Question: Should I apply for “Coronavirus” money?
Answer: We are getting a lot of questions about coronavirus funding, so here’s what we do know and what we do not know.
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.
A well-hosted class or workshop can be one of the more profitable (and fun!) ways to engage visitors on your farm and offer agritourism opportunities. However, they can be quite labor-intensive and require lots of planning and thoughtfulness. Check out these tips to get you started!
Question: Should I apply for “Coronavirus” money?
Answer: We are getting a lot of questions about coronavirus funding, so here’s what we do know and what we do not know.
Are you looking for ways to increase your knowledge of marketing, production, business management, and more during this time of quarantine and rain? Check out these online training programs from some great resources.
Farmers markets must get innovative in the way they provide food access to their customers while keeping in line with social distancing requirements during this time. Consider the restraints of your market and what is feasible for your market. We encourage you to check out the resources put out by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Community Farm Alliance for markets across the state.
Consumer buying habits are rapidly changing. Restaurants are only open for carry out and delivery while many schools are implementing meal drop off programs. No one knows exactly what will happen, but as COVID-19 updates come in, remember the following when it comes to your markets.
Selling online can be a great opportunity for businesses to make up for lower in-person sales, pre-order products for quick pickup or delivery, and increase customer base to those who might not attend markets. Choose an online ordering service that meets your needs and works with the systems you already have. Check out five online ordering options we have seen clients use.
People are requesting gift certificates to help support local farms and local food businesses. Offering gifts cards is a great way to let people support you during this time of crisis. So how do you set that up? It depends on how you take payment now, but you have some options…
Question: I’m still not sure how COVID-19 is going to affect my farm business. I have 5 employees and I don’t know what to tell them if anything. What do I tell my employees?
Your employees already know this is not a normal spring season. Clearly communicating your plans and decisions will help them avoid assuming the worst and enable them to plan for the coming weeks.
Question: How do I manage cash flow when I’m concerned about the effect of reduced travel/walk-in traffic on my business?
Answer: The next two weeks and the next two months are going to be critical for many small businesses as we all figure out what the eventual impact will be. Click to read about a few rules of thumb for businesses.
Coronavirus is a new challenge to our healthcare system and all of us are learning as we go. However, good practices on crisis management apply here just like they do with other crises. KCARD will be providing additional Q&A posts about how to handle the specific problems we are hearing from businesses with whom we work with, so stay tuned.
Two weeks ago we talked about dealing with the crank in person - that person that leaves a bad review, yells at your staff, decides to leave and never come back and tells all their friends to do the same. What happens when the person complains online?
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.