LAND forum series brings together agriculture and manufacturing

The LAND discussion board collection was established to bolster collaboration between the agriculture and manufacturing industries. Photograph by Daniel Wilson.
(Supply: College of Kentucky)

QUICKSAND, Ky. (UK Public Relations) – This yr’s annual Linking Agriculture for Networking and Enchancment discussion board collection recently acquired here to An in depth.

Created in 2017 by way of the Kentucky Dehalfment of Agriculture and Kentucky Affiliation of Producers, the LAND discussion board collection was established to bolster collaboration between the agriculture and manufacturing industries to develop and increase upon The prevailing current chains for agricultural merchandise to the manufacturing sector.

The primary objective of the discussion boards was to make the state’s 4,500 producers Aware of the plentiful uncooked agriculture sources out there in Kentucky.

“Any time We will join An space farmer to An space producer or processor, it’s a win-win for our state’s agriculture and manufacturing industries,” said Ryan Quarles, Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture.

A primary theme all by way of the discussion boards was continued diversification, a topic which was Positioned on current On the College of Kentucky’s School of Agriculture, Meals and Environment’s Robinson Center for Appalachian Useful resource Sustainability seminar. From elevating sheep, making cleansing soap, deer farming and creating hearth-starter merchandise from wooden waste, the discussion board exhibited a quantity of new and inventive industries developed by Japanese Kentuckians.

“These discussion boards assist stimulate ideas on biggest practices That Can be launched in from completely different spaces, new initiatives and new enterprises,” said Tim Hughes, senior commerce advisor with the Kentucky Dehalfment of Agriculture. “As quickly as we started This method, the objective was to currentcase circumstances in every area of the state, the place farmers have been already making these joinions with a producer or to generate conversations Ensuing in new enterprise relationships. Where We now have goodest revenue is having People that usually wouldn’t come to an agricultural meeting and see how farms and ag-associated companies and their communities are driving the financial system or creating employment alternatives or offering A greater extreme quality of life for the residents of the group.”

The LAND discussion board was extremely revenueable in serving to To join farmers with worth-added merchandise to producers. Further stops included Bowling Inexperienced, Henderson, Maysville and Shelbyville.

“There have been some fantastic relationships which have come from these discussion boards,” Hughes said. “We’ve acquired good tales with particular person farmers meeting producers and Solely A quick time later collaborating collectively on numerous merchandise to The Benefit of each halfies.”

“I think about the College of Kentucky’s extension service performs An excellent half in bringing collectively farmers to study new ideas, Similar to these Related to the LAND discussion board,” said Daniel Wilson, UK areaal extension director for Japanese Kentucky. “Communities have seen good advantages from the roles which have come about As a Outcome of of extension’s involvement, with not only this discussion board, However The completely different providers and alternatives provided as properly.”

To view this yr’s discussion board reveals, go to https://bit.ly/3Clgbym.