Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
Agricultural Development Funds Awarded

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 14, 2011) - The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board (KADB), chaired by Gov. Steve Beshear, today approved $1,496,668 in 14 agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth during their January board meeting at the Hyatt Regency at Lexington Center.

County projects approved included:

$24,500 Produce Consolidation, Shipping Facility
Scott B. Shackelford was approved for $24,500 in Todd County funds to construct a facility where producers can bring their produce to consolidate and ship in truckloads.  This will increase the marketability of the produce and improve net-farm income through better, more consistent pricing.  For more information about this project, contact Scott Shackelford at (270) 265-8648 or Shack.Hiddenpines@yahoo.com.

$5,000  Farm Safety Course
The Jessamine County FFA Alumni Association Inc. was approved for $5,000 in Jessamine County funds to conduct a chainsaw safety class.  The 10-hour course will cover topics on the proper and safe use of chain saws, including maintenance, safety, first aid, tree felling and economics.  For more information about this project, contact Carl Waits at (859) 948-5527 or carl.waits@insightbb.com.

County investments approved included:

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.  CAIPs approved by the board totaled $1,418,018 and included the following seven counties:  Bath, Boone, Breckinridge, Carroll, Harrison, Menifee and Rockcastle.

The Deceased Farm Animal Disposal Assistance Program serves as an interim measure to facilitate the coordination of environmentally sound and cost-effective disposal of deceased livestock for Kentucky producers. County Deceased Farm Animal Disposal Assistance Programs approved by the board totaled $15,000 and included the following two counties: Madison and Scott.

The Shared-use Equipment Program is designed to impact 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.  Shared-use Equipment Programs approved by the board totaled $34,150 for the following three counties:  Boyd, Grant and Madison.

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Gov. Steve 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 $345.4 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 3,757 projects that have been funded through the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, since the inception of the program in January 2001.