KCARD will be hosting a Planning for Farm Diversification workshop this fall to assist agricultural producers who are transitioning out of dark tobacco and diversifying their farming operations with produce or raising livestock for value-added products. The workshops will provide information on business planning, marketing, produce safety practices, and production resources.  

The workshop will take place at Murray State University’s William “Bill” Cherry Exposition Center on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. The workshops will begin at 8am local time and conclude by 3pm. Lunch will be served at the event. Registration for the workshop is required and can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/DiverseFarmWorkshop  There is no registration fee to attend. 

“Making the leap from raising tobacco to raising and selling produce or marketing meat to consumers is a big change for farmers,” said Brent Lackey, KCARD’s Executive Director. “In this one-day workshop, we hope to provide farmers with an overview of all of the issues they should consider before planting their first seed and provide the network they will need if they choose to develop the business on their farms.” 

Speakers at the event will include KCARD’s business planning and marketing experts, Kentucky Horticulture Council, Cultivate KY and the Center for Crop Diversification. You will also get to hear from buyers of local food to understand what they’re looking for when purchasing from producers and hear some wisdom from the field from local producers. 

For further information, visit our Facebook page or contact KCARD at kcard@kcard.info or 859-550-3972.