AGFP, Grants, Financial, Funding
Brent Lackey
USDA Value-Added Producer Grant: Overview and ...

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.  

USDA Value-Added Producer Grant: Overview and Program Changes
Guest Blog, Education, Dairy
Brent Lackey
Center for Crop Diversification Guest Blog: ...

Learn about opportunities and challenges for the Kentucky dairy industry in this guest blog post from our friends at the Center for Crop Diversification!

Center for Crop Diversification Guest Blog: Kentucky Dairy in 2025 - Opportunities and Challenges Ahead
Recordkeeping
Brent Lackey
Farm Recordkeeping 101: Recordkeeping Tips for ...

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!

Farm Recordkeeping 101: Recordkeeping Tips for 2025
Financial
Brent Lackey
New Requirement for Businesses Registered with ...

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.

New Requirement for Businesses Registered with the Secretary of State: Beneficial Ownership Information
Transition Planning, Education
Brent Lackey
Planning for the Future: A Starter Guide to ...

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.

Planning for the Future: A Starter Guide to Farm Transition Planning
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Key Thoughts for Distribution

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Key Thoughts for Distribution

This past week, the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) partnered with UK’s Center for Crop Diversification (CCD) on a webinar comparing the pros and cons of farm-to-consumer distribution methods including On-Farm Pickup, Off-Farm Pickup, Home Delivery, and Shipping.

One thing we want to emphasize is that your business doesn’t need to do it all – i.e. offer every distribution method mentioned above. What works for one farm business might not work for yours. Below are a few key thoughts when it comes to picking a distribution method or two.

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New Methods of Accepting Payments Online

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New Methods of Accepting Payments Online

The name of the game these days is social distance. So how do you accept payments from customers without getting closer than six feet or having to handle cash? Digital wallets are financial accounts that allow users to store funds, make transactions, and track payment histories by computer or phone. Here are some of the most popular options that will allow you to take payments without having to get a credit card reader (and some that connect with Square).

Expanding Your Social Media Presence

Expanding Your Social Media Presence

If you are not on social media or are not actively engaging your fans and followers, you are missing out on potential customers and interactions to build your brand. Social media is now more “social” than ever and people who are now homebound are spending more and more time on it. So how do you ramp up your activity to reach customers?

Q&A with KCARD: Turning New Customers into Regulars

Q&A with KCARD: Turning New Customers into Regulars

If you’re in the business of selling local food right now, you might be in a unique situation with an uptick in sales and an increase in new customers. We are hearing from businesses that they are getting orders from folks who have never purchased food anywhere other than the grocery store, who suddenly want to buy in bulk from a local farmer. New customers can be a lot of work. You can spend a lot of time and energy patiently giving answers to endless questions. Here are 3 tips on how to turn a new customer into a regular.

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Q&A with KCARD: Covid-19 and Your Farmers Market

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Q&A with KCARD: Covid-19 and Your Farmers Market

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.

Q&A with KCARD: What's Up with My Markets?

Q&A with KCARD: What's Up with My Markets?

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.

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Q&A with KCARD: Online Ordering Options

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Q&A with KCARD: Online Ordering Options

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.

Q&A with KCARD: Offering Gift Cards

Q&A with KCARD: Offering Gift Cards

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…

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