HART COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Revised 2008

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1 HART COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Revised 2008 Overview of County Hart County is located in the karst region of Kentucky. Interstate 65 (north south) divides the county, as does Green River. The land of Hart County is rolling, with soils varying from deep red clays to sandy, shallow and erodible. With over 267,000 acres of gently rolling hillsides, nearly level river bottoms, karst landscapes, and steep knobs, Hart County is well suited for a variety of agricultural enterprises. Agriculture generates over $30 million in the county each year. Over 13,000 acres of that is enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), a voluntary land retirement program that helps agricultural producers protect environmentally sensitive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife habitat, and safeguard ground and surface water. Enrollment is limited to specific geographic areas and practices. The majority of the 186,400 acres of farmland is best suited for forage crops. Over 40% of the land is in privately owned woodland. Agriculture accounts for approximately 14% of total earnings in Hart County. The average farm produces approximately $26,000 of products per year. The primary farm enterprises, in rank of income, are beef, tobacco, dairy. Horticultural crops are increasingly being grown as a supplement to the more traditional commodities. Additionally part-time farm enterprises continue to increase in number. Statewide, Hart County ranks 1 st in alfalfa hay production, 6 th in burley tobacco, 9 th in dairy production, and 7 th in the number of beef cattle. While the Tobacco Buyout program enacted in 2005 brought some

2 major changes to the tobacco production industry, it has not led to the end of tobacco growing in Hart County. According to the Farm Service Agency, 2,500 acres of tobacco were still raised in the county in This figure is nearly the same amount raised before the buyout; however it is now being grown by fewer people. Hart County s rolling hillsides and fertile fields create a perfect environment for beef cattle production, which has become an important source of income for many local farm families in recent years. Beef cattle producers understand the increased importance of their role in agriculture and have taken steps to improve management, facilities, genetics and overall efficiency of their operations. Several purebred breeders are located in Hart County. These producers represent several beef breeds and offer excellent foundation stock. The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board has provided much needed assistance through cost/share grants. The Hart County Cattlemen s Association with over 250 members has served as the local administrator for many of these grants and the results have been very positive. While Kentucky is ideally suited geographically to be a major milk supplier in the United States, milk production continues to decline in the state. Fluctuating milk prices and rising forage costs are part of the blame. Yet, 44 dairy farms are still in operation in the county, placing it 9 th in the state for total milk cows and 13 th in the state for milk production. While agritourism has been practiced for centuries as city folks visited their country cousins to learn more about farm operations, it has been only within the last two decades that the concept has become a serious industry in Kentucky. With its large number of farms and three major roadways, Hart County is well suited for the growth of this industry. It currently has three well established agri-tourism operations:

3 Kentucky Down Under, Dennison s Roadside Market, Boiling Springs Hunting Lodge, with a new one Country Girl at Heart Farm Bed and Breakfast scheduled to open Fall Hart County is a rural county with a population of approximately 15,000. There are three incorporated towns Munfordville, Horse Cave and Bonnieville. Approximately 40% of the population lives in rural, non-farm sites and in unincorporated towns. Review of the Process As directed by House Bill 611, the Hart County Cooperative Extension Service took the initiative to contact the Farm Service Agency, Hart County Conservation District and the County Extension Council to select their respective council members. The Agriculture Development Council was established before the August 1, 2000 deadline. The County Agriculture Development Council was introduced to the community at many civic organizations, commodity group meetings, and agricultural education programs. Information was gained from the community by holding three formal group forums. One was held at Caverna High School in Horse Cave and two were held at the Hart County Public Library in Munfordville. The Council solicited comments from the community and heard from local government officials, producers, farm cooperatives, community education personnel and banking officials. In addition to the public forums, council members have received individual comments. There have been multiple radio programs and several newspaper articles detailing the work of the County Agriculture Development Council.

4 Assessments Hart County agriculture enjoys a reasonable amount of diversification with the primary farm enterprises being beef, tobacco, dairy. Hart County ranks number 1 in alfalfa production, 9 th in diary production, and 7 th in the number of beef cattle. Even though Hart County is experiencing an aging farm population with fewer full time farmers, there does exist a group of producers with exceptional leadership skills and a willingness to explore non-traditional opportunities and look at ways to create sustainability in their farm enterprises. Several of our agriculture producers serve as fairboard members and there is a concerted effort to keep a strong agriculture theme with the fair. Other farm organizations are a very active cattlemen s association, a dairy group and a vegetable marketing cooperative. The County Agriculture Development Council has identified limited farm labor, karst topography, and lack of understanding of marketing as weaknesses that exist within the county. The council feels that Hart County has many opportunities to expand in our forage-based production. They have also identified forestry as a great opportunity. One of the major threats to the future of agriculture in Hart County is in the area of human capital where there is a perception of not enough young people being interested enough or able enough to pursue production agriculture. County Council Objectives Mission Statement: It is the mission of the Hart County Agriculture Development Council to evaluate the needs of the local agriculture economy and to develop a local strategy for enhancing agriculture opportunities and assisting local farmers.

5 The immediate priorities of this council are to education the agriculture community that the purpose of these funds is to be viewed as investment dollars and not entitlement money. The County Agriculture Development Council will make every effort to encourage cooperative efforts among producers that are broad based and show benefit to multiple parties. The council also encourages participation in regional projects that show benefit to the county. The council will accept individual project proposals as long as they can show evidence that it will expand new opportunities for agriculture and could serve as a pilot project for future growth. The Council believes that it is vital to our farmers have access to markets, have access to the most current research, learn from the best educators and have access to available capital. The Hart County Agriculture Development Council has identified the following areas as major thrusts: 1. Forage-based Production Beef Cattle To support a genetic improvement program via a bull purchase cost share To support a health improvement program through a cost share program Dairy 1. To support a genetic improvement cost share program

6 2. To support a dairy herd health program through cost share 3. To encourage a local dairy group to make a proposal for dairy expansion cost share Cash forages To support a cost share program for forage improvement using State guidelines To encourage a local group to submit a grant dealing with marketing local forages 2. Tobacco 3. Forestry To support woodlot improvement that will stimulate income from producers lands 4. Horticulture To support a demonstration greenhouse at the Hart County High School To support the development of locally grown crops at farmers markets 5. Entrepreneurship in rural development 6. Marketing and promotion 7. Education/infrastructure

7 Support a scholarship fund grant Support a grant for Hart County Cooperative Extension education facilities Evaluation and Review The Hart County Agriculture Development Council will evaluate proposals submitted for use of funds earmarked for county agriculture development under HB 611 using evaluation methods developed and approved by the Kentucky Agriculture Development Council. All proposals and recommendations for funding will be forwarded to the Kentucky Agriculture Development Council office at the earliest possible date following the County Agriculture Development Council s consideration. The council will periodically review the amount of interest and participation and will solicit input from the community as to the success and or failure of the process. The County Comprehensive Plan may be revised or amended as the program is reviewed.