Fayette County

Soil Conservation District

2010 Brings changes in the Cost Share Programs

  If you are interested in receiving an application, please contact 

Carly Burton at 254-5806/3

Fayette County Agriculture Development Program funds came from the Phase 1 Tobacco Master Settlement Funds.  The state administrating agency is the Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy. The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board was created by the 2000 General Assembly. The Board serves to distribute 50% of the state monies received from the Master Settlement Agreement  for the general purpose of agricultural development in the Commonwealth. The Board will invest these funds in innovative proposals that increase net farm income and effect tobacco farmers, tobacco-impacted communities and agriculture across the state by stimulating markets for Kentucky agricultural products, finding new ways to add value to Kentucky agricultural products, and exploring new opportunities for Kentucky farms.

Cost Share Programs for the year 2010 have been revamped and are now called CAIP, or County Agriculture Investment Program.

New guidelines, forms, programs, and monetary limits have changed!

All programs, (except the equipment rental program) will be under one application form. Instead of filling out 3 or four applications, now it is narrowed down to a single application for simplifying the process. The universal application will use a scoring system for qualifying applicants.

Lifetime limitations  of $15,000 each program has been done away with. Up to 3 investment areas can be applied for with the maximum amount to be received of 7500.00 per year. This amount can be applied for each year with no lifetime limits.

The Fayette County Conservation District will be the CAIP Administrator. A board of 6 officials will be the overseers of the applications. All CAIP contracts between the administrator and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board will be a term of 12 months. Lack of "tobacco dependency" shall not render a producer ineligible for program participation.

A new investment area - On Farm Energy Efficiency and Production with the goals to:

Equipment Rental Program: The Conservation District offers several pieces of equipment for rent on a daily charged basis.  Click on the link for more information and rates.  To rent the equipment, you must schedule through the Southern States Lexington Co-Op.  Checks and money orders can be made out to FCCD.

Forage Improvement Investment Area  is a county cost-share program to assist landowners in Fayette County in the improvement of forage production both for pasture grazing and the production of hay.  A forage plan will be established for each farm so that the economic benefits of increased forage production can be fully realized in the livestock enterprise or hay sale enterprise.  This program is open to all Fayette County producers.

Diversification Investment Area provides cost-share money to improve net farm income through the development and expansion of new agricultural products and through the development of new ways of dealing with existing agriculture commodities; encourage research and science-based decisions for the creation, management and expansion of these programs; impact a high number of producers affected by the loss of income resulting from cuts in tobacco quota; and assist producers already exploring alternative agriculture enterprises that may lack capital to further expand their program. This program is open to all Fayette County producers.

On Farm Water Enhancement Investment Area is designed to assist Fayette County farmers in developing and improving their water supply and distribution system.  Water is essential for insuring productivity and thereby profitability with livestock, horticulture, vegetable, and tobacco crops. PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST GET APPROVAL FROM THE CONSERVATION  DISTRICT PRIOR TO DOING ANY WORK ON YOUR PROJECT.

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Please note: Fayette County Conservation District will be the new administer forTechnology, Cattle Handling, Livestock Exterior Fencing, Genetic Improvement, and Hay/Grain/Bulk Commodity Storage Facility Investment Areas, Commercial Poultry Diversification, Dairy Diversification, Goat & Sheep Diversification, Swine Diversification, or Timber Production Cost-Share Programs.

Applications will be taken in the future and will be posted as soon as we hear from Frankfort. There will be only one sign up time a year! This will be announced as soon as possible.

Kentucky State Cost Share   The practices that are available for cost-share are: