Farmers/Producers

Farmer Training & Certification (FTC)

For Agronomic Crop and Animal Operations

Winter/Spring 2025 Sessions

Description: An opportunity for producers with cropland and pastures in Maryland who meet the minimum requirements ($2,500 gross agricultural income or 8 animal units) to learn how to write their own nutrient management plan (NMP). Interested producers may attend one of four sessions, see registration information below. Upon completion of this course producers will become certified to write their operation’s plan and will also fulfill the nutrient applicator voucher training requirements.
Time and Certification: This course requires a significant time commitment. Larger, more complicated farm operations and those with high phosphorus soil test levels and multiple sources of organic amendments may require additional training. Additional optional opportunities will be announced for each session during training. Farmers are required to have current soil and manure/organic tests prior to the training. To become certified, farmers must complete all coursework, pass the certification exam, and have their first nutrient management plan approved by MDA.

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 (provided for in-person courses)
  • Microsoft Word and Excel
  • PDF reader software
  • Webcam (for online course)
• Required Skills
  • Competency in high school math
  • Intermediate computer skills including:
    • Web browsing
    • MS Office programs (Word, Excel), PDF readers
    • Ability to download/open/save computer files
    • Ability to learn a new software program (NuMan Pro)

Cost and Accommodation:

• Space is limited, register early. Registration will close one week prior to the course date or when capacity is reached.
• Cost for the course is a $20 exam fee (to be paid directly to MDA following registration, no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course) and $25 for NuMan Pro software.
• If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this training, please contact Kayla Griffith (kmgriffi@umd.edu) no later than two weeks prior to the start of the course.

Registration: Below are the four sessions that will be available during the winter and spring 2025. Register for one session only. Please pay particular attention to location, sessions are in-person or online only, there is no hybrid option. Registration is first come, first serve for those who have updated soil tests and manure tests (if applicable). Instructors reserve the right to cancel sessions that do not meet minimum registration requirements. Lunch will not be provided for in-person sessions, please plan accordingly.

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.

1/14/25           

Grain Budgeting - Simplified                   

This presentation is designed for producers and stakeholders interested in enhancing their decision-making processes. We'll focus on best budgeting practices via a walkthrough of our new grain budgeting website, which was designed to support improvements in planning and risk management practices. Additionally, we'll introduce our beta resource that tracks utility—and community-scale solar developments in Maryland.

Elizabeth Thilmany     

2/11/25

Setting Goals for your Farm Business

This webinar will guide you in setting clear, actionable goals to grow and sustain your farm business. Learn how to assess your farm's needs, set SMART goals, and create strategies to track progress. Perfect for farmers, families, and agribusiness owners ready to plan for the future.

Shannon Dill                                              

3/11/25                       

Small-scale berry production  

How to produce blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and other woody small fruits on small acreage (less than 10 acres). This talk is meant for anyone considering diversifying their farm by adding small fruits or just getting started growing small fruit. We'll be talking about the first steps to getting your planting going and how to take care of and manage your planting so you will continue to have a bountiful harvest for years to come.          

Haley Sater

4/8/25         

Leveraging Social Media and Consumer Insights to Boost Your Market Opportunities                    

This webinar will share insights from my research on consumer behavior and marketing practices in ornamental horticulture, offering practical strategies to explore and expand market opportunities by leveraging consumer insights and social media.

Xuan Wei  

5/13/25           

Nitrogen management in humid temperate climates   

The webinar will discuss the nitrogen cycle, pathways for nitrogen loss in cropping systems, and best management practices for conserving nitrogen. 

Sarah Hirsh    

6/10/25            NO WEBINAR                                     

7/8/25   

Pasture Renovation: Putting the Punch Back in Your Pastures  

Think your pasture may be in need of some renovation but aren't sure where to start? This presentation will provide an overview of the pasture renovation process, including how to determine if renovation is needed, different types of renovation, timing for renovation, and 10 steps for successful stand establishment.  

Amanda Grev

8/12/25            no webinar                                    

9/9/25  

Native Grasses 101     

A quick look at some of Maryland's underutilized native grasses, their benefits, and how to incorporate them into landscapes. Will also take a look at some non-native, invasive grasses that are ecologically harmful and their native alternatives.

Mikaela Boley

10/14/25           

Navigating Farm Family Finances          

Farm operations often juggle the business operation finances with the personal family finances. This workshop will provide an overview of a toolkit available designed for farmers to explore aspects of balancing personal finances.    

Jesse Ketterman & Carrie Sorenson   

11/11/25         

Understanding IPM Basics and developing an IPM plan

An overview of different IPM techniques and the best practices for implementing them, then how to develop an IPM plan for your specific growing operation as well as helpful resources

Hayden Schug

12/9/25     No Webinar   

UME will host town hall meetings across the state to gather feedback and input from community residents and stakeholders. This is a unique opportunity for community members to help shape UME’s strategic focus and influence future programming and outreach efforts. These town hall meetings offer a forum for community members to share insights on local needs, discuss pressing opportunities, ask questions, and provide valuable feedback on UME’s future direction. The perspectives and ideas shared during this event will be instrumental as UME develops a plan that responds to the challenges and priorities identified by Maryland communities.

University of Maryland Extension, the Maryland-Delaware Forage Council, Penn State Extension, and the Pennsylvania Forage and Grasslands Council invite forage producers, grazers, livestock owners, and associated industry personnel to attend the upcoming Tri-State Forage Conference in Grantsville, MD on January 22, 2025.

Topics for the conference will include:

• Mineral Nutrition and Practical Feeding Considerations
• Matching Mineral Nutrition to Livestock Needs
• Integrating Annual Forages as a Drought Management Strategy
• and more!

Morning refreshments will be available, and lunch is included in the price of the ticket. Doors will open at 8:30 am, and the meeting will start at 9 am.

Participants will be able to earn nutrient management certification credits and private and commercial pesticide applicator credits (amounts will be updated once credits are approved).

Registration is required to attend. Early bird pricing is available through January 13th. Attendees also have the option to renew or become a member of the Maryland-Delaware Forage Council with the purchase of a ticket to the forage conference (and receive a $5 discount off the cost of membership!). Payment is accepted by credit card or check payable to the Maryland-Delaware Forage Council.

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.

University of Maryland Extension and the Maryland-Delaware Forage Council invite forage producers, grazers, livestock owners, and associated industry personnel to attend the upcoming Central Maryland Forage Conference in Mt. Airy, MD on January 23, 2025.

Topics for the conference will include:

• Mineral Nutrition and Practical Feeding Considerations
• Matching Mineral Nutrition to Livestock Needs
• Integrating Annual Forages as a Drought Management Strategy
• and more!

Morning refreshments will be available, and lunch is included in the price of the ticket. Doors will open at 8:30 am, and the meeting will start at 9 am.

Participants will be able to earn nutrient management certification credits and private and commercial pesticide applicator credits (amounts will be updated once credits are approved).

Registration is required to attend. Early bird pricing is available through January 14th. Attendees also have the option to renew or become a member of the Maryland-Delaware Forage Council with the purchase of a ticket to the forage conference (and receive a $5 discount off the cost of membership!). Payment is accepted by credit card or check payable to the Maryland-Delaware Forage Council.

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.

University of Maryland Extension and the Maryland-Delaware Forage Council invite forage producers, grazers, livestock owners, and associated industry personnel to attend the upcoming Southern Maryland Forage Conference in Prince Frederick, MD on January 21, 2025.

Topics for the conference will include:

• Mineral Nutrition and Practical Feeding Considerations
• Matching Mineral Nutrition to Livestock Needs
• Integrating Annual Forages as a Drought Management Strategy
• Reestablishing Forages after Drought-BMP's for Success
• Digging a Little Deeper-Understanding Soil Fertility Recs for Forages
• Pests and Diseases in Forage Crops-What to Watch For

Morning refreshments will be available, and lunch is included in the price of the ticket. Doors will open at 8:30 am, and the meeting will start at 9 am.

Participants will be able to earn nutrient management certification credits and private and commercial pesticide applicator credits (amounts will be updated once credits are approved).

Registration is required to attend. Early bird pricing is available through January 12th. Attendees also have the option to renew or become a member of the Maryland-Delaware Forage Council with the purchase of a ticket to the forage conference (and receive a $5 discount off the cost of membership!). Payment is accepted by credit card or check payable to the Maryland-Delaware Forage Council.

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.

Grain farmers and ag professionals are encouraged to join University of Maryland Extension for this educational program focusing on production agronomy. Doors open at 9:00 a.m. and the program starts at 9:30 a.m. Guest speakers include regional experts and University of Maryland faculty covering topics such as: Ag law and regulatory update; PFAS in farmland; Weed management updates; Tar spot update and pest management strategies; Regional ag agency and agribusiness updates; and MDA pesticide and nutrient management update

You're invited to the 8th Annual Urban Farmer Winter Meeting, organized by UMD Extension.
Attend this annual professional development event to be updated on the latest local issues and research results.

This year we will meet at Allen AME Church, in Baltimore, MD. A big thank you to them for allowing us to meet in their space this year.

Draft agenda:
- Panel on land access
- Allen AME's experiences with community development through gardening
- Updates from new Urban Agriculture Extension Specialists
- Preliminary results of rainwater harvesting and treatment research
- Dinner and networking
More to be announced soon!

Registration and attendance options
In person attendance is capped at 60. This event will also be broadcast online. In the event of inclement weather, we will move the event fully online.

Registration is $15, plus eventbrite fees. This registration fee enables us to pay for dinner for in-person attendees and for the broadcast equipment to enable online attendance.

If this cost is a financial barrier to your participation, please fill out this scholarship application: https://ume.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5BwkBtD8wSdTNdQ

The 2025 Agronomy Meeting will take place at 4:00 pm on February 20, 2025, at the Caroline County 4-H & Youth Park, located at 8230 Detour Rd., Denton, Md. 21629.

Learning sessions in weed control, grain production, cover cropping, drone spraying and carbon in Maryland soils.

MD and DE continuing education credits in nutrient management, private and commercial pesticide applicator and CCA.

Free event! Light Breakfast starting at 8:00am and a hot lunch.

For questions or to request special accommodations email Sarah Hirsh at shirsh@umd.edu by Jan 8, 2025