FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 18, 2002
Contact: Kara Keeton, Communications Director
Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
404 Ann Street, Frankfort
(502) 564-4627

State Agricultural Development Board Delivers $57,500 to Spencer County Conservation District

The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Paul Patton, today delivered a check in the amount of $57,500 in support of the Forage Improvement and Utilization Program in Spencer County. This project will continue to assist farmers in their efforts to transition out of tobacco production by diversifying into alternative agricultural endeavors.

Kentucky has made a historic effort to diversify away from tobacco production while revitalizing the farm economy by investing 50% of Kentucky's Master Settlement Agreement into the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund. To date Kentucky has invested over $98 million to an array of county, regional, and state projects designed to increase net farm income and create sustainable new farm-based business enterprises. Spencer County Forage Improvement and Utilization Program represents just one of the over 800 projects that have been funded through Agricultural Development Fund, since the inception of the program in January 2001.

For more information regarding this project, contact the Spencer County Conservation District or the Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy at (502) 564-4627.

- 30 -