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The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Gov. Steve Beshear, approved $260,297 from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth during their monthly board in Decemeber.
State and County Agricultural Development Fund projects approved for funding at the December meeting include:
$40,000 The Boyle County Foundation
The Boyle County Foundation was approved for $40,000 from Boyle County Agricultural Development Funds to purchase and construct a greenhouse to provide agricultural learning experiences for students.
$58,800 Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc.
The Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc. was approved for $58,800 in Franklin County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with six model programs including Agricultural Diversification, Cattle Genetics Improvement, Cattle Handling Facilities, Farm Livestock Fencing Improvement, Hay, Straw, & Commodity Storage, and Technology.
$51,250 Russell County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc.
The Russell County Cattlemen’s Association, Inc. was approved for $51,250 in Russell County funds to administer a Menu Approach Program with four model programs including Cattle Genetics Improvement, Cattle Handling Facilities, Forage Improvement & Utilization, and On-Farm Water Enhancement.
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 $20,000 and included:
$20,000 Boone 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 $27,500 and included:
$27,500 Bracken 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 $35,000 and included:
$35,000 Breckinridge 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 $27,747 and included:
$27,747 Henderson County
Governor Beshear and the General Assembly 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 KADF. To date, Kentucky has invested more than $279 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 3,396 projects that have been funded through the KADF, since the inception of the program in January 2001.
