Diversification; Commercial Poultry; and Forage Improvement.
$40,000 Garrard County Farm Bureau
Garrard County Farm Bureau was approved for $40,000 in Garrard County funds to administer a menu approach for six model programs including; Agricultural Diversification; Dairy Diversification; On-Farm Water Enhancement; Swine Diversification; Goat & Sheep Diversification; and Technology.
$10,000 Hardin County Extension District Board
The Hardin County Extension District Board was approved for $10,000 in Hardin County funds to support the Hardin County Beef “Pasture to Plate” Project.
$150,000 Hart County Cattlemen’s Association
The Hart County Cattlemen’s Association was approved for $150,000 in Hart County funds to administer a menu approach for three model programs including: Cattle Genetics; Cattle Handling; and Dairy Diversification.
$25,000 Kentucky Agriculture Council
The Kentucky Agriculture Council was approved for $25,000 in state funds to support the Task Force in developing the “Strategic Plan of Action for Agriculture.”
$1,850 Kentucky Minority Farmers
Kentucky Minority Farmers was approved for $1,850 in Meade County funds to purchase a livestock trailer.
$825,716 Kentucky Poultry Federation
The Kentucky Poultry Federation was approved for $825,716 in state funds for Statewide Educational Programming and a Poultry House Evaluation Project.
$150,000 Mason County Livestock Improvement Association
Mason County Livestock Improvement Association was approved for $150,000 in Mason County funds to administer a menu approach for five model programs including: Farm Livestock Fencing; Cattle Handling; Cattle Genetics; Dairy Diversification; and Agricultural Diversification.
$118,000 Mason County Livestock Improvement Association
Mason County Livestock Improvement Association was approved for $118,000 in Mason County funds to administer a menu approach for three model programs including: Hay/Straw & Commodity Storage; On-Farm Water; and Forage Improvement.
$190,788 Monroe County Conservation District
The Monroe County Conservation District was approved for $190,788 in Monroe County funds to administer a menu approach for seven model programs including: Dairy Diversification; Farm Livestock Fencing; Hay/Straw & Commodity Storage; On-Farm Water Enhancement; Cattle Handling Facilities; Cattle Genetics; and Forage Improvement.
$250,000 Morgan County Fiscal Court
The Morgan County Fiscal Court was approved for $250,000 in Morgan County funds to administer a menu approach for five model programs including: Agricultural Diversification; Cattle Handling Facilities; Farm Livestock Fencing; Forage Improvement; and Hay/Straw & Commodity Storage.
$125,000 Russell County Cattlemen’s Association
The Russell County Cattlemen’s Association was approved for $125,000 in Russell County funds to administer a menu approach for three model programs including: Dairy Diversification; Hay/Straw & Commodity Storage; and Cattle Genetics.
$74,553 Trunnell’s Farm Market
Trunnell’s Farm Market was approved for $62,240 in state funds, $1,313 in McLean County funds, and $11,000 in Daviess County funds to construct a farm retail operation.
$150,000 Wayne County Agriculture Development Council
The Wayne County Agriculture Development Council was approved for $150,000 in Wayne County funds to administer a menu approach for ten model programs including: Agricultural Diversification; Dairy Diversification; Farm Livestock Fencing; Hay/Straw & Commodity Storage; Cattle Handling Facilities; Cattle Genetics; Swine Diversification; Goat & Sheep Diversification; Technology; and Forage Improvement.
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 $192,542 and included:
$15,750 Breathitt County
$16,800 Daviess County
$15,000 Elliott County
$20,000 LaRue County
$20,000 Logan County
$28,250 Metcalfe County
$20,000 Russell County
$46,742 Simpson County
$10,000 Warren 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 $273,514 and included:
$110,000 Barren County
$9,164 Daviess County
$20,000 Elliott County
$25,000 Garrard County
$20,600 Lawrence County
$30,000 Logan County
$15,000 Mercer County
$13,750 Metcalfe County
$30,000 Warren 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 $214,649 and included:
$30,000 Elliott County
$70,000 Garrard County
$30,000 Logan County
$55,000 Mercer County
$29,649 Warren 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 $42,000 and included:
$42,000 Daviess 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 $185,000 and included:
$150,000 Barren County
$15,000 Logan County
$20,000 Mercer 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 $221,000 and included:
$21,000 Breathitt County
$42,500 Garrard County
$50,000 Hart County
$27,500 Laurel County
$80,000 Mercer 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 $628,728 and included:
$165,000 Barren County
$15,750 Breathitt County
$28,000 Elliott County
$71,678 Hart County
$48,300 LaRue County
$50,000 Marion County
$10,000 Mercer County
$75,000 Metcalfe County
$105,000 Simpson County
$60,000 Warren County
The Goat and Sheep Diversification Program works to assist producers as they venture into goat and sheep production. County Goat Diversification Programs approved by the Board totaled $52,308 and included:
$9,000 Elliott County
$8,308 LaRue County
$10,000 Monroe County
$10,000 Spencer County
$15,000 Warren 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 $417,002 and included:
$15,750 Breathitt County
$142,800 Daviess County
$40,952 Elliott County
$42,500 Garrard County
$50,000 Logan County
$45,000 Mercer County
$80,000 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 Program approved by the Board totaled $50,000 and included:
$25,000 Elliott County
$25,000 Metcalfe 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 $3,200 and included:
$700 Daviess County
$2,500 Wayne 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 $244 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 2,972 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.