IPM Webinar Series:
The series meets on the third Thursday of every month from 12 to 1 pm. For more details and registration, visit https://go.umd.edu/ipmwebinar. Maryland Pesticide Credits are available. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Hayden Schug at 301-226-7502.
Sep 17, 2026: Root-Knot Nematode Management in Vegetable Crops - Ben Beale, University of Maryland Extension
Oct 15, 2026: Precision herbicide application - Dr. Travis Ford, University of Maryland Extension
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Virtual - Good Agricultural Practices and Introduction to the Produce Safety Rule Training
Good Agricultural Practices training teaches the producer of fresh fruits and vegetables how to minimize the risk of cross contamination of their produce with human pathogens. When these practices and protocols are implemented on the farm and after an MDA audit, the farm or operation can become GAP certified. This annual certification is often a buyer requirement on the wholesale or institutional level. These trainings are without cost to the Maryland fruit and vegetable grower whether growing by conventional methods, aquaponic, hydroponic, mushroom, microgreens, or CEA. Upon completion of the eight hour course, the attendee earns a certificate of completion issued by the Maryland Department of Agriculture Food Quality Assurance Program. A certificate of completion must be held by a principal of the operation in order for the operation to become GAP certified.
Virtual GAP Session #1
Dates: Monday, September 14, 2026 & Tuesday, September 15, 2026 (Both days must be attended to complete the course.)
Time: 4:00 – 8:00 pm EDT. | Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
To Register and for more information contact: Carol Allen, callen12@umd.edu
Virtual GAP Session #2
Dates: Wednesday, September 23, 2026, & Thursday, September 24, 2026 (Both days must be attended to complete the course.)
Time: 4:00 – 8:00 pm EDT. | Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
To Register and for more information contact: Carol Allen, callen12@umd.edu
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Event: Maryland Crop Scouting School at CMREC (Clarksville)
Date: September 24, 2026 | Thursday
Time: 9:00 am to 2:45 pm | Cost: $10
Location: Central Maryland Research and Education Center, 4240 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042
Description: Join us for a hands-on Crop Scouting School focused on building practical skills for identifying and managing pests, diseases, and crop issues in the field. Participants will learn how to scout effectively, recognize key problems, and make informed management decisions using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles. This program is designed for farmers, crop consultants, and ag service providers looking to improve their field diagnostics and decision-making. This event covers common pests in row crop and vegetable production systems.
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/maryland-crop-scouting-school-at-wye-tickets-1988090629591?aff=oddtdtcreator
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In-Person Good Agricultural Practices Training
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Time: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm | Cost: Free
Location: University of Maryland College Park Campus. Information to follow
To Register and for more information contact: Carol Allen, callen12@umd.edu
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In-Person Good Agricultural Practices Training
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Time: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm | Cost: Free
Location: Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm, 3811 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215
To Register and for more information contact: Carol Allen, callen12@umd.edu
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Urban Farming Vegetable and Fruit Production IPM Workshops PAT/NM Recertification
Date: December 17, 2026 | Thursday
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Cost: Free, but registration is required.
Location: University of Maryland Extension-Anne Arundel County Office, 97 Dairy Lane, Gambrills, MD, 21054
Description: The workshop will explore advanced fruit and vegetable production practices focusing on sustainability, food security and integrated pest management tactics. This meeting will provide Private Applicator Recertification & Nutrient Applicator Voucher Recertification.
To register, please complete the Google Form IPM Workshop, December 17, 2026.
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Urban Farming Vegetable and Fruit Production IPM Workshops PAT/NM Recertification
Date: March 9, 2027 | Tuesday
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Cost: Free, but registration is required.
Location: University of Maryland Extension-Anne Arundel County Office, 97 Dairy Lane, Gambrills, MD, 21054
Description: The workshop will explore advanced fruit and vegetable production practices focusing on sustainability, food security and integrated pest management tactics. This meeting will provide Private Applicator Recertification & Nutrient Applicator Voucher Recertification.
To register, please complete the Google Form IPM Workshop March 9, 2027
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Hiring and Retaining Farm Employees – What you Need to Know and Do
Are you trying to find, hire and keep great employees? Is it a bit confusing and time consuming? Do you know where to start and who to involve? Are you worried about the legal considerations when having non-family members employed? This course will help you sort through all these questions and concerns. Navigating this process doesn’t have to be difficult as this course will share with you. Through the four modules of this course, you’ll get important information and resources you can adapt for your own operation. For more information go to https://agrisk.umd.edu/grant-proposals/hiring-and-retaining-farm-employees
Archives
Webinar Recordings
The New Grape Grower Workshop is held yearly during the month of March or April at the Maryland Wine Grape Industry Annual Meeting, sponsored by the Maryland Grape Growers Association and Maryland Wineries Association in cooperation with the University of Maryland Extension.
This course offers a broad overview of commercial vineyard development from pre-plant planning into the third year including economics and marketing information, variety, clone, and rootstock choices, site selection and preparation, pre-plant decisions, equipment, and supply requirements. We will also cover the basics of ordering, planting, and tending the vines through the third year of growth, as well as best practices for training, canopy management, and pest management.
The workshop is classroom format with a lot of time for Q&A.This seminar is a good overview of what is involved with getting a commercial vineyard started in the Mid-Atlantic.
View recordings from previous workshop
Central Maryland Vegetable Growers Virtual Meeting
Date: January 28, 2020 | Length: 4:04:35
Virtual Winter Vegetable Grower Meeting
Date: December 2, 2020 | Length: 4:14:46
Topics discussed: Legalities of Direct Farm Marketing Specialty Crops, Sarah Everhart, Legal Specialist,
University of Maryland; Maryland Food Safety Program Update, Angela Ferelli, Agent Associate & Carol Allen, Agent Associate, University of Maryland; Vegetable Weed Control Update; Kurt Vollmer, Weed Science Specialist, University of Maryland Extension; MDA Pesticide Update, Maryland Department of Agriculture; Odd Insects and Diseases of Vegetables, Jerry Brust, Vegetable IPM Specialist, University of Maryland Extension; Managing Salinity and pH in High tunnels, Neith little, Urban Educator & Andrew Ristvey, Alternative Crops Specialist, University of Maryland Extension; Vegetable Trials Update, Gordon Johnson, Vegetable Specialist, University of Delaware Extension; and MDA Nutrient Management Update, Maryland Department of Agriculture
Virtual Winter Fruit Grower Meeting
Date: December 10, 2020 | Thursday
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Location: Virtual
Topics discussed: Spotted Wing Drosophila on Cranberries, Maggie Lewis, Entomology, Graduate Student University of Maryland; Insect Biological Control, Alan Leslie, Extension Educator University of Maryland Extension; Small Fruit Update, Ben Beale, Extension Educator University of Maryland Extension; MDA PAT Update, Maryland Department of Agriculture; Food Safety Update, Angela Ferelli, Agent Associate, Carol Allen, Agent Associate University of Maryland; Soil Health in High Tunnels, Neith little, Urban Educator, and Andrew Ristvey, Alternative Crops Specialist University of Maryland Extension; Fruit Tactics for the Coastal Plains, Dave Myers, Extension Educator University of Maryland Extension; and MDA Nutrient Management Update, Maryland department of Agriculture
Bay Area Virtual Fruit Meeting
Date: February 10, 2021 | Length: 4:23:36
Topics discussed: Legalities of Direct Farm Marketing Specialty Crops, Sarah Everhart, Legal Specialist,
University of Maryland; Insect Control Update, Kelly Hamby, Entomology Assistant Professor, University of Maryland; Fruit Weed Control Update, Kurt Vollmer, Weed Science Specialist, University of Maryland Extension; MDA PAT Update, Maryland Department of Agriculture; Apple Maturity and Harvest, Macarena Farcuh, Horticulture Assistant Professor, University of Maryland; Maryland Vineyard Industry Update, Joe Fiola, Viticulture & Small Fruit Specialist, University of Maryland Extension; Climate Change and the Orchard, Chris Walsh,, Horticulture Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland; MDA Nutrient Management Update, Maryland Department of Agriculture
Explore Meeting and Events
Agriculture Extension Winter Crop Production Meetings
Our local agricultural agents are getting ready and planning our Winter Production meetings later this summer. Get ready for an exciting lineup of events in the fall of 2024 and winter of 2025. Don't miss the opportunity to earn pesticide recertification and nutrient management credits at these meetings.