Funded projects focus on agricultural diversification, rural development

FRANKFORT (May 20, 2022) – The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board approved $4,407,243 for agricultural diversification and rural development projects across the commonwealth at its monthly board meeting.

State and County Funded Project

• City of Cadiz was approved for up to $93,500 in state and county funds for the construction of a farmers' market structure to extend the marketing season for producers. For more information contact Ryan Clark at onmain@cityofcadiz.com.
• Gav's Meat Processing, LLC was approved for $5,000 in Butler County funds to purchase meat processing equipment. For more information contact Gavin McKinney at gmckinney92@yahoo.com.
• Sugarloaf Mountain Meats and Processing was approved for $224,850 in state funds as a forgivable loan to purchase a poultry processing unit called "Plant in a Box" and equipment to expand their operation to a USDA certified poultry processing facility. For more information contact Nathan Gregory at slmprocessing@yahoo.com.

County Agricultural Investment 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 investment 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.

Twenty-six CAIPs were approved by the board totaling $3,877,393:

• Ballard ($325,000)
• Carroll ($183,809)
• Casey ($240,000)*
• Clark ($170,000)
• Clinton ($160,909)
• Daviess ($50,000)
• Fayette ($40,000)*
• Harrison ($371,979)
• Henderson ($45,000)
• Henry ($291,278)
• Jessamine ($100,000)
• Lawrence ($125,000)
• Leslie ($62,730)
• Marshall ($46,732)
• Marion ($135,000)
• McCreary ($35,725)
• Meade ($61,842)
• Mercer ($188,951)
• Montgomery ($200,000)
• Morgan ($221,911)
• Muhlenberg ($54,813)
• Oldham ($30,000)
• Owen ($265,000)*
• Powell ($60,841)
• Trimble ($230,873)
• Wayne ($180,000)

   

Deceased Farm Animal Removal (DAR)

TheDeceased 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.

Four DAR Programs were approved by the board totaling $44,500:

• Clark ($15,000)
• Harrison ($7,500)
• Marion ($14,000)
• Montgomery ($8,000)

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.

One NextGen program was approved by the board totaling $60,000:

• Henry ($60,000)

Youth Agricultural Incentives Program (YAIP)

YAIP encourages youth to engage in and explore agricultural opportunities.

Seven YAIP programs were approved by the board totaling $102,000:

• Clark ($40,000)
• Fayette ($5,000)
• Henderson ($6,000)
• Henry ($20,000)
• Ohio ($10,000)
• Oldham ($6,000)
• Trimble ($15,000)

All application periods and deadlines for CAIP, NextGen, and YAIP will be advertised locally.

*Existing programs receiving additional funding.