Strategic Roadmap for Kentucky Agriculture: 2025-2030
Create more value-added markets across the Commonwealth.
Building value-added capacity is critical for producers seeking to thrive in today’s complex agricultural landscape. By equipping them with essential skills—such as evaluating risk versus reward, financial planning, incorporating sustainability practices, and adhering to food safety standards—we empower them to enhance their operations and long-term profitability. Communicating existing value-added programs in Kentucky can showcase successful models and increase participation in existing programs, inspiring others to follow suit and increasing overall efficiency in the local food chain. Additionally, researching trends and opportunities, including sustainability options for conventional products like row crops and beef, can open doors to other industries and align with emerging global requirements, such as carbon-neutral farming. These efforts can strengthen agricultural resilience and promote sustainable growth, benefiting both producers and the broader economy.
- Katie Bowman, Strategy Lead
View Updated Working Group Document (.docx)
Tactic 1: Build Value-Added CapacityNeed producer education to build capacity, including technical assistance, how to evaluate risk vs. reward, financial viability, how to incorporate, sustainability record-keeping, understand food safety concerns, market research, plan for taxes, processing, and baseline numerator. a. Create and promote resource library (UK Extension & KCARD) of videos, publications, and website—organized by topic. Identify who does what and coordinate shared info, e.g. how to target your customers. Consider role of new Kentucky-specific Extension AI tool. b. Identify which decision tree pieces are need and create for priority topics, using what’s already in place, e.g. “So you want to sell at a farmer’s market” or “So you want to have a consumer facing business.” c. Focus on producer needs/training to help them get ready for next step with certifications, new markets, distributors, processing, chefs, etc. How can they promote products such spring flowers, strawberries, sweet corn, peaches, pumpkins, and mums to drive traffic in remote areas of retail even with lower price point area? d. Work with KDA to potentially developing value-added mentoring network (ag funding has young/beginning farmer that requires a mentor and non-family member transition opportunities. e. Develop direct to consumer retail through marketing plan in minor cities. Need for strong local markets based around meats, seasonal items, and tourist products – different than existing major farmers markets. When? 2024-2025 and ongoing | Project Leads
Partners for Delivery
Collaborators Farm Transitions Working Group, MarketReady, Black Soil, Cultivate Kentucky, The Food Connection, UK James Beam Institute, Workforce Development Working Group |
Tactic 2: Identify and communicate existing value-added programsDevelop a showcase of existing value-added programs to promote value in Kentucky food chain. a. Identify where are we starting from, who does what, and which groups have more that need to move at a higher value? Include in decision tree (Tactic 2-b). b. Create a communications piece that showcases value-added effort being done in Kentucky and share across all organizations. Identify stories, capture photos, develop pieces from existing and new resources. When? January 2025 Where? Social Media, KFB Podcast, Kentucky Education Television (KET) | Project Leads
Partners for Delivery
Collaborators Value-Added Producer Grant Recipient Showcase - KY/TN/OH, Beef Solutions, Ag Coord. & Comm. Working Group, Extension research internships |
Tactic 3: Research value-added trends and opportunitiesExplore conventional (row crop, beef, etc.) value-added sustainability opportunities for export markets or carbon neutral options (e.g. cover crops, no-till, EU requirements, etc).a. Identify how trends and opportunities fit within Kentucky agriculture, particularly for commodity products/processors. b. Communicate findings with farmer leaders and ag organizations by showcasing success stories. c. Is there a need for a sustainability value-add outside of forestry? When? Ongoing Where? Agriculture meetings and conferences | Project Leads
Partners for Delivery
Collaborators KCARD Local Food Partner Network, Farm Transitions Working Group, Ag Diversification & Innovation Working Group, World Trade Center, Supply Chain Working Group, food retailer innovation centers |