Extension agents in counties across the state have "played a critical role" in making the process work locally, says Larry Turner, associate director of the Cooperative Extension Service.

About a year ago, more than $50 million was earmarked to go directly to the counties. But, nobody said exactly how that was to happen. There was wording in the law that the Cooperative Extension Service would provide "administrative support" as local agricultural development councils got up and running.

And that legal wording has meant lots of night meetings in the past year for people like Steve Moore, ag agent in Henry County. "We were being asked to tread waters that hadn't been charted," says Moore.

Moore and other agents like him across the state had to make sure the local ag development councils were set up properly, make contacts with other local agencies, act as a go-between with state agencies, help the counties come up with comprehensive plans to use the money, pull together public forums, set up grant application workshops, let the public know how to apply for money, and now, advise groups that have received money for funded projects.

"It's a work in progress," Moore said. "We're still interpreting our role."

Associate Extension Director Turner has nothing but praise for the "huge job" Extension agents have done in about a year's time, from the formation of local councils to receipt of money at the local level.

"We called on agents to do a lot, and they responded in a great way," Turner says. "They really made a difference in making this go."

The College is also involved in the tobacco settlement program in many other ways.
Across the state, model programs developed by Extension specialists are saving in start-up costs for county-based projects that are using Phase I money. These programs give local producers access to good production practices in forage systems, cattle handling facilities, beef genetics, agricultural diversification, and even goat production.

For example, the College is part of the Kentucky Beef Network through its Extension faculty and county agents. The network is a group of organizations working to promote, improve, and sustain the state's beef cattle industry. It was made possible with $1.8 million in Phase I money to the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association.

Tobacco settlement money is also being used to help farmers with horticultural production. Six Extension associates have been hired to assist statewide in this effort. They offer advice and on-farm demonstrations in both production and marketing.

M. Scott Smith, dean of the College and director of the Cooperative Extension Service, is one of 15 members of the state's Agricultural Development Board, which oversees the allocation of the $180 million in tobacco settlement money earmarked for agriculture through 2002.
"In terms of new responsibilities and new opportunities, this is probably the most significant development for the College of Agriculture in the

last decade," Smith said. The settlement money comes as part of an agreement with major domestic cigarette manufacturers to compensate states for past smoking-related expenses. (This money is commonly called Phase I tobacco settlement money. Phase II money is being used for direct compensation to tobacco growers.)