Madison County consistently ranks in the top 5 for acres of grass produced, tons of hay produced and number of cows and feeder calves. Various types of farm equipment are required to produce these commodities. Unfortunately, many of these machines cost tens of thousands of dollars and many farmers are not able to justify ownership for small operations. Additionally, about fifteen years ago our local Conservation District discontinued their No-Till drill shared use program for local farmers.

Seeing the need for shared use equipment, local ag leaders from the Madison County Farm Bureau, Extension Agriculture Council and the Madison County ANR agent travelled to Lincoln County to learn about their well-established shared use equipment rental program. In the years since, the Madison County ANR agent and the Madison County Farm Bureau have partnered with a local ag business and farmer lease agents to purchase several shared use pieces of equipment through the KADF shared use equipment program. Purchase of equipment is made possible by 75% Madison County Agriculture Development funds and 25% Madison County Farm Bureau funds. The ANR agent is responsible for the County Agriculture Development Council, project applications, review, program compliance, and reporting for the shared use program.

Since 2010 our partnership has allowed the purchase of ten pieces of equipment: two in-line hay wrappers, three No-Till drills, a manure spreader, cattle chute, silage bagger, two boomless sprayers and a lime spreader.   The total purchase price amounts to $193,621.00 of equipment that is available to Madison County Farmers. With very modest rental rates, this program allows producers the opportunity to improve their management with machinery they otherwise would not have had access to. The shared use equipment program amounts to significant increases in efficiency and safety, lowered production costs and time saved.