Frederick County

Each year, the University of Maryland Extension agriculture programs from across the state organize educational sessions related to agronomy and fruit, vegetable and forage production for growers and other agriculture professionals to benefit the community. These sessions help our farmers and agriculture community keep current with up-to-date information about timely agriculture-related topics. 2025 pest management review and a look ahead to 2026, pesticide regulation and nutrient management updates from MDA, the latest agronomic research updates, planning for the farm's next generation, wheat management, and an update on new technologies. Nutrient management certification credits, private applicator pesticide credits will be available.

The meeting will be held on January 21, 2026 at the Hereford Fire Hall- Summit Manor at 510 Monkton Rd., Monkton, MD 21111. Numerous commercial displays and representatives will be there to discuss new products and plans for the upcoming year.

This meeting serves as Recertification for Maryland private pesticide applicators and offers recertification credits for Pennsylvania recertification. Also, producers can attend specific presentations to renew their Maryland nutrient applicator’s voucher.

The doors will open at 7:30 a.m. to visit commercial exhibits and refreshments. The presentations begin at 8:25 am and will end with lunch at noon.
Cost of the event is $25.00 if you pre-register. The meeting location is conveniently located about 1 mile east of I-83 via Mt. Carmel Rd. and right onto York Rd.
You can get more information, or if you need special accommodations, please call the Baltimore County Office of the University of Maryland Extension at our phone number 410-887-8090.

Event:  Central Maryland Forage Conference
Date: January 22, 2026  |   Thursday
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  |  Cost:  Early bird Admission: $25; Early bird Admission & MDFC Membership: $45; After January 12, 2026 - Regular Admission: $30; Regular Admission & MDFC Membership: $50
Location: Mt. Airy Fire Company Activities Grounds, 1008 Twin Arch Road, Mount Airy, MD 21771
Description: Topics include native warm-season grasses and more to be announced. Doors open at 8:30 am, with the meeting starting at 9 am. Morning refreshments and lunch are included. Nutrient management and pesticide applicator credits will be offered. Registration is required, with early bird pricing available through January 12th. Discounted Maryland-Delaware Forage Council membership is available with the purchase of a ticket. If you would like to pay by check or cash, please call the UME-Frederick Office at 301-600-3576. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. If you have questions or need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact us at 301-600-3576.
For more information or to register, contact Nathan Glenn at (410) 313-2704 (nglenn@umd.edu), Kelly Nichols at (301) 226-7954 (kellyn@umd.edu), and Amanda Grev at (301) 226-7575 (agrev@umd.edu)
Registration: http://go.umd.edu/cmdforage

Event:  Western Maryland Forage Conference
Date: January 21, 2026  |   Wednesday
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  |  Cost:  Early bird Admission: $25; Early bird Admission & MDFC Membership: $45; After January 12, 2026 - Regular Admission: $30; Regular Admission & MDFC Membership: $50
Location: Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department, 178 Springs Road, Grantsville, MD 21536
Description: Topics include native warm-season grasses and more to be announced. Doors open at 8:30 am, with the meeting starting at 9 am. Morning refreshments and lunch are included. Nutrient management and pesticide applicator credits will be offered. Registration is required, with early bird pricing available through January 12th. Discounted Maryland-Delaware Forage Council membership is available with the purchase of a ticket. If you would like to pay by check or cash, please call the UME-Garrett County Office at 301-334-6960. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. If you have questions or need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact us at 301-334-6960.
For more information or to register, contact Willie Lantz (301) 334-6960 (wlantz@umed.edu), or Amanda Grev at (301) 226-7575 (agrev@umd.edu)
Registration: http://go.umd.edu/wmdforage

The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC), University of Maryland Extension, and the Ag Law Education Initiative will host three one-day workshops on Jan. 13th in Mountain Lake Park, Jan. 27th at the Central MD Research and Education Center, and Feb. 11 at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center, in the English Room. The Farm Succession and Estate Planning workshops will be from 10 am to 2:30 pm.

The free program will assist Maryland farm families in starting the estate planning process, including creating a successful succession plan, having difficult conversations, and health insurance options for farmers. A grant funds the program through the Northeast Risk Management Education Center.

The workshop will feature Dr. Jesse Ketterman, Senior Agent, Dr. Alex Chan, Senior Agent, and a Farm Succession Coordinator, and Paul Goeringer, a Principal Faculty Specialist and Extension Specialist in agricultural law.

“Farm families often want to plan for the future but don’t always know where to start,” said Paul Goeringer. “These workshops give Maryland landowners the tools, confidence, and practical guidance they need to begin building a succession plan that protects both their operations and their families for generations to come.”
Lunch is provided with the workshops. Each workshop will begin at 9:45 am with a check-in, and the workshops will run from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. The dates and locations are:

January 13, Garrett County University of Maryland Extension Office, 1916 MD-135, Mountain Lake Park, MD 21550.

January 27, Central Maryland Research and Education Center, 4240 Folly Quarter Road, Bldg 671, Ellicott City, MD 21042, and

February 11, Eastern Shore Hospital Center, English Room, 5262 Woods Rd, Cambridge, MD 21613.

Participants will receive copies of Extension fact sheets and other valuable documents as a part of the workshop series.

Topics include:
Scouting/Field Assessment Technology
Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture
Pest Management
Animal Waste Technology
Irrigation & Drainage
Livestock Management

Wondering when to start thawing your turkey, how long leftovers are safe to eat, or how to bake safely for a crowd? Food safety experts will include  Dr. Shauna Henley of the University of Maryland, and Dr. Julie Garden-Robinson of North Dakota State University. Ask your toughest culinary questions so you can cook with confidence!

If you need both nutrient voucher and pesticide credits, come for the full 3 hours (6:00-9:00pm). If you only need nutrient voucher credits, come at 6:00pm and leave at 8:00pm. If you only need private pesticide applicator recertification credits, come at 7:00pm and leave at 9:00pm.

Join us as we celebrate the incredible diversity of insects through fun, hands-on learning for all ages. Whether you are fascinated by bugs or just a little curious, this event is designed to be welcoming and inclusive for everyone. We recognize that people have a wide range of experiences and comfort levels with insects—and that is okay! Our goal is to help you explore your personal connection with these animals and leave with a new appreciation for the vital role they play in our world.

This free, family-friendly event will take place indoors and outdoors at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center in Columbia, MD. The event will feature the University of Maryland Insect Zoo, insect crafts and hands-on activities, educational displays, and local environmental education groups including the University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener Program, the Community Ecology Institute, and more!

Please note this workshop is available in two separate locations from 9:00 am -1:30 pm:

August 21, 2025-- Harford County Extension Office in Street, MD
August 26, 2025- Charles County Soil Conservation Office in Waldorf, MD

Please indicate on the registration form which day you will be attending and if you have any dietary restrictions or special assistance is needed.

For more information, please contact Andy Kness at akness@umd.edu or Erika Crowl at ecrowl@umd.edu