Okla. Stat. tit. 2, § 2-5-3.2

Enhancement and Diversification Program.

A. The State Board of Agriculture is hereby authorized to

establish and administer the Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and

Diversification Program.

B. The purpose of the Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and

Diversification Program is to promote and encourage the interests of

agriculture through the allocation of funds, by grant or loan, to

individuals, cooperatives and other agricultural entities to:

1. Develop new or expanded uses of agricultural products;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 2. Agriculture Page 169

2. Develop new or expanded benefits of agricultural events;

3. Increase agricultural productivity;

4. Provide added value to agricultural products or events;

5. Benefit the agricultural producer; and

6. Benefit the agricultural interests of this state.

C. The Program shall consist of the following categories:

1. Value-added agriculture grants and loans for entities or

individuals to develop or establish production, processing or

marketing of agricultural products. The purpose of this category is

to provide funding for promoting productivity, providing added value

to agricultural products, stimulating and fostering agricultural

diversification and encouraging processing innovations;

2. Farm diversification grants or loans for projects dealing

with the diversification of family farms or ranches to

nontraditional crops, livestock, agritourism, or on-farm, value-

added processing of agricultural commodities;

3. Product development and research grants and loans for

agricultural business creation or expansion, or research which will

likely lead to a marketable agricultural product through the

focusing of research efforts on uses and processing of Oklahoma

agricultural products and by-products, including but not limited to:

a. focused research which enhances the value of an

agricultural product or by-product,

b. feasibility studies, and

c. product development and test-marketing costs;

4. Agricultural event or events that benefit and further the

public interest in agriculture; and

5. Veteran or young farmer grants or loans for veterans and

young farmers that are engaged or will be engaged in expansion or

creation of an agricultural business.

D. The State Board of Agriculture shall promulgate rules

governing the Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification

Program.