This year's theme is "Harvesting Partnerships: Connecting Agriculture, Business, and Community". The conversation will explore how agriculture strengthens food security, supports the local economy, and improves quality of life.

Individual tickets to the event are $10.

Sponsorship for the event is $150 and includes 2 tickets to the event and we will recognize you in the program. If you would like, you may bring a door prize with your name on it.

The morning of the breakfast, we will be accepting monetary donations for the Maryland Food Bank - Eastern Shore.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Caroline Welch at University of Maryland Extension - Queen Anne's County at 410-758-0166 or cwelch13@umd.edu by October 30, 2026

UMD Extension Specialists, Agents and USDA-NRCS technicians will present during this full day of seminars on pasture and horse management with a Q & A session on how to get financial assistance for establishing best management practices to close out the day.  This event is presented in partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture's Horse Outreach Workgroup.  

This six-week course will primarily focus on five areas of risk management: production, marketing and pricing, financial management, human and personal, and legal risk.  You will learn from experts in the agriculture industry, gain knowledge and confidence in farm management and develop friendships with other women in agriculture.

Registration closes January 12, 2027.

For more information contact Nate Bruce at nsbruce@udel.edu or 302-362-7619.

“University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, in accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.”

Join University of Maryland Extension, Maryland Department of Agriculture, and the Horse Outreach Workgroup for an educational pasture walk and social hour at Willowdale Farm and Farmacy Brewing in Reisterstown, MD (Baltimore county).

Nestled in the rolling hills of Baltimore County's horse country, Willowdale Farm is a diversified operation raising horses and cattle and growing a wide range of crops including hay, row crops, fruits, and vegetables. Willowdale Farm has been run by the Harrison family since 1961 and one of the farm's primary focuses has always been breeding and raising thoroughbred horses using sustainable farm management practices. Situated within this working farm is Farmacy Brewing, a local brewery that incorporates seasonal farm products to create unique beers from a wide range of different ingredients.

Participants will have an opportunity to see and discuss several aspects of the operation, including grazing management practices for cattle and horses, pasture maintenance and overseeding, soil fertility, and incorporation of annual forages for additional grazing. Following the pasture walk, participants are welcome to stay for a social hour at Farmacy Brewing (drinks will be available for purchase for those who are 21+).

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.

Salisbury, MD – The Wicomico Extension Office is cracking open a new tradition this Fall with its First Annual Nutterfest. The free celebration will be held Saturday November 7th at the Extension Office. Residents and visitors are invited to come “get a little nutty” and join our faculty and staff in learning more about Extension.

“There is so much happening at the Wicomico Extension Office, and we’d love for more people in our community to come in and see what we have to offer,” says Area Extension Director Nicole Walker. “Whether you’re interested in gardening, agriculture, nutrition and healthy living, or opportunities for young people through 4-H, there really is something here for everyone.”

Extension Agents welcome the community to come out and share some pecan crafts, food demos, and even tree planting. Nutty trivia and local entertainment will be provided, food will be available for sale from a local food vendor.

The name “Nutterfest” came about because of the community’s love of the bountiful pecan trees on the property. 

“Gathering pecans from the trees on our property has become a tradition that many people in our community look forward to each year, and we’re excited to celebrate that tradition with Nutterfest,” explains Walker. “We hope you’ll come out, enjoy everything pecan, and help us celebrate something that has become such a special part of this property and our community.” 

Everyone is welcome to attend this free event. As the name suggests, tree nuts will be present at the event. Attendees with nut allergies are encouraged to take appropriate precautions. Nutterfest will run from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. rain or shine at the Extension Office at 28647 Old Quantico Rd in Salisbury. For more information call 410.749.6141 or email:dlewis97@umd.edu.

Participants will learn from private forest landowners how they have managed their properties for different goals over time. Participants will also learn about conservation cost-sharing opportunities from DNR Foresters and UMD Extension Personnel. Lunch and travel between stops allow for plenty of fellowship and opportunities to learn from other participants and natural resource professionals.

You will get the chance to see the following:

-A recent timber harvest

-Effects of invasive plant controls (mechanical and chemical)

-A state-led tree planting project

-A working sawmill and wood processing operation

This is a van-pool event! Participants will park at the Urbana Park and Ride, then join others in a passenger van to travel between sites.

Registration includes: snacks, drinks, lunch, and a spot in a van. New and beginning forest landowners (owned land for less than 10 years) are eligible for 50% off the registration cost! Email dpratson@umd.edu for discount information.

Registration is limited to 28 people, so make sure to sign up soon!

Other questions? Contact Daniel Pratson, Natural Resources Specialist, at dpratson@umd.edu with questions or accommodation requests 2 weeks prior to the event.

University 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.

Weeds, diseases, and insects are often a major concern for growers in Maryland. Integrated pest management (IPM) programs incorporate multiple pest management strategies into their production practices. Join us monthly, on the Third Thursday at noon,  these one-hour sessions are both informative and interactive, providing an opportunity for participants to learn and engage with specialists in the field.

• Sep 17th    Root-Knot Nematode Management in Vegetable Crops - Ben Beale, University of Maryland Extension

• Oct 15th    Precision herbicide application- Dr. Travis Ford, University of Maryland Extension

This program consists of a Training Day and an Exam/Signoff Day.  This training day, Thursday, October 1^st 2026, will consist of learning the plan-writing process. After the training day, you will have about 5 weeks, during which time you will study the Nursery Nutrient Management Training Manual and develop your plan. The Exam/Signoff Day will be at a location and on a date “to be announced”. This date will also be for reviewing your newly developed plan (or renewing your old plan). You must write a plan for Maryland Dept of Agriculture (MDA) to become certified. 

The process is relatively simple for small (or low-risk) operations, so if your operation size is less than 5 acres, we would strongly encourage you to think about becoming a certified operator.  If your operation is larger than 5 acres or you run a controlled environment, we would still encourage you to become a certified operator, even though the nutrient management process may be a little more complicated. For nutrient management consultants who wish to learn more about the process for developing nutrient management plans for greenhouses and container crop production, this workshop will offer 6 hours of continuing education credits. 

The cost for this program is $40.00 and includes program costs (including lunch) and the MDA exam fee ($20). For consultants not taking the exam, the cost is $20. Payment will be required at the beginning of the program. A check can be made out to University of Maryland. A receipt will be available. 

If you wish to register, please do so before September 25^th, 2026 by using this link HERE. If you have questions, please send an email to me or call me at 301-226-7835.  If you need any accommodations for this program, please contact me by September 21st.

Wye Research and Education Center is located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, about 20 minutes from the Bay Bridge. A map to WyeREC can be found HERE. Note the circled area on the map; we will be at the WyeREC Office and Lab location.

Fall 2026 Wednesday’s from Noon – 1pm. Virtual

• • 9/30 - Farm Business Entities with Paul Goeringer, UMD, ALEI
• • 10/7 - Business Planning with Neith Little, UME
• • 10/14 - Budgets and Financial Record Keeping with Dr. Xuan Wei, UME
• • 10/21 & 10/28 - No lecture
• • 11/4 -  Intro to On-Farm Insurance for Produce Farms with Samantha Capaldo, UMES, ALEI
• • 11/11 - Intro to Farm Taxes with Nicole Cook, UMES, ALEI
• • 11/18 - How to Accept Supplemental Nutrition Benefit Payments with Megan Todd, UMD, ALEI
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• Sessions are independent of each other. Sign up once to attend one or all. Registration at https://go.umd.edu/BFFBLL26 or call Emily Zobel at 410-228-8800.
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• If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Emily Zobel at 410-228-8800 or ezobel@umd.edu by September 13, 2026. 
  This program is offered in Spanish upon request.
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• This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number SNE25-005.
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• University 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.

Live Online Learning Opportunity

If you would like the opportunity to learn from home, yet still be engaged, then be sure to enroll in this class!

Nutrient Applicator Voucher Recertification
Thursday April 8, 2027 6:00-8:00 pm

This session will focus on fertility and production related topics for all field crops, fruits and vegetables. This ZOOM recertification session will be live via the internet directly from the University of Maryland.

This meeting will provide Nutrient Applicator Voucher Recertification. 

Registration is required by April 6th is required in order to receive Zoom, login instructions.

To register, please complete the Google Form Online Nutrient Applicator Voucher Recertification.