Success StoryFarm Diversification



Farm Diversification

Author: Paul Sizemore

Planning Unit: Owsley County CES

Major Program: Commercial Horticulture - Crop Marketing

Plan of Work: Farmers Market, Home Gardens & Food Preservation

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

Farm diversification has become a must to compete in the ever changing market place of agriculture. Owsley County Cooperative Extension Service conducted a workshop to help farmers diversify their operations and find resources to assist in developing infrastructure at their operations. Owsley County Cooperative Extension, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Kentucky Sate Small Farm Program worked with farmers to obtain High Tunnels and other Projects that would help them to Diversify. As result of these efforts eighteen farmers received High tunnels, and nine farmers received grants from the small farm program for projects ranging from building cooling systems for their produce to setting up a portable grist mill and sorghum mill. The high tunnels range from $10,000.00 to $16,000.00 each and the small farm grants were $5,000.00 each for a minimum total of more than $225,000.00 at no cost to the farmers. Educational programs were conducted to assist in each of these area’s to help them either improve their operation or to expand and diversify. As result of these improvements all producers have reported positive outcomes such as, eight have doubled their profit margin by extending the season by planting earlier in the High Tunnels, four reported that being able to have cold storage on the farm has allowed them to at least double their profits by extending the life of the produce. Four individuals are new farmers and are very satisfied with the additional income.






Stories by Paul Sizemore


Mountain Monday Series

about 3 years ago by Paul Sizemore

The zoom series began on February 1 and continued through the end of April. Topics were: Small Rumin... Read More


Group Plant Order

about 3 years ago by Paul Sizemore

Eastern Kentucky has very few resources for locally grown fruit plants at a reasonable price. The Ex... Read More


Stories by Owsley County CES


4-H Sewing

about 3 years ago by Crystal Osborne

In todays technologically advanced society, basic life skills such as sewing has become a lost art. ... Read More


Parent Academy

about 3 years ago by Crystal Osborne

According to the 2018 data provided by Kentucky Youth Advocate Kids County, over 48% of Owsley Count... Read More