News

Recommendations for Starting Disease-Free Vegetable Transplants

Home gardeners and commercial growers likely have placed their seed orders or have last year’s seed saved. Over the next few weeks, many will plant those seeds in order to establish transplants for spring and summer gardens. In some cases, those seeds may germinate, wither, and die (Figure 1). In other cases, plants may establish but become diseased shortly after transplanting.

Seed Starting

The birds are chirping, the bees are buzzing, and daffodils have opened their sunshiny faces. Spring in Kentucky is a magical time, and for our growers it signals the start of seed-starting season and the promise of a summer bounty. Timing Is Everything

CCD Resource Agent Overview/Update

Economic Considerations for 2026

Spring is approaching, and for many that means deciding what to plant. Before you finalize your seed orders or set your booth prices, it’s worth taking a look at what the numbers say about where Kentucky’s farmers market prices have been and where they might be heading. For a more comprehensive look at prices, you can check out our Price Reports section on the website, where all are available for download. 

Keeping Customers Engaged After Valentine’s Day

Retaining customers after Valentine’s Day can be a great way to build momentum and engagement for the rest of the year. The goal here is to turn a one-time holiday buyer into a repeat, relationship-based customer. Here are seven ways to stay engaged with your customers after Valentine’s Day: 

Updated ID-36 Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers, 2026-28 Now Available

The Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers (ID-36) has been updated and is now available to download.

Free Christmas Tree Planting Workshop to be Held on February 28

The University of Kentucky, the KY Horticulture Council, and the KY Christmas Tree Association are excited to announce a Christmas Tree Planting Workshop!  

2023-2025 Produce Auction Price & Quantity Averages Now Available

The Three-Year Average Prices & Quantities at Two Selected Kentucky Produce Auctions: 2023-2025 is live on the UK-CCD website! This report compares average volumes and average prices for 10 crops from the two largest Kentucky produce auctions (Fairview and Lincoln C

Winter High Tunnel Survival: Snow, Ice, and Extreme Cold Tips for Growers

Winter weather can be hard on high tunnels, but a little preparation (and vigilance) can go a long way toward protecting both your structures and your crops. Here are some tried-and-true tips for managing snow load and keeping plants alive during extreme cold. Managing Snow and Ice on High Tunnels One of the biggest causes of tunnel collapse is plastic sagging between the purlins. Snow itself isn’t usually the issue—it’s what happens when the plastic stretches and creates low spots where snow and ice can collect.

Should you charge a credit card fee?

I was recently out shopping with my wife, and she mentioned that “a lot of stores are charging credit card fees now.” At first, it sounded like a casual comment, but the more I thought about my own experiences over the past few months, the more I realized she might be right. I had noticed extra fees popping up at checkout more often, especially at smaller shops and restaurants.