Howard 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 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!

Eligibility
4-H youth members must:

Have enrolled in Maryland 4-H before July 1, 2025
Be enrolled in the Shooting Sports Smallbore Rifle or Shooting Sports General project

Be recommended by their 4-H Shooting Sports Smallbore Rifle Instructor as proficient enough to participate safely in the contest.
Adult Coaches must be enrolled UME 4-H Volunteers who are currently certified as 4-H Shooting Sports Smallbore Rifle Instructors.

How to Register
Registration for this event is through the 4-H Online State 4-H Rifle Match event. To access the registration:

Log in to your 4-H Online family profile. https://v2.4honline.com
Click on the Events tab on the left sidebar menu.
Click the blue Register button under the event graphic and follow the registration steps.

You can find a step-by-step 4-H Online Event Registration help guide on the Maryland 4-H website. Please feel free to also contact your local 4-H office if you have questions or need help with event registration.

There is no limit to the number of youth or three-person teams that can enter this contest in each age group. The 4-H Educator will designate teams when reviewing and verifying the registrations. Coaches should work with their local 4-H office to determine team membership.

There is a $25.00 entry fee for each 4-H youth participant in this state contest. There is no registration fee for adult volunteer coaches. Families may pay the entry fee by credit card at the time of registration, or county/city 4-H programs may sponsor the fee for their youth participants. Local 4-H programs should instruct youth participants/families on how to pay the registration fee.

Reminder: Each county must supply one target frame per shooter. The frame must meet AGC range specifications described in the attached contest information. Contact Amanda Wahle for more details regarding target frames.

The match will be sponsored again this year by Maryland 4-H, the Civilian Marksmanship Program, and the Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore.

Direct questions about the Match to Amanda Wahle at awahle@umd.edu.

All event registrations must be submitted by September 1, 2025. Registrations will be verified and approved by local 4-H Educators.

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!

Event: Pasture Walk at Porch View Farm
Date: September 9, 2025  |  Tuesday
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  |  Cost: free
Location: Porch View Farm LLC, 2790 Florence Road, Woodbine, MD 21797
Description: Join University of Maryland Extension, NRCS, and Keith Ohlinger for an educational pasture walk at Porch View Farm in Woodbine, MD (Howard county). Porch View Farm is a family farm dedicated to raising heritage breed livestock on a silvopasture system. The farm currently raises Irish Dexter cattle and honey bees but has previously had pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and guineas. Our host, farm owner Keith Ohlinger, will share his experience implementing practices like silvopasture, rotational grazing with mixed species, and using amendments like biochar and compost to build soil health on the farm.
For more information or to register: https://go.umd.edu/pasture-september

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

June 10: Health Insurance Management, build up your skills to better understand, manage, resolve, and avoid health cost conflicts.
June 17: MIND Diet, nutrition for better brain health
June 24: Emotional Grief, managing grief and loss through narrative
July 1: Kitchen Eye Spy, learn best practices to save food and maintain your health

Join University of Maryland Extension, NRCS, and Keith Ohlinger for an educational pasture walk at Porch View Farm in Woodbine, MD (Howard county).

Porch View Farm is a family farm dedicated to raising heritage breed livestock on a silvopasture system. The farm currently raises Irish Dexter cattle and honey bees but has previously had pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and guineas. Our host, farm owner Keith Ohlinger, will share his experience implementing practices like silvopasture, rotational grazing with mixed species, and using amendments like biochar and compost to build soil health on the farm.

Sponsored by University of Maryland Extension

University of Maryland Extension programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity please contact us at least 2 weeks prior to the event.