For many years, funds derived from the Tobacco Settlement Fund have helped improve small family farms. Farmers who would not normally be able to make large improvements to their farms are able to apply for county funds to build barns, purchase heifers, and build fence. During the winter of 2019, the Lawrence County Agricultural Development Council voted to offer the County Agricultural Investment Program (CAIP). Lawrence County Farm Bureau applied to administer the $120,000.00 that was available to Lawrence County.The Lawrence County ANR Extension Agent worked with farmers to make sure they had their educational classes and worked with them on how to best make these improvements and to make sure all paperwork was done properly. 

 During the application period, 27 producers were approved, 11 were put on a waiting list, and 3 were denied. A total of $78,342.35 was reimbursed back to farmers for various projects. The 27 farmers who were approved completed a total of 33 projects ranging from fencing, hay storage, forage improvement, bulls, on farm water, and others. One farmer said, he "wouldn't have been able to do what he has done without these funds." These projects have been able to increase profits for farmers, increase productivity of hay fields and pastures, and overall improve their farming operation.