The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Gov. Steve Beshear, and the Kentucky Division of Conservation (KDOC) announce the availability of assistance to help counties implement or continue a plan for the removal of deceased farm animals within the county.

The Deceased Farm Animal Disposal Assistance Program (DAP) provides an opportunity for the use of County Agricultural Development Funds. This program is a short-term measure to facilitate the coordination of environmentally sound and cost-effective disposal of deceased livestock for Kentucky's producers. This program will cover expenditures incurred between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011 related to an acceptable disposal program, up to $7,500. This program has been developed in partnership with the Kentucky Division of Conservation, as well as local and state stakeholders.

"This program represents a necessary measure to give counties time to continue to develop longer term plans in dealing with the disposal of dead animals," said Roger Thomas, executive director of the Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy (GOAP). "We will continue to work with state, local, and federal officials to find a reasonable long-term solution to address this issue."

KDOC is also offering a cost-share program to assist counties with related expenditures by utilizing a portion of their Environmental Stewardship Fund, which receives an annual appropriation from the Agricultural Development Fund and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. The Deceased Farm Animal Disposal Environmental Grants (DEG) provide up to $5,000 and counties that also take advantage of DAP are eligible for an additional $2,500.

"Assisting agriculture producers in properly dealing with fallen animals is important not only for human and animal health, but also to our environment," said Steve Coleman, director of the KDOC. "Conservation District Environmental Grants assist with funding county-level dead animal disposal programs and will continue to be provided through the division's Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost-Share Program."

Applications are currently being taken for both programs. Applications for DAP are due to GOAP by the last Friday of each month for consideration in the following month. Applications for DEG are due to the state conservation office by Aug. 30, 2010.

Guidelines for the Deceased Farm Animal Disposal Assistance Removal program are available at agpolicy.ky.gov or by calling (502) 564-4627.

Guidelines for the Deceased Farm Animal Disposal Environmental Grants are

available at conservation.ky.gov, by calling the Division of Conservation at (502) 573-3080 or by contacting the local conservation district office.