Grants and Contracts Details
Description
Capitalizing on Kentucky’s Horse Industry: Improving on-farm profitability for horse
owners and hay producers
Summary
Growth and innovation are essential to the long-term success of any industry. In Kentucky, small
and medium size horse operations have been underserved in areas of educational programing, cost
share programs, and infrastructure improvements. Farms with horses in the state number
approximately 35,000 and directly impact over 1 million acres of farmland. The majority of these
farms purchase their hay from hay producers, hay brokers, or local farm stores. This project seeks
to assist horse farm owners through agronomic education, soil and forage testing programs, cost
share programs and cooperative extension services. This project will also provide much needed
education to hay producers who have the potential to increase their net farm income by marketing
horse quality hay. The project will include establishing demonstration farms, creating educational
programing, working with county agents, NRCS and the KDA Hay Testing Program, developing
publications and popular press articles, and six regional field days.
The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board was created and charged with the distribution of
Master Settlement Agreement funds. A major goal was to invest in innovative proposals that
increase net farm income by stimulating markets for KY ag products, adding value to products and
exploring new opportunities for KY farms. This project meets several of these criteria by
supporting farms in the state with horses, Kentucky’s cash hay producers, and helping both become
more profitable.
Status | Finished |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 8/11/23 → 8/11/23 |
Funding
- KY Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
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