Kentucky horse breeding farms are now eligible to apply for federal relief from agriculture-related disasters.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear made the announcement Feb. 13. The governor had asked the USDA to consider changes that would allow the farms to be eligible, and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) recently updated its handbook accordingly.

Under the program, equine farms that produce breeding stock for commercial use as a part of their farming operation and claim the horse breeding stock for tax purposes with the Internal Revenue Service could be eligible for the USDA Emergency Conservation Program.

"The horse breeding industry is a vital segment of Kentucky’s agricultural economy, and it’s important that these farms have access to this program when natural disasters strike," Beshear said. "Our continued communications with USDA helped them to understand the unique composition and needs of farms in our state