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The Western Kentucky agricultural economy is feeling the effects of the elimination of the tobacco markets. For over two hundred years the annual tobacco crop provided the extra money for education, equipment, housing and innovation while the traditional crops provided debt service for the small farmer. Without this annual infusion of capital the small farmer is reduced to dependency on the commodity crops which do not allow competition to the vast farms of the grain farmer. 100 acres of soybeans will not support itself and will not support the farm family.

Other projects Learn about a Kentucky Enrichment proposal for sustainable agriculture on reclaimed strip mine land

The local governments of the various small counties in Western Kentucky have asked that a center be established to investigate and demonstrate innovative entrepreneurial techniques which may replace the dependence on tobacco in the small farm community. Farms which are operated by a resident family and perhaps one or two part time employees are the norm in the region. Yet they are the recipients of a very small share of the research dollar.

The Kentucky Innovative Agriculture Center will seek out new techniques and new cropping options for the small farmer to allow him to remain viable. We intend to establish several permanent exhibitions of techniques such as greenhouse vegetables and herbs and indoor aquaculture with the necessary heat provided by local biomass fuels. We will build a small fixed film anaerobic digester to show energy production from waste material. An extruder will be demonstrated to show that cooperative effort to produce value added feed products on the farm can succeed in niche marketing of oil and meal.

From time to time lectures, seminars, discussion groups and exhibitions will be held on the 750 acre site established as the residence of this project. Vermiculture, mushroom production, organic crops, natural and free range poultry, along with other farm related options will be discussed and demonstrated. An emphasis will be placed on nutraceuticals and crops with value added potential.

The facility contracted to hold these exhibits and to conduct the seminars is a 750 acre research farm devoted to the environmentally responsible production of crops and livestock. It is owned by a non-profit religious order and will be made available for this innovative agricultural center on a contract basis through an intermediary non-profit corporation. A 250 seat lecture room is available as well as limited overnight accommodations for 35 persons on site.