PRINCETON, Ky. (March 16, 2018) – University of Kentucky staff, Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy staff, Commissioner Ryan Quarles, Kentucky Agricultural Development Board members, Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation board members, state and local officials and members of the community broke ground commemorating the start of construction for the new UK Grain and Forage Center of Excellence on Thursday, March 15, 2018. 

The University of Kentucky Research Foundation received $15,000,000 in state funds to establish the Kentucky Grain and Forage Center of Excellence at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton in Caldwell County. The center will address important issues in row crop agriculture through research, extension, and education.

“The UK Grain and Forage Center of Excellence is an investment in Kentucky agriculture

for at least the next 50 years. The trend of agriculture is to produce more with less, fitting seamlessly with the goals of the new center. The center will attract a wonderful academic team and KADB is proud to invest in this center and ultimately Kentucky’s future,” said Warren Beeler, GOAP executive director.   

Kentucky grain producers will benefit through increased yields and reduced input costs resulting from the research and educational efforts of the center. It is expected that most workshops, trainings, programs and diagnostic services will be made available to the public for a fee.   

“We appreciate the fact that the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board awarded project funds to assist us in making this center a reality. We also thank the General Assembly, commodity and producer organizations for their inspiration and support. Our goal is to continue to provide top notch technologies and service to advance Kentucky agriculture,” said Nancy Cox, dean of University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.    

The Grain and Forage Center of Excellence is located at 1205 Hopkinsville Street, Princeton, KY 42445. For more information about this project, contact Rick Bennett at (859) 257-3333 or Rick.bennett@uky.edu.