Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
$2,520,237 Invested in Kentucky Agricultural Diversification
Frankfort, Ky. -The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Steve Beshear, approved $2,520,237 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth during their monthly board meeting on Friday, August 15 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky.
State and County Agricultural Development Fund projects approved for funding at the August meeting include:
$50,000 Bluegrass Agritourism Association, Inc.
The Bluegrass Agritourism Association was approved for $50,000 in state funds as part of the 2008 Agri-tourism Awards Program for establishment of a regional agri-tourism organization.
$50,000 Buffalo Trace Area Development District, Inc.
The Buffalo Trace Area Development District, Inc. was approved for $50,000 in Bracken County funds to implement a hillside reclamation project.
$10,000 Chaney’s Dairy Barn, Inc.
Chaney’s Dairy Barn, Inc. was approved for $10,000 in Warren County funds to expand their current agri-tourism facility.
$30,000 Jackson Purchase Resource Conservation and Development Foundation, Inc.
The Jackson Purchase Resource Conservation and Development District was approved for $20,000 in Calloway County funds and $10,000 in Marshall County funds to remediate the flooding in the Clarks River Flood Plain.
$102,620 Jessamine County Fiscal Court
The Jessamine County Fiscal Court was approved for $102,620 in Jessamine County funds to build a community kitchen for producers in the area.
$125,000 Webb’s Butcher Block, LLC
Webb’s Butcher Block, LLC was approved for $1,000 in Meade County funds and $124,000 in State funds to expand their current value-added processing/marketing operation.
Menu Approach Programs
$180,000 Hart County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc.
The Hart County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc. was approved for $180,000 in Hart County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with two model programs including Dairy Diversification and Hay, Straw, & Commodity Storage.
$10,000 Mammoth Cave Area Goat Producers Association, Inc.
The Mammoth Cave Area Goat Producers Association, Inc. was approved for $10,000 in Butler County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with two model programs including Goat & Sheep Diversification and Technology.
$100,000 Menifee County Beef Producers, Inc.
The Menifee County Beef Producers, Inc. was approved for $100,000 in Menifee County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with four Model Programs including: Cattle Genetics Improvement, Cattle Handling Facilities, Farm Livestock Fencing Improvement, and Hay, Straw & Commodity Storage.
$157,481 Monroe County Conservation District
The Monroe County Conservation District was approved for $157,481 in Monroe County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with six Model Programs including: Cattle Genetics Improvement, Cattle Handling Facilities, Farm Livestock Fencing Improvement, Forage Improvement & Utilization, Hay, Straw & Commodity Storage and On-Farm Water Enhancement.
$225,000 Rockcastle County Conservation District
The Rockcastle County Conservation District was approved for $225,000 in Rockcastle 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.
$260,000 Scott County Beef Improvement Association, Inc.
The Scott County Beef Improvement Association, Inc. was approved for $260,000 in Scott County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with nine model programs including: Agricultural Diversification, Cattle Genetics Improvement, Cattle Handling Facilities, Farm Livestock Fencing Improvement, Forage Improvement & Utilization, Goat & Sheep Diversification, Hay, Straw & Commodity Storage, On-Farm Water Enhancement and Technology.
$75,000 Woodford County Agriculture Advancement Council, Inc.
The Woodford County Agriculture Advancement Council, Inc. was approved for $75,000 in Woodford County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with three model programs including: Cattle Genetics Improvement, Cattle Handling Facilities, and Goat & Sheep Diversification.
$75,000 Woodford County Agriculture Advancement Council, Inc.
The Woodford County Agriculture Advancement Council, Inc. was approved for $75,000 in Woodford County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with three model programs including: Agricultural Diversification, Hay, Straw & Commodity Storage, and Technology.
$75,000 Woodford County Agriculture Advancement Council, Inc.
The Woodford County Agriculture Advancement Council, Inc. was approved for $75,000 in Woodford County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with three model programs including: Farm Livestock Fencing Improvement, Forage Improvement & Utilization, and On-Farm Water Enhancement.
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 $53,500 and included:
$10,000 Butler County
$6,000 Carter County
$15,000 Hancock County
$22,500 Jessamine 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 $110,000 and included:
$40,000 Carter County
$20,000 Fayette County
$30,000 Lincoln County
$20,000 Rowan 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 $65,000 and included:
$20,000 Carter County
$20,000 Fayette County
$15,000 Lincoln County
$10,000 Rowan 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 $45,000 and included:
$30,000 Hardin County
$15,000 Lincoln 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 $55,000 and included:
$30,000 Carter County
$20,000 Fayette County
$5,000 Rowan 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 $263,886 and included:
$90,886 Carter County
$100,000 Laurel County
$70,000 Lincoln 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 $61,750 and included:
$5,000 Carter County
$30,000 Hardin County
$6,750 Jessamine County
$20,000 Lincoln 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 $279,000 and included:
$34,000 Caldwell County
$50,000 Carter County
$50,000 Fayette County
$69,000 Laurel County
$60,000 Lincoln County
$16,000 Rowan County
The Technology Program allows producers to improve net farm income through cost-share on technology that will improve farm operation efficiency and assist producers already exploring the use of technology in their operations. County Technology programs approved by the Board totaled $45,000 and included:
$34,000 Caldwell County
$5,000 Fayette County
$6,000 Jessamine 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 $267 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 3,356 projects that have been funded through the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, since the inception of the program in January 2001.