Strategic Roadmap for Kentucky Agriculture: 2025-2030
Engage agriculture in Kentucky’s economic development discussions.
Agriculture is economic development in most of our rural counties. The measuring and expansion of this economic activity is critical to the fiscal health of our communities. This work includes identifying present, positive agriculture businesses and potential businesses that can viably contribute. Farmers’ production and sales of agricultural products are the engine. Economic development in agriculture is going beyond the trailer gate, increasing the value of those products by further processing or consuming that product locally to increase economic activity, allowing dollars to turn over several times.
—Warren Beeler, Strategy Lead
View Updated Working Group Document (.docx)
Resources:
- CEDIK Report: Importance of Agriculture for Kentucky (2022)
- ARTICLE: Agriculture Commissioner wraps up 2024 with state of agriculture for Kentucky
- BLOG (Farmonaut): Kentucky’s Agricultural Renaissance: Boosting Economic Development and Farm Prosperity in 2024
- VIDEO: Agriculture: Kentucky's Growth Machine (1994)
Tactic 1: Economic Development MeasurementPursue policy change that includes a measurement of impact for ag economic development projects that puts ag on same playing field as businesses bringing jobs. a. Identify ag’s multiplier (direct, indirect, wages spent) impact using methodology in most holistic way and communicate it across counties. b. Create new markets for farm’s multiplier effect. c. Communicate that technology means fewer, higher paid jobs in increase per capita income (e.g. Perdue in Cromwell, equine sector in Lexington). d. Include entire agrifood system (e.g. grain elevator and # of farms using elevator, ethanol $ impact on bushel of corn, safe food). Where? Success story example at Chaney’s Dairy Barn, Bowling Green
Kentucky Horticulture Council's Research Grant Program includes an economic development component. | Project Leads
Partners for Delivery
Collaborators Ag. Coord. & Comm. Working Group; Berea Urban Farm; Workforce Development Working Group; KCARD - Kellie Padgett; local government, economic development and tourism; regional ADD districts, Commonwealth Agri-Energy |
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Tactic 2: Regional Economic Development NetworkingCoordinate regional meetings with KDA to showcase agriculture as economic development, provide data around economic impact, and foster networking. a. Engage ADD districts, development consultants, local economic development leaders, agribusinesses, farmers, chambers, ag groups, county judges, and elected officials. b. Create agriculture pitchbook with education about agriculture: multiplier of ag—job and financial impact, tailored to each region with input from ADD. Consider regional differences, such as forestry, produce, equine, grain, and livestock. c. Find examples of agriculture in economic development - ongoing effort. d. Work with farmers and rural entrepreneurs to create educational opportunities to increase angel and other venture investments into new agricultural/ag tech startups leveraging the State’s Angel Investment Tax Credit and KY Investment Fund Incentives. e. Research and communicate with development consultants in food and beverage; research and communicate that KY is open for business. f. Utilize innovative farmer networks around ag tech, specialty crop pipelines, and innovative farmer networks for recruitment purposes – agribusinesses want to locate where the action is. Positioning a distributed ag tech commercialization network or hub serves as a great anchor to industry, including international recruitment. When? July 2024 - January 2025 Where? Meetings in Murray, Morehead, Owensboro, and London, KY
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Partners for Delivery
Collaborators Workforce Development Working Group, Coolest thing in KY Award (HempWood and Louisville Slugger Bats), Supply Chain Working Group, Food and Health Working Group, KY Hospital Assn., KY Horticulture Council |
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Tactic 3: Project CoordinationWork with KDA and KY Cabinet for Economic Development to help attract projects and coordinate economic development activity related to food and agriculture, including Tennessee and other border states. a. Bring in voices from other working groups who can contribute to this and serve as a conduit as needed. b. Identify what info is needed for site selectors and attract expanding/new industry for pitchbook. When? July 2024 Where? Food and Beverage pitchbook | Project Leads
Partners for Delivery Collaborators Forestry/woodlands organizations, Thoroughbred and horse racing, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, KY agriculture groups |
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Tactic 4: University OutreachContinue to foster relationships at universities in ag economic development degrees and research. Universities need to showcase agriculture as cutting edge. When? 2026 Where? KY Community and Technical College System, Western Kentucky University, Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State, Berea, Chris Wooldridge - Murray State | Project Leads
Partners for Delivery Collaborators Workforce Development Working Group |
Tactic 5: Meat ProcessingExplore tangible need for added meat processing and educate producers about processor needs for quality and finish of animals. When? 2025-2027 Where? KY Office of Agriculture Policy, Western Kentucky University | Project Leads
Partners for Delivery Collaborators KCARD feasibility study update, Supply Chain Working Group, KY Cattlemen’s ground beef marketing program to other states, What Chefs Want |