More than $800,000 invested across Kentucky
OWINGSVILLE, Ky. (May 20, 2014) – The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board (KADB) last week approved $829,343 for 31 agricultural diversification projects across the commonwealth during its board meeting at the Bath County Agricultural Education and Marketing Center.
State and regional investments approved included:
4-H Livestock Barn Renovation
Owen County 4-H Fair and Horseshow Inc. was approved for $20,000 in Owen County funds to repair and upgrade its 4-H livestock barn. Funds will be used for electrical work, wash rack improvements, access road grading and gravel and other repairs. The applicant anticipates 500 farm families will benefit from this project. For more information about this project, contact FaDana Bramblett with the fair board, at 502-484-5598, 502-514-2384 or [email protected].
Commercial Kitchen
Mulberry Orchard LLC was approved for $35,000 in Shelby County funds to construct and equip a 30-foot by 32-foot facility to house a commercial kitchen. The kitchen will be used to create value-added products to compliment Mulberry Orchard’s on-farm agritourism business. The applicant anticipates impacting a minimum of 11 farm families with this project. For more information about this project, contact Matt and Amanda Gajdzik, owners, at 502-220-7516 or[email protected]. For more information about Mulberry Orchard, visitwww.MulberryOrchardKY.com.
Feasibility Study
The Hopkinsville Elevator Co. Inc. was approved for $11,000 in state funds to conduct a feasibility study on expanding the co-op’s operations to central Kentucky. This economic feasibility study will focus on the areas of marketing, facility operations and financial projections. For more information about this project, contact Ben Westerfield, grain merchandiser, at 270-886-5191, 270-348-2529 or[email protected]. For more information about Hopkinsville Elevator Co., visit www.hop-elevator.com.
Meat Processing, Retail Facility
Henry County Meat Market LLC was approved for up to $500,000 in state and county funds to construct a USDA-inspected meat processing facility and retail shop. This facility is expected to reduce transportation costs and increase market opportunities for livestock producers in the area. The award will be a combination of grant and loan funding. For more information about this project, contact John Edwards, co-owner, at 502-221-1163 or
Youth Cost-Share Program
The Jessamine County FFA Alumni Association Inc. was approved for $8,000 in Jessamine County funds for a youth cost-share program to support 4H/FFA students on agriculture-related projects. Since 2001, 190 students have participated in this program. The program has been a building block for students to gain interest in agriculture and explore agriculture careers. For more information about this project, contact Carl Waits, with the association, at 859-948-5527 or[email protected].
County investments approved included:
Agricultural Energy Investments
The On-Farm Energy Efficiency Program provides incentives for Kentucky farm families to increase energy efficiency and renewable fuel production. Successful applicants may receive up to 50 percent reimbursement of the actual cost of a qualified energy saving project, up to $10,000. Twenty applicants for the On-Farm Energy Efficiency Program were approved for a total of $177,527 in Adair (2), Ballard (2), Barren, Bracken, Christian, Daviess, Graves, Hart, LaRue, Marion, McLean, Monroe, Taylor, Todd, Union, Warren (2) and Webster counties.
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. Two Deceased Farm Animal Removal Programs were approved for Montgomery and Russell counties, totaling $9,125.
On-Farm Investments
TheCounty Agricultural Investment Program (CAIP) is designed to provide farmers with incentives to allow them to improve and diversify their current production practices in an effort to increase net farm income. CAIP covers a wide variety of on-farm agricultural enterprises in its 10 investment areas, including production, marketing and value-added processing. One CAIP was approved by the board totaling $41,524 for Kenton County.
In addition to these new approvals, an additional $23,032 was approved to supplement existing CAIPs in Metcalfe and Warren counties.
Shared-Use Equipment
The Shared-use Equipment Programis 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. Two Shared-use Equipment Programs were approved by the board for Pulaski County, totaling $4,135.
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