The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) board has announced Brent Lackey has been appointed KCARD's new executive director, effective November 1.
Lackey named KCARD executive director
National and State Highlights from the USDA 2020 Local Food Marketing Practices Survey
In addition to the Census of Agriculture, USDA conducts topical surveys that cover specific sectors in agriculture such as Local Food Marketing Practices. We dove into the 2020 Local Food Marketing Practices survey results that were released in April 2022, and we resurfaced with a trove of information that highlights the current status of local food nationally and within the state.
What Happens to the Family Farm: Succession Planning 101
“What happens to the family farm?” is a question that commonly comes up after an unfortunate accident or death, which can add stress and tension to an already difficult situation. However, it’s ideal to create a plan early so the farm can pass more smoothly to the next generation. In this post, we discuss initial questions to consider and the best first steps to take when beginning the process of succession planning.
Buying Directly from Local Farmers Increases the Farm Share of the Food Dollar
We have all felt the increase in our bills at the grocery store this year, but what does that mean for farmers? The difference between retail prices of food and farm-level prices includes costs of distribution, processing, marketing, packaging, retailing, and more. Buying directly from farmers and supporting local food suppliers helps bring more of the food dollar back to the farm.
5 Myths About Crop Insurance
Farmers purchase crop insurance to protect their crops from things like natural disasters, diseases, insects and market pricing drops. There are many myths about crop insurance, including that it’s too expensive and it’s only for “big” farms, which we’ve debunked in this post.
Kentucky AgVets at Kentucky State Fair
Are you headed to the Kentucky State Fair this year? Come and visit the AgVets team at our booth located in the Gourmet Gardens area in the South Wing lobby. Our team will be there on August 21st for Military Appreciation Day and August 28th for First Responders Day.
Celebrating Kentucky Grown Cut Flower Month with Eden Roots Flower Farm
July is Kentucky Grown Cut Flower Month, so we’re celebrating with a spotlight on Eden Roots Flower Farm! Eden Roots Flower Farm is a small cut flower farm owned by Sarah Torgerson in Simpsonville, Kentucky that offers homegrown cut flowers for retail and wholesale, as well as arrangements for small events.
Bringing the Fun to the Farm: 5 Things to Consider Before Adding Agritourism to Your Operation
With apple picking and pumpkin patch seasons right around the corner, many seasonal Kentucky agritourism operations are gearing up for their busy seasons. At KCARD, we’ve been seeing a wide variety of agriculture operations adding elements of tourism and education to their farms, including u-pick berry farms, farm stays, hands-on workshops, Airbnbs, and more. In this post, we discuss five things to consider before adding agritourism to your farming operation.
Jericho Farmhouse: Cool off with local ice cream!
Jericho Farmhouse is an ice cream shop and farm market in Henry County, KY owned by the Coombs Family. The Coombs family operated a dairy farm for generations until 2018 and now, Jericho Farmhouse offers ice cream, beef, a place for local farmers to sell their products, and plenty of fun farm experiences.
Choosing an Online Payroll Provider for Your Business
Owning a business can be tough and paying employees can be confusing. Some businesses will prefer a local bookkeeper they can meet with face-to-face, but as more services move online, businesses are becoming more comfortable with online professional service providers for assistance with payroll and taxes. Before choosing an online payroll provider, it’s important to consider your business’s needs to see which option is right for you.