Paid

Join the University of Maryland College of Agriculture & Natural Resources and the AGNR Alumni Network for a night on the farm! 

Held on the Central Maryland Research and Education Center - Clarksville Facility, this casual farm to table event will include a picnic dinner, wagon tour and showcase of the research and education happening at the facility. Connect with faculty, staff, alums and family, enjoy a delicious meal and support AGNR student clubs at the silent auction. 

PSA Produce Safety Rule (PSR) Grower Training
Date: May 18, 2024
Time: 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Cost: $35
Location: 10789 Stewart Neck Rd, Princess Anne, MD 21853

This training will cover the Produce Safety Rule and how to reduce sources of microbial contamination in produce production.

Registration Includes:

• • Course Materials (Produce Safety Rule Grower Training Manual v 1.2)
• • Course Certificate from the Produce Safety Alliance upon successful completion of course materials
• • Light breakfast & lunch provided

Who Should Attend?

Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety. The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires

‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.’

What to Expect at the PSA Grower Training Course?

The trainers will cover content contained in these eight modules:

• Introduction to Produce Safety
• Role of Maryland Dept. of Agriculture and On-Farm Readiness Reviews
• Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
• Soil Amendments
• Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
• Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
• Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
• How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions. Appropriate time will be made for breaks at the discretion of the instructors.

Participation requirements for in-person attendees include:

• Course attendance and participation will be monitored. Any attendee who does not participate for the duration of the course will not be eligible for certification.
• A hard-copy Produce Safety Rule Grower Training Manual v1.2 will be available to each attendee prior to the course administration.
• Participants are expected to complete and return course evaluations after completing the course.

Funding for this series of work described in this article is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award U2FFD007444 totaling $523,497 with 100 percent funded by FDA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by FDA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

For More Information: Megan Todd, motodd@law.umaryland.edu

Topics include exciting happenings in the insect and mite world, turf organic herbicide efficacy trial results, using the pest predictive calendar, disease updates, and equipment calibration. The full agenda will be available in late May.

Yes, this year is a true procrastinator's meeting. And yes, this will still count for Maryland pesticide credits!

Date: Fri, Jun 28 at 7:45 AM

Location: Agricultural History Farm Park • 18410 Muncaster Rd, Derwood MD 20855

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/29th-annual-procrastinators-pesticide-and-…

This food preservation series is intended to provide a hands-on learning experience for beginners and advanced canners.  Each workshop begins with a class lecture then participants go into the kitchen to make their own canned produce to take home.  Fee includes instruction, recipe, and all the equipment and produce to process your own preserved jar.

Drying Herbs & Fruits - May 11;     Canning Pickled Peppers - August 17;     Canning Cranberry Orange Chutney - November 16

Register for 1, 2 or all 3!

The evening aims to welcome you into the AGNR community and answer any questions you may have about becoming a Terp or deciding your future path.

Tickets are free for students admitted to the University and up to two guests (additional tickets available for $10). We will be providing food, beverages, and a special Terp-sundae!

The event takes place on Thursday, April 11, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 pm (doors open at 5:30 pm) at Rocky Point Creamery, owned and operated our very own alumni.

𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

Youth contestants must have an approved enrollment in 4-H Online for the 2024 4-H program year and have yet to compete in the category at the 4-H Horse Communications contest at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup (Louisville, KY) or Western National 4-H Horse Roundup.

Complete event information and rules can be found on the Maryland 4-H website at https://go.umd.edu/4Hhorse

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿

Registration for this event is through 4-H Online. To access the registration, log in to your 4-H Online family profile and click on the Events tab. You can find an Event Registration “how to” guide on the Maryland 4-H website.

All event registrations must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. Local 4-H Educators and the State 4-H Event Manager will verify and approve registrations. Contact your local 4-H office or visit the Maryland 4-H website for more information.

Farmer Training & Certification (FTC) Online Course

For Agronomic Crop and Animal Operations
Spring 2024: April 1st-May 3rd “Write Your Own Nutrient Management Plan”

Description: An opportunity for producers with cropland and pastures in Maryland who use commercial fertilizer and/or manure to learn how to write nutrient management plans (NMPs) for their operation that meet Maryland Department of Agriculture’s regulations.

Please Advise: The course requires a minimum time commitment of 15-20 hours over 5 weeks. Larger, more complicated farm operations and those with high phosphorus soil test levels may require additional training and a larger time commitment. Farmers should have soil and manure analyses prior to the second week of training.

Before registering, ensure you have the required materials and skills:

• Required Materials/Technology:
  • Reliable internet connection
  • Email address
  • Computer with Windows 7 or later (NuMan Pro software is not compatible with Mac)
  • Printer
  • Microsoft Word and Excel
  • PDF reader software
• Required Skills
  • Competency in high school math
  • Intermediate computer skills including:
    • Familiarity with web browsing
    • Experience with MS Office programs (Word, Excel),PDF readers (Adobe Acrobat or similar)
    • Ability to download/open/save/retrieve computer files
    • Ability to learn a new software program(NuMan Pro)

You will receive:

• Access to the Online Course – Administered via the University of Maryland’s Enterprise Learning Management Systems (ELMS-Canvas).
• A comprehensive training binder (electronic version- Google Drive Folder) –Consists of all materials referenced throughout the course, compiled in one place.
• NuMan Pro software
• Certification – Producers who pass the exam and complete development of their NMP will be certified by MDA to write their own NMPs.
• Voucher training credits – This class will fulfill the nutrient applicator voucher training requirements.

Cost and Registration Information:

• Space is limited therefore, register early. Registration will close on 3/27/24 or when capacity is reached.
• Cost for the course is a $20 exam fee (to be paid directly to MDA following registration, no later than3/27/24) and $25 for NuMan Pro Software
• If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this training please contact Kayla Griffith(kmgriffi@umd.edu) prior to 4/25/24.
• To register for the Spring 2024 FTC Online offering April 2024-May 2024 (see course outline below), go to https://go.umd.edu/april24OnlineFTC

This talk will b egiven twice and two different locations.

Thursday March 14, at 3:30 at the Hurlock Old Library Building (222 S Main St, Hurlock, MD). Free.

Tuesday, March 19, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Dorchester County Historical Society (1003 Greenway Drive, Cambridge, MD). $5 for non members.

Registration Includes:
• Course Materials (Produce Safety Rule Grower Training Manual v 1.2)

• Course Certificate from the Produce Safety Alliance upon successful completion of course materials

Who Should Attend?
Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety. The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires

‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.’
What to Expect at the PSA Grower Training Course?
The trainers will cover content contained in these eight modules:

• Introduction to Produce Safety

• Role of Maryland Dept. of Agriculture and On-Farm Readiness Reviews

• Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training

• Soil Amendments

• Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use

• Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)

• Postharvest Handling and Sanitation

• How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions. Appropriate time will be made for breaks at the discretion of the instructors.

Participation requirements for in-person attendees include:
• Course attendance and participation will be monitored. Any attendee who does not participate for the duration of the course will not be eligible for certification.

• A hard-copy Produce Safety Rule Grower Training Manual v1.2 will be available to each attendee prior to the course administration.

• Participants are expected to complete and return course evaluations within one week of completing the course.

Funding for this series of work described in this article is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award U2FFD007444 totaling $523,497 with 100 percent funded by FDA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by FDA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Dining with Diabetes is a nationally-recognized program designed for adults with type 2 diabetes. It includes a series of 4 weekly, 2 hour sessions and a 3-month reunion to help individuals learn strategies to manage their diabetes. Strategies and concepts taught are menu planning,  carbohydrate counting, portion control, label reading and sampling healthy recipes. 

Enjoy learning diabetes management strategies and tasting recipes that build on the concepts presented each week.

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.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact Cheryl Bush at cherb@umd.edu or 410-758-0166 x3906 by February 26.