Kentucky Department of Agriculture

What Kentucky Department of Agriculture does

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) is the state government agency of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, established in 1817 and headquartered in Frankfort, responsible for administering agricultural policy, marketing, regulation, and economic development across the state. Commissioner Jonathan Shell leads a workforce of 101-250 employees organized into eight offices covering the Commissioner, Administrative Services, Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Policy, Communications, Consumer & Environmental Protection, Legal Services, and the State Veterinarian. The agency does not sell commercial products; instead, it delivers services through licensing, permitting, certification, grant administration, low-interest agricultural lending, and food distribution programs.

KDA's core products and services span four functional areas: (1) marketing and branding programs including Kentucky Proud, Farm to School, Farm to Fork, Buy Local, Homegrown By Heroes, Appalachia Proud, and Agritourism; (2) food assistance and nutrition programs including TEFAP, CSFP, and the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program; (3) agricultural development funding administered through the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation (KAFC), the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund (KADF), and federal pass-through programs including the Specialty Crop Block Grant and Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI); and (4) regulatory and certification programs covering hemp licensing, organic certification, produce safety (FSMA compliance), Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification, and pesticide applicator licensing. The technology stack comprises conventional administrative portals: AgNet, an online licensing and certification system, a hemp licensing portal, a pollinator protection registration system, and an online permitting system for animal health and movement. No proprietary AI/ML or differentiated technology assets are present in the data.

The revenue model is government appropriations-based, with funding sourced from state budget allocations, USDA federal grants (Specialty Crop Block Grant, Farm to School, Emergency Food Assistance), and Kentucky's share of the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (totaling nearly $3 billion cumulatively, with $94.4 million received in 2026). Direct revenue to the department is supplemented by KAFC loan capital (a state-backed agricultural lending entity that approved $2.4 million across 13 counties in April 2026) and license/certification fees. GTM motion is event-driven and programmatic: promotion is conducted through Kentucky Proud branding, the Junior Chef competition, Farm to Fork dinners, Farm to School Stars Recognition, the National Farm Machinery Show, and the Raising Hope farm safety initiative, with no traditional sales force or commercial pricing structure.

Name

Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Legal name

Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Website

https://kyagr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1817

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is a state government agency headquartered in Frankfort that administers agricultural policy, marketing, regulation, food safety, animal health, grants, and low-interest agricultural lending for Kentucky's farming community, schools, and underserved populations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Agricultural Services

NAICS

Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (92614)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Agricultural & Rural Development Banks (FSABAKAE)

Keywords

• Agricultural regulation services
• Farm program administration
• Agricultural marketing programs
• Food safety regulation
• Agricultural finance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfort

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement: Kentucky receives annual payments from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers, totaling nearly $3 billion cumulatively since 1998, including $94.4 million received in 2026. These funds are allocated to agricultural diversification, early childhood development, and healthcare improvement rather than tobacco prevention.
2. USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program: Annual federal grants from USDA for specialty crop research, sustainable cultivation, and food security initiatives.
3. USDA Farm to School Grants: Federal funding for farm-to-school programs supporting local agriculture, school infrastructure, and FFA chapter involvement.
4. USDA Emergency Food Assistance Program: USDA grants to enhance emergency food distribution in underserved communities through infrastructure upgrades and mobile pantry vehicles.
5. Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation Loans: Agricultural loans administered through KAFC supporting infrastructure improvements, beginning farmers, agri-entrepreneurship, horticulture, and veterinary services across Kentucky counties.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) is a state government agency that administers agricultural policy, marketing, regulation, and economic development programs across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It manages the Kentucky Proud branding program, Farm to School initiatives, agricultural lending through the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation (KAFC), specialty crop grants, hemp and pesticide licensing, food safety inspection, and emergency food assistance programs. The department also oversees animal health, livestock welfare, weights and measures enforcement, and international agricultural trade support.

Product overview

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) operates as a comprehensive state government agency offering multiple interconnected programs rather than a unified commercial product. The portfolio includes marketing and branding initiatives (Kentucky Proud, Farm to School, Farm to Fork, Buy Local, Agritourism), food assistance programs (TEFAP, CSFP, Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition, Emergency Food Assistance), agricultural development funding (Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation loans, KADF grants, Specialty Crop Block Grants, RFSI), regulatory and certification programs (Hemp licensing, Organic Certification, Produce Safety, GAP), safety and education programs (Raising Hope farm safety, Junior Chef competition, Mobile Science Activity Center), and international trade support. These programs serve Kentucky's agricultural community, schools, food-insecure populations, and consumers through direct services, grants, loans, and regulatory oversight.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kentucky Proud: State marketing program for Kentucky agricultural products
• Raising Hope
• Farm to School
• Appalachia Proud
• Buy Local
• Homegrown By Heroes

Products and services

• Kentucky Proud
• Farm to School Program connecting Kentucky schools with local farmers to provide fresh, local agricultural products for school meals, including the Farm to School Stars Recognition program and Junior Chef culinary competition for middle and high school students.
• Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation (KAFC) Loan Programs Agricultural lending entity offering multiple loan programs including Agricultural Infrastructure Loan Program, Beginning Farmer Loan Program, Large Animal Veterinary Loan Program, and others to support beginning farmers, infrastructure improvements, horticulture, and large animal veterinary services across Kentucky.
• Hemp Licensing Program Industrial hemp licensing and regulatory program for growers and processor/handlers, including grower applications, processor applications, and compliance oversight under Kentucky law.
• Specialty Crop Block Grant Program USDA-funded grant program supporting specialty crop growers through funding for sustainable cultivation, research, food security initiatives, and crop disease resistance projects in Kentucky.
• Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Federal food distribution program helping Kentucky food pantries, soup kitchens, and households access nutritious food through the emergency food system, supported by USDA grants for infrastructure and mobile pantry vehicles.
• Produce Safety Program Food safety program helping produce growers comply with federal FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements through training and compliance support.
• Organic Certification Program Program helping producers transition to organic agriculture through organic system plans, certification applications, and transition support.
• Raising Hope Farm safety, health, and rescue program offering free health screenings, safety demonstrations, and resources to Kentucky farmers and their families through the Division of Farm Safety and Rural Health.
• International Trade Program Program helping Kentucky agricultural exporters access international markets through certificates of free sale, market research, networking opportunities, and cost-share programs.
• Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund (KADF) State agricultural development funding program administered through county agricultural development councils, supporting agricultural projects and initiatives across Kentucky.
• Farm to Fork A Kentucky Proud initiative that connects restaurants with local farmers to feature Kentucky-grown ingredients on their menus through exclusive dining events and foodservice partnerships.
• Homegrown By Heroes Marketing program that helps military veteran farmers and ranchers brand and promote their agricultural products, developed in partnership with the Farmer Veteran Coalition.
• Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program USDA-funded program supporting infrastructure and equipment grants for local food processing, aggregation, and distribution systems in Kentucky.
• Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Program providing low-income seniors aged 60 and older with vouchers to purchase fresh produce from authorized farmers' markets and roadside stands.
• Chefs in Schools Program placing professional chefs in Kentucky schools to prepare healthy, locally sourced meals and provide nutrition education to students.
• Buy Local Program helping wholesale buyers source local Kentucky agricultural products by connecting them with local farmers and producers for institutional and commercial purchasing.
• Agritourism Program Program providing resources and liability guidance for Kentucky farms opening to visitors for farm tours, u-pick operations, farm stays, and special events.
• Mobile Science Activity Center Mobile educational unit that travels to Kentucky schools to teach students about agriculture, food production, and related science topics.
• Junior Chef Competition Annual culinary competition for Kentucky middle and high school students promoting cooking skills, local food awareness, and agricultural education.
• Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Certification Voluntary audit program verifying agricultural production practices for produce safety and quality assurance for Kentucky produce growers.
• Animal Health Online Permitting System Online permitting system for managing animal health permits, livestock movement, and disease prevention compliance in Kentucky.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 1.9 million meals served through Appalachian Regional Healthcare's Food Is Medicine program in one fiscal year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026ARH was highlighted as a national best-practice model for Food Is Medicine innovation during the launch of the Florida Food Is Health Institutional Procurement Initiative. ARH co-led a national roundtable with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and CMS Administrator, serving nearly 1.9 million meals through food insecurity screening and medically tailored meals.
• Kentucky Agricultural Development BoardcoreOthersThe Kentucky Agricultural Development Board oversees the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and makes funding decisions for agricultural programs across the state.
• County Agricultural Development CouncilscoreOthersLocal councils in each Kentucky county that administer agricultural development funds and prioritize local agricultural needs.
• Farmer Veteran CoalitionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to extend the Homegrown By Heroes program through 2021, supporting military veteran farmers with marketing assistance.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ohio Department of Agriculture: Peer state agriculture department with analogous regulatory, marketing, and consumer protection responsibilities in a neighboring region.
• Indiana State Department of Agriculture: Midwestern state agriculture department offering similar economic development, marketing, and regulatory functions.
• Texas Department of Agriculture: Other state's department of agriculture performing the same combination of regulatory, marketing, financing, and consumer protection functions as KDA; structurally identical peer.
• Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: State department administering comparable specialty crop grants, consumer protection, animal health, and ag marketing programs.
• California Department of Food and Agriculture: State agriculture department administering similar specialty crop block grants, marketing programs, and farm-to-school initiatives, but at significantly larger scale.
• Tennessee Department of Agriculture: Adjacent-state department of agriculture with comparable program mix including ag development fund, marketing programs, and farmer support services.
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: State agriculture department with equivalent regulatory and marketing program portfolio; recently launched a parallel Food Is Health Institutional Procurement Initiative (related to KDA's Food Is Medicine work).

Others

• Appalachian Regional Commission: Federal-state economic development partner funding overlapping Appalachian Kentucky initiatives including the Food Is Medicine work; enabling/adjacent peer.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): Federal-level counterpart that funds KDA's specialty crop, farm-to-school, and emergency food programs; relevant as upstream funder and policy setter.

Emerging players

• Farm Credit Mid-America: Major agricultural lender operating in Kentucky; comparable to KAFC's loan programs as a competing/parallel source of farm financing capital.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/embed/glM1hFj1Qx8
• Xx.com/kentuckyag
• Facebookfacebook.com/kentuckyag
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agriculture-kentucky-department-of

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments5 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kentucky Department of Agriculture