Kadf ApplicaTIONS

The Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund (KADF) project and program applications must be submitted to the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy. Applications must be received by the last Friday of each month to be referred to the board at the next monthly meeting.

The KADB will not approve any county program applications (CAIP, DAR, NextGen, Shared-Use, & YAIP) in December 2026. Any county program applications received after the November KADB deadline (October 30) will be presented in January 2027 on the 2027 program guidelines.

See all 2025 and 2026 program guidelines, applications, forms, and documents on the right menu bar.

KADF PROJECT APPLICATION

The KADF Project Application is the general project application for non-program applicants.  Guidelines     Application

• Farmers Market Projects 
  

  The Farmers Market Guidelines provide guidance for project submissions related to community farmers markets and allow state funds to be awarded for these type projects.   Guidelines    Application 

• Meat PRocessor Projects

  The Meat Processors Guidelines provide guidance for project submissions related to meat processing facilities and allow state and county funds to be awarded for these type projects.    Guidelines     Application 

  Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) - resource only

KADF STATE PROGRAMS

The state program applications below are for farmers and agribusinesses applying for funds. All state program applications must be submitted to the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy for consideration.

•   ·    FOOD SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY INCENTIVES PROGRAM

  Food Safety and Efficiency Incentives Program provides funding for Kentucky farm families, businesses, and processors to increase their efficiency and food safety protocol through sound consultation services. Applicants may receive up to 75 percent reimbursement of the actual cost of a qualified consultation service, up to $3,750.     Guidelines    Application

• LARGE AND FOOD ANIMAL VETERINARY INCENTIVES PROGRAM 

  Large and Food Animal Veterinary Incentives Program provides funding for Kentucky veterinarians to increase service to large and food animals in the state. Applicants may receive up to 75 percent reimbursement for eligible expenditures not to exceed more than $100,000 in state and county funds as a lifetime limit.     Guidelines    Application

• PILOT Horticulture INCENTIVES Loan PROGRAM 

  Pilot Horticulture Incentives Loan Program provides working capital to specialty crop growers during produce season. Successful applicants may receive up to $250,000 as a direct loan to be paid back by the end of the year.   Guidelines    Application

KADF COUNTY PROGRAMS

The county program applications below are for organization applying to administer the county level programs. All county program applications must be submitted to the county council first for consideration and then are submitted Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy for final consideration.

The KADB will not approve any county program applications (CAIP, DAR, NextGen, Shared-Use, & YAIP) in December 2026. Any county program applications received after the November KADB deadline (October 30) will be presented in January 2027 on the 2027 program guidelines.

See all 2025 and 2026 program guidelines, applications, forms, and documents on the right menu bar.

• COUNTY AGRICULTURAL Incentives PROGRAM (CAIP) 

  CAIP provides Kentucky agricultural producers with cost-share assistance on practices to allow them to improve and diversify their current farm operations. CAIP covers a wide variety of agricultural enterprises in its 11 incentive areas, including, but not limited to, bees and honey, equine, forage, beef and dairy cattle, goats and sheep, horticulture, poultry, swine, timber and technology, as well as energy efficiency and production, farm infrastructure and water enhancement, marketing, and value-added production.

• DECEASED FARM ANIMAL REMOVAL (DAR)

  DAR serves as a measure to facilitate the coordination of environmentally sound and cost-effective disposal of deceased livestock for Kentucky producers.

• NEXT GENERATION FARMER PROGRAM (NEXTGEN)

  NextGen addresses the growing need for a specialized program that would benefit producers ages 18 to 40 that have been engaged in an agricultural operation for a minimum of three years.

• SHARED-USE EQUIPMENT PROGRAM

  This program assists broad-based community organizations with the purchase of farm equipment. The equipment purchased is made available for producer use in a specific county on a leased basis.

• YOUTH AGRICULTURAL INCENTIVES PROGRAM (YOUTH/YAIP)

  YAIP encourages students ages 9 - 18 to engage in and explore agricultural opportunities.