Join University of Maryland Extension Educator, Jennifer Dixon Cravens, for an insightful discussion on the power of seasonal foods and what to eat to help prevent and manage chronic illnesses. Learn how simple dietary changes can have a big impact on your health. Whether you're a foodie or a health enthusiast, this event is perfect for anyone looking to boost their well-being through the foods they eat. Don't miss out! 

Western Maryland Regional Fruit Meeting 

Keedysville, MD – The University of Maryland's Western Maryland Research and Education Center is excited to announce the annual Western Maryland Regional Fruit Meeting, scheduled for Thursday, February 12, 2026. This valuable event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756. 

Join us for a comprehensive day dedicated to the commercial fruit industry. This meeting provides commercial fruit growers with the latest updates in pesticide and nutrient management, regulatory changes, and recent research. Sessions are led by industry experts and University of Maryland Extension specialists, offering practical guidance and new insights to support successful fruit production. Attending this meeting counts toward recertification for continuing education credits (CEUs) for individuals holding a current and valid license in Maryland and West Virginia for Pesticide Recertification Training and Maryland Nutrient Management Voucher. 

The cost to attend the workshop is $40* before February 5, 2026, and $45* thereafter. Your registration fee includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and educational handouts. Don’t miss the opportunity to expand your knowledge and connect with fellow industry professionals. For more information and to register, please visit https://go.umd.edu/WMFM 

*There is an additional processing fee from Eventbrite to pay by credit card.

MAIL-IN REGISTRATION: Downloadable PDF Fruit Meeting registration form

Agenda (subject to change)

MORNING SESSION

• 8:30 a.m. - Registration & Continental Breakfast
• 9:00 a.m. - Introductions & Program Overview
  Dr. Joseph Fiola, Specialist in Viticulture and Small Fruit, UME, WMREC, Keedysville, MD.
• 9:10 a.m. - Nutrient Management Update & Recertification
  Bryan Harris, Implementation Coordinator, NMP, MDA, Annapolis, MD
• 9:40 a.m. - Pesticide Regulatory Update & Recertification 
  Rob Hofstetter, Program Manager, Pesticide Regulation Section, MDA, Annapolis, MD
• 10:10 a.m. - Break & Visit Displays
• 10:30 a.m. - Connecting the Dots Between Winter Injury and Rapid Apple Decline
  Dr. Lisa Tang, Research Horticulturist, USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV
• 10:55 a.m. -  From Lab to Field: Understand Root Architecture in Drought Responses of Apple Rootstocks 
  Dr. Brett Shelly, Horticulturist, USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV
• 11:20 p.m. - Orchard and Nursery Trials with Our Patented Maryland Apple Trees - Speeding Up the Process
  Dr. Chris Walsh, Emeritus Professor, Horticulture, PSLA, UMD
• 12:00 p.m. - Lunch & Visit Displays

AFTERNOON SESSION

• 1:00 p.m. - Maryland State Horticultural Society (MSHS) & Maryland Apple Promotion Board Update
  Chuck Schuster, MSHS Executive Director; Bill Gardenhour, Apple Promotion Board Update, Gardenhour Orchards, Smithsburg, MD
• 1:15 p.m. - Strawberry Neopestalotiopsis and its Impact in Mid-Atlantic Strawberry Fields 
  Dr. Mengjun Hu, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology or Samantha Ann Hasselhoff, Research Graduate Assistant, Plant Pathology, PSLA, UMD
• 1:40 p.m.-  The Effect of Fumigants on the Inoculum of Strawberry Neopestalotiopsis Species 
  Dr. Galvin Alonzo Ortiz, Post-Doctoral Candidate, Plant Pathology, PSLA, UMD
• 2:10 p.m. -  Strategies for Managing Pome Fruit Rots 
  Dr. Tami Collum, Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV
• 2:35 p.m. - Break
  2:55 p.m. - Slug and SWD Management Reminders
  Dr. Kelly Hamby, Associate Professor/Extension Specialist, Department of Entomology, UMD
• 3:25 p.m. - Updates on Plum Curculio and Lepidopteran Decision Support Tools and Management Tactics
  Brian Ruether, Research Scientist and Tracy Leskey, Director/Research Leader, Entomology USDA
• 3:55 p.m. - Discussion Questions, Comments, Pesticide and Nutrient Management Recertification, Program Evaluation, and Adjourn
   

This 10-week course will be offered in an online format.

The class will meet on Tuesday evenings, from 7 to 8:30 pm, from February 10 through April 14, 2026 online.

Students will complete at-your-own pace homework on the course website on campus.extension.org

Topics covered will include business planning, marketing, crop production, livestock husbandry, soil health, integrated pest management, food safety, regulations and certifications, acquiring land and zoning, specialty crops, organic production, and urban agriculture.

More detail about what will be covered can be found in the course syllabus: https://bit.ly/45M4bHj

Course registration is $60 plus eventbrite fees. Two people from the same farm/family may attend the course under one registration.

Learn more and register here: https://go.umd.edu/BFSC2026

Come listen to extension educators and specialists from UMD, UMES, MDA, and UDel speak about their research and upcoming regulations.

Topics include:
- Weed Management Update
- Biodegradable Plastic Mulch
- Maryland Workers' Compensation Laws
- Micronutrients for vegetable crops
- Vegetable Variety Trials
- MDA Nutrient Management and Pesticide Regulation Updates

Your most powerful tool for managing chronic disease and protecting your heart is on your plate. "Nutrition Plus" is a practical class designed to empower you with specific, actionable food strategies that work. Move from confusion to confidence as we translate nutritional science into everyday choices. 

The University of Maryland Extension, Harford County Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Jennifer Dixon Cravens, will be hosting a free online class on communicating with your healthcare provider. Our class will equip you with the practical tools and confidence to have more productive appointments. Learn how to prepare for visits, ask the right questions, understand medical information, and collaborate effectively with your care team. Become an active partner in your own health.

The Global Community of Practice (CoP) is creating a space for faculty, staff, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students to collaborate, learn, access resources, and advance the goals of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) through increased international engagement.

The University of Maryland Extension, the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, and the Agriculture Law Education Initiative will host a free workshop, “Understanding Eminent Domain,” on Monday, February 17, at 6:00 p.m. at Garrett College in McHenry, Maryland. The workshop is designed to help landowners better understand how eminent domain and utility easements may affect their property, particularly in relation to proposed electric transmission lines.
The workshop will take place in Room 111 of the GIEC Building, located at 687 Mosser Road, McHenry, MD 21541. There is no cost to attend, but registration is encouraged by February 13.

This educational program will explain how eminent domain works, what landowners can expect during utility easement negotiations, and the options available to protect landowner rights and pursue fair compensation. The session is intended for landowners, farmers, and community members who want to be informed and prepared when facing potential infrastructure projects affecting private property.

“Landowners often have questions and concerns when approached about easements or potential transmission projects,” said Paul Goeringer, Principal Faculty Specialist and Extension Specialist in agricultural law with the University of Maryland. “This workshop provides practical, plain-language information to help landowners understand the process and make informed decisions.”

Participants can register online at https://go.umd.edu/TLWorkshop. For additional information, interested individuals may call (301) 334-6960.

Join us for conversations that explore stewardship and regenerative agriculture practices, as well as environmental legal frameworks informed by Traditional Knowledge. With growing interest in blending ancient technologies with modern science, this series invites us to explore how these ways of knowing can work together—while honoring and giving credit to the Indigenous communities who have shaped and sustained them.

Learn what spring ephemerals (native and non-native) are, and how they are important early season sources of nectar and pollen for native insects. The Master Gardeners will also demonstrate techniques for seed starting over the winter and early spring that are adaptable to home and balcony gardens. Each person attending must register prior to the program.