Diversification

FRANKFORT (AP) ? Farmers in several counties will be able to tap into more than $1.2 million set aside for agricultural investments. The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board approved the money last week. Boyle County Farm Bureau will receive $324,000, the largest single amount announced. The money will go to farmers primarily for agricultural diversification projects.

Casey County will receive $49,900 for a goat diversification program. The money came from $481,942 approved Friday for agricultural diversification projects by the state Agricultural Development Board. The goat diversification program works to assist producers to venture into this relatively new area of agriculture in Kentucky.

FRANKFORT - Agricultural diversification projects were approved for Boyle County and Burgin on Friday by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. Gov. Ernie Fletcher recently approved $1,610,997 in ag projects across the state during a board meeting at Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. Boyle County received $103,000 for a fencing improvement program to improve pasture quantity, quality and efficient using of fencing for livestock producers; $10,300 for a diversification program; $4,000 for a county dairy diversification program to help producers in renovating and modernizing dairy facilities; and $103,000 for forage improvement and utilization program that will improve pastures.

LIBERTY - The Casey County Agricultural Development Council is expected to vote on a Phase I application score sheet at its 7 p.m. meeting today at the county extension service office. The members will have a choice of seven areas in which to score an application from farmers who want to participate in funding for farm diversification programs. Funds are provided through Gov. Ernie Fletcher's Office of Agricultural Policy, and a farmer usually is responsible for a 50 percent match.

FRANKFORT - The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board has approved $588,822 in agricultural diversification projects that includes projects in Boyle, Lincoln and Mercer counties. The projects were approved Friday at the monthly board meeting at the Kentucky History Center in Frankfort. The Boyle County Goat Diversification Program got $20,000 in support of the goat diversification cost-share program. The Fort Harrod Goat Association submitted the proposal for cost-share assistance to the Boyle County Agricultural Development Council and the Agricultural Development Board.

The following model farm programs are the three main funding areas and the programs approved over the last five years in the five area counties: Model programs funded with state money Listed by type of program; applicant-program administrator; and amount of money (with ballpark county totals in parentheses): Boyle County ($699,000) Agricultural diversification: Boyle County Farm Bureau, $15,450. Cattle genetics improvement: Boyle County Cattleman's Association, $133,748.

The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Gov. Fletcher, approved $7,181,351 in agricultural diversification projects Friday, including projects in Lincoln and Garrard counties, at the Franklin County Extension Service in Frankfort. Lincoln County received $25,000 for the Cattle Genetic Improvement program that improves high quality herd genetics through the purchase of bulls, bull semen or bull leases. Lincoln also got $30,000 and Garrard County got $69,615 for Cattle Handling Facilities programs.

Kentucky Agricultural Development Board has mailed checks totaling $108,150 in support of agricultural diversification programs in Boyle County. Boyle County Farm Bureau received $15,450 to encourage diversification efforts in the county. The program offers cost-share assistance to individual producers seeking to diversify production. The program is to improve net farm income through development and expansion of new agricultural products. Farm Bureau also received $30,900 for the Cattle Handling Facilities program.

Counties receive tobacco settlement funds Projects in Boyle, Garrard, Lincoln and Mercer counties were approved Thursday by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. The counties will receive a total of $548,200 of the $5,469,440 in agricultural diversification projects approved by the board. Garrard County got $300,000, including $35,000 for agricultural diversification programs, $105,000 for fencing improvement programs, $65,000 for cattle handling programs, and $95,000 for county hay, straw and commodity storage programs.

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FRANKFORT (AP) ? Farmers in several counties will be able to tap into more than $1.2 million set aside for agricultural investments. The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board approved the money last week. Boyle County Farm Bureau will receive $324,000, the largest single amount announced. The money will go to farmers primarily for agricultural diversification projects.

Garrard, Lincoln get ag funds FRANKFORT - The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board approved $2,583,458 in agricultural diversification projects Friday, including programs for Lincoln and Garrard counties. The project were announced at the monthly board meeting at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Service office. The Lincoln County Farm Bureau got $20,000 to administer a program that will assist Lincoln County youth in the purchasing of reproductive female stock for cattle, sheep and goats.

FRANKFORT - Agricultural diversification projects were approved for Boyle County and Burgin on Friday by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. Gov. Ernie Fletcher recently approved $1,610,997 in ag projects across the state during a board meeting at Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. Boyle County received $103,000 for a fencing improvement program to improve pasture quantity, quality and efficient using of fencing for livestock producers; $10,300 for a diversification program; $4,000 for a county dairy diversification program to help producers in renovating and modernizing dairy facilities; and $103,000 for forage improvement and utilization program that will improve pastures.

LIBERTY - The Casey County Agricultural Development Council is expected to vote on a Phase I application score sheet at its 7 p.m. meeting today at the county extension service office. The members will have a choice of seven areas in which to score an application from farmers who want to participate in funding for farm diversification programs. Funds are provided through Gov. Ernie Fletcher's Office of Agricultural Policy, and a farmer usually is responsible for a 50 percent match.

Dear Editor, I read your article about the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board approving $12,000 in support of the goat and sheep diversification cost-share program in Boyle County and thought once again, "Why can't Garrard County get on the goat wagon?" Many adjacent counties have a similar program, but goat farmers that are trying to get established in Garrard County are just out of luck. Also, we must drive to Danville or Harrodsburg to buy feed and supplies because most farm supply stores in the area only carry cattle supplies and don't really seem interested in making a change.

The following model farm programs are the three main funding areas and the programs approved over the last five years in the five area counties: Model programs funded with state money Listed by type of program; applicant-program administrator; and amount of money (with ballpark county totals in parentheses): Boyle County ($699,000) Agricultural diversification: Boyle County Farm Bureau, $15,450. Cattle genetics improvement: Boyle County Cattleman's Association, $133,748.

FRANKFORT - Gov. Ernie Fletcher announced checks Monday for Garrard and Casey county agriculture-related projects. Garrard County Agricultural Development Council received $417,481 for agricultural diversification efforts and Casey got $125,000 for facilities at the Central Kentucky Ag/Expo Center. The Garrard County Farm Bureau will use the money in the following ways: $25,850 to encourage agricultural diversification efforts; $25,000 to support the genetic improvement program; $92,950 for cattle handling facilities; $97,650 for hay, straw and commodity storage; and $90,825 for the farm livestock fencing improvement program.