GLASGOW — Money to help counties implement or continue a plan to remove dead farm animals is now available through the Deceased Farm Animal Disposal Assistance Program.

The program is an opportunity to use County Agricultural Development Funds to facilitate the coordination of environmentally-friendly and cost-effective disposal of livestock.

The program, which was developed in partnership with the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board and the Kentucky Division of Conservation, will cover expenditures incurred between July 1 and June 30, 2011, up to $7,500.

Glenn Barrick, chairman of the Barren County Conservation District’s board of directors, said the local conservation district plans to apply for the money.

“We’ve just been waiting around to see what they tell us we can apply for,” he said.

In 2009, the local conservation district applied for the maximum amount of funding, which was $7,500, but received $5,000. The amount was matched by the Barren County Fiscal Court.

The local conservation district plans to apply for $7,500 again this year, Barrick said.

Getting money to fund the disposal of dead livestock is one issue. Finding someone to pick them up and take them away is another.

In 2009, many counties, including Barren, contracted with Griffin Industries, a rendering company, to pick up dead livestock. Producers initially paid the rendering company themselves and were then reimbursed.

Officials have learned that Griffin Industries will no longer pick up dead livestock due to the cost to properly dispose of them. New restrictions created by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration due to Mad Cow Disease increased the cost to properly dispose of the animals. The FDA requires rendering companies to remove the brain and spinal cord of dead cows before disposing of them and that means extra time is needed to do extra work.

County officials met with area cattle producers last week to discuss the situation.

“Griffin is no longer picking up our dead animals and the farmers are going to have to see about getting them removed themselves,” said Davie Greer, judge-executive for Barren County. “I don’t know what they are going to do.”

The fiscal court has already set aside money in its 2010-11 budget to match what the Barren County Conservation District receives to fund dead animal removal, but without someone to pick the animals up officials aren’t sure how the money will be spent.

At one time county officials thought they could provide county producers with a place to compost their dead livestock, but that idea has been cast aside.

“I don’t think the county can take this on because of the expense, but we want to help the farmers in any we can,” Greer said.

County officials have inquired how much it would cost Barren County producers to do the composting on their own land, but have not received that information, she said.

According to a press release from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, the Kentucky Division of Conservation is also offering a cost-share program to assist counties with related expenditures by utilizing a portion of their Environmental Stewardship Fund, which receives an annual appropriation from the Agricultural Development Fund and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. The Deceased Farm Animal Disposal Environmental Grant provides up to $5,000 and counties that also take advantage of the program are eligible for an additional $2,500.

Applications for both programs are currently being taken. Deceased Farm Animal Disposal Assistance Program applications are due to Governor’s Officer of Agricultural Policy by the last Friday of each month for consideration in the following month.

Applications for Deceased Farm Animal Disposal Environmental Grants are due to the state conservation office by Aug. 30.

Guidelines for the Deceased Farm Animal disposal Assistance Removal program are available at agpolicy.ky. gov or by calling (502) 564-4627.

Guidelines for the Deceased Farm Animal Disposal Environmental Grants are available at conservation.ky.gov, by calling the Division of Conservation at (502) 573-3080 or by contacting the local conservation district office.