Advance Agricultural Production Systems

Logos and names and visuals - it's enough to make your head spin! Developing a brand for your  ag business that works across all media to present your own individual identity can be daunting. Whether you're starting from scratch, rebranding, or just trying to fine-tune your business's image, this workshop is perfect for you! No prior experience or special knowledge is required—just a passion for your business and a desire to make it shine.

Why You Should Attend

Developing a clear and compelling brand identity  for your small business might feel overwhelming, but it’s a crucial part of your success. We know small farm owners are busy, and your time spent on marketing needs to be efficient and intentional. 

Forget about jargon, buzzwords, or upselling tactics. This session will give you practical, actionable steps that you can use right away to create a brand identity that resonates with your customers. We’ll focus on:

• What makes a strong brand and the elements you need to define it.
• Avoiding common mistakes that can waste your time and money and help to avoid any legal issues.
• Hands-on activities to critique and improve a brand.
• Personalized feedback from branding experts to help you develop or refine your identity.

This workshop is designed to simplify the process. By the end, you’ll have concrete strategies and a roadmap for communicating your brand’s story clearly and effectively, with minimal stress. You'll known when and how you can do things yourself, and when to call in a pro to get you where you want to be. Whether you’re a teen or college-aged entrepreneur, or an adult with a growing business, this workshop will give you the tools and knowledge to help your brand thrive.

Join us for this hands-on workshop and unlock the full potential of your business. We’ll make sure you leave with a clearer, more effective brand identity that sets you up for success.

Reserve your spot today and start building the brand you’ve always dreamed of!

Are you a specialty mushroom farmer? Are you ready to level up your business? Come learn from other growers and from UMD Extension.

What:

This workshop will include a hands-on demonstration of how to sterilize and inoculate your own substrate grow bags. Each participant will go home with their own bag to grow out.

Grower talks will cover their experiences with producing and marketing specialty mushrooms.

When:

Monday, June 2, from 9am to 2pm

Where:

The Central Maryland Research and Extension Center at Clarksville, 4240 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, MD 21024
Cost:

$23, which includes eventbrite processing fee, lunch, and an inoculated mushroom bag to take home.

Header image credit: Photo by Thanh Soledas on Unsplash

Accessibility and accomodation:

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 Neith Little by phone at 301-226-7415 or by email at nglittle@umd.edu on or before two weeks before the event.

Los programas, actividades e instalaciones de la universidad están disponibles para todos sin distinción de raza, color, sexo, identidad o expresión de género, orientación sexual, estado civil, edad, origen nacional, afiliación política, discapacidad física o mental, religión, estado de veterano protegido, información genética, apariencia personal o cualquier otra clase legalmente protegida.

Si necesita adaptaciones razonables para participar en cualquier evento o actividad, comuníquese con Neith Little a número teléfono 301-226-7415 o al correo electrónico nglittle@umd.edu durante [dos semanas antes del clase].

Les programmes, activités et installations universitaires sont accessibles à tous sans distinction de race, couleur, sexe, identité ou expression de genre, orientation sexuelle, état civil, âge, origine nationale, appartenance politique, handicap physique ou mental, religion, statut de vétéran protégé, informations génétiques, apparence personnelle ou toute autre classe légalement protégée.

Si vous avez besoin d'une commodité raisonnable pour participer à un événement ou activité, contactez-vous avec le bureau d'extension de l'Université du Maryland. 301-226-7415 nglittle@umd.edu

所有人均可使用大學課程、活動和設施，而不必考慮種族、膚色、性別、性別認同或表達方式、性取向、婚姻狀況、年齡、國籍、政治背景、身體或精神殘疾、宗教信仰、受保護退伍軍人身份、遺傳信息、個人外貌或任何其他受法律保護的階層。

如果您需要合理的住宿條件來參加任何活動，請聯絡您當地的馬里蘭大學推廣辦公室。301-226-7415

대학 프로그램, 행사_및 시설은 인종, 피부색, 성별,성 정체성 또는 표현, 성적 지향, 결혼 여부, 나이, 출신 국가, 정치적 소속, 신체적 또는 정신적 장애, 종교, 보호재향 _군인, 정보, 외모 또는 법적으로 보호를 받고 있는_기타 계층에 관계없이 누구나 이용하실 수 있습니다.

행사 활동에 참여하기 위해 적절한 숙박 시설이 _필요하시다면 해당 지역의 메릴랜드 대학교 확장 사무소에 문의해 주시기 바랍니다. 301-226-7415 nglittle@umd.edu

Программы, деятельность, и объекты материально-технической базы Университета доступны всем желающим, независимо от их расовой принадлежностирасы, цвета кожи, пола, гендерной идентичности или гендерного самовыражения, сексуальной ориентации, семейного положения, возраста, национальностип, политической принадлежности, физических или умственных ограничений, религиозных взглядов, наличия недостатков, религии, статуса защищенногозаконом статуса ветерана вооруженных сил, генетической информации, внешних особенностей, а также другим категориям населения, права которых охраняются законом.

Если для участия в определенном мероприятии Вам необходимо, чтобы обеспечивалось разумное приспособление, учитывающее Ваши индивидуальные потребности, пожалуйста, свяжитесь с Вашим местным офисом-представительством Университета Мэриленда. 301-226-7415 nglittle@umd.edu

Note: One Zoom link will cover all four sessions.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact the educator, Dr. Henley, on or before May 8th, 2025, at shenley@umd.edu

Are you dreading slogging through the mud and muck that spring often brings? Join us for a Pasture Walk on Best Management Practices to learn how to manage water to improve your pasture and loafing areas and make mud a memory! 🌾💧
🔹 TWO opportunities at different locations
May 27 - Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding, Street, MD
June 12 - CMREC Equine Rotational Grazing Site, Ellicott City, MD
🔹 6-8pm
🔹 FREE to attend but please register https://bit.ly/MakeMudAMemory
✅ Learn practical solutions for managing mud, water runoff, and pasture health.
✅ Discover ways to prevent erosion, improve drainage, and keep your horses comfortable.
✅ Hear from experts and connect with fellow horse owners who share your concerns.
Whether you're new to managing your horse farm or looking to improve your practices, this event is for YOU! 🐎💚

Free outdoor event with lunch provided.
Cover crops and integrated pest management (IPM).
Conservation programs related to IPM.
Speakers present : slugs and cover crops, pathology and cover crops, and equipment and cover crops.
For questions or to request special accommodations email Sarah Hirsh at shirsh@umd.edu. Please request special accommodations
at least two weeks prior to 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.

This experience is intended for Prospective Animal Science (ANSC) Students. The tour will take place during Maryland Day, Saturday, April 26th and is designed to give you an in-depth look at ANSC academic programs, labs, and farm facilities. During the tour, you'll have the opportunity to meet with Department of Animal and Avian Sciences representatives who will provide information about the programs offered within Animal Sciences. You'll also have a chance to explore ANSC labs and the campus farm, giving you a better understanding of the hands-on learning environment and resources offered. Please be sure to pre-register to reserve your spot. Get ready for an exciting and informative experience!

Queen Anne’s County Master Gardeners are busy getting ready for their 10th Annual Plant Sale slated for Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the University of Maryland Extension-Queen Anne’s County Office (505 Railroad Ave, Centreville, MD 21617) from 8:30-11:30, rain or shine.

In addition to mingling with a group of passionate and knowledgeable gardeners, you can buy plants, introduce the kids to pollinator-friendly gardening, or ask questions about your landscape. You are welcome to request advice about flowers, fruits, vegetable beds, and plants to beautify your yard and provide a friendly habitat for wildlife like songbirds, butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds at our ‘Ask A Master Gardener Plant Clinic.’ Master Gardeners are volunteers trained by the University of Maryland Extension and will help you select the perfect plant for your garden. Maybe you’ve been longing to have some herbs by the kitchen door, find the most unique delicious variety of heirloom tomatoes, or try a new kind of pepper but don’t know how or where to find the plant (like the fish pepper or Chimayo del Norte pepper). Master Gardeners will be there to assist you on your gardening journey. Bring your own wagon to carry your purchases! The proceeds from this event will help support the many community projects and educational programs maintained by the Master Gardeners in Queen Anne’s County.

For further information please call or reasonable accommodations to participate in this event email the University of Maryland Extension Queen Anne’s County, Senior Agent Associate for Horticulture and Master Gardener Coordinator, Rachel J. Rhodes, at 410-758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu by Friday, April 11, 2025, or see us on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/QueenAnnesCountyMasterGardeners

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.

University of Maryland celebrates Ag Day 100 at Maryland Day on Saturday, April 26! 

Visit Ag Day Avenue to make new friends at the Campus Farm, grab a plant, discover innovative research, meet student clubs, enjoy live music, try our special Ag Day ice cream, check-out our recently planted tree, and much more as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the original Ag Day! Plus, there will be a special opening ceremony at the farm at 9:30am. 

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 for timely topics to help manage pests on the farms. Hosted via Zoom, on the Third Thursday of every month 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.

March 20th - Understanding Bulletins Live! Two - Emily Zobel

April 17th - Whitefly and thrips control in greenhouse and high tunnel operations - Dr. Veronica Yurchak, University of Maryland Extension Specialist, Vegetable Production

May 15th - Managing squash bugs and cucumber beetles in cucurbit crops - Dr. Tom Kuhar, Virginia Tech.

June 26th - Palmer amaranth and pigweed control - Dr. Kurt M. Vollmer, University of Maryland Extension Specialist-Weed Management

July 17th - Corn spot and tar update and prevention - Andy Kness, University of Maryland Extension

August 21st - Managing late-season corn earworm - Hayden Schug, University of Maryland Extension

September 18th - Neo-P and other strawberry diseases - Dr. Mengjun Hu, University of Maryland

October 16th - Cover crops for weed management - Dr. Dwayne Joseph, University of Maryland Extension

Pesticide Credits will be available but vary by date. Please contact Emily Zobel (ezobel@umd.edu) or Hayden Schug (hschug@umd.edu) for more information.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Emily Zobel (ezobel@umd.edu) or Hayden Schug (hschug@umd.edu).

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 sub-award number SNE22-005-MD and NIFA award 2021-70006-35384.

In field assessments of soil structure, compaction, color and smell. Core principles of composting, Systems of varying scales, Hands on demo, 3 Nutrient Management Credits
10-11:30-soild Health- Dr. Hirsh University of MD Extension and Lisa Garfield from Future Harvest will be speaking on soil health, soil health practices and in field examples, How do we measure soil health, Maryland Soil Health card demo.
11:30-1:00pm-Compost Systems and Application Thomas Fazio (compost Manager Eco City Farms) will be speaking on core principals of composting, systems of varying scales and hands on demonstrations.