Madison gets big agriculture bucks

Local News

June 14, 2007

Havanna Hagans The Richmond Register Thu Jun 14, 2007, 08:39 AM EDT

The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board approved more than $350,000 for Madison County at its May meeting.

Five out of the 66 projects approved by the board earned money for three Madison organizations from the project, including: Madison County Conservation District, Madison County Beef Cattle Association and Madison County Farm Bureau Federation.

The program is set up to assist producers in developing and expanding new agricultural products while finding new ways to utilize current agricultural commodities, according to the Commonwealth News Center press release.

As part of the program, Madison County was approved for $357,300 of the $4.44 million that was allotted.

The Kentucky General Assembly takes half of the money up front for early childhood development and the remaining half (the $4.44 million) goes toward agriculture development, said Brandon Sears, Madison County cooperative extension agent for agriculture and natural resources.

How much money and where it goes is based on the applications turned in by farmers and how the organizations judge the entries in relation to three criteria, Sears said.

Applications are judged on whether or not the farmer has raised tobacco in 2007, the past or if they have received a phase two payment check.

Tobacco buyout

“It’s the money a farmer gets on a yearly basis because of the tobacco buyout, basically to reset some of the economic loss since the tobacco buy out ... to offset some of the loss in production,” Sears said. “There’s still some grown in the county, but it’s not anywhere near where it used to be.”

The second criteria is how much of the farmer’s total annual income comes from farming and the third is if the farmer has ever received money from any of the grants in the past.

It is the goal of the board not to continuously fund the same organizations without branching out to assist others, Sears said.

Madison County will receive funding in five out of the 11 categories approved: foraging improvement, hay, straw and commodity storage, fencing improvement, cattle handling facilities and cattle genetic improvement.

Madison racked up the most money in the program for forage improvement and utilization. The county will be given $117,550 to improve pastures for grazing, reducing producer costs for feed and the quality of the feed.

Hay, straw and commodity storage pulled in $81,450 for Madison and $77,100 for the fencing improvement program.

Cattle-handling facilities, which assist in health practices in efficient production, management and marketing opportunities for beef, added $44,200 to the pot, while $37,000 was included for cattle genetic improvement.

“The goal of the whole program for the state, kind of the way I see it, is to help other farm operations diversify in the absence of tobacco,” Sears said. “For instance in Madison County, I think, in the early to mid-90s we were raising 12.8 million pounds roughly here in the county. This year, I think we’re projected to be down to 2.8 million pounds, so we’ve had a significant loss of on-farm income since tobacco has dwindled.”

Better managers

The money from the grant also helps farmers become better managers of their forage.

The board also approved $290,000 for the Kentucky Grape and Wine Council. The money will help fund Kentucky’s enologist, technical support and viticulturist positions for one year.

“The program has definitely helped a lot of the farmers here in the county since the inception in 2001. We’ve received this year about 400 applications from farmers for the six different grants and the county never receives enough money to fund each individual who applies,” Sears said, “but there is a scoring system that the organizations use to determine priority. We try to spread the money around as best as we can to help as many people, especially new applicants.”

The funds from the board have not been sent to the organizations, however they are expected to be released by the end of this month.

The farmers will receive their money after the legal agreements have been signed and returned from Frankfort and their reimbursement forms have been accepted by the extension office, Sears said.

Although the grants have helped farmers recover from the loss, Sears said it is not definite the program will stay afloat.

“It is not necessarily a program intended to go on forever. I think it was originally intended to go on for 10 years so it depends on availability of funds from the cigarette companies,” Sears said. “The amount of money we get every year is not the same. Typically it’s been less. The more profitable these domestic companies are the better chance the county has of getting more funding.”

Havanna Hagans can be reached at 623-1669 or news@richmondregister.com.

Text Only

Local News

Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
Kentucky’s deadline for filing to run for legislative seats was in flux on Monday because a judge did not immediately rule on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of newly redrawn district boundaries.

Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he expects to enter a ruling in the case by mid-week.

February 7, 2012
Couple recovering from injuries suffered in weekend house fire
A couple was hospitalized after their home was set ablaze Sunday by a spark from a cigar, according to a county fire official.

County Fire Chief Jim Cox said the city and county fire departments were called to the home at 111 Concord Road in the early afternoon. Waco Volunteer Fire Department and the Richmond Fire Department also responded.

February 7, 2012
EKU closes dining room at Arlington Clubhouse
A Richmond country club is no longer offering dining to members, but remains available for catered events and will be open on certain holidays.

Arlington Country Club, which has been a staple of Eastern Kentucky University for the past 40 years, laid off all dining staff late last week, according to Tom Coffey of the EKU Foundation.

February 7, 2012
Standoff at Super 8 Motel ends peacefully
A bizarre drug-fueled standoff at the Richmond Super 8 Motel ended peacefully with no one hurt, including a child who was in the room with a man that police found wielding two knives.

About 1:53 a.m. Friday, police received a call about a man who was threatening someone with a knife at the motel on North Keeneland Drive, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock.

February 6, 2012
Trial for couple accused of human trafficking delayed
The trial for a Berea couple accused of human trafficking involving their daughters has been delayed.

Despite Monday morning television reports that the trial was beginning Monday, it was postponed because the attorneys are not ready to try the case.

February 6, 2012
Richmond man charged with child porn possession
(Editor’s note: The following story contains graphic information some readers may find offensive.)

A Richmond man has been arrested for possession of child pornography as a result of a nearly one-year investigation by local police.

February 6, 2012
Noted author to deliver keynote address for Black History Month
Almost a year ago, Arnold Rampersad stood in the East Room of the White House as he was presented the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama.
On Thursday, Feb. 16, the noted author will stand in O’Donnell Hall of Eastern Kentucky University’s Student Success Building to deliver the keynote address for the university’s Black History Month observance. Rampersad’s visit is also part of Eastern’s year-long Chautauqua lecture series, and the title of his talk, “Black History: The Challenge of Living with Others,” coincides with this year’s Chautauqua theme, “Living with Others: Challenges and Promises.”

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Madison and Clark Counties, which has built 160 homes for people in need since 1992, is seeking applicants for partner families, according to Judy Flavell, executive director of the organization.
“We really need applicants right now,” Flavell said. “More people can qualify for Habitat homes than people realize.”
Eligible applicants must have lived in Madison or Clark counties for at least one year, have a stable income, be able to pay a modest monthly mortgage and be able to demonstrate that their current housing is overcrowded, physically substandard, too expensive, unsafe, or they are living in subsidized housing, according to Habitat.
For more information about eligibility, or to apply, call Habitat for Humanity at 625-9208 or visit its office at 1417 East Main Street in Richmond. Visit online at habitatmadisonclark.org.

February 6, 2012 2 Photos
Occupational therapy dept. at EKU offers program for adults with memory loss
For local adults who are experiencing memory loss related to dementia or Alzheimer’s, the Department of Occupational Therapy at Eastern Kentucky University has provided “The Place to Be” for the past two decades.
The department will again sponsor the free eight-week program on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., beginning Feb. 9. Participants can attend Thursday and/or Friday. Applications still are being accepted (call 893-0653) for the free service, which is offered in Room 100 of the Dizney Building on EKU’s campus.

February 6, 2012
Bible Belt towns in state consider going ‘wet’
In this Appalachian college town where socially conservative views are bedrocks of life, some people want to do what was once unthinkable: legalize liquor sales.
Supporters say passing the measure in Tuesday’s special election in Barbourville would tap a new revenue source in a place where hundreds of jobs are evaporating as one plant shuts down and another cuts its workforce in half. But from the pulpits to the courthouse square, opponents have been pressing their case that uncorking liquor sales would irreparably harm the town of about 3,200.

February 6, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Madison gets big agriculture bucks

Have you ever attended a meeting of a local government agency or taxing district?

Site Map