ESTILL COUNTY AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

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1 ESTILL COUNTY AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL County Comprehensive Plan for Agriculture April 2001 Council Members: Bobby E. Crowe, Chair Jason French, Vice-Chair Fred Brown II, Secretary Donnie Arvin Sue Carol Beckley William Beard Otis Freeman Elwood O. Gould Extension Support Eric Baker OVERVIEW OF THE COUNTY Estill County, located in the eastern knobs and eastern coalfield region of Kentucky, transitions the bluegrass to the mountains. The Daniel Boone National Forest covers a large portion of the county. Estill County was formed in 1808 from Madison and Clark counties. Elevation ranges from 566 to 1511 feet above sea level. Agricultural Data 1997 US Census of Agriculture states that Estill County has 432 farms totaling 62,104 acres. Of the total farmland, there are 27,564 acres of cropland and 25,757 acres of pastured land. Farmers grow various crops such as tobacco (855 acres), corn (1300 acres), soybeans, hay (9,700 acres), and alfalfa (900 acres). Livestock production includes cattle (6,000), hogs (500), horses, goats, sheep, and poultry. In 1999, crop and livestock receipts were estimated at 4.74 million dollars. Estill County is covered by 28,253 acres of woodland; therefore, timber sales are an important part of the local economy. New and emerging agriculture involve such enterprises as shiitake mushrooms, medicinal plants, meat goats, organic crops and livestock, and freshwater prawns. Although several new enterprises have been tested, farm diversification efforts have been slow.

2 Tobacco remains main income generating agriculture enterprise for Estill County. In 1999, burley tobacco made up over 2.5 million dollars (80%) of the 3.1 million dollars in crop receipts. Comparing 2000 tobacco data and 1997 farm receipts, there has been a 41.8% loss in tobacco dollars to the county. Sixty-eight percent of the farm operators are part-time producers. The average age of the farm operator is 55 years. Demographic Data Estill County has a population of 15,438 with 6,111 households. The average household earns $23,937 and contains 2.43 people. Employment data reflects that 49.9% of the workforce is employed by manufacturing, retail, and services. Around 45% of workers work outside the county. Farming amounts to 13.6% of the available job opportunities. Approximately 30% of Estill County residents are living at the poverty level. The average unemployment rate is 5.5%. REVIEW OF THE PROCESS The Estill County Agriculture Development Council sought input from the community in developing the county comprehensive plan. Public meetings were held on the following dates: October 24, 2000 Crooked Creek Christian Church November 28, Food Mart January 23, 2001 River Drive Christian Church Attendance for the meetings totaled around 80 people plus several separate opportunities to speak to community leaders and organizations. Articles were submitted in the local newspaper, Extension Newsletters, and a special mailing to all Estill County farm operators (over 657 mail pieces). Using surveys to solicit agriculture development ideas for use of the county funds, participants were encouraged to express their opinion regarding the use of the funds. The council hosted an information booth at the April Extension Farm-Home-Family Expo attended by 250 citizens. ASSESSMENTS Strengths: 1. Kentucky River and tributary creeks 2. Forest/ Timber

3 Weaknesses Opportunities Threats 3. Bottomland 4. People 5. Accessible through highways 52, 89, and 82. Interstate 75 only 20 miles west. Mountain Parkway only 12 miles north. 6. CSX Railroad 7. Airport 8. Wildlife 1. Job opportunities 2. Limited cropland 3. Limited agricultural markets 4. Lack of vocational school 5. People are apprehensive to change 6. Lack of infrastructure 1. Increased business/industry 2. Increasing population ( population change of +6.2%) 3. Rising land values 1. Landfill 2. Bluegrass Army Depot 3. River Locks 4. Water quality issues 5. Residential development of farmland COUNTY COUNCIL OBJECTIVES Mission/Vision Statement The Estill County Agriculture Development Council seeks to encourage efforts that will improve and expand the agriculture base of this county and region. The Council plans to guide the utilization of funds for the purpose of improving our agriculture economy, short and long term. Short-term priorities 1. Inform the public of council objectives and purpose 2. Encourage the application process

4 3. Promote farm income improvement and diversification through the investment priorities listed below: INVESTMENT PRIORITIES Developing established agriculture sectors: Forage improvement/utilization and beef genetics improvement % COUNTY FUNDS 70 New and emerging agriculture sectors 10 Value-added projects 5 Direct marketing 5 Technical Support 5 Selected projects in other agriculture sectors 5 Total 100 Long-term goals 1. Improve the quality and productivity of crops, forages, and livestock. 2. Encourage improved management practices for crops, livestock, and forestry. 3. Support vocational training efforts. 4. Revise the comprehensive plan in accordance with the agriculture changes that may occur. 5. Utilize all available resources through cooperation and collaboration with the Extension Service, Conservation District, Farm Bureau, Estill Developmental Alliance, etc 6. Encourage local and regional marketing opportunities. 7. Support a regional farmer s market in Madison County near Berea. 8. Support the Central Kentucky Agriculture Development Association Beef Proposal, which will involve beef producers in eighteen other counties as well as Estill County. Tactics for leveraging funds Regarding county funds, the council sets the minimum cost-share contribution at 50% of the total project budget. The council encourages applicants to have other funding

5 sources. The council supports local and regional partnerships that will ultimately benefit Estill County farmers. EVALUATION AND REVIEW Applications for county funds will be accepted as soon as the State Board approves the county comprehensive plan. Applications will be evaluated and assigned a priority score (none, low, medium, & high) according to the criteria below. The State Board will determine final approval of applications. FUNDING CRITERIA Dependency on tobacco. Number of people impacted by the proposal. Applicants share contributed to project. Can it become self-sustaining? Is it practical and have the necessary supporting documents? Will the proposal provide an opportunity to increase farm profitability? Will the applicant share knowledge gained and can it be duplicated? How well does it fit the county comprehensive plan? All applicants will be required to include in their proposals a way to report the completion of their project, including impact. The council will review these reports as well as the State Board. All applicants will be required to sign a memorandum of agreement with the state to receive the funding. The county comprehensive plan will be reviewed annually for possible revisions.