Interest in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is rapidly increasing in Kentucky, as it provides an opportunity to grow local, year-round fruits and vegetables. Among all the hydroponic systems, many former tobacco growers already have access to float bed systems, originally used to grow tobacco transplants. These systems are underutilized and present a cost-effective option for producing high-value crops like leafy greens and vegetable transplants. However, there is limited guidance available on adapting float beds for non-tobacco crops, particularly for winter production.

To address this opportunity, we organized a Float Bed Workshop in September 2024, targeting growers and county agents. The workshop included presentations and demonstration of float bed system setup, crop selection, and nutrient management. As part of this effort, a winter demonstration trial was conducted at the UK South Farm, testing six lettuce varieties grown in a float bed system. To extend the reach of the workshop, our team collaborated with CCD and produced a video series documenting the trial setup, production tips, and variety performance. Additionally, an Extension publication is in progress.

The workshop was attended by 15 participants, including current and prospective growers, county agents, and extension associates. The video series reached over 6,000 views on YouTube and other social media platforms. In the spring 2025, Cornett Farm in eastern Kentucky, successfully established float bed lettuce production. The Extension team provided technical support in fertigation calculation and introduced a monitoring tool to manage fertigation. Growers reported improved confidence in production planning and plant growth. The project demonstrates how Extension programming, when aligned with local infrastructure and grower interest, can support crop diversification and resource efficiency in CEA systems.