Perry County is one of the Counties that receives very little of the Phase I Tobacco Settlement funds that was established by House Bill 611. Perry County only receives around $8000 every two years. We usually have to set on the money until enough is accumulated to run a cost-share program. On average we run a program every two or three years and only have around $10,000 to put toward a grant. Most of the grants that have been run are only for $1000 producer maximum and are a 50/50 cost-share match.

     In 2020 the State Agricultural Development Board voted to give Counties who receive very limited Phase I Funds enough money to have $30,000 in their County accounts. This was a very generous gift by the Agricultural Development Board and it allowed Perry County to run their largest cost-share program to date. The County Agricultural Development Council met prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and voted to run a CAIP (County Agriculture Improvement Program) cost-share program with a $3000 producer maximum at a 75/25 match. The producer only has to come up with 25% of the $3000 maximum match. Normally when Perry County runs a Phase I cost-share program, we only have on average 7 producers that apply for the funds. Most, I guess, feel $1000 is not worth all the effort to qualify for funding. However, this year we had 17 applicants and all 17 qualified and were approved. The County Agricultural Development Council had voted to pro-rate funds if more producers qualified than available funds. So, we were able to approve and fund all 17 that qualified. The County Extension Agent for Agricultural and Natural Resources worked with all applicants to assist them in getting qualified. This included preparing a Kentucky Agricultural Water Quality Plan, getting a Farm Serial Number, if they didn’t have one, soil testing, evaluating their farm and proposed project and educating them on how to fill out an application. This was accomplished mainly by one on one visits due to the COVID-19 safety protocols. The County Extension Agent for Agricultural and Natural Resources also is task with providing training to meet the education requirement component of the grant. Due to COVID-19, this was a challenge to get everyone’s education component completed. The University of Kentucky College of Agricultural specialists a long with the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy had developed a series of on-line trainings that could be used to meet the educational requirement. Using those and doing one on one visits and trainings, the educational requirement for all 17 qualifying producers were met.

     These funds are being used in Perry County to enhance the profitability and sustainability of farming enterprises by providing financial assistance to establish or enhance large and small animal projects, forage improvement, farm infrastructure, fencing and on-farm water and value-added marketing. This was a substantial investment in agriculture in Perry County. Results from this investment will be seen for years to come. We have already seen improvements from the use of the limited funds we receive. I have seen a noticeable improvement in beef cattle genetics, weaning weights have improved and animal quality has improved. We also have made major improvement in cattle working and handling facilities. I have seen improvement in forage quality. This is evident through the annual hay testing program, hay test show some big improvements. We also have more land fenced now.

     These additional funds have allowed the Perry County Extension Service to reach and work with people that we normally wouldn’t have.