Center for Crop Diversification

10/21/2026

As the peak growing season is winding down, it’s a good time to take a fresh look at your e-newsletter performance. One of the first numbers many farms check is their email open rate, but what does a “good” open rate actually look like, and how can you improve your engagement? Swipe to read a couple of tips, or explore the full article online 👉 https://ccd.uky.edu/news/what-your-e-newsletter-open-rate-can-tell-you-fall

10/19/2026

⭐ NEXT WEEK ⭐

Cover Your Assets! Spots are filling up 👉 register today!

What happens to your farm records when you need to document a crop loss, apply for disaster assistance, or work with your insurance provider?

Join us on October 28 for Cover Your Assets: Farm Records That Work for You.

Date & Time: October 28 | 6-7 PM EST
Location: The Kentucky Flower Market
Cost: Free, but registration is required.
Register here 👉 https://ccd.uky.edu/events/cover-your-assets

10/16/2026

Drain irrigation equipment ✅
Sow cover crop ✅
Debrief session❓

In the midst of your end-of-season work, are you setting aside time to reflect on what worked (and what didn't)? Read more about how to have an effective debrief session, and get help if you need it: https://ccd.uky.edu/news/why-debrief-should-be-on-every-farmers-end-season-checklist

📸: UK College of Agriculture, Food & Environment

10/16/2026

Our October Newsletter dropped today! Read it in your email inbox, swipe to see the highlights, or read it online here 👉 https://mailchi.mp/uky/october-newsletter-20261015

10/14/2026

Good farm records are a tool for making informed business decisions and protecting your farm when unexpected events occur. Join us for Cover Your Assets: Farm Records That Work for You, an educational session designed for specialty crop growers and producers.

Participants will learn practical approaches to maintaining accurate, manageable farm records, including crop planning, crop rotations, crop reporting, and risk management. We’ll also explore how well-maintained records can support applications for disaster assistance and farm insurance claims, helping growers document their farm activities, production, and losses when it matters most.

Date & Time: October 28 | 6-7 PM EST
Location: The Kentucky Flower Market
Cost: Free, but registration is required.
Register here 👉 https://ccd.uky.edu/events/cover-your-assets

10/14/2026

Last week, Gabe joined Hort Culture Podcast hosts Brett, Alexis, and Ray to discuss markets, milk, and lettuce growing! Over the past year, Gabe has worked on digitizing our weekly farmers market price reporting and coming up with new ways to visualize + compare price points by market for selected crops. In the episode, Gabe also explores the future of the dairy industry with unique value-added consumer trends and his personal backyard vertical hydroponic lettuce experiment.

Check out this episode wherever you get your ears full 🎧

10/12/2026

NRCS program deadlines approaching 📆 For producers who have active Conservation Stewardship Program contracts, or who recently applied for EQIP, CSP, or RCPP, here is what you need to know: https://ccd.uky.edu/news/nrcs-program-deadlines

10/09/2026

💫 Shining star alert!!!

Savannah L. Columbia won the Dr. Lisa Collins Outstanding Staff award from the MG-CAFE today!! We are so proud of the work Sav does every day to support farmers and agents across Kentucky, and beyond.

Please drop her a congratulations in the comments! 😍😍

10/09/2026

If you are a CSA farmer, the CSA Innovation Network is a name you should know! The network helps growers learn from each other through webinars, toolkits, and idea-sharing spaces. Check out some of the exciting innovations happening in the CSA world around the topic of food access 👇
https://ccd.uky.edu/news/what-can-csa-innovation-network-do-your-farm

10/08/2026

The Vegetable Extension team has been doing some pumpkin cultivar research this year. Check out what varieties they trialed in our recent news article!

Pumpkins are a warm-season vining crop that come in an amazing variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. While most pumpkins take about 80–120 days to reach harvest, the actual time to maturity depends on the specific cultivar as well as temperature and weather conditions. Each cultivar has its own ch...