The Center for Crop Diversification’s monthly newsletter has been distributed to growers, extension agents and agricultural agency personnel since the fall of 2013. Most of the 1,700 subscribers receive an email notification when each newsletter is posted on the CCD website, with 39 subscribers receiving a hard copy in the mail. In the fall of 2019, the CCD conducted a survey of growers, extension agents and associates, and agency personnel who work with growers. The survey found that 127 of 199 respondents subscribed to the newsletter, and 150 of 199 respondents had read the newsletter. Of the 150 respondents who had read the newsletter, 95 percent rated it as excellent or good. The survey offered respondents an opportunity to give feedback on CCD resources. Comments about the newsletter included:

“I think the information provided in the newsletter is wonderful.”

“Newsletter is first class. Thank you for your hard work on getting (it) together every month.”

“The newsletter is an excellent source of information.”

“I like the list of upcoming conferences and workshops on the front of the newsletter. It gets right to the point and is easy to find if I need to refer to it after my initial reading of the newsletter.”

“I think your newsletter is excellent. It always has new (to me) information and the writing is engaging.”

“The newsletter is very good and useful.”

Starting in March of 2020, the CCD newsletter offered its readers extensive information on resources, including a variety of upcoming webinars, to help growers deal with the challenges of COVID-19. The newsletter also featured links to recordings of webinars on topics related to COVID-19, as well as print and electronic resources available from the CCD, the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, the Kentucky Horticulture Council, the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development, and other organizations in Kentucky and elsewhere to help growers find answers to their questions about marketing their products during the pandemic.