Friday March 29, 2024
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Farmers Market Structure, Aquaponics Greenhouse Among Thirteen Agricultural Investments Approved

The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board approved $1,898,727 in 13 agricultural diversification and rural development projects across the Commonwealth at its monthly board meeting.

State Investments:

  • Kentucky Agricultural Leadership Program
    • The University of Kentucky was approved for an additional $500,000 in state funds for the Kentucky Agricultural Leadership (KALP) Program Endowment Fund. The mission of KALP is to identify, develop and motivate men and women for effective leadership in agriculture and rural communities at all levels of public service. For more information on this project, contact. Dr. Will Snell at (859) 257-7288 or wsnell@uky.edu.
  • Farmers Market Structure
    • The Hopkins County Extension District Board was approved for up to $215,000 in state funds and $35,000 in Hopkins County funds for the construction of a farmers market structure as part of the Hopkins County Farmers Market project in Madisonville. For more information on this project, contact Curtis Dame at (270) 821-3650 or curtis.dame@uky.edu.
  • On-Farm Water Management (OWM)
    • David and Mollie Appelman were approved for up to $68,502 in state funds and $1,000 in Mason County funds to implement water management practices on their farm under the OWM Research, Development and Demonstration project guidelines. Once implemented, workshops/classes will be scheduled to share information and demonstrate the practices to other farmers.  For more information about this project, contact David Appelman at (606) 742-2485 or dappelma@uky.edu.
  • Aquaponics Greenhouse
    • LaRue County Board of Education was approved for up to $60,000 in LaRue County funds for a high school greenhouse. For more information on this project, contact Chris Thomas at (270) 358-2210 or chris.thomas@larue.kyschools.us.

County Investments:

  • On-Farm Investments
    • The County Agricultural Investment Program (CAIP) offers 11 investment areas that give Kentucky agricultural producers the ability to increase net farm income, add value to their products and diversify their operation. CAIP benefits and enhances agriculture across the state by stimulating markets for Kentucky agricultural products. Five CAIPs were approved by the board totaling $968,194 for Bourbon ($300,000), Bracken ($180,000), Jackson ($202,644), Rockcastle ($105,550) and Scott ($180,000) counties.
    • In addition to these new approvals, an additional $18,000 was approved to enhance an existing CAIP in Adair County.
  • Next Generation Farmers
    • The Next Generation Beginning Farmer Program (NextGen) was developed to facilitate the growing need for a specialized program that would benefit producers engaged in an agricultural operation from three to seven years. One NextGen Program was approved for Bracken County totaling $20,000.
  • Shared-use Equipment Program
    • The Shared-use Equipment 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. One Shared-use Equipment Program was approved totaling $9,431 for Pulaski County.
  • Youth Agricultural Incentives Program
    • The Youth Agricultural Incentives Program (Youth) serves as a measure to facilitate the growing need for a specialized program that benefits youth actively engaged in agriculture.  An additional $3,600 was approved to enhance an existing Youth program in Adair County.

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