The Todd County Conservation District is administering Todd County’s seventh offering of the Phase I County Agricultural Improvement Program (CAIP) this program year.  The program was approved for $235,000 in Todd County Ag. Development funds, with a maximum cost-share reimbursement limit of $3,500 per farm. The actual reimbursement cap will be a pro-rated number, based upon the number of people who complete projects and the amount of cost-share eligible money they spend.  CAIP signup was held in January-February 2021 and all purchases will have to be completed by July 31, 2021.

Direct involvement with the CAIP program has included working with the Todd County Conservation District in developing their funding proposal, and assisting them with understanding and interpreting the 2020 state rules and guidelines, etc.  I also helped the Conservation District develop the general program guidelines (deadlines, reimbursement procedures, etc.) and handout materials for some of the cost-share investment areas.

Due to Covid-19 meeting restrictions, we were not able to conduct orientation meetings as we have for past CAIP signups.  The purpose of the orientations was to make sure that participants knew and understood the state and local rules of the CAIP program.  They learned what qualified for cost-share funding, when it could be purchased, how it could be paid for, and what they had to do to qualify for reimbursement under the program.  In the past, we found that our orientation process eliminated virtually all farmer misunderstandings and greatly increased the odds of participants receiving the reimbursement that they expected.  

I conducted several educational programs which CAIP participants used to meet their CAIP program educational requirements, including Beef Quality and Care Assurance training.  I also assisted farmers who were trying to access the University of Kentucky on-line modules designed specifically for CAIP educational programming.  Many Todd County farmers had difficulty in doing the on-line training or in documenting their training.  I conducted BQCA (Beef Quality and Care Assurance) training for 18 producers who were applying for CAIP funds under the Large Animal investment area.  

 Altogether, Todd County had 116 CAIP applicants, and all were approved for funding of at least $1,924.  The number of farmers who complete CAIP projects will not be known until the paperwork deadline in late summer.  But based on past experience, I anticipate that approximately 105 to 110 farmers will receive CAIP reimbursement this year.  Due to the cost-share pro-rating system used in Todd County, it is anticipated that all cost-share funds received for the CAIP program will be disbursed to farmers.