Casey Farmers Discuss Tobacco Money Uses

Source from:  By BRENDA S. EDWARDS brenda@amnews.com LIBERTY 12/31/2005

One of the largest crowds to attend a Casey County Agricultural Development Council meeting turned out Thursday night, but only four of the eight-member panel showed up. No official business was conducted concerning distribution of tobacco settlement money for farm programs due to the lack of a quorum. The group, which met at the Casey Pork Producers building, discussed how the programs have helped in their farm operations and how the county can get more funds for farmers who have given up on producing tobacco. Farmer Jerry Lynn compared his cattle handling facility to a Cadillac vehicle and said since he installed the facility, he had not been kicked by an animal. "They can't kick you when you're giving them shots," he said. Donald Tarter applauded the council and Jim Young, who takes applications for the cattle handling facilities, for their work in the cattle program. Tarter participated in the cattle handling program which has made his operation easier and most cost effective. With the facility, he recently sold 35 heifers weighing about 900 pounds each at his farm. He corralled the animals, put identification tags on them, wormed and weighed them on his farm. "If I had transported them elsewhere, I would have lost money," Tarter said. "There are lot of economic values out there, not only the safety issues." Goat program lauded He said the programs also have brought a lot of money into the county. Several farmers who have participated in the goat program said it has been successful in the county. Darrell Cravens, who has had up to 200 nanny goats, but had to give up his operation, said he'd like to see more money put in the goat program because many people have goat operations. Wade Durham, who raises breeding stock, said goat products cannot meet the demand and Casey is one of the top counties in the state that raises goats. "Goats are a thing of the future," said Cravens. "We need good working stations, holding pens and handling facilities." Young said the new cattle handling facilities improve safety and many people are interested in installation. He had 375 farmers on the waiting list to get funds for the facilities and 158 have been served. Others have opted not to participate or have been turned down. The average expenditure is $3,000 and the maximum is $5,000. The farmer has to match the funds. He also worked with the cattle genetics program, which was discontinued this year. Almost $800,000 has been spent for the 226 that participated. Young's goal is to spend $1 million on cattle programs in the county. Fears eliminating waiting list Another $100,000 has been spent in the ag diversification program for renovation of tobacco barns, building green houses and purchasing band saws. However, the band saws have been taken out of the diversification program and put into the timber program. Young said there is talk that the first-come, first-serve method of distributing the money will be eliminated next year and a new scoring system method will be used to select participants. "We've got people on the waiting list here and some have waited two years for cattle handling facilities. It is a fair, reasonable way," he said. "I think if we're required to do away with the waiting list, all hell breaks loose," he said. He fears it will be like the political patronage system. State Sen. Vernie McGaha said he will check into the matter. "I hope the state will not change the current waiting list," McGaha said. Young also asked that more money be put in the dairy program because more goes for beef. McGaha did not comment on that. Young also said the applications should be kept simple and easier to process. Pat Williams said $359,371 has been spent on the forage program and another $154,000 has to be spent by May 15. He asked participants to finish their projects as soon as possible. He has 145 people who have showed interest in the program, but they haven't got the money. Seeks more money for county Thomas M. Weddle Jr. asked how the county can get more money from the ag programs since it is ranked seventh in the state in farming. He said only 50 percent of the tobacco settlement money can be used for agriculture. Of that amount, 35 percent goes to farmers and 65 percent goes for other projects in the state. McGaha said he voted for 100 percent of the money to go to tobacco farmers. "I thought more, if not all the money should go back to the farmers and communities." He said Casey is at the top of the list of getting money. He suggested the county work and have seed money for regional projects such as an ethanol plant and cooperatives. The senator said none of the counties in his district have applied for the state funds for larger projects. Cravens and Young suggested the seed money come from property tax rather than from tobacco funds. "Don't take it away from other programs," Cravens said. Weddle said he wants projects that will benefit everyone in the county. Enditem