Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
$1,831,657 Invested in Kentucky Agricultural Diversification

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

$60,000           Buffalo Trace Area Development District

Buffalo Trace Area Development District was approved for $60,000 in Robertson County funds to administer a Forage Equipment Cost-share Program.

$15,000           Buffalo Trace Area Development District

Buffalo Trace Area Development District was approved for $15,000 in Robertson County funds to administer a Heifer Replacement Program.

$55,000           City of Morgantown

The City of Morgantown was approved for $15,000 in Butler County funds and $40,000 in state funds as part of the 2007 Farmers’ Market Competitive Awards Program.

$60,000           Estill County Conservation District

The Estill County Conservation District was approved for $60,000 in Estill County funds to administer a menu approach for two model programs including: Agricultural Diversification and Forage Resource Improvement & Utilization. 

$60,000           Estill County Cattlemen’s Association

The Estill County Cattlemen’s Association was approved for $60,000 in Estill County funds to administer a menu approach for four model programs including: Cattle Genetics Improvement, Cattle Handling Facilities, Farm Livestock Fencing Improvement, and Hay, Straw & Commodity Storage.

$487,982         J.D. Country Milk

J.D. Country Milk was approved for $9,422 in Logan County funds and $478,560 in state funds for construction and expansion of their processing facility.

$487,500         Kentucky BioProcessing

Kentucky BioProcessing was approved for $487,500 in state funds to purchase the technology known as GENEWARE®, a novel protein expression system.

$47,000           Lyon County Conservation District

The Lyon County Conservation District was approved for $47,000 in Lyon County funds to administer a menu approach for six model programs including: Cattle Handling Facilities, Farm Livestock Fencing Improvement, Forage Improvement & Utilization, Goat & Sheep Diversification, Hay, Straw, & Commodity Storage, and On-Farm Water Enhancement.  

$14,000           Owen County Farm Bureau  

Owen County Farm Bureau was approved for $14,000 in Owen County funds to administer a menu approach for four model programs including: Cattle Handling Facilities, Forage Resource Improvement and Utilization, Hay, Straw & Commodity Storage and On-farm Water Enhancement.

$15,000           The Center for Rural Development

The Center for Rural Development was approved for $15,000 in state funds to host an intensive educational conference on woodland owner’s issues and opportunities.

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 $7,000 and included:

$7,000             Boyle 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 $50,000 and included:

$50,000           Clay 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 $77,575 and included:

$50,000           Clay County

$27,575           Hart 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 $153,000 and included:

$153,000         Boyle 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 $12,600 and included:

$12,600           Cumberland 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 $201,000 and included:

$51,000           Boyle County

$150,000         Clay 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 $14,000 and included:

$14,000           Henderson County

The Technology program allows producers 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 $15,000 and included:

$15,000           Boyle County

Governor Fletcher 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 $254 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 3,069 projects that have been funded through Agricultural Development Fund, since the inception of the program in January 2001.