Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
$496,850 Invested in Kentucky Agricultural Diversification

Frankfort, Ky. -The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Steve Beshear, approved $496,850 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth during their monthly board meeting on Friday, January 18 at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office in room in Frankfort, Ky.

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

$100,000         Fayette County Rural Management Board

The Fayette County Rural Management Board was approved for $100,000 in Fayette County funds to be used for the purchasing of conservation easements on rural farmland in Fayette County.

$10,000           Mercer County Board of Education

The Mercer County Board of Education was approved for $10,000 in Mercer County funds to assist with the Mercer County High School Agriculture Farm Improvement Project.

$12,850           Mercer County Board of Education

The Mercer County Board of Education was approved for $12,850 in Mercer County funds to construct and equip a greenhouse to be located at Mercer County High School.

$15,000           Spencer County Board of Education

The Spencer County Board of Education was approved for 15,000 in Spencer County funds to construct and equip a food processing lab at the Spencer County High School in the Agriculture Department.

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 Program approved by the Board totaled $30,000 and included:

$30,000           Montgomery 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 Program approved by the Board totaled $10,000 and included:

$10,000           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 $45,000 and included:

$45,000           Harrison 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 $80,000 and included:

$40,000           Harrison County

$35,000           Knox 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 $182,000 and included:

$42,000           Carlisle County

$80,000           Harrison County

$10,000           Knox County

$50,000           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 and Commodity Storage Programs approved by the Board totaled $12,000 and included:

$12,000           Montgomery 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 $255 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 3,119 projects that have been funded through the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, since the inception of the program in January 2001.