The 2008 Legislative Session is well underway and a tight budget is at center stage during this 60-day session.
Governor Beshear has stated that Kentucky is facing nothing short of a budgetary crisis for the coming biennium.
"Although the construction and evolution of this problem occurred before I was elected it is my job to solve it," said Beshear in a press announcement on December 28.
As legislators move forward in this tight session, they will be making difficult decisions on where limited state funds will be appropriated. With concerns over such issues as Medicaid, education, and transportation dominating the discussions, it would be easy to let agriculture initiatives go to the wayside.
That is why Kentucky's agriculture leaders are already speaking up to make sure the $4 billion a year industry isn't left out of the budget discussion.
"Budget is the buzz word for us right now at KDA," said Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer. "We understand the budget is going to be tight this year, but we have to make people understand the importance of our agriculture issues and that we provide essential services the people of Kentucky can't do without.
Budget priorities in ag
Across the agriculture community there is a general consensus on the major budget initiatives for the 2008 general session. As always at the top of all lists is the continued support of 50 percent of the Master Settlement Agreement Funds going into agriculture.
At the Kentucky Cattlemen's Convention in early January