County Agricultural Development Councils:
Conducting a County Asset Inventory

All of the following data could be assembled with rankings relative to surrounding counties or in comparison to state wide averages. A historical series for many of the above measures could be assembled to show trends.

Community Assets

	Asset	(Data Source)
a)	List of local agricultural and social organizations who maintain mailing lists. Useful for sharing information or generating support by way of newsletters.
b)	Comprehensive listing of all businesses in the area. Logical way to include all stakeholders in the development process.	(Chamber of Commerce)
c)	Number of radio stations. Inexpensive communication link to connect people.	(Federal Communication Commission)
d)	Number of television stations and homes with cable television access. Communication link by way of local programming.	(Local Provider)
e)	Miles of fiber optic cable. Modern method of audio, video and data transfer, recruiting tool.
f)	Clearinghouse for people who volunteer or request assistance, i.e. SCORE. Structured way to coordinate people with skills to offer.
g)	Management Skills (Leadership, Entrepreneurship) Ability to plan, supervise and install structure, prepare loan or grant applications, and write business plans.	(Farm Organizations)
h)	Career planning resources. Efficient means of helping citizens achieve satisfactory employment with highest possible income.
i)	Professional/Leadership development programs. Method of developing and nurturing human capital.	(Library or Unemployment Office)
j)	Public meeting space. Facilitate people sharing thoughts, experience, knowledge, and data.	(Utility companies, cooperatives, libraries, schools)
k)	List of all Federal, State and County offices Access to all existing resources provided by government. Utilize people/programs already in place rather than duplicate available offices and personnel.	(Phone Book)
l)	Work transition programs. Organized effort to introduce people to new opportunities and possible career choices.	(Work Force Development Cabinet)

Census Data

	Census Data	(Data Source)
a)	Average number of acres per farm Measure of size that may/may not lead to economies of scale.	(USDA Census)
b)	Number of farms. Indicator of potential magnitude of impact, relevant to critical mass for adopting strategies that require a high number of participants to be successful.	(USDA Census)
c)	Acres of each crop produced. Useful when considering substitution potential, availability of sufficient quantities to support processing plants or some method of adding value to raw production.	(KY Ag Stats. Service)
d)	Number of each kind of livestock produced. Useful when considering substitution potential, availability of sufficient quantities to support processing plants or some method of adding value to raw production.	(KY Ag Stats. Service)
e)	Number of part time farmers. Diversity of household income, risk bearing ability
f)	Number of full time farmers.
g)	Average age of farmers. Experience level, may indicate inclination to adopt new practices, ideas

General Economic Data

	Economic Data	(Data Source)
a)	Prevailing interest rates. Necessary to determine cost of operations and debt service requirements.
b)	Number of lenders. May indicate lender's willingness to vigorously compete for business	(Chamber of Commerce)
c)	Number of agribusinesses. Providers of raw material or possible retail outlets for finished products	(Chamber of Commerce)
d)	Unemployment rate. Work force available for new employers to utilize	(KY By the Numbers)
e)	Average education level. Indicates adaptability, suitability to perform tasks in information based economy vs. manufacturing based economy, quality of labor force
f)	Household Income Measure that allows a county to compare economic well being with similar counties.	(KY By the Numbers)
g)	Cash receipts for primary commodities Knowledge of income source may lead to better understanding of comparative advantages and disadvantages.	(KY Ag Stats. Service)

Infrastructure & Natural Resources

	Economic Data	(Data Source)
a)	Transportation --Railroads, Highways, Bridges Determine least cost method of moving raw materials or finished products in/out of county.	(County Maintenance Barn)
b)	Water Determine ability to supply new users, address quality issues.	(Local Provider)
c)	Energy --Gas, Electricity, etc. Identify advantages/disadvantages for production.	(Local Providers)
d)	Soils/Minerals/Forestry Suitable uses, tax base implications.	(Soil Conservation Survey)
e)	Retailers/Grocers/Restaurants/Tourism outlets. Potential retail market outlets for value added products.	(Chamber of Commerce)
f)	Roadside Markets/Vegetable Coops/Farmer's Markets Potential retail market outlets for value added products.	(Chamber of Commerce)
g)	Institutional Consumers --Jails, Schools, Hospitals Potential retail market outlets for value added products.
h)	Geographic features Determine possibility of unconventional or nontraditional uses for natural resources.	(Soil Conservation Survey)

The County Profile Resource for County Agriculture Development Boards was developed by Stewart Franklin in October 2000. If you have questions about this resource or about the Phase I Tobacco Settlement, you may contact him at safrankl@ca.uky.edu.