There is still time to register for this year’s Connecticut Dairy Conference, which will be held on March 20, 2019, at the Doubletree Hotel, Bradley. We have a full day of presentations on timely topics. Our afternoon speakers and topics are included below in this update. In addition, we are offering a special opportunity for those […]
Agriculture & Food
Ensuring a vibrant and sustainable agricultural industry and food supply
Real Farmers – Real Risks: Interview with Raspberry Knoll Farms
Raspberry Knoll Farm in North Windham is one of Connecticut’s premier pick-your-own operations, featuring a wide variety of berries, herbs, veggies, and flowers. Located in the Northeastern region of the state, this family owned farm attracts droves of patrons throughout the growing season, starting in June with strawberries and going all the way through till […]
GMO Working Group Hosting April Events
The CAHNR GMO Working Group is hosting GMO 2.0: Science, Society and the Future, a panel presentation on Wednesday, April 24th at 7 PM in the Student Union Theater. Please save the date and make plans to join us. The event is free and anyone is welcome to attend. The panel is moderated by Dean Indrajeet Chaubey. Speakers include: […]
Mental Health & Farm Stress
Farming is both a risky and dangerous business. From the hazardous nature of the seemingly regular day-to-day tasks to the volatile and unforgiving markets on which many farms rely for income, farmers have no shortage of stress. Add in unpredictable weather and crop yields and you have the makings of what the USDA, OSHA, and […]
Extension Interns Receive Award
Casey Lambert (’19) and Evan Lentz (’19) won 2nd place honors for their poster and presentation at the national meeting for the USDA-iPiPE project (Integrated Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education) held in Raleigh, NC February 4-6. Mary Concklin, Fruit Extension Educator, PSLA, is the grant PI. The primary focus of the project was to […]
School of Business Partnership Strengthens Extension
Extension brings the research of the land-grant university to communities statewide. Other departments at UConn are helping Extension grow and impact new audiences with the research and resources they produce. We have built a partnership with the Department of Marketing in the School of Business that has transformed the marketing initiatives of UConn Extension, and […]
Workshop Series: Sustainable Livestock Production
Nutrition’s Role in Sustainable Livestock Production Practices 2019 A new workshop series on pasture management and infrastructure and the nutritional needs of livestock raised on pasture All workshops held in the training room at Farm Credit East, 240 S Rd. Enfield CT Monday, February 11, 2019 8:30 am to 1 pm (Snow Date: February 13, […]
New England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide is Available
The 2019-20 edition of the New England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide is now available. Order your copy today! New England greenhouse growers have long relied on the New England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide,for its unbiased, detailed information about insect and mite management, disease prevention and management, weed control, and plant growth regulation. The Guide is updated every two years to ensure that […]
Solid Ground Farmer Trainings in January
The following Solid Ground Farmer Trainings are scheduled for January. BF 106: Vegetable Production for Small Scale Farming – January 5th BF 240: Pesticide Safety for Conventional & Organic Producers – January 9th BF 270: Welding Basics for Agriculture – January 12th – FULL BF 110: Growing Crops in Low, High and Movable Tunnels – January […]
Chicken Questions?
Do you own chickens? Our poultry care video series with retired Extension Educator Dr. Mike Darre can answer your questions. There are 10 videos, topic include: how to hold your birds, how to inspect your birds, determining if your chicken is a good layer, watering systems, nest boxes, feeding, housing and heating, bird litter, housing, […]
In pilaf, salmon, manicotti, kelp’s versatility impresses chefs
Story and photos by Judy Benson After tasting rice pilaf with carrots, peppers and kelp, grilled shrimp wrapped in kelp leaves, baked salmon topped with leeks and kelp and manicotti stuffed with mushrooms and kelp, restaurant owner Chris Szewczyk is eager to incorporate the Connecticut-grown seaweed into his menu. “It’s an exciting product,” said Szewczyk, […]
Pre-Register for Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers’ Conference
SOUTH WINDSOR, CT – UConn Extension’s 2019 Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers’ Conference will be taking place on Monday, January 7th, 2019. The conference will be held at Maneeley’s Conference Center on 65 Rye Street in South Windsor. The day will include 9 educational sessions, an extensive trade show with over 30 exhibitors, and plenty […]
Poinsettias: From Production to Decoration
Wholesale growers across Connecticut started shipping poinsettias in mid-November. Poinsettia are a long-term crop, started from rooted cuttings in early to mid-July. Plants are pinched to promote branching and growers measure the height of the plants on a weekly basis, and enter data into a computer program, to make sure the plants will be at […]
Urban Agriculture Graduation
UConn Extension in collaboration with Green Village Initiative offered the Urban Agriculture Program in Bridgeport, Connecticut from November 2017 to November 2018. A new group of urban farmers graduated on December 7, 2018. The UConn Extension urban agriculture program consists of three components: classroom instruction, hands-on vegetable production, and entrepreneurship. To complete the program students […]
Soil pH – The Master Variable
The UConn Soil Nutrient Analysis Lab tests for and analyzes multiple soil parameters; but none as critical, and as often overlooked, as pH. Soil pH plays a crucial role in the growth of vegetation planted, as well as ground water quality. Before we start talking about soil pH, I think it is a good idea […]
Livestock BCS Video Series
We have a new video series on Body Condition Scoring (BCS) for livestock. Our Tri-State SARE project produced videos for beef cattle, swine, sheep, and goats. You can view the entire series at: http://s.uconn.edu/bcs The Tri-State SARE project, Nutrition’s Role in Sustainable Livestock Production, focuses on animal nutrition as it relates to health and well-being of […]
Bedding Plant Program for Greenhouse Growers Offered
UConn Extension offers Bedding Plant Program for Greenhouse Growers Get the latest information on insect and disease management, proper watering techniques and mixing pesticide formulations and network with fellow growers. This educational program will feature the following topics of interest to those who produce spring ornamental crops in the greenhouse: Watering: Air and Water Balance […]
Nitrogen – The Fix
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient required for the production and growth of all plants, vegetation, and living organisms. It makes up 78% of our atmosphere; however, that only accounts for 2% of the Nitrogen on our planet. The remaining 98% can be found within the Earth’s lithosphere; the crust and outer mantel. The Nitrogen found […]
Food Safety – Approved Grower Courses Available
FSMA Produce Safety Rule/Produce Safety Alliance Approved Grower Training Course December 5 and 6, 2018; December 7, Snow Date 8:30 am through 3:30 pm Middlesex County Extension Center 1066 Saybrook Road Haddam, Connecticut 06438 Registration Deadline Monday, November 26 Space is limited to 30 participants. REGISTRATION: Course fees are $50 for Connecticut Farmers; $150 […]
Pesticide Safety Educator Receives Award
Indianapolis, IN. A NPSEC team comprised of staff and PSEP coordinators that are members of the Respirator Collaboration Team participated in eXtension’s Impact Collaborative Summit in Indianapolis from October 16th – 18th. The purpose of the Summit was for institutional and national Extension teams to bring projects and programs from various topic areas to find […]
Equine Owners Should Vaccinate for EEE, Warns CVMDL at UConn
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is a disease caused by a virus that mosquitos transmit. The name of the disease is misleading in that this virus can infect and cause disease in humans and a wide variety of animal species, including birds as well as horses and other equids. Horses that have not been vaccinated for […]
CAES Finds Spotted Lanternfly in Farmington
CAES Announces the Finding of Spotted Lanternfly in Farmington, Connecticut New Haven, CT – The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) in cooperation with USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) announce that a single dead adult spotted lanternfly,Lycoma delicatula, has been detected and confirmed from a private residence in Farmington, CT. The insect appears to […]
Pesticide Safety Team Wins Extension Award
Indianapolis, IN. A NPSEC (National Pesticide Safety Education Center) team comprised of staff and Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) coordinators that are members of the Respirator Collaboration Team participated in eXtension’s Impact Collaborative Summit in Indianapolis from October 16th – 18th. The purpose of the Summit was for institutional and national Extension teams to bring […]
UConn CVMDL Monitoring for Longhorned Tick
Recent reports of the longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis or Asian Longhorned tick)being found in Westchester County, New York have alarmed livestock owners and outdoor enthusiasts statewide. The longhorned tick is native to Asia and was reported in the continental USA in November 2017, when it was first discovered on a sheep farm in Hunterdon County, New […]
Robotic Conference at UConn
Register by Friday, October 19th to attend the Robotic Milking Conference at UConn. The day-long event will cover the impacts on animal health, welfare, and economic sustainability for Northeast dairy farms. Admission is $40 per person and $20 for students. For more information and to register visit s.uconn.edu/roboticmilking
Beef Auction at UConn Scheduled for Oct. 21st
UConn’s Department of Animal Science is holding their annual beef auction on Sunday, October 21st at the Cattle Resource Unit (Heifer Barn) on Horsebarn Hill Road in Storrs. The auction will be held at UConn’s Storrs Campus at the UConn Cattle Resource Unit (Heifer Barn) located on Horsebarn Hill Road. The event is free and […]
Ask UConn Extension
Do you have questions about food, health, or sustainability topics? Ask UConn Extension. Extension educators are working in every town and city in Connecticut to bring the research of UConn to our communities. UConn Extension is on a collaborative journey. We co-create knowledge with farmers, families, communities, and businesses. We educate. We convene groups to […]
Farm Aid 2018
UConn Seniors Casey Lambert and Evan Lentz staffed the joint UConn Extension/UMass Extension Fruit informational booth at the Farm Aid 2018 event on Saturday, September 22nd held at the Xfinity Center in Hartford. They work with Mary Concklin, Associate Extension Educator-Fruit Specialist, with commercial fruit growers on a USDA-iPiPE grant.
Solid Ground Farmer Training E-Learning
Did you miss a class? A selection of trainings from the Solid Ground program are available in an e-learning format at newfarms.extension.uconn.edu. BF 104: Soil Health and Management with Kip Kolesinskas is a three-part course. Participants will learn the basic soil science principles for maintaining healthy soils. Guidance on soil testing and reading soil tests is provided. BF 105: Fruit Production for Small […]
CT Seeks Better Information & Understanding of Produce Growers
Connecticut seeks better information and understanding of produce growers in the state The University of Connecticut Extension is collaborating with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg) to support Connecticut produce growers covered by the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. In order to do that, we need to have more and better […]
New Group of Students Trained in Seafood Safety
Before a bowl of clam chowder or a freshly grilled swordfish steak ends up on a restaurant diner’s plate, specially trained seafood handlers will have been working to eliminate any risk of contamination or hazards that could cause illness. Many of those handlers will have learned their skills in training offered by Connecticut Sea Grant, including a three-day course held in […]
Enroll in the Master Composter Program
Enroll Now in the UConn 2018 Master Composter Program Almost 25% of household waste can be recycled through composting. The purpose of the UConn Master Composter program is to educate and train residents about the basics of small scale composting and in exchange for the training, volunteers will pass on their knowledge to others through […]
Building Community Through a Garden
Dozens of bright yellow Goldfinches flew alongside as I made my way up the winding driveway past their meadows and into the heart of the 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm in Bloomfield. The high, wiry whistle of the birds sounded the alarm at my arrival. I parked behind the barn, and climbed the hill to […]
Fairholm Farm: CT Green Pasture’s Dairy Farm of the Year
The Green Pastures Award judging team has chosen Fairholm Farm as the Connecticut Dairy Farm of the Year, 2018. The annual award will be presented at the Big E Green Pasture’s banquet where each New England state presents their winning farm. The farms present a slide show of their management strategies and innovative goals that […]
Food Safety for Produce Buyers
On July 17, UConn Extension and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture hosted a meeting in Storrs for operations (distributors, schools, institutions, restaurants, grocery stores, and foodservice operations) that buy fresh produce from farms in southern New England. A team of regulators and produce safety educators from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island conceived and developed the […]
Helping Connecticut Farmers Succeed: A Collaborative Journey
“Educating farmers in sustainable, profitable and environmentally-sound food production practices benefits every man, woman and child in the country directly, on a daily basis, by helping to maintain a safe and secure food source. Knowledge of effective IPM practices helps prevent excess application of pesticides by otherwise frustrated growers,” Jude Boucher says. The name Jude […]
40 Gallon Challenge
Connecticut residents are invited to join the 40 Gallon Challenge and take on new practices to increase water conservation. The 40 Gallon Challenge is a national call for residents and businesses to reduce water use on average by 40 gallons per person, per day. As a participant in the challenge, one commits to taking on […]
Quantifying Water Use
“New York City is surrounded by water,” Angie Harris says, “I realized it was a great source of beauty, transportation, and recreation. But it was also contaminated and deeply problematic.” Angie grew up in Queens, New York. She realized water was a crucial resource of concern while an undergraduate at New York University studying environmental […]
Award Winning Cheese
The UConn Creamery, part of the Department of Animal Science, has once again taken home awards from the annual American Cheese Society Judging and Competition. Our Chipotle Queso Blanco and our Green Chile Queso Blanco were recognized for excellence amongst 1966 products from over 200 entering companies. Both cheeses were awarded third place in their […]
Hartford County Extension Center Moving
Our Hartford County Extension Center is moving. As of Friday, August 3rd, please use the following address and new phone numbers: Exchange Building – Suite 262 270 Farmington Ave Farmington, CT, 06032 (860) 409-9050 Fax (860) 409-9080 hartford@uconn.edu Please be patient with our faculty and staff over the next week as it may take a […]