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.
One direct-to-consumer marketing arrangement that has increased in popularity in the past several years is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). While this can be a great model for many farm businesses, it’s important to evaluate the pros and cons to understand if starting a CSA is right for your farm business.
Getting a loan to purchase a farm, or an operating loan, can seem like a challenging task. Farmers often have questions about what information they’ll need to have to successfully obtain a loan, how long the process will take, and more. Check out these tips on ways to prepare for getting a farm loan.
Happy National Farmers Market Week! This week, we’re celebrating with farmers markets across the state, like Franklin County Farmers Market, and highlighting how KCARD can work with markets on various projects.
July is Kentucky Cut Flower Month, so we’re celebrating with a spotlight on the Kentucky Flower Market! Owned by Sarah Torgerson and Kayla Carey, the Kentucky Flower Market, based in Simpsonville, KY, is a collaborative market of flower farmers who sell and market together, primarily through an online platform.
CBRN Specialist Kristen Kalm is currently interning with Todd County Animal Clinic through the Kentucky AgVets Boots to Agriculture Internship Program. In this post, we sat down with Kristen to ask some questions about herself and how the program has helped her plan for after she exits service.
June is Dairy Month in Kentucky! To celebrate, we’re spotlighting Legacy Dairy, a fourth-generation family farm operated by the Jones family in Barren County, KY. Legacy Dairy offers whole, non-homogenized milk that comes strictly from cows raised and cared for on the farm, where it’s also bottled and processed.
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service recently announced a new grant program for meat processors: the Local Meat Capacity Grant (Local MCap), due on July 19th. For more information on the program including who can apply, what projects are eligible, and how to get started, check out this blog post!
Rabbit processing is becoming increasingly popular in the state, and we’ve been receiving some questions about the rules and regulations of rabbit processing. This post summarizes the key regulations you need to follow in order to process rabbits for meat.
For Beef Month in Kentucky, we’re highlighting Roaring Shoals Farm! Roaring Shoals Farm is a small Black Angus beef farm in Breathitt County, owned and operated by Erik and Amy Holbrook. Both raised on farms in Breathitt County, Erik and Amy take pride in raising grain-finished, dry-aged beef that is born and raised on the farm.
In the final part of the Local Food System Expansion Initiative story map series, we take a closer look at some of the larger local food industries (meat, dairy, and produce) and supporting infrastructure in Kentucky, including where they are clustered and where there may be a lack of farms or infrastructure to serve the local population. While this series has been a snapshot of the full story map, be sure to check out all of the information, including interactive maps with county data, HERE.
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.
