Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
$1,423,074 Invested in Kentucky Agricultural Diversification

Frankfort, Ky. -The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Ernie Fletcher, approved $1,423,074 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth during their monthly board meeting on August 17, 2007 at the  Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky.

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

$210,000         Bluegrass Lamb & Goat, LLC
Bluegrass Lamb & Goat, LLC was approved for $200,000 in state funds, $5,000 in Garrard County funds, and $5,000 in Owsley County funds to help with the purchase of an existing lamb and goat slaughter facility in Garrard County.  

$150,000         Buffalo Trace Area Development District
Buffalo Trace Area Development District was approved for $150,000 in Mason County funds to administer a menu approach for five model programs including: Agricultural Diversification; Dairy Diversification; Farm Livestock Fencing; Cattle Handling Facilities and Cattle Genetics.  

$118,000         Buffalo Trace Area Development District
Buffalo Trace Area Development District was approved for $118,000 in Mason County funds to administer a menu approach for three model programs including: Forage Improvement; Hay/Straw & Commodity Storage; and On-Farm Water Enhancement.   

$68,344           Butler County Stockman’s Association
Butler County Stockman’s Association was approved for $68,344 in Butler County funds to administer a menu approach for four model programs including: Cattle Handling Facilities; Livestock Fencing; Technology; and Forage Improvement. 

$4,000             Caldwell County High School
Caldwell County High School was approved for $4,000 in Caldwell County funds to administer an alternative fuels study on bio-diesel production.  

$4,120             Campbell County Conservation District
The Campbell County Conservation District was approved for $4,120 in Campbell County funds to administer a Forage Equipment Cost Share Program.  

$2,800             Honest Farm Inc.
Honest Farm, Inc. was approved for $1,800 in state funds and $1,000 in Franklin County funds to help create a specialty wholesale business to market local produce.

$45,669           Ohio County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc.
The Ohio County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc. was approved for $45,669 in Ohio County funds to administer a menu approach for five model programs including: Cattle Genetics, Cattle Handling, Forage Improvement; Technology; and On-Farm Water Enhancement. 

$94,025           Scott County Beef Improvement Association, Inc.
Scott County Beef Improvement Association, Inc. was approved for $94,025 in Scott County funds to administer a second round of the hay handling program and the tenant program for agricultural equipment developed in Scott County.  

$2,500             Southern KY Regional Farmer’s Market, Inc.
The Southern KY Regional Farmer’s Market, Inc. was approved for $2,500 in Warren County funds for the 2007 marketing and promotion budget.  

$19,953           University of Louisville Research Foundation
The University of Louisville Research Foundation was approved for $19,953 in KCADE funds to create a roadmap for the Commonwealth of Kentucky to follow that will lead to the realization of the national 25 X25 vision and action plan.

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 $50,000 and included:

$10,000           Jessamine County

$40,000           Nicholas 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 $55,000 and included:

$30,000           Jessamine County

$25,000           Nicholas 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:

$35,000           Jessamine County

$50,000           Nicholas 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 $10,000 and included:

$10,000           Nicholas 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 $190,000 and included:

$65,000           Jessamine County

$125,000         Nicholas 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 $150,756 and included:

$75,756           Muhlenberg County

$75,000           Nicholas 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 $137,757 and included:

$83,757           Allen County

$54,000           Nicholas 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 $15,000 and included:

$15,000           Elliott 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 $10,150 and included:

$10,150           Scott 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 fifty percent of Kentucky's Master Settlement Agreement into the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund.  To date, Kentucky has invested more than $251 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 over 3,026 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.