Land management expertise
Expert Assistance for Kentuckians
Both federal and state programs provide expert consultation for Kentucky landowners, whether you are interested in improving the productivity of your land, making your farm more climate-resilient, managing your forest, or developing a conservation plan for your land.
Expert Assistance & Services
County Extension Offices
The University of Kentucky Extension engages with Kentuckians to connect them to resources, research and innovative solutions. They have experts in gardening, health, family, community development, youth development, food, and farming available for consultations, to answer your questions, or to connect you with resources. The Extension Offices offer a number of free or low-cost services as well, such as soil and water testing, pest or plant identification, grain moisture testing, hay testing, and other services.
Other Landowner Support Services
| Forest Stewardship Program and Landowner Services https://eec.ky.gov/Natural-Resources/Forestry/forest-stewardship-program-and-landowner-services/Pages/default.aspx | This resource is for all private forestland owners who can have a variety of goals, aspirations, and ideas for their land but don’t know where to start. The program arranges for a natural resource professional to walk the land and customize a forest stewardship plan to implement changes based on the landowner’s goals for their property. |
| Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) by the NRCS of the USDA https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/is-csp-right-for-me-11062023.pdf | This NRCS program offers technical and financial assistance to help agricultural and forest producers/landowners take their conservation efforts to the next level. Some benefits include increased crop productivity, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvement, and increased resilience to weather extremes. |
| Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) https://www.kcard.info/beginning-farmer-resources | KCARD contains a compilation of resources for agricultural producers to obtain financial support or education to better their operations. This resource is useful for exploring options if the producer is unsure of where to begin or what their goals are. |