KADB Approves $650,000 for Biomass Project

By admin - Posted on April 24th, 2007

April 23, 2007 -- Frankfort, Ky. - The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board approved the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council for a total of $650,000 in state funds to contract with the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences to conduct a biomass and hay production applied research and demonstration project. This proposal was one of the thirty-five projects, totaling $2,583,458 approved at the April Kentucky Agricultural Development Board Meeting.

The Kentucky Forage & Grassland Council will use these funds to demonstrate that the electrical generating utilities and the cellulosic ethanol industry in Northeast Kentucky is capable of utilizing Kentucky biomass crops that are sustainable and economical; to develop viable markets for biomass; and to develop and promote viable hay production and marketing strategies.

Governor Fletcher and the Kentucky Legislature continue to make great strides toward lessening Kentucky’s dependence on tobacco production while revitalizing the farm economy by investing 50 percent of Kentucky's Master Settlement Agreement into the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund. To date, Kentucky has invested more than $236 million to an array of county, regional and state projects designed to increase net farm income and create sustainable new farm-based business enterprises. The diversification programs represent more than 2,830 projects that have been funded through Agricultural Development Fund, since the inception of the program in January 2001.

For more information on this project contact Dr. Ray Smith, with the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council, at (859) 257-3358. To learn more about cost-share grant and loan programs available though the Agricultural Development Fund contact the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy at (502) 564-4627.

Source: Kentucky Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy

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