Hort Culture

46:51

Markets, Milk, and Lettuce Growing with Gabe Cassone

Hort Culture ·

2026/10/04

In this episode of Hort Culture, Brett, Alexis, and Ray are joined by guest Gabe Cassone, agricultural economist at the University of Kentucky's Center for Crop Diversification (CCD), to dive into the numbers behind growing and selling local produce and dairy.Tune in as we break down everything from digital farmers market price reporting and USDA shipping point data to the surprising price differences between urban and rural markets. We also explore the future of the dairy industry, unique

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35:26

State Fair Showstoppers

Hort Culture ·

2026/09/27

In this episode hosts Ray, Alexis, and Brett discuss the enduring appeal and sheer spectacle of state fair giant produce competitions. They explore the mix of agricultural science, elite genetics, and environmental conditions—such as Alaska's long daylight hours and cool nights—that drive these extreme growths. The hosts highlight notable Kentucky records, including a state-record 1,882.4-pound pumpkin from Grayson County, a 245.7-pound watermelon, and a 95-inch sunflower. They also marvel at

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58:12

Building Local Food Networks with Brandi Button Johnson

Hort Culture ·

2026/09/20

In this episode of Hort Culture, hosts Alexis, Ray, Brett, and Jessica sit down with Brandi Button Johnson, the Western Kentucky Value Chain Coordinator at The Food Connection (University of Kentucky).The conversation kicks off with a humorous and comforting debate over favorite bean recipes, local comfort foods, and nostalgic kitchen memories. From there, Brandi shares her inspiring journey from growing up on a Barren County tobacco farm and directing a grassroots nonprofit to stepping into her

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56:10

Navigating the FSA: Unlocking Support for Kentucky...

Hort Culture ·

2026/09/13

Thinking government programs are only for large-scale corn and soybean farmers? Think again! In this episode, we sit down with David Wayne, the State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) for Kentucky, to bust the myth that federal agricultural programs leave out specialty crop and horticulture producers.From navigating the essential first step of getting a farm number and filing your annual crop reports (Form 578), to leveraging low-interest Farm Storage Facility Loans (FSFL) for

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59:32

Sowing Success: The Realities of Transitioning from...

Hort Culture ·

2026/09/06

Thinking about turning that awkward patch of lawn or open field into a native wildflower meadow? You aren’t alone. In this episode, the team breaks down everything you need to know about transitioning away from turfgrass and building a successful, biodiverse pollinator habitat.From navigating the crucial first steps of site prep to choosing the right seed mixes and managing your expectations for years one through three, we cover the real-world grit it takes to get that magazine-worthy meadow.Episode

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46:43

Winter Is Coming: Get Your Garden Ready

Hort Culture ·

2026/08/30

Winter may still feel a long way off, but the first frost will arrive before we know it! In this episode of Hort Culture, Alexis, Jessica, and Brett discuss preparing gardens, houseplants, equipment, and supplies for the coming cold weather. From bringing houseplants indoors and protecting tender crops to storing bulbs and tubers, managing hoses and irrigation equipment, and organizing frost-protection supplies, the team shares practical tips to help gardeners get ahead. As always, the conversation

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38:35

From Field to Fork: Eliana's Summer Fellowship

Hort Culture ·

2026/08/22

In this episode of Hort Culture, the hosts are joined by Savannah and summer fellow Eliana from the University of Kentucky’s Center for Crop Distribution (CCD) to discuss Eliana's research on farm-to-table markets and local agriculture. Throughout the summer, Eliana worked on price reporting, managed data for produce auctions and farmers' markets, and collaborated on updating a restaurant publication by interviewing local Kentucky growers and restaurant owners. The discussions revealed that

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51:39

Crop Insurance, Risk Management & the Growers Who...

Hort Culture ·

2026/08/16

What does crop insurance look like for specialty crop growers, micro farms, and small-scale producers? In this episode of Hort Culture, the team welcomes Eston Williams, Navigator Project Specialist with the Southern Risk Management Education Center at the University of Arkansas, for a conversation about an often-overlooked side of horticulture: managing risk.Eston shares stories from his upbringing on a Tennessee farm, his decades of work with USDA and NRCS, and his current role helping growers

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48:33

Cyclospora, Summer Surprises, and Safe Produce with...

Hort Culture ·

2026/08/09

On this episode of Hort Culture, Ray, Alexis, Jessica, and Brett chat with Bryan Brady, Senior Extension Associate for Cultivate Kentucky, about everything from summertime Kentucky heat to the less-than-glamorous world of food safety and produce outbreaks. They dive deep into the biology of resilient microscopic parasites like Cyclospora, why standard wash water sanitizers can accidentally spread trouble across large batches of shredded lettuce, and how the lengthy incubation period makes these

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43:55

The Future of Controlled Environment Ag with Dr....

Hort Culture ·

2026/08/02

In this episode of the Hort Culture podcast, hosts Alexis, Brett, Jessica, and Ray chat with Dr. Qinglu Ying from the University of Kentucky all about controlled environment agriculture (CEA). They dive into how greenhouse growing is booming across Kentucky, share a few laughs about dealing with classic Kentucky humidity, and break down practical grower challenges. The crew also explores the shift toward sustainable soilless media like wood bark and fiber, plus how cutting-edge LED lighting can

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49:54

Dr. Greg on Plants

Hort Culture ·

2026/07/21

We are joined by Dr. Greg Davis to talk about how plants affect our daily lives and health. Greg is a long time listener and radio show host of Dr. Greg on Medicine!Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@gmail.comCheck us out on Instagram!

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41:49

The Heat Is On: Tips for Thriving Summer Gardens

Hort Culture ·

2026/07/12

Summer gardens are in full production, but extreme heat and changing weather patterns can create challenges for even the most experienced gardeners. In this episode of Hort Culture, Ray and Jessica discuss what they're seeing across Kentucky gardens as temperatures climb and crops begin producing.The conversation covers how prolonged heat affects common garden vegetables, including tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, green beans, berries, melons, and pumpkins. They explain common heat-related issues such

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48:18

Living the Grant Life

Hort Culture ·

2026/07/10

Join Brett and Alexis to hear about how the CCD thinks about grant opportunities and their recent SERME project and its potential impacts for farmers of KY.Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

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43:16

Helping Growers Grow

Hort Culture ·

2026/06/28

In this episode of Hort Culture, Brett and Ray are joined by Dr. Cindy Finneseth from the University of Kentucky to discuss community horticulture, urban agriculture, and supporting new growers across Kentucky. Dr. Finneseth shares how her role focuses on helping beginning and small-scale producers navigate production, marketing, and business planning while connecting them with Extension resources. The conversation highlights the diversity of Kentucky horticulture, the growth of urban and

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51:43

Practical Botany Vocabulary Everyone Should Know

Hort Culture ·

2026/06/21

In this episode of Hort Culture, the hosts dive into practical botany vocabulary that gardeners, plant enthusiasts, and curious learners can use to better understand the plants around them. Through a lively and humorous discussion, they explain key botanical terms such as petiole, midrib, leaf margin, simple versus compound leaves, deciduous plants, allelopathy, monoecious and dioecious reproduction, grafting terminology, vivipary, and plant nodes. Along the way, they connect these concepts to

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56:08

Scout's Honor: Mid-Season Monitoring for Better Harvests

Hort Culture ·

2026/06/14

Join the Hort Culture crew as they dive into the importance of mid-season scouting and monitoring for gardeners and growers as summer production ramps up. Blending their usual humor with practical advice, they discuss how regularly observing plants can help identify issues with insects, diseases, water management, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental stress before they become major problems. The conversation covers scouting techniques such as checking both the tops and undersides of leaves,

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44:19

Connecting People, Forests, and Knowledge

Hort Culture ·

2026/06/04

In this episode of Hort Culture, the hosts sit down with Dr. Eli Sagor, Extension Forestry Specialist and Program Leader for Natural Resources at the University of Minnesota, to discuss forestry, forest management, and the evolving role of Extension education. Dr. Sagor shares how he works with forestry professionals across Minnesota to address real-world challenges through collaborative learning and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange. The conversation explores the impacts of climate change on forest

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47:32

Hort Culture Goes Wild: Nature Danger Edition

Hort Culture ·

2026/05/31

In this entertaining and informative episode of Hort Culture Podcast, Alexis and Jessica explore “Nature Danger,” discussing the poisonous plants, venomous insects, spiders, ticks, and other outdoor hazards commonly encountered during Kentucky’s warmer months. Blending humor, personal stories, and practical advice, the hosts explain the difference between poisonous and venomous organisms while covering topics like poison ivy, dangerous mushrooms, stinging caterpillars, wasps, black widows, brown

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45:33

Growing Appalachia: Building Farms & Community

Hort Culture ·

2026/05/24

In this episode of Hort Culture, the hosts chat with Kayla Preston from Grow Appalachia about the growth of high tunnels and sustainable farming in Appalachia. Kayla shares how Grow Appalachia evolved from a community gardening program into a major resource for farmers through education, technical assistance, and conservation support.The conversation explores the early days of building high tunnels in Eastern Kentucky, the challenges growers face with season extension, soil health, and tunnel

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50:18

The Imposter Syndrome Episode

Hort Culture ·

2026/05/17

In this episode of Hort Culture, the crew dives into the surprisingly emotional side of farming and horticulture: imposter syndrome. What starts as a conversation about finally getting much-needed rain turns into a thoughtful discussion about identity, experience, and the pressure growers place on themselves. From first-generation farmers to seasoned producers, the hosts explore why so many people in agriculture feel like they’re “not real farmers” — even while doing the work every day.Along the

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