Marion County. Agricultural Development Council. Comprehensive Plan

Transcription

1 Marion County Agricultural Development Council Comprehensive Plan Updated September 2008

2 Overview of County After two centuries, products that helped form the economic and cultural base of Kentucky tobacco, bourbon and livestock still remain the cornerstones of Marion County s economy. Bourbon is the magnet that draws 4 million tourist dollars into the county each year. These out-of-county dollars represent $1 in every $25 of Marion s $200 million in annual household income. The county s most famous tourist attraction, the Maker s Mark Distillery, is a national Historic Landmark. Erected in the 1800 s, it was restored in 1953 by the fourth-generation distiller who developed one of Kentucky s premiere bourbon whiskeys, the Maker s Mark facility in Loretto. T.W. Samuels, Jr. continues his family s tradition of extracting award winning bourbon without automation even today. As a final, distinctive touch each bottle is sealed by hand-dipping it in red wax. Moreover, annual events such as Marion s Farm, Home & Garden show in April and it s Country Ham Days in September link tourism to another enduring county tradition The Family Farm. With 6,000 households and around 1,000 farms in the county, about 1 in every 5 Marion households operates a family farm. Land used for agriculture occupies 82% of the county s 347 square mile area. Needless to say, farm dollars are critical to these Kentuckians. Marion s farm cash receipts during 2006 totaled almost $35 million ranking its agriculture producers 34 among the state s 120 counties. Of the county s total household income that year, Marion farmers generated about 1 in every 6 dollars. The majority of these annual farm earnings come from exceptional production in livestock and milk. The Knobland s characteristically rolling country-side makes much of Marion county ideal for sustaining the lush green pastures that livestock need. Just as important, the county s soils are undergirded by deposits of dolomite and limestone which enhance Marion croplands. However, it s tobacco which has been grown in Marion County for over 200 years. Tobacco has trumped as the county s primary cash crop. During burley auctions in the county seat of Lebanon, farmers from Marion and surrounding counties took home nearly $17 million as income from tobacco. After cuts from the last three seasons, Marion County s income from tobacco has been decreased to less than $5 million. Clearly, the stability of rich traditions rooted in a farming way of life make Marion County a prime Kentucky example that this Commonwealth s heritage adapted to meet global marketplace demands. These traditions will surely endure into the 21 st Century and beyond.

3 A. Agricultural Statistics, Trends & Projections I. Traditional Agricultural Production (2006) Commodity Acres Acres Yield Per Production Rank Planted Harvested Acre Corn 8,000 8, ,126, Soybeans 13,000 7, , Winter Wheat 2,400 2, , Alfalfa , , Other (Hay) , , Beef Cows , Milk Production *56,980 lbs All Cows & Calves , II. III. IV. Non-Traditional Agricultural Production Truck Gardening & Farmer s Market Nursery Production Forestry (Logging) Horses, Mules, Donkeys (Non-traditional animals) Sheep New & Emerging Agricultural Production Bison Industry Greenhouse Industry Aquaculture (shrimp & catfish) Meat Goat Production Tobacco Dependency Year Acres Harvested Yield Production Rank Average Price Per Pound ,643, $ quota farms 2,233,753 basic quota 2,283,192 effective quota ,939,800 16

4 B. Demographic Data I. Social Data Year Farms: Total Number of Farms Land in farms (acres) 166, ,252 Average size of farm (acres) Farm Operators: Farm Operators-principal occupation is farming (1992) 468 Farm Operators-principal occupation is farming ( Farm Workers (Full-time, Part-time & Seasonal): Number of hired workers (1997) 2,382 Hired Worker Payroll $1,937,000,000 II. Economic Data: 1998 Rank 1999 Rank 2006 Rank Crops $19,563, $13,823, $11,118, Livestock $22,227, $20,047, $23,632, Total $41,790, $33,870, $34,750, C. Inventory of Resources Land Water Farms Work Force 221,952 acres Fagan Branch Reservoir, Rolling Fork River (90% of county has water facilities on farms) acres or more Farm Owners, Tenants, Migrant Labor Available Woodland Ag related industry especially wood products.

5 Agriculture in Marion Co. is still a major industry going through some minor changes since the first Comprehensive plan was put together. 1. Tobacco is still a major industry in our area. There may be fewer farmers growing tobacco, but the amount being grown is staying constant since the initial adjustment after the buy-out. We are even seeing a little influx of small growers getting back in due to tighter cash flow of the beef industry. 2. The beef industry has possibly made the most changes since the buy-out and the use of Ag Development funds. The funds have encouraged farmers to buy better bulls. More farmers have decent facilities to handle cattle and the farmers are doing a better job on vaccination programs. New hay storage buildings have gone up to decrease hay losses or grain holding facilities have been built to buy commodities. The beef farmers may be the most organized farm group in the county. 3. The numbers of dairy farmers are gradually decreasing. There are less than 5 dairies in the counties that appear to be making plans to stay in the business in the long run. Many are maintaining their herds but are not making any plans for expansion. 4. Several small farmers have tried Boer goats. Although a few appear to be staying with the project, many have tried the goats and got out after about 2 years. Although it appeared that this adventure was going to be a way for small farmers to increase the farm income, it appears to have several problems of which the main problem appears to be unexplained death loss and poor gains due to worms. 5. Horticulture. A few people have increased their profits by growing vegetable crops. This is an industry that not only requires a lot of hands on physical labor but some skill in marketing. The Board has approved funds for a facility to be used for marketing local Ag products. One of the uniqueness for projects in Marion County is that the Board has had to put low limits on the amount that can be approved to a given farmer for a given project due to the amount of applications that we receive in a given year. For many projects, the Board has had to appropriate funds in 3 different years in order to fund all the farmers that applied in the first year and the following year. In looking at the changes and appropriating funds in the future, a high percentage of the money has gone to programs that are most beneficial to farmers that have livestock. Although most of the Ag Development funds appropriated by Marion Co Board have been administrated by the Marion Co. Beef Association, most of the projects are such that almost any farmer that has adequate livestock numbers can qualify. The forage programs are beneficial to anyone having livestock or wanting to sale hay. The cattle handling facilities is open to either a dairy or beef operation. Grain and hay storage is open to either a crop or livestock operation. Due to the uniqueness of the goat program, the Board has appropriated funds for the goat projects every year. We have also set up funds for the diversification program every year.

6 The plan for the Marion Co Ag Development Board is to be open to any regional project as long as we can see that it should have some benefits to the local farmers. We are open to any new ideals that a local person may have whereby he can show benefits to others. But it is safe to assume that most of the funds in the future will either go to the thriving industries of our area which is primarily beef and forage.