FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 24, 2012) – The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board (KADB), chaired by Governor Steve Beshear, today approved $3,694,064 for 50 agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth during its August board meeting at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office.

$12,500           Aquaponics Facility Development

FoodChain Inc. was approved for $12,500 in Fayette County funds to construct an indoor closed-loop aquaponics system to raise tilapia and greens.  The project will provide training for farmers on this agriculture technique that combines aquaculture production and hydroponics, as well as hands-on experience to urban consumers with limited exposure to growing food.  For more information about this project, visit foodchainlex.org or contact Rebecca Self, executive director of FoodChain, at 859-536-7157 or rebecca@foodchainlex.org.

$25,000           Food Policy Coordinator

The Blue Grass Community Foundation (BGCF) was approved for $25,000 in Fayette County funds for a food policy coordinator to advocate for policies and programs that would lead to increased markets for local farm products.  The coordinator will work with growers in the region, institutional buyers and consumers to promote the benefits of locally-grown, healthy produce.  For more information about this project, contact Lisa Adkins, BGCF president/CEO, at 859-223-3543 or ladkins@bgcf.org.

$23,950           Mesonet Station Installation The Western Kentucky University Research Foundation was approved $23,950 in Barren County funds to install a new Mesonet station near Glasgow in Barren County.  The Mesonet station will monitor weather and climate to provide high-quality near-real-time weather data to farmers and other users.  For more information about Kentucky Mesonet, visit www.kymesonet.org or contact Dr. Stuart Foster, project director, at 270-745-5983, 270-799-5677 or stuart.foster@wku.edu.

$20,000           Youth Livestock Cost-Share Program The Owen County 4-H Council Inc. was approved for $20,000 in Owen County funds for a cost-share program to assist youth ages 9 to 19 who are participating in a 4-H livestock project.  The long-term goals of this project are to support, educate and encourage youth to better understand the challenges and rewards of livestock production.  This youth cost-share program provides a 50 percent cost-share up to $1,000 for their livestock project.  For more information about the program, contact Staci Thrasher, cooperative extension agent for 4-H, at 502-484-5703, 606-748-1810 or sjnews2@uky.edu.

The County Agricultural Investment Program (CAIP) is designed to provide farmers with incentives to allow them to improve and diversify their current production practices.  CAIP covers a wide variety of agricultural enterprises in its 11 investment areas.  Sixteen CAIPs were approved by the board totaling $3,324,221 for Anderson, Ballard, Bourbon, Bracken, Lewis, Logan, Mason, Menifee, Monroe, Montgomery, Nelson, Owen, Powell, Scott, Shelby and Woodford counties.

In addition to these new approvals, an additional $11,626 was approved to supplement an existing CAIP in Trimble County.

The Deceased 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.  Two Deceased Farm Animal Removal Programs were approved totaling $15,000 for Bourbon and Shelby counties.

The On-Farm Energy Efficiency & Production Program provides incentives for Kentucky farm families to increase energy efficiency and renewable fuel production.  Successful applicants may receive up to 25 percent reimbursement of the actual cost of a qualified energy saving or production project, up to $10,000.  Twenty-four applicants for the On-Farm Energy Program were approved for a total of $197,912 in Barren (4), Boone, Breckinridge, Butler, Calloway, Carlisle (3), Christian, Clinton, Daviess, Edmonson, Graves (2), Hickman, Logan, Marshall, McLean, Monroe, Muhlenberg and Pendleton counties.

The Shared-use Equipment Program is designed to benefit a high number of producers who cannot justify ownership expenses associated with certain equipment by helping them access technology necessary to improve their operations in an economical manner.  Three Shared-use Equipment Programs were approved by the board totaling $63,855 for Anderson, Monroe and Russell counties.

Press release courtesy of KDA