It is rare for a legislative session to go by without the General Assembly doing something to help the farming community, and 2008 was no exception.
While there may have been no landmark legislation, there were quite a few things that should make a positive difference in the lives of farmers in the years ahead.
One of the more prominent would have to be the $10 million given to the proposed Kentucky Agriculture Heritage Center in Mercer County.
This center will cover 300,000 square feet and be a working farm when built. It will become a tourist draw by showcasing Kentucky's agricultural history and offering many educational activities. In addition, it will be environmentally sound, with wind turbines, solar panels and geothermal energy providing all the power it needs.
Another farm project this budget includes is $20 million for the second phase of the University of Kentucky's Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center. This project was originally in the 2006 budget, but was unfortunately vetoed. The updated center is very much needed, however, so that it can continue playing a critical role in protecting our livestock from outbreaks of disease.
The budget includes 10 more slots at two Alabama veterinarian schools. Kentucky's partnership with Auburn University and Tuskegee School of Veterinary Medicine enables many of our young men and women to train at in-state tuition prices. With more and more veterinarians needed, this was a great measure to include even in tight budgetary times.
The same can be said for $3 million set aside for animal shelters and $4 million for renovating camps used by 4-H and Future Farmers of America.
Although not directly tied to farming, the Department of Agriculture will get more money to increase inspections of amusement park rides. The need for this became all too clear last summer, when a young girl was severely injured at a Louisville amusement park.
Outside of the budget, there are several new laws about to be on the books that will help the agricultural community.
House Bill 626 strengthens the "Kentucky Proud" program that you may have seen at the grocery store. This law will ensure that any product bearing this name is made entirely within Kentucky.
House Bill 484 is another measure promoting locally grown products. In this case, our public postsecondary schools are encouraged to buy from our producers if they offer items the schools are buying from elsewhere.
House Bill 495 further defines the rules for livestock and poultry farmers as they relate to the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). More specifically, it states that as long as this program is voluntary, farmers cannot be penalized for not participating.
House Resolution 281 will not help farmers directly, but it has the potential to be helpful in the long run. It creates a new Task Force on Animal Agriculture, which will for the remainder of the year look at all aspects of this industry, from cattle to aquaculture, and see if there are improvements the legislature can make.
Two months ago, Governor Beshear announced help for farmers affected by last year's spring freeze and the following drought. The $8.15 million for Kentucky Agricultural Relief Effort, or KARE, is available for qualifying farmers wanting to improve their forage and to increase their access to water. KARE complements the move made last September by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, which made our county model programs more drought friendly.
Speaking of those programs, it is important to note that legislation adopted by the General Assembly in 2000 to give agriculture half of the master settlement agreement with tobacco companies continues to make a true difference in the day-to-day lives of farmers. Since then, more than a quarter of a billion dollars has been invested in more than 3,100 projects.
From a weather perspective, this year has fortunately been a positive one, so there is hope that last year's problems will not plague us again. It is a testament to our farmers that, despite the challenges in 2007, it still was a record year for farm receipts, which totaled $4.22 billion. That record is expected to be broken this year.
As always, please feel free to contact me throughout the year if you have any questions or concerns about state government. You can write to me at Room 329E, Capitol Annex, 702 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601.
You can also leave a message for me or for any legislator at 800-372-7181. For the deaf or hard of hearing, the number is 800-896-0305.
I hope to hear from you soon.
