LFPP, Education
Brent Lackey
Mapping Kentucky's Local Food System Series: ...

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. 

Mapping Kentucky's Local Food System Series: Introduction
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Recap of the 4th Annual Eastern Kentucky Farmer Conference

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Recap of the 4th Annual Eastern Kentucky Farmer Conference

This past Friday and Saturday the 4th Annual Eastern Kentucky Farmer Conference was held at the Morehead Convention Center in Morehead, KY. A technical assistance “ThinkTank” and an Eastern Kentucky Grower Buyer Meetup added to the conference this year, giving attendees the opportunity to not only network with other producers but also buyers, funders, and technical assistance providers. The conference offered 16 different sessions, including 4 short courses on Friday discussing topics such as high tunnel production, food safety regulations, business planning, and online marketing. Saturday included 12 different sessions on topics such as starting a CSA, no-till vegetable production, non-timber agroforestry, agritourism, and small fruit production.

Crop Insurance and the Small Farm

Crop Insurance and the Small Farm

Have you thought about getting crop insurance but assumed it would be too expensive or that it was only for large-scale operations? Crop insurance can be an option for your farm to help you cover the risk associated with weather or revenue. Today, the federal government helps cover 38% to 80% of your premium, depending on the amount of coverage, the policy, and what you grow.

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Dealing with the Crank

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Dealing with the Crank

We all have that one customer that refuses to let it go. I stopped at the local frosty freeze to pick up food one night and when I was looking up the phone number on their Facebook page, saw a bad review. It was harsh, laying the business out for something so silly that you had to laugh. My first reaction was, “This guy has never run a business.”

Eastern Kentucky Farmer Conference coming up February 28-29, 2020 in Morehead, KY

Eastern Kentucky Farmer Conference coming up February 28-29, 2020 in Morehead, KY

The 4th Annual Eastern Kentucky Farmer Conference is taking place February 28 and 29, 2020 at the Morehead Convention Center in Morehead, KY. Topics for this year’s conference include high tunnel production, GAP and post handling practices, selling in today’s digital market, small fruits production, understanding your processor, no-till vegetable production, livestock management, and many more that you won’t want to miss.

(Closed) Job Opening: Local Food Project Statewide Coordinator

(Closed) Job Opening: Local Food Project Statewide Coordinator

We’re hiring! The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development is hiring an individual to lead a new project – the Kentucky Local Food System Expansion Initiative – working with agricultural producers and food businesses to expand market access for Kentucky farmers and enhance buyer access to local food sources.

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What is a Cooperative Development Center and why is KCARD one?

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What is a Cooperative Development Center and why is KCARD one?

Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) is a cooperative development center, providing education, support, and advisory services to groups interested in forming cooperatives and to cooperatives who have already formed.  KCARD has served these needs in Kentucky since 2001 providing assistance to over 50 cooperatives and helping with the establishment of 27 cooperatives.    

Setting Yourself Up for Success This Holiday Season

Setting Yourself Up for Success This Holiday Season

While it is important to always invest in marketing your business, the holidays bring a unique opportunity. Customers are looking for inspiration as they finalize meal plans, gifts and decorations. Make it easy for them to see your brand as a solution to their problems.

Co-op 101: When Does a Cooperative Make Sense?

Co-op 101: When Does a Cooperative Make Sense?

The cooperative business structure can be an effective organization, but it is not appropriate for everyone or every business idea.  When deciding whether to develop a business as cooperative, there are four key factors that need to be present for the cooperative structure to be the right choice.   

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Growing Your Farm and Food Business Workshops

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It is workshop season again! The KCARD Growing Your Farm and Food Business workshops will provide an in-depth understanding of business plan development along with an overview of funding options for farmers and agribusinesses in Kentucky. Each workshop will bring together speakers who work directly with national and state funding programs. Programs from USDA, the Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy, Kentucky State University, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and other agencies will be covered with many of these entities present and available for questions.

There will be a $18 per person fee to attend the workshop, with dinner and educational materials provided. For further information visit the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development’s Facebook page or contact Kati Bowman at kbowman@kcard.info or 859-415-4909.  

Growing Your Farm and Food Business - Hopkins County

Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Time: 4:30pm - 8:30pm local time

Location: 75 Cornwall Drive, Madisonville, KY 42431

Register Here!

Growing Your Farm and Food Business - Boone County

Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Time: 4:30pm - 8:30pm local time

Location: 6028 Camp Ernst Road, Burlington, KY 41005

Register Here!

Growing Your Farm and Food Business - Adair County

Date: Thursday, November 14, 2019

Time: 4:30pm - 8:30pm local time

Location: 409 Fairground Street, Columbia, KY 42728

Register Here!

Growing Your Farm and Food Business - Wolfe County

Date: Tuesday, December 10

Time: 4:30pm - 8:30pm local time

Location: 20 North Washington Street, Campton, KY 41301

Register Here!

About KCARD

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.

Contact Us

411 Ring Road
Elizabethtown, KY 42701

p: (859) 550-3972
f: (888) 319-4962

kcard@kcard.info