Learn. Grow. Profit.
www.uky.edu/ccd
ProfilesCrops - Production Systems - Markets
**Many Profiles Reviewed and Updated in 2018, with more to come in 2019**
Maps
• Horticulture Resource Map• Shared Use Equipment• Hort Supply Stores• Water testing labs• Farmers Markets• Produce Auctions• Lots more…
www.uky.edu/ccd/maps
**NEW**
CCD Team:Brett WolffChristy CassadyJosh Knight
Hort Council Executive Director:Cindy Finneseth
Horticulture BizQuiz
How does it work?
•Series of Questions•Key variables:
• Land (Y/N)• Capital (Y/N)• Labor (Y/N)
•Provides starting point to talking with agents
Screening Questions
Do you want to grow horticultural crops as part of a business (i.e. to make money)?If not…
“Based on your answers, it appears that you may not be ready to grow horticulture products for sale. That’s OK! We have a wide variety of resources to help get you started in growing crops on a smaller scale so you can build your experience and knowledge. Regardless of your scale, your local Extension Office will be there to help.”
Capital, Land & LaborHow much capital (money) do you have to commit to this enterprise?
How much land do you have (or plan to have) available?
How much labor can you access (besides yourself)?
Computer Magic
Example ResultResults:Your responses indicate that you have:Access to CapitalAccess to LandLimited to no Access to Labor
Having access to capital means that you may be able to invest in equipment, branding and marketing, or other startup costs. Land access—whether through rent or through ownership—is a huge advantage. Generally, horticulture operations don’t require massive amounts of land, but having some is a really good start. There’s no getting around it: horticultural crops are labor-intensive. Limited access to labor will not keep you from growing crops to sell, but it does mean that you have to think hard about how much you can manage. It also means that you’ll want to avoid large amounts of very labor-intensive crops.
Your next steps:1. Print or Screenshot the "Results" section above (you can also take the quiz again at your county office)2. Contact your county agent to share your results and talk further.3. Go here for additional resources
Example text, cont.With labor as your limiting factor, you'll want to select less labor-intensive crops and be sure to be realistic about the scale of your operation. A few crops you might consider--based on your responses are listed below.
Consider:*AsparagusWinter SquashHoneyBroccoli or Cauliflower
Avoid or limit:StrawberriesTomatoesHand-picked beansBerries
Example Text, cont.*Your agent has a larger list and the experience to help you identify and rule out other options.
Since you are planning to sell your crops, it is imperative that you identify markets before you plant. This includes checking that you understand the quality, volume, and food safety requirements of different markets. We've listed some resources below to help you identify markets, and explore your options further.
**The tool provided at this site is intended for educational purposes and is not a guarantee of operational success or profit. It is your responsibility to build your production skills, refine your business idea, and develop a profitable market. We are here to help you identify useful resources that will help you along the way to success.**
Caveats• This is NOT designed to be a final answer—just a way to ask a
few questions to get people thinking.
• We want this to result in a conversation with YOU.
• As with any business, there will be exceptions to the general guidelines, but a simple tool can’t account for that.
Price Reports
Photo credit: Adam Barton, UK Ag Communications
Photo credit: Matt Ernst, UK AgEcon
KentuckyIllinoisTennesseeWV **NEW**
Indiana **next year**
Kentucky• Casey Co.• Fairview (Christian Co.)• Hart Co.• Lincoln Co.
3 Year Average Reports
**We expect to release new 2019 versions of these reports**
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Tomatoes, Avg. Price, KYFM 2014-16 ($/lb)
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KY Produce Auction, Price and quantity (#1 & #2 tomatoes)
Quantity Price
Planning Tools & Budgets• Budgets• Production Planning
**Small and Large Scale Budgets Now Available**
Webinar & Video
**New Video coming 2019**
Regional CommunityRegional
Research & ExtensionMonthly
Newsletter
Opportunities and Resources for Kentucky Producers
Highlights
• Producer Grants• On-Farm Grants• Resources Available
Producer Grants• YOU can apply!!• Up to $10,000 to “try out” a solution
o Economic Profitabilityo Land Stewardshipo Quality of Life for Farmers, Families and Communities
• Examples:o No till vegetableso Different ground covers in vineyardso Honey Bee breedingo Comparing Sheep Grazing system profitabilityo Cover Crop Mixes in Corn/Bean rotationso Mechanizing Freshwater Prawn Feeding
On-Farm Grants• YOU can ask…but application must go through
Extension Professional or Researcher• $15,000 for research projects done on “real farms”
• Similar to Producer Granto More of a structured “research” project rather than a farmer led trialo You provide the site, and inputo Ideal if you have an idea, but don’t want to take the lead
Resources
southernsare.org