Maps help us navigate the world, and they not only show us how to get from point A to point B, but, depending on the type of map, they can also help us to see where patterns, clusters, and gaps exist in a spatial environment. As part of KCARD’s state-wide Local Food System Expansion Initiative, a series of interactive maps has been developed to visualize the Kentucky local food system. Stay tuned for parts two and three of the series in the next few weeks. We will present a closer look into local food sales in Kentucky and the various industries that make up the local food system.
We get asked all the time how to get “free money” in the form of grants for on-farm projects. The answer is pretty simple: there is no free money. While grants can be a helpful way to fund worthwhile projects on the farm, there is a lot of work that goes into receiving a grant. In this post, we discuss some of the key steps of the grant application process.
Are you interested in serving as a mentor for the Kentucky AgVets Program or have an interest in participating in the program as a veteran? Mentorships will be designed to provide hands-on training and develop a network for veterans looking to start their career in agriculture.
Some of our growing clients get to a point where they feel like financial documents and planning are taking away from their time developing new customer relationships or managing other aspects of the growing business, so they start thinking about contracting that component of the business out. In this post, we discuss some things to consider when finding an accountant for your business.
KCARD provides a lot of different services, but key to each one is our mission of Business Development for Kentucky farmers and agricultural businesses. While some businesses may not see the need for a business plan, here are three reasons that smart businesses put time into business planning.
Did you know that if you offer your customers too many options that it decreases the chances that they make a purchase? A lot of food businesses we work with want to have 20+ varieties of the value-added food product that they are making. The problem: having too many choices in a food category causes our brain to go a little haywire. In this post, we discuss what you can do to prevent choice overload in your customers.
Launched in 2020, KCARD’s Kentucky Local Food Expansion Initiative connects local farmers to buyers and seeks to grow a strong and diverse buyer-producer network across the state. One aspect of the initiative includes visualizing where local food production and sales are already occurring and where they are not to inform the work.
Please join the AgVets team on March 19th at 10am-4pm at the Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability (RCARS) in Jackson, KY for QPR training in the morning, followed by a catered lunch, and a high tunnel workshop in the afternoon.
Woodstock Lavender Co. Is a family-operated lavender farm located in Somerset, KY, owned by Allison Horseman and her mother, Mary Ann May. The business offers handcrafted and natural lavender products. Woodstock Lavender Co. utilized KCARD’s services to turn their idea of a lavender farm into a successful business.
Adding value to your farm product can bring more of that food dollar back home to the farm. Many Kentucky farmers transform their raw agricultural commodity into a different product with higher market value (milk to cheese, fruit to jam, etc.) This may seem like an obvious way to increase revenue, but it’s important to understand all of the costs associated with launching a value-added product. Understanding your costs will help you price your product at the right level and ensure that you can make a profit off the finished product.
It is important to understand the cash flow needs of your business and the potential threat of not having enough cash on hand. One of the most common challenges we see in businesses with whom we work is cash management.
The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development is a non-profit organization established to facilitate agricultural and rural businesses in Kentucky. We are supported primarily through grants provided by the USDA Rural Cooperative Development Program and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. Additional support is provided through our work with partners around the state and through fees charged for select client services.
