K.A.R.E. PROGRAM COULD AID LOCAL FARMERS
Apr 28,2008 00:00 by Paul B. Hayes
Adair County farmers who suffered damages from last year’s drought and late spring freeze may be eligible for cost share funds to help them recover and be more prepared in the event of another drought or freeze through the Kentucky Agriculture Relief Act (K.A.R.E.)
At a joint meeting of the Adair County Agriculture Council and Adair County Cattlemen’s Association Thursday night at the Adair County Extension Office, Nick Whobrey from the Governor’s Office on Agriculture Policy (GOAP) to discuss the K.A.R.E. program and outline what it covers.
Whobrey told the group that if the ag council voted to participate and abide by all the guidelines of the program, which is being funded with Phase I tobacco settlement money, Adair County would be eligible to receive $98,689 in funding - $52,737 in county funds based on a formula using the amount of money it receives in Phase I funds, and an additional $45,962 in state funds.
The local Ag Council voted to participate fully in the program, and approved the local Cattlemen’s Association to administer the program.
According to Whobrey, all individuals who have a farm identification number will be able to apply for cost share assistance for 18 different practices.
The practices are:
1.Drilling for subsurface aquifers and well establishments
2.Developing and piping on farm springs
3.Construction of small stream water basins  
4.Establishing and enhancing on-farm ponds
5.Water hook-up to city/county water lines for farm usage
6.Irrigation equipment, structures, and components
7.Forage/Pasture Development
a.Seed: Only Certified or Plant Variety Protected or Proprietary varieties
b.Limestone based upon a soil test taken within the past 12 months
c.Fertilizer and/or soil amendments as applied in accordance with a recent soil test
d.Inoculants
8.Pasture/Grain Improvement
a.Seed: Only Certified or Plant Variety Protected or Proprietary varieties
b.Limestone based upon a soil test taken within the past 12 months
c.Fertilizer and/or soil amendments as applied in accordance with a recent soil test
d.Specialized spraying equipment and/or attachments
9.Filter fabric pads for heavy use areas
10.Fence and water – excludes plank and decorative fencing
a.Fence, posts, and related materials such as fence chargers, ground rods, voltmeters, etc.
b.Materials related to development of a distributed water system, including but not limited to water lines, tanks, waterers, and installation costs
11.Seeding: Custom Services & Rental of Equipment
a.Custom seeding services provided by a third party are     eligible for re-imbursement on a cost-share basis.
b.Rental no-till drill or pasture renovator is eligible for reimbursement on a cost-     share basis.
12.Cooling Fans and Sprinkler Systems
13.    Shade cloth and other temporary or permanent agricultural shelters
14.    Feeding equipment, commodity storage structures, hay wrappers, feed mixers, and silage feeding/storage equipment (excludes forage harvesting equipment)
15.Crop Insurance Premiums (For 2008 coverage based upon active contract and invoiced premium) – excludes tobacco
16.Trailers, wagons, and other forage/commodity transportation related equipment (excludes livestock trailers)
17.Animal waste handling equipment
18.Rootstock and trees and certified, hybrid, and/or other seed varieties in conformance with the University of Kentucky recommendations (for commercial production/not for residential practices)
Cost share assistance will be limited to a maximum of $2,000 per farm. If a producer spends $4,000 on a project, he or she  will be eligible to receive $2,000 in assistance.
Tractors, skid steer loaders and other mechanized self-propelled equipment and vehicles (except irrigation systems) are excluded from the program, and none of the funds can be used for anything related to tobacco production. Livestock are also not included in the program.
Whobrey said that to get the program started, the Cattlemen’s Association must first develop their program plan and submit it to the GOAP for approval. One the plan is approved and agreement signed, the association will be able to advertise sign-up dates for the program.
Farmers seeking funding through the K.A.R.E. program will be required to fill out a mandatory producer application which Whobrey said will be used statewide.
Once the applications are submitted, Whobrey said they will be scored using mandatory evaluation criteria established by the Kentucky Agriculture Development Board. Cost-share funds will then be awarded starting with the highest scoring applications.
Adair County Extension Agent for Agriculture Nick Roy said that it will take some time for all the paperwork for the program to be completed and approved by the GOAP, but sign-ups should be held sometime during the month of May.
“This program will bring some additional funds to our county,” Roy noted. “It will help our farmers recover from last year’s drought and freeze, and, more importantly, help them cope better with future droughts or freezes.”
More information on the program and the sign-ups will appear in later issues of The Adair Progress.