The Pendleton County Ag Development Board has coordinated educational programs and cost-share grants for our farmers to move from tobacco dependency to other areas of farming. In the past year, we have had cost-share programs for: fencing, forage, hay and grain storage, genetics, and cattle handling. Each farmer attended an educational program, conducted by the Extension Office to explain the program rules and best management practices. The county has allocated approximately $600,000.00 in the past year in cost-share, along with nearly $1 million spent by the farmers. The transaction of this amount of money in a rural county adds greatly to the economic situation of our county.
Other results are better cattle, new crops, other livestock (goats and sheep), improved forage, and hay and grain storage. The latest development is around $250,000 of cost-share for line fencing. All of the programs have had a great impact on our county economy.