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.
Ask kids in the Bowling Green area their favorite spot to get ice cream and you might hear a story about Miss Glimmer, a famous Jersey cow who called Chaney’s Dairy Barn home for years. Miss Glimmer witnessed first-hand the transformation of the business owned by Carl and Debra Chaney from dairy farm to booming agritourism destination where over 300,000 people visit each year. The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development was right there with her.
Dr. Cindy Finneseth with the Kentucky Horticulture Council (KHC) answered a few questions about her role and the best ways to stay up to date with the Council.
When KCARD staff meets with new businesses and organizations, one of the most recommended courses of action is to implement regular staff meetings. In this blog post, we are highlighting some of the most frequently asked questions about staff meetings
Over the last year, KCARD has seen an increased interest in starting up new commercial kitchens throughout the Commonwealth. Owning and operating a commercial kitchen has many benefits, but there are a few key considerations before getting started.
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service recently announced a record amount of funding for several of their key grant programs:
Aleta Botts, KCARD’s executive director, took some time to answer a few questions about herself and what it’s like being an executive director.
Larry Snell rarely had the opportunity to look back over his ten years as KCARD’s Executive Director while he was serving in that role. He was working too hard at the time to lay the foundation for an organization that would evolve to fit the changing demands of Kentucky agriculture. KCARD recently caught up with Larry, now retired.
The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development is seeking an individual to work with agricultural and rural-based businesses seeking KCARD assistance through KCARD’s Agribusiness Grant Facilitation Program. This is a full-time position, and KCARD employees have flexible scheduling options available.
The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development is hiring an individual to assist the KCARD team in its work with agricultural and rural-based businesses seeking KCARD services. This position will support KCARD’s work with these businesses and provide the individual with an opportunity to learn business development and advance to other positions.
Are you curious about incorporating a UPC barcode (Universal Product Code) on your food or farm product? UPC barcodes are commonly used on a variety of products to help track these items as they move through the supply chain. If you are targeting retail stores for sales, incorporating UPC barcodes on product labeling is a must.
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.
