The Howard County Master Gardener Program would like to invite you to join us for an information session from 11AM - 12:30PM on Saturday September 26th, 2026 at our Howard County Extension Office in Columbia so that you can get acquainted with who we are, what we do, and what the application and basic training program for becoming a Master Gardener entails. 

At this session, you will get the opportunity to ask active Master Gardeners (MGs) questions about the program, the application process, and their current projects or volunteer work. We will share a short presentation covering our active projects, sites, and how our program is organized. 

If you're still interested in applying for the program, but are not able to attend on Saturday, please still indicate so on the RSVP form, linked HERE. We will share next steps with you to keep you in the loop. 

--RSVP by Tuesday September 22nd, 2026--

This accelerator program will host an eight-week cohort focused on business planning, marketing, and financial strategies. This course is not for beginners looking to gain basic knowledge of agriculture or business planning. If you are looking for educational resources to help you start a business, please check out our Maryland Beginning Farmer Success program.

If you are a current farmer or food entrepreneur, please apply to participate in an intermediate course designed to help you take actionable steps towards achieving your business goals, securing funding, and expanding their market reach.

The next round of the course starts Sept 28 and ends Nov. 20, 2026.  
You will complete online coursework at your own pace. Extension faculty will meet with you via Zoom office hours to discuss your goals and provide feedback on your draft materials.

At the end of the course, a professional business consultant will review your plan and provide tailored feedback from a financing perspective.

This training is offered at no cost to you, thanks to a grant from AgriProspects, a project of the Extension Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture. 

University Programs, Activities, and Facilities are avaiaalbe 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. 

Another Look, Another World is an interdisciplinary exhibition exploring how visual art may deepen our understanding of Maryland’s insect biodiversity and inspire greater appreciation for the ecological roles insects play in our environment. The exhibition is part of a University of Maryland Arts for All-funded project aimed at engaging students in science communication through art, increasing awareness of insect biodiversity and ecological roles, fostering collaboration across disciplines, evaluating changes in attendee knowledge, attitudes, and intentions, and contributing to a replicable arts-based model for conservation education.

The exhibition will highlight six Maryland insect species that are included on Maryland’s List of Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Animals. Original works created through the exhibition’s two different open calls will be displayed alongside science-based information about insect ecological roles, insect habitats, and key conservation actions.

Anyone, including University of Maryland students, faculty, staff, and community members, are invited to explore the exhibition, whether by creating and submitting artwork, learning more about Maryland’s insects, or simply taking another look at some small but essential organisms that shape our ecosystems. By bringing art, science, and environmental education together, Another Look, Another World seeks to create opportunities for reflection, discovery, collaboration, action, and new ways of seeing the connections between insects, people, and the places we share.

Practical Experiences in Nutrient Management is a workshop conducted by the University of Maryland Extension Agricultural Nutrient Management Program that provides participants with hands-on farming and nutrient management related activities including yield and moisture estimates of grain crops, harvest machinery overview and demonstration, and compost and cover crop application to fields.

9:00-9:30 -     Registration

9:30-12:00 - This session will provide a practical overview of key post-season grain crop management and harvest evaluation activities. Participants will review common grain crop yield estimate procedures, examine a combine and its major components, and observe the machine harvesting a grain crop in the field. The program will also include a comparison of moisture readings taken with a hand test moisture meter and those recorded by the combine yield monitor to highlight accuracy and calibration considerations. In addition, attendees will see post-harvest field operations including compost application, broadcast seeding of a cover crop, and vertical tillage used to incorporate the compost and cover crop seed into the soil. 

12:00-12:30- Lunch

12:30-1:00-   MDA Nutrient Management Update

1:00-3:30-     This session will provide participants with an overview of vegetable production and harvest, and view the vegetable harvesting conveyor.  The program will end with an overview of the production of compost on the farm and the planning process for fall applications.

CEUs: 5.5 hours of credit toward consultants’ or operators’ continuing education requirement will be earned from full participation in this event.

Meet with members of our faculty to discuss our programs. You will have an opportunity to ask questions.

The Master of Extension Education features a multidisciplinary program with core courses focused on the extension principles shaping needs assessment, program development, evaluation, nonformal education, and social science research methodology as well as a suite of supportive elective courses in a variety of extension specialty areas. Graduates with Extension education experiences are prepared for dynamic careers in secondary and post-secondary education, non-profits, government, and leadership roles in enterprise.
 

Secure your spot for the Maryland Native Plant Society's 2026 Annual Conference

Co-Hosted with UMD Extension Maryland Native Plants Project and UMD Plant Science and Landscape Architecture Dept. 

• 2 day event | Sept. 12-13

• Meals included

• Presentations by native plant professionals 

• Native plant sale

• Field trips & workshops

• Optional add-on: Saturday evening dinner and presentations 

Register here: mdflora.org/fall-conference 

The Environmental Career & Internship Fair connects students with employers looking to hire for full-time and part-time jobs and internships in the fields of environmental policy, communication, and research, GIS, conservation, and sustainability. 

This event is open to all UMD students and alumni! Let us know you’re coming by registering on Handshake to receive event updates and review the employers who are participating.

We are still processing employer registrations, so please continue to check the list on Handshake as we get closer to the event. 

Earn a Certificate of Applied Agriculture at the University of Maryland, College Park. The IAA offers nine tracks to jump-start your career in agribusiness, sustainable food systems, environmental stewardship, horticulture, landscaping, turfgrass management, or ag communications. Explore areas of study, financial aid and scholarships, world-class facilities, campus life, and more. Registration required!

Join poultry producers, industry professionals, educators, and vendors for the 2026 Commercial Poultry Expo on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Somerset County Agricultural & Civic Center in Princess Anne, Maryland.

This annual event brings together the latest in poultry production through:

• Educational programs
• Industry vendors and tradeshow exhibits
• Networking opportunities
• Lunch included with registration
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Whether you're looking to discover new technologies, connect with experts, or learn about the latest developments in the poultry industry, this is an event you won't want to miss.

Attendee registration is now open! Vendor spaces are also available.