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

$10,000           Daviess County Conservation District

The Daviess County Conservation District was approved for $10,000 in Daviess County funds to administer a program to assist Daviess County youth in the cost-share of multiple programs.

$10,890           Hancock County Fiscal Court

The Hancock County Fiscal Court was approved for $5,445 in state funds and $5,445 in Hancock County funds as a part of the 2008 Farmers' Market Awards Program. 

$1,500             Hart County Chamber of Commerce

The Hart County Chamber of Commerce, Inc. was approved for $1,500 in Hart County funds for advertisements, signage, and other needed supplies for the Hart County Farmer's Market.

$10,000           Jessamine County FFA Alumni Association, Inc.

The Jessamine County FFA Alumni Association, Inc was approved for $10,000 in Jessamine County funds to administer an educational welding program for tobacco dependent farmers.

$5,115             Lawrence County Board of Education

The Lawrence County Board of Education was approved for $5,115 in Lawrence County funds for the purchase of aquaculture equipment.

$5,258             Pennyrile Region Agritourism Association, Inc.

The Pennyrile Region Agritourism Association, Inc. was approved for $5,258 in County funds consisting of $1,051 in Caldwell County funds, $1,051 in Christian County funds, $1,052 in Lyon County funds, $1,052 in Todd County funds, and $1,052 in Trigg County funds as a part of the 2008 Agri-tourism Awards Program.

$351,257         Reborne, Inc.

Re-Borne, Inc. was approved for $351,257 in state funds for research, equipment, and start-up costs for a production facility that will source, process, market, and sell a sterile bovine colostrum based nutrient supplement. 

$50,000           Scott County Beef Improvement Association, Inc.

The Scott County Beef Improvement Association, Inc. was approved for $50,000 in Scott County funds to continue the tenant program for agricultural equipment.

$18,909           Trigg County 4-H Council, Inc.

The Trigg County 4-H Council, Inc. was approved for $18,909 in County funds consisting of $8,767 in Christian County funds, $8,767 in Trigg County funds, $750 in Crittenden County funds, and $625 in Calloway County funds to purchase livestock equipment for the expansion and improvement of youth programs in the region.

Menu Approach Programs

$305,500         Fleming County Conservation District

The Fleming County Conservation District was approved for $305,000 in Fleming County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with ten model programs including: Agricultural Diversification, Cattle Genetics Improvement, Cattle Handling Facilities, Dairy Diversification, Farm Livestock Fencing Improvement, Forage Resource Improvement, Goat & Sheep Diversification, Hay, Straw, & Commodity Storage, Swine Diversification, and Timber Production, Utilization & Marketing.

$100,000         Grayson County Cattlemens Association

Grayson County Cattlemens Association, Inc. was approved for $100,000 in Grayson County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with five model programs including: Cattle Genetics Improvement, Cattle Handling Facilities, Dairy Diversification, Forage Improvement & Utilization, and Hay, Straw, & Commodity Storage.

$38,756           Magoffin County Cattle Association Inc.

The Magoffin County Cattle Association Inc. was approved for $38,756 in Magoffin County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with five model programs including: Agricultural Diversification, Cattle Genetics Improvement, Cattle Handling Facilities, Swine Diversification, and Technology.

$39,930           Magoffin County Conservation District

The Magoffin County Conservation District was approved for $39,930 in Magoffin County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with three model programs including: Farm Livestock Fencing Improvement; Forage Improvement & Utilization; and Hay, Straw, & Commodity Storage.

$140,000         Wayne County Agriculture Development Council, Inc.

The Wayne County Agriculture Development Council, Inc. was approved for $140,000 in Wayne County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with ten model programs including:  Agricultural Diversification, Cattle Genetics Improvement, Cattle Handling Facilities, Dairy Diversification, Farm Livestock Fencing Improvement, Forage Improvement & Utilization, Goat & Sheep Diversification, Hay, Straw, & Commodity Storage, Swine Diversification, and 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 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 $47,316 and included:

$8,560             Bourbon County

$38,756           Magoffin 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 $75,000 and included:

$75,000           Harrison County

The Dairy Diversification Program assists new and existing dairy producers throughout the Commonwealth in renovating and modernizing dairy facilities. County Dairy Diversification programs approved by the Board totaled $3,160 and included:

$3,160             Bullitt 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 $189,500 and included:

$157,500         Bourbon County

$32,000           Bullitt 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 $15,000 and included:

$15,000           Franklin 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 $307,000 and included:

$107,000         Bourbon County

$200,000         Harrison 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 $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 programs approved by the Board totaled $16,000 and included:

$16,000           Monroe 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 $268 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 3,381 projects that have been funded through the Kentucky 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.