Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
$1,792,955 Invested in Kentucky Agricultural Diversification

Frankfort, Ky. -The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Steve Beshear, approved $1,792,955 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth during their monthly board meeting on Friday, June 27 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: 

$200,000         Kentucky Agricultural Council Incorporated
The Kentucky Agricultural Council Incorporated was approved for $200,000 of State funds to assist in the coordination, implementation, and continued development of the Strategic Plan for Agriculture.

$20,000           Meade County Riverport Authority
The Meade County Riverport Authority was approved for $20,000 of Meade County funds for the final engineering and construction drawings of the Meade County Riverport that will give producers a closer market for their agricultural products.

$13,000           Taylor County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc.
The Taylor County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc. was approved for $13,000 of Taylor County funds to administer a Youth Heifer Chain.

Menu Approach Programs 

$149,000         Barren River Area Development District, Inc.
The Barren River Area Development District, Inc. was approved for $149,000 of Barren County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with three model programs including: Dairy Diversification, Farm Livestock Fencing Improvement, and Hay, Straw & Commodity Storage.  

$220,000         Garrard County Farm Bureau, Inc.
The Garrard County Farm Bureau, Inc. was approved for $220,000 of Garrard County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with eleven model programs including: Agricultural Diversification; Cattle Handling Facilities; Commercial Poultry; Dairy Diversification; Farm Livestock Fencing Improvement; Forage Improvement & Utilization; Goat & Sheep Diversification; Hay, Straw & Commodity Storage; Swine Diversification; Technology; and Timber Production, Utilization & Marketing.

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 programs approved by the Board totaled $111,965 and included:

$25,000           Breckinridge County
$10,000           Mercer County
$76,965           Shelby County

The Cattle Genetics 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 programs approved by the Board totaled $155,000 and included:

$50,000           Boone County
$15,000           Cumberland County
$25,000           Garrard County
$25,000           Mercer County
$40,000           Nelson 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 $149,000 and included:

$54,000           Barren County
$45,000           Mercer County
$50,000           Nelson 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 $25,000 and included:

$25,000           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 $140,000 and included:

$100,000         Boone County
$40,000           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 $379,000 and included:

$108,000         Barren County
$70,000           Boone County
$100,000         Christian County
$21,000           Garrard County
$80,000           Mercer County

The Goat & Sheep Diversification Program works to assist producers as they venture into goat and sheep production. County Goat & Sheep Diversification Programs approved by the Board totaled $20,000 and included:

$15,000           Barren County
$5,000             LaRue 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 & Commodity Storage programs approved by the Board totaled $191,240 and included:

$60,000           LaRue County
$35,000           Mercer County
$96,240           Ohio 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 $19,750 and included:

$12,250           Grayson County
$7,500             LaRue County

Governor Beshear 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 $264 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 3,272 projects that have been funded through the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, since the inception of the program in January 2001.