Farmers/Producers

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

Event:  Southern Maryland Forage Conference
Date: January 20, 2026  |   Tuesday
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: Calvert County Fair, 140 Calvert Fair Drive, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
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-St. Mary's Office at 301-475-4484. 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 301-475-4484.
For more information Ben Beale at (301) 475-4481 (bbeale@umed.edu), Dave Myers at (301) 226-7473 (myersd@umd.edu), Hayden Schug at (301) 226-7502 (hschug@umd.edu), and Amanda Grev at (301) 226-7575 (agrev@umd.edu)
Registration: http://go.umd.edu/smdforage

Sessions on: Disease challenges in field crops, Sulfur for grain crops, Phosphorus research, Making sense of efficacy trials, and Right to farm law
MD and DE continuing education credits in nutrient management, private and commercial pesticide applicator and CCA.
Free Event

This session will explore PV system sizing, installation steps, and maintenance requirements. It will cover contractor selection, permitting, and long-term upkeep for residential and agricultural solar projects. It is the sixth webinar in the 2025-2026 Solar Energy Webinar Series, which introduces key topics in solar energy for Maryland residents and professionals. Hosted by Drew Schiavone, Energy Specialist with University of Maryland Extension.

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. Participants will receive copies of Extension fact sheets and other valuable documents as a part of the workshop series. This work is supported by the Northeast Extension Risk Management project award no. 2024-70027-42540, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

This session will explore Maryland’s solar policies, permitting requirements, and zoning considerations for PV development. Topics include the Renewable Portfolio Standard, net metering, CPCN, interconnection, and legal issues such as nuisance claims. It is the fifth webinar in the 2025-2026 Solar Energy Webinar Series, which
introduces key topics in solar energy for Maryland residents and professionals. Hosted by Drew Schiavone, Energy Specialist with University of Maryland Extension.
 

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.

This session will explore how to integrate battery storage with solar PV systems, including sizing, economics, and key considerations for residential, farm, and commercial applications. It is the fourth webinar in the 2025-2026 Solar Energy Webinar Series, which introduces key topics in solar energy for Maryland residents and professionals. Hosted by Drew Schiavone, Energy Specialist with University of Maryland Extension.

The event will be held at the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park on Route 18 (https://www.qacfair.com/directions) to kick-off the spring planting season.
General attendance is free, doors open at 7:30 am and programming will begin at 8:00 am. It's a great opportunity to network with other farmers and ag businesses. Credits for Nutrient Management, Pesticide Recertification and Certified Crop Advisors will be offered. Lunch will be provided.

As in past years, we are seeking sponsorships to help offset the cost of lunch for attendees. Sponsors will be given display space as well as space in the program to inform attendees of any new products and/or services. See Eventbrite page for sponsorship opportunities.

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 February 13, 2026.