KRS § 248.721 — KY Code / Title XXI / Chapter 248 / Section 248.721
248.721 County agricultural development councils
Status: in_force

248.721 County agricultural development councils.

(1) Each county shall establish an agricultural development council to evaluate the

needs of the local agricultural economy and to devise a plan for the county that

would identify programs best suited for the agricultural development of the county.

The council shall assist prospective applicants in the council's county in obtaining

moneys from the agricultural development fund. Each council shall consist of nine

(9) members as follows:

(a) Two (2) farmers selected by the Farm Service Agency county committee;

(b) Two (2) members selected by the board or boards of the soil conservation

district or districts serving the county;

(c) Two (2) members selected by the county extension council, one (1) of whom

shall have experience in agricultural diversification; and

(d) Three (3) at-large members with farm experience and familiarity with the

county's agricultural development opportunities and processes selected by the

six (6) members in paragraphs (a) to (c) of this subsection.

(2) (a) No less than two (2) of the nine (9) members appointed to the county

agricultural development council under subsection (1) of this section shall be

young farmers between the ages of twenty-one (21) and forty (40).

(b) At least one (1) of the nine (9) members appointed to the county agricultural

development council under subsection (1) of this section shall represent a

gender or race that is not represented on the council at the time of the

selection.

(3) (a) On July 1, 2002, and every two (2) years thereafter, members shall be

appointed for two (2) year terms. Beginning on July 1, 2010, persons

appointed to serve on county agricultural development councils shall be

limited to two (2) consecutive two (2) year terms, but shall be eligible for

appointment to additional consecutive terms after being absent from a council

for a period of two (2) years between each cycle of consecutive terms.

(b) Any vacancy occurring on a county agricultural development council before

the expiration of the vacating member's term shall be filled within sixty (60)

days by the authority or members making the original appointment, in the

same manner as the original appointment was made under subsection (1) of

this section.

(4) Each council shall be attached to the county cooperative extension service for

administrative support.

(5) Each council shall receive guidance and assistance from the board as the council

devises plans and assists applicants as provided in subsection (1) of this section.

(6) Councils shall make applicants aware of criteria for projects set out in KRS

248.711.

(7) Councils shall be responsible for developing local strategies for enhancing

agricultural opportunities and assisting local farmers.

(8) Each council shall utilize the resources of the Agricultural Entrepreneurship

Program created in KRS 248.717, the Kentucky Small Business Development

Center Network, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture for assistance and

support in aiding prospective applicants in obtaining moneys from the fund.

(9) Each county council shall provide its plan to the board. If the state board

recommends changes in the county plan that the council does not agree with, the

council may take the plan before the subcommittee created in KRS 248.723 for

discussion and possible resolution of differences.