Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
More than $4.5 Million in Agricultural Development Funds Awarded

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 17, 2011) - The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board (KADB), chaired by Governor Steve Beshear, today approved $4,522,098 in 30 agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth during its June board meeting held at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office.

State and regional projects approved included:

$61,180     Cattle Demonstration Project
KABA/Select Sires Inc. was approved for $61,180 in state funds to establish five demonstration herds to use new technology that detects the estrus cycle in cattle to improve pregnancy rates by artificial insemination.

$310,000  Management and Genetics 60 Program
The Kentucky Beef Network LLC was approved for $310,000 in state funds to develop the Management and Genetics 60 (MAG-60) program for Kentucky producers, which will provide a new market for Kentucky producers.

$40,000    Regional Livestock Facility
Tim and Wanda Quiggins were approved for up to $40,000 in county funds to construct a multi-purpose facility in Hart County to be available for livestock auctions and shows, youth agricultural organization meetings and clinics, and community events.

County investments approved included:

$10,160    Local Foods and Craft Network
New Pioneers for a Sustainable Future Inc. was approved for $10,160 in Washington County funds to develop a strong local food and crafts network in Washington County.

The County Agricultural Investment Program (CAIP) is designed to provide farmers with incentives to allow them to improve and diversify their current production practices.  CAIP covers a wide variety of agricultural enterprises in its 11 investment areas.  Eleven CAIPs were approved by the board totaling $1,930,884 for Anderson, Carter, Elliott, Franklin, Grant, LaRue, Mercer, Owen, Pendleton, Shelby and Webster counties.

In addition to these new approvals, an additional $2,146,574 was approved to supplement existing CAIPs in the following counties:  Bath, Bourbon, Casey, Garrard, Harrison, Jackson, Menifee, Nicholas, Russell, Washington and Wayne.

The Deceased Farm Animal Disposal Assistance Program serves as a measure to facilitate the coordination of environmentally sound and cost-effective disposal of deceased livestock for Kentucky producers. Three County Deceased Farm Animal Disposal Assistance Programs was approved for Bourbon, Casey and Shelby counties totaling $22,500.

The Shared-use Equipment Program is designed to benefit a high number of producers who cannot justify ownership expenses associated with certain equipment by helping them access technology necessary to improve their operations in an economical manner.  One Shared-use Equipment Program was approved by the board in the amount of $800 for Franklin County.

###

Gov. Steve Beshear and the Kentucky General Assembly 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 $354 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 3,817 projects that have been funded through the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, since the inception of the program in January 2001.