The USDA’s Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program is a cornerstone for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers who wish to diversify their operations and expand their value-added products. For the current 2025 cycle and future cycles, there are some significant changes that you need to know if you’re interested in applying.
Learn about opportunities and challenges for the Kentucky dairy industry in this guest blog post from our friends at the Center for Crop Diversification!
As we enter the new year, many people will begin to look back at their records from 2024 to analyze their financial position and begin to prepare for the upcoming tax season. If you have an effective and efficient recordkeeping system, this process can be smooth and straightforward. Check out these tips to improve your recordkeeping system in 2025!
Businesses registered with the Secretary of State (such as LLCs or corporations) are now required to report Beneficial Ownership Information. As of December 26, 2024, the deadline for BOI filing has been suspended until further notice. However, the report is expected to be required in the future. We recommend voluntarily completing the report to avoid having to monitor future deadline updates.
Farming is a risky business with significant costs, and one of the most expensive mistakes is failing to plan or oversimplifying the transition of the farm. At its core, successful transition planning boils down to clear, honest communication and planning ahead. When communicating across generations, consider addressing key issues early to build mutual understanding and ensure a smoother transition.
This week we are featuring the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Grants, USDA Rural Business Development Grants, and the USDA Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program Grants.
This week we are featuring the Kentucky Agricultural Development Funds On-Farm Energy Efficiency Incentives Program, the Rural Energy for America Program Grants, the Kentucky Conservation State Cost Share Program, and the USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
This week we are featuring the Kentucky Proud: Farm to Fork Grants, Kentucky State University Small Scale farm Grants, and USDA Rural Business Development Grants.
Would you like to learn more about how Kentucky’s agricultural businesses operate and how your classwork applies to real-world business situations? We are looking to hire an intern for the Fall 2019 semester. Click to read more about this excellent opportunity!
This week we are featuring the USDA Rural Business Development Grant, the Kentucky Proud Buy Local Program, and the Kentucky Proud Promotional Grant.
This week we are featuring the Rural Energy for America Program Grants that are due soon and the new Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) that was established in the farm bill. The LAMP program will provide permanent funding for the Value-Added Producer Grants, and the Farmers Market & Local Food Promotion Grants which is great news for farmers and agribusinesses in Kentucky.
This week we are featuring the Kentucky Conservation State Cost Share Program, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service's Environmental Quality Incentives (EQIP) Program, and the Kentucky Proud Promotional Grant Program. Please check out more information about each program below.
This week we are featuring the Kentucky State University's Small Scale Farm Grant Program, and Community Farm Alliance's Farmers Market Support Program which offers a Kentucky Double Dollars cost share and a farmers market manager cost share. Please check out more information about each program below.
Is it time? If you have been a one-man or one-woman shop and haven’t made a hire yet, what are the questions you should ask yourself before making that hire? Check out this post from KCARD staff on the questions they pose to businesses considering this step.
Farmers, are you interested in selling to your local schools next season? If so the Kentucky Department of Agriculture is offering a mini-grant to help expand Farm to School sales. The Kentucky Farm to School: Producer Engagement Grants are due on December 14, so if you are interested you need to act fast!
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.
