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

$10,000           Elliott County Board of Education 

The Elliott County Board of Education was approved for $10,000 in Elliott County funds to renovate four greenhouses that are located throughout the Elliott County School District. 

$8,750             Elliott County District Extension Council, Incorporated

The Elliott County District Extension Council, Incorporated was approved for $8,750 in Elliott County funds to administer a youth livestock equipment shared-use program.

$9,000             Jessamine County FFA Alumni Association, Inc.

The Jessamine County FFA Alumni Association, Inc. was approved for $9,000 in Jessamine County funds to cost-share on 4-H/FFA projects. 

$14,080           Lewis County Conservation District

The Lewis County Conservation District was approved for $14,080 in Lewis County funds to administer an educational welding program for tobacco dependent farmers.  

$369,239         O’Bryan Grain Farms, Inc.

The O’Bryan Grain Farms, Inc. was approved for $364,030 in state funds, $4,777 in Daviess County funds, and $432 in Henderson County funds for the expansion, research, and development of innovative animal waste facilities and management techniques within their swine production operation. 

$90,693           Porchetta Primata, LLC

Porchetta Primata, LLC was approved for $87,693 in state funds in the form of a loan and $3,000 in Todd County funds to purchase equipment that will assist in the production of a premium product that will be sold to the finest dining establishments all over the country.   

$50,000           River Valley Agritourism Alliance, Inc.

River Valley Agritourism Alliance, Inc. was approved for $50,000 in state funds to promote agri-tourism ventures in Bracken, Fleming, Lewis, Mason, Nicholas, and Robertson counties.

$20,000           Russell County Cattlemen’s Association

Russell County Cattlemen’s Association was approved for $20,000 in Russell County funds to administer a Youth Heifer Chain.

Menu Approach Programs

$85,000           Jefferson County Farm Bureau, Inc.

The Jefferson County Farm Bureau, Inc. was approved for $85,000 in Jefferson County funds to administer a menu approach program with eight model programs including: Agricultural Diversification; Cattle Genetics Improvement; Cattle Handling Facilities; Farm Livestock Fencing Improvement; Forage Improvement and Utilization; Hay, Straw, and Commodity Storage; On-Farm Water Enhancement and Technology.  

$200,000         Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association

Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association was approved for $200,000 in Shelby County funds to administer a menu approach program with five model programs including: Cattle Genetics Improvement; Cattle Handling Facilities; Dairy Diversification; Forage Improvement and Utilization; and Goat and Sheep Diversification.

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 $60,000 and included:

$20,000           Harrison County

$40,000           Robertson 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 $55,000 and included:

$55,000           Harrison County

The Dairy Diversification Program assists existing and new dairy producers throughout the Commonwealth in renovating and modernizing dairy facilities. County Dairy Diversification Programs approved by the Board totaled $45,000 and included:

$10,000           Robertson County

$35,000           Warren 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 $249,250 and included:

$68,000           Garrard County

$78,750           Jessamine County

$102,500         Todd County

The Goat and Sheep Diversification Program works to assist producers as they venture into goat and sheep production. County Goat Diversification Programs approved by the Board totaled $5,000 and included:

$5,000             Harrison 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 $165,000 and included:

$105,000         Bath County

$60,000           Robertson 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 Program approved by the Board totaled $47,026 and included:

$35,503           Bath County

$11,523           Clinton 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 $258 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 3,180 projects that have been funded through the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, since the inception of the program in January 2001.