AGRICULTURE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FARMERS

BARREN COUNTY FISCAL COURT TO PROVIDE

AGRICULTURE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FARMERS-SIGNS

AGREEMENT WITH GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND STORAGE COMPANY

(Glasgow, KY) Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Byrd has announced that the Barren County Fiscal Court has initiated a project to provide much-needed agriculture infrastructure for the county's grain producers by signing an agreement with Blumberg Grain and Logistics, a global food security and storage company.

Barren County has recognized that farmers growing corn and other grains have very little storage infrastructure readily available and transportation costs, like most other costs, has significantly impacted farmers in Barren County and the surrounding counties.

"One of my priorities as Barren County Judge-Executive is to create opportunities for economic development and our farmers are the backbone of this region's economy. The Fiscal Court and I are determined to provide the storage infrastructure our farmers need, here in Barren County, so that they can cut costs and, at the same time, we can look at expanding job opportunities and other economic benefits that come from storing and processing our farm products close to home." said Judge Byrd.“

Our farmers are the backbone of this region’s economy. The Fiscal Court and I are determined to provide the storage infrastructure our farmers need, here in Barren County.” — Judge Jamie Byrd

Judge Byrd and the Fiscal Court initiated a search to identify a food security and storage company that could assist Barren County with determining the market needs as well as designing and constructing the storage infrastructure that would be of the most help to area farmers. "We determined that Blumberg Grain was the partner we needed to work with us on determining what we need and how best to design and construct the storage infrastructure that would provide the most benefit to our farmers," said Byrd.

Philip F. Blumberg, CEO of Blumberg Grain, said that Blumberg Grain is excited to be working with Barren County Fisal Court and Judge Byrd on this important infrastructure project. "Our company has operated on a global stage for many years and providing the best security and storage infrastructure for agriculture is our mission. One of our latest grain storage projects was providing the Government of Egypt with state-of-the-art storage for their domestic wheat supply and I applaud Judge Byrd and the Fiscal Court for putting the needs of the county's farmers at the forefront of her economic development agenda."

Barren County will be working with Blumberg Grain and the office of Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell to develop a planning and feasibility study and will then utilize the study results to initiate the design and construction of grain storage infrastructure on property the County will acquire adjacent to 1-65. "We will be moving as quickly as possible to provide this infrastructure because our farmers and their families need and deserve this assistance."