Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
Investments Made in Agricultural Diversification

FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 17, 2009) -The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Gov. Steve Beshear, approved $439,500 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth, during their monthly board meeting.

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

$300,000              Breathitt Veterinary Center

Murray State University was approved for $300,000 in state funds for a feasibility study to analyze the effects of replacing or renovating the Breathitt Veterinary Center.

$10,000                 Carolines Garden

Carolines Garden was approved for $10,000 in Trigg County funds to develop a model farm educational program for area youth.

$6,000                   Grayson County Farm Welding Program

The Grayson County Conservation District was approved for $6,000 in Grayson County funds to provide a welding education program for tobacco dependent farmers.  

$9,000                   Jessamine County Youth Cost-share Program

The Jessamine County FFA Alumni Association Inc. was approved for $9,000 in Jessamine County funds to provide a student agriculture project cost-share program.  

$6,500                   Lincoln County Honey Production & Expansion

Lincoln County Beekeepers Inc. was approved for $6,500 in Lincoln County funds to conduct educational seminars on honey production and marketing and provide a cost-share assistance program related to the production, packaging and marketing of honey.

$52,000                 Purple Toad Winery

Dossey Vineyards LLC was approved for $2,500 in McCracken County and $50,000 in state funds to build a new facility and purchase equipment for a winery expansion in Paducah.

$5,000                   Shady Lawn Farm Goat Dairy

Shady Lawn Farm was approved for $5,000 in Bracken County funds for the expansion of a goat dairy operation.

$51,000                 Washington County Switchgrass Program

The Washington County Cattlemen’s Association Inc. was approved for $51,000 in Washington County funds to provide a seeding program for the establishment of switchgrass in Washington County.

###

Governor Steve 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 $280 million to an array of county, regional and state projects designed to increase net farm income and create sustainable new farm-based business enterprises. These funding approvals represent just a few of  more than 3,415 projects that have been funded through the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, since the inception of the program in January 2001.