Study says Kentucky Proud is highly successful.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 20, 2008
For more information contact:Ted Sloan
(502) 564-4696


Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said a University of Kentucky report identifies Kentucky Proud as a highly successful investment of the Commonwealth’s tobacco settlement funds.

The report says every dollar of tobacco settlement money invested in Kentucky Proud added $4.70 in additional farm income. Kentucky Proud was one of nine projects out of 64 large and medium-size non-model projects to receive a five-star rating in the report.

“The Agricultural Development Board was extremely wise to invest $5.3 million in Kentucky Proud, and this report bears that out,” Commissioner Farmer said. “But we’ve barely scratched the surface of this program’s potential to open new markets for Kentucky farm products and raise awareness among consumers. A greater investment is needed to build on the momentum the Kentucky Proud movement has generated, and this report proves that the program is more than worthy.”

A five-star rating means that all goals were accomplished and researchers found evidence of sustained impacts and indications that the benefits of the project were greater than the amount of the investment. The report says Kentucky Proud generates an additional $7.8 million in farm income per year.

“The Kentucky Proud state branding program is among the most successful in the nation,” UK researchers said in the report.

A group of 10 marketing experts assembled to discuss the Agricultural Development Board’s marketing investments found that “the Kentucky Proud program has been extremely successful and has had a large and positive impact.” The group attributed the impact to the work of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s marketing staff, which administers the Kentucky Proud program.


The Agricultural Development Board awarded a total of $5,329,300 for Kentucky Proud in 2003 and 2006.

The Kentucky Proud movement generated $120 million in retail sales of Kentucky farm products in 2006-2007. More than 1,300 farmers, processors, retailers, restaurants, farmers’ markets and state parks are members of Kentucky Proud.

The UK report examines the economic impact of $209 million in Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund investments from 2001-2007. It found that the $86 million invested in non-model projects – individual projects funded by the state Agricultural Development Board, including Kentucky Proud – generated $1.87 in new farm income for every $1 invested and impacted 50,000 Kentucky tobacco farmers. County model programs – standardized programs that fund such projects as forage improvement, beef cattle genetics improvement and diversification – have been highly successful in improving producers’ knowledge, farming operations and net return and also helped many former tobacco producers, the report said. The county model programs have received $99.7 million in tobacco settlement funds.

The Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation – created by the Agricultural Development Board to provide farmers with access to capital – had approves 249 projects and committed more than $26 million by mid-2008, the report said.

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To read the report, click here.

To go to the Kentucky Proud Web site, click here.

Kentucky youths to be honored at Kentucky Proud Points luncheon.

Hundreds of young Kentuckians who excelled in livestock shows in 2008 will be rewarded at the fifth annual Kentucky Proud Points awards luncheon Dec. 6 in Frankfort... more

Visit KDA's Show and Fairs Promotion Division here.

National Farm-City Week Honors America’s Ag Producers

National Farm-City Week, Nov. 21-27, commemorates U.S. food producers and seeks to recognize their efforts among the nation’s urban citizens.

“With Thanksgiving right around the corner, this is an important time to remember Colorado’s ag producers who provide a safe, abundant food supply,” said Commissioner of Agriculture, John Stulp. “While shopping for their own dinner plate, I encourage everyone to consider the time and dedication it takes to feed the world.”

“For 75 years, this Department has worked to support Colorado’s ag industry, and our farmers and ranchers are at the heart of that goal” continued Stulp.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture was officially organized in 1933. Its mission is to strengthen and advance Colorado's agriculture industry; ensure a safe, high quality, and sustainable food supply; and protect consumers, the environment, and natural resources.

• Colorado’s farmers and ranchers generate over $16 billion in economic activity and create over 100,000 jobs.


• Farmers and ranchers constitute only about one percent of our population, but feed our entire country and a good number of consumers overseas.


• Americans spend less than ten percent of their income on food.

The National Farm-City Council is a non-profit organization and has been dedicated to enhancing links between farm families and urban residents since 1955. For more on the organization, visit http://www.farmcity.org/.

Additional information:
Fun for Kids. Discover how the Colorado Department of Agriculture serves you.
Where are Colorado’s ag products grown or raised?
Keep informed on some of the agriculture information making news today.
Test your knowledge of farm fun facts with two interactive quizzes.
Colorado Proud: Better for You. Better for Colorado.

Give the taste of Kentucky Proud for the holidays.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 17, 2008
For more information contact:Bill Clary
(502) 564-4696

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer encourages Kentuckians to give the taste of Kentucky this holiday season – Kentucky Proud foods and products.

“Kentucky Proud products are made with care in Kentucky by Kentuckians,” Commissioner Farmer said. “When you buy Kentucky Proud for the holidays, your loved ones will find what you already know – nothing else comes close.”

The Kentucky Proud search engine is a free, easy-to-use way to start off your holiday shopping. The search engine enables consumers to search through about 1,300 Kentucky Proud members selling more than 18,000 products.

From the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Web site, www.kyagr.com, go to the “KY Proud” pull-down menu on the top right side of the home page. Click on “Find KY Proud Producers” and enter any combination of the company name, the county and the city to find Kentucky Proud producers. Or click on “Find KY Proud Products,” select one or more product categories and then select one or more product names. You can narrow your search to a specific county or city, or search for all products in a county or city.

If you prefer to do your holiday shopping the old-fashioned way – browsing in person – you can pick from an assortment of Kentucky Proud gift baskets at Remke Markets in northern Kentucky or A Taste of Kentucky in the Louisville area. This year Remke has introduced baskets from Katelyn’s Honey, featuring a unique variety of sauces from northern Kentucky restaurants Dee Felice, Oriental Wok and Barleycorn’s. At A Taste of Kentucky, you can pick one of its ready-made gift baskets, most of which feature Kentucky Proud products, or choose from its wide selection of Kentucky Proud products and make your own basket. You also can shop A Taste of Kentucky online at www.atasteofkentucky.com.

Many other retail outlets, such as Save-A-Lot’s 102 Kentucky stores, several Kroger and Wal-Mart locations, and numerous others, also offer Kentucky Proud products. Many Kentucky Proud producers sell directly to consumers. To find Kentucky Proud items in your area, look for the blue, green and red Kentucky Proud logo or use the Kentucky Proud search engine to find a participating retailer near you.



To find Kentucky Proud products, click here.

To find Kentucky Proud producers, click here.

Utah Declares Agriculture Disaster

November 3, 2008

GOVERNOR HUNTSMAN DECLARES AGRICULTURAL DISASTER

Also Seeks Federal Designation

Salt Lake City -- Utah Governor Jon M. Huntsman has issued an Agricultural Disaster Declaration for six Utah counties. The declaration is in response to damage caused by extreme weather conditions, such as drought, cold temperatures, high winds, fire, and freezing temperatures that exist in the affected counties. The six counties are: Garfield, Millard, Sanpete, Kane, Piute, and Box Elder.
The vast majority of farmers and ranchers in these counties have suffered minimum crop and forage production losses of at least 30 percent, which qualifies them for disaster declaration. The estimated financial loss is estimated to be $28.7 million to date. Some producers have been severely impacted by grazing losses and have been forced to liquidate their herds due to lack of forage.
High forage and feed costs as well as increased transportation costs will weigh heavily on an industry already facing many challenges.
Governor Huntsman is also calling for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to declare a national “Agricultural Disaster” for qualifying counties in the state.
In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, Governor Huntsman seeks assistance to provide relief for the hundreds of farmers and ranchers who face substantial crop loss due to these conditions.
“I offer my full support for the efforts to find meaningful relief for our affected farmers and ranchers,” Governor Huntsman said.
Farmers and ranchers should contact their USDA-FSA office for information about potential assistance.

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