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Investments made in agricultural diversification projects

More than $300,000 invested across the state

FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 15, 2013) – The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board (KADB), chaired by Gov. Steve Beshear, on Friday approved $305,881 for eight county agricultural diversification projects across the state during its March board meeting at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office.

State investments approved included:

tractorAgricultural Asset Mapping — The Pennyrile Area Development District (PADD) was approved for $100,000 in state funds to conduct a statewide mapping project of Kentucky’s agricultural assets. In coordination with the other 14 area development districts, a database of Kentucky’s agricultural assets and resources will be developed, including potential sites for agricultural development, agricultural industrial sites, food production and supply facilities, as well as other critical agricultural infrastructure locations.

For more information on this project, contact Chris Sutton, PADD executive director, at 270-886-9484, 270-625-2766 or [email protected].

County investments approved included:

Environmental Stewardship — The Deceased Farm Animal Removal Program serves as a measure to facilitate the coordination of environmentally sound and cost-effective disposal of deceased livestock for Kentucky producers. One Deceased Farm Animal Removal Program was approved for Nelson County totaling $7,500.

On-Farm Investments

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 on-farm agricultural enterprises in its 10 investment areas, including production, marketing and value-added processing. Four CAIPs were approved by the board totaling $163,500 for Hardin, Henry, Jefferson and Taylor counties. In addition to these new approvals, an additional $24,389 was approved to supplement an existing CAIP in Carter County.

Shared-Use Equipment

The Shared-use Equipment Program is designed to benefit 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 was approved by the board in the amount of $10,492 for McCreary County.