By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The agricultural landscape of the state has seen extensive changes over the last dozen years, moving from a heavily tobacco farm economy to a more diverse industry.

The cattle and poultry sectors in particular have seen dramatic growth during that time.

But many agricultural endeavors have taken root as farmers worked to keep their farms, many of which have been in their families for generations.
One factor that has been a constant during this changing, often difficult, time is the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund (KADF).

The fund was created by way of the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), a landmark settlement paid by tobacco companies to 46 states. Half of Kentucky’s share has gone to the fund and been used to help farmers face those changes that have come in the last 12 years.

Last April the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy (GOAP) announced a series of forums to gain input in the future use of the KADF to continue strengthening Kentucky’s agricultural economy, according to information from the governor’s office.

“I want everyone to take a fresh look at the Agricultural Development Fund and determine how to utilize the available resources to spark new and innovative ideas, encourage competition and pursue genuine opportunities that will lead to greater profitability for our farmers,” said Gov. Steve Beshear. “We need to consider ways that the Agricultural Development Fund can be used to entice proposals that create or expand markets for farmers, build on core agricultural assets in the various regions of the state or foster agricultural entrepreneurship and agribusiness development.”

The series of forums were held in eight locations across the state beginning on May 19 in Frankfort and concluding June 22 in Owensboro. Roger Thomas has had an active hand in helping develop legislation and policy that has directed and kept the MSA funds going back into agriculture, first as a legislator and now as director of the GOAP.

He said the meetings were not only good in learning about past successes of the fund, but hearing about the needs of farmers in setting a course for the fund’s future. “The discussions have been really good. A lot of folks have been taking the opportunity to say good things about the Ag Development Fund and what it has done for their communities, but the real focus of the forums has been to seek out possible new ideas, news ways to use limited resources in the funds to leverage other resources,” Thomas said.

He added that at nearly every forum, the discussion turned to new ways of helping young people in agriculture.

“We talked about investments we’ve made in 4-H and FFA and continue to make, but (also) looking at additional ways to benefit the youth in agriculture and provide opportunities for our young people to stay, in not just production agriculture but ag-related jobs and businesses,” Thomas said.

Another popular topic at many of the meetings was the subject of how to better use the forestry resources in Kentucky and what role the KADF would have. The equine industry was another issue that received much attention. Thomas said at nearly every meeting there was a representative from that sector and a dialogue began about the possibility of using KADF to underwrite an industry assessment to see just what it provides economically to the state.
Many regional endeavors were discussed, giving credence to just how diverse Kentucky agriculture is and how much of a leader the state has become in diversity efforts, especially when it comes to the state’s cattle industry, noted Thomas. The state ranks first in cattle production east of the Mississippi, and fifth nationally.

“If you just focused on the investment in improving the livestock industry in Kentucky, that in and of itself is a great justification for the Ag Development Fund. It’s proved that significantly over the last 10 years, and people outside of Kentucky recognize that just as much as producers here in the state do,” he said.

“You can’t find another program anywhere in the country that has provided the benefits to farmers and farm families, to agriculture and really to rural parts of the state, that this program has provided to Kentucky.”

Thomas emphasized there will continue to be a need for the investments the KADF has made in the state. He also said tobacco quota buyout payments resulting from the federal buyout in 2004 will end in three years, and MSA payments will continue to decline – both creating another turning point in the ag industry.

“These forums, this grassroots input and these new ideas are crucial as we move forward because we have to find a way to keep the KADF viable and keep these investments available for future years in agriculture in rural Kentucky,” he said.