FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2002
Contact: John-Mark Hack, Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy (502) 564-4627

$2,015,394 Invested in Kentucky Agricultural Diversification

FRANKFORT- The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Paul Patton, today approved $2,015,394 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth. The board was established to oversee the Agricultural Development Fund that was created by the 2000 General Assembly using half of Kentucky's tobacco settlement revenues. In its meeting today, the board approved a total of 37 projects. The board approved a total of $2,015,394 in a variety of county-level projects.

County level programs that received board approval included:

• $7,250 Carter County - All Creatures Veterinary Care will purchase an ultrasound scanner and probes to provide pregnancy checks to livestock. The veterinary clinic will also provide a discount to Carter County farmers who utilize the service.
• $1,487 Carter County - All Creatures Veterinary Care will purchase equipment necessary for bull soundness testing. Beef, dairy and goat producers will benefit from use of this equipment in making herd management decisions. The veterinary clinic will also provide a discount to Carter County farmers who utilize this service.
• $3,000 Franklin County - Franklin County Conservation District will purchase a tree planter for shared-use by Franklin County farmers.
• $2,500 Grayson County - The Grayson Co. High School Agriculture Department will expand and update its aquaculture and hydroponic systems at Grayson Co. High School through the purchase of equipment for a "kit" fish farm for freshwater shrimp, a two-tank system housed in the greenhouse, as well as water quality test kits.
• >$5,000 Henry County - For the establishment of the Henry County Youth Goat Chain. Youth ages 4 - 15 can apply to participate.
• $99,030 Lewis County - For the Lewis County Vegetable Producers Association to purchase four acres on the AA for their farmer's market and to build a market shed.
• $14,420 Robertson County - Robertson Co. Board of Education will construct a greenhouse at Robertson County High School for an after-school Greenhouse Tech Program, as well as traditional Vocational Agriculture instruction.

Also funded were county cost-share programs, developed to address the identified need for funds in specified areas. The cattle handling and cattle genetics programs allow for assistance to purchase equipment and animals to improve the health and profitability of cattle. The forage program improves pastures to allow for improved grazing by animals, reducing producer costs for feed, and improving feed quality. The goat diversification program works to assist producers to venture into this relatively new area of agriculture in Kentucky. The diversification program is designed to assist in the transition into ten new areas of agriculture including dairy, aquaculture, and grapes. And the fallen animal program works to address the problem of dead animal disposal around Kentucky.

County Cattle Handling Programs approved by the board totaled $413,350 and included:

County Diversification Programs approved by the board totaled $566,000 and included:

Fallen Animal Program approved by the board totaled $11,652 and included:

Forage Improvement & Utilization Programs approved by the board totaled $585,457 and included:

Genetics Improvement Programs approved by the board totaled $175,200 and included: