UConn Extension received four awards from the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) at the annual conference in June. Gold Award – Respecting Roots and Growing for the Future – Writing Team: Stacey Stearns Silver Award – On Farm Food Safety Animated Videos – Educational Video Team: Indu Upadhyaya, Mike Zaritheny, Juliana Restrepo-Marin, Stacey Stearns, Bonnie […]
Agriculture & Food
Ensuring a vibrant and sustainable agricultural industry and food supply
The Big E, 4-H, and FFA
The Big E can be a transformational educational experience for youth involved in 4-H and/or the National FFA Organization. Learn more about the event in personal testimonials and impact statements in this video!
Did You Know? Ants
While ants can be a nuisance, they are actually considered beneficial predators when they are in places where they are not disrupting plant growth. They prefer sandy, dry soils and that is probably why they are in this area. Compost is not an effective means of killing ants, but if a sandy soil is amended […]
Can the wildfire particles get into the soil and our food?
Can the particles in the air currently from the Canadian wildfires get into the soil and then into our food being grown locally? Smoke and ash from current Canadian wildfires have raised questions about the safety of produce growing on farms and gardens in Connecticut and beyond. While the number 1 concern from wildfire smoke […]
Did You Know? Asparagus
Asparagus should not be harvested the first two years after planting. The third year, harvest is limited to 2 weeks. After that, it is safe to harvest for 4-8 weeks, then allow ferns to develop. Some people opt not to harvest the 3rd year, but it can be done. -Pamm Cooper
UConn Summer Riding: Community Polo Lessons 2023
Polo lesson registration is now open! Lessons are available to Intermediate or Advanced Level riders who can maintain control of their horse at the walk, trot and canter, and comfortable on different levels of horses. DATES Session 1: Jun 5 – 24 Session 2: Jun 26 – Jul 14 Session 3: Jul 17 – Aug […]
2023 Connecticut Grower Crop Loss Reporting
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture, in coordination with UConn Extension and USDA Farm Service Agency, has created a crop loss form to gather data from growers related to crop loss impacts incurred to date in 2023 due to weather.Connecticut Department of Agriculture will share data with USDA Farm Service Agency and UConn Extension. By filling out this […]
Did You Know? Crabapples
If a crabapple fails to produce fruit, but does have flowers, then either flowers were not pollinated or the tree has other issues and is stressed, and will then abort fruit. Crabapple trees in shade also tend to produce little to no fruit. -Pamm Cooper
Upcoming Field Workshops on Improving Pasture Management for Sustainable Livestock Production
REMINDER: Our Tri-State SARE Professional Development Project is pleased to announce two summer workshops for Improving Pasture Management for Sustainable Livestock Production. Click the flyer image above or the link below for more information on the workshops. Please email Rachel.Bespuda@uconn.edu with any questions. Additional information on the SARE program can be found at https://livestock.extension.uconn.edu/sare/ Workshop […]
WTNH Channel 8 airs story on CT shell recycling program
WTNH Channel 8 news broadcast a story about Connecticut Sea Grant’s shell recycling initiative on its April 19 show. CTSG’s Tessa Getchis, aquaculture extension specialist, and Michael Gilman, shell recycling coordinator, were interviewed for the piece, titled “Connecticut oyster recycling program reinvigorates reefs.” Watch the story here.
Chloride is Crucial for Crops!
Article by Haiying Tao, PhD, UConn Assistant Professor, Soil Fertility & Health While we all are aware that the big three, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are needed for healthy plants, many of us don’t give much thought to the dozen or so trace elements that while needed in tiny quantities are also […]
4-H Youth Survey
Are you a 4-H member who participated in 2023? Are you between the ages of 13 and 18? Do you want to share your experience? Please help us gather feedback on our programming by filling out the anonymous Annual Index Survey at s.uconn.edu/4-Hindex23
Advancing Environmental & Climate Justice in CT
Romina Flores Diaz, a political science student at UConn Hartford, and Mayra Rodríguez González, our urban and community forestry assistant extension educator, advanced UConn CAHNR’s strategic vision through their collaborative research on Resilient Cities, Racism, and Equity. At the Undergraduate Research Conference in Storrs, Romina presented an evidence-based approach to achieve environmental and climate justice […]
Windham Extension Council Annual Meeting
Join us for a celebration of UConn Extension work with the Windham County Extension Council. Dr. Joe Emenheiser, our livestock Extension Educator, will conduct a demonstration on considerations of sheep management with sheep onsite. Topics will include basic handling, body condition scoring, general management, and more! Stay for local apple crisp and refreshments. Wednesday, May […]
UConn Extension Welcomes New Fruit Educator Evan Lentz
How can UConn Extension help you? Evan Lentz, the new assistant Extension educator of fruit production and IPM at UConn’s Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture wants to know. Lentz, a recent graduate of UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, has expertise in commercial fruit production with an emphasis on small and some niche […]
Problem Solvers in the Aquaculture Industry
In attempt to meet the increased demand for seaweed, aquaculture producers are working to expand the North American seaweed farming industry. However, efforts to strengthen the industry have highlighted the need to address emerging challenges. “Processing capabilities, long term nursery production, and competition with imports” are among the most prevalent concerns says Anoushka Concepcion, an […]
BIPOC Farm Mentorship Program Application
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture is soliciting applications from individual farms and/or non-profits to identify, host and mentor a BIPOC apprentice(s) for the 2023 season. The focus of the apprenticeship must be on specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” The […]
Free One-on-One Consultations for CT Farmers
Hey Farmers! For those of you that are growing commercially, aka are a farm businesses, it’s time for you to sign up for a FREE consultations with some of the experts in the state surrounding a wide variety of topics! Check it out here: https://newfarms.uconn.edu/consultations/ These are free one on one consultations for Connecticut Farmers, with specialists in certain fields of […]
Meat Science Program Merges Local Roots with Global Perspective
Connecticut may be best known as leaders in manufacturing and insurance, but one longstanding UConn program aims to help beef up the state’s meat industry. The meat science program in UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources teaches students about Connecticut’s unique industry profile while providing them with the skills to work anywhere. Established in the […]
Virtual Farmer Listening Sessions
UConn’s College of Agricultural, Health and Natural Resources is hosting farmer listening sessions! We would like to hear from you on the challenges you face, and the support you would like to see UConn provide. We will be presenting initial results from our producer survey and then open the floor up to all of you. […]
New England Kelp Harvest Week
Join us for the New England Kelp Harvest Week celebration April 20th through April 30th! Connecticut Sea Grant has been collaborating with the state’s aquaculture industry to develop sugar kelp farming and a market for the product. This week kelp famers are partnering with restaurants across Connecticut to provide tasty dishes with locally grown kelp. […]
Job Opening: Assistant/Associate Extension Educator In Soil Health
Search #: 496069 Work type: Full-time Location: Hartford County Extension Ctr Categories: Faculty Extension Educator The Department of Extension is seeking applicants for a full-time (11 month) non-tenure track Assistant/Associate Extension Educator in Soil Health. The successful applicant will assess, develop and deliver impactful extension programs on soil health, regenerative agriculture, and conservation practices. These programs will build an […]
Urban Farmer Training Course
UConn Extension, in partnership with CPEN, the Community Placemaking Engagement Network, is offering an urban farmer training course in New Haven scheduled to run from April to October. The course, taught by Jacqueline Kowalski, a UConn urban agriculture educator, will train locals to produce fresh food, manage a marketplace and develop as agricultural entrepreneurs and vendors. […]
Free Poultry Seminar with UConn Extension
Improving Poultry Production Using Natural Interventions Wednesday, April 26, 2023 10:00-2:00 Tolland County Extension Center 24 Hyde Avenue, Vernon, CT 06066 Join UConn Extension and a team of experts for an informative presentation and discussion on poultry health and disease, the use of various additives in poultry production, and related topics. Click here to register! […]
SAFER CEA Conference April 13th and 14th
Registration is open! Join us on April 13th and 14th, 2023 for the SAFER Controlled Environment Agriculture conference! The Strategizing to Advance Future Extension and Research (SAFER) CEA conference aims to advance the science, knowledge and practice of food safety in the CEA produce industry. CEA industry stakeholders, regulatory partners and food safety research and […]
Let’s Talk GMOs Online Course
UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources is offering an online course, Let’s Talk GMOs: Creating Consistent Communication Messages. Participants are introduced to the basics of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). They will learn how to create consistent communication messages and manage dialogue processes about GMOs with various audiences. Most people have an emotional reaction to […]
Where Can I Purchase Sugar Kelp?
Sugar kelp is an excellent dietary source of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, calcium, and more. With the start of the harvesting season, there will be an abundant supply of kelp ready for purchase. Where can you purchase locally grown sugar kelp? See below! Learn more: Seaweed is on the Menu with Connecticut’s Sugar […]
Conserving Water by Eliminating Outdoor Irrigation
By Dr. Mike Dietz The one thing that people don’t want to hear is outdoor irrigation for watering lawns, and that is a waste, in my opinion. If you’re an agricultural producer or are growing a garden, that’s one thing, we need food, but if you are throwing that water on a green lawn, it’s just an absolute waste. That’s an area where we can make a […]
Water Webinar March 30, 2023
Are you drowning with questions about agricultural water? Join us for our water webinar on March 30! Topics include compliance dates, new assessment tools, and harvest/post-harvest water. Speakers: Indu Upadhyaya, Food Safety Extension Specialist Diane Wright Hirsch, Emeritus Faculty Food Safety Click/tap here or on the flyer above to register!
UConn 4-H is hiring Associate Extension Educators!
The Department of Extension is seeking applicants for three full-time (11-month), non-tenure track Assistant/Associate Extension Educators. One position will target Food and Agricultural Literacy, one on Environmental Literacy, and the other will focus on Healthy Lifestyles Literacy. These three vacant positions are not specifically designated to an assigned location. Final placement will be negotiable, with […]
UConn Extension Internship Application Deadline Extended
The application deadline for our summer internships has been extended to March 26th. Get paid while learning and working in a career-oriented role. We offer internships in the following disciplines: Food Health Nutrition Sustainability Research Agribusiness Youth Education Community Development Marketing Click here to view internship descriptions. Most of these roles are for an average […]
From This Land: Honoring Native Foods of Winter
Along with Narragansett artist, farmer and educator, Dawn M. Spears, Put Local On Your Tray is pleased to announce a new campaign series called, “From This Land: Honoring Native Foods“. The first installment of the series looks at native foods of winter, including maple syrup! You can find more information about artist Dawn M. Spears, […]
Highlights of Extension
Our 2022 Highlights of Extension report shows how UConn Extension continues innovating to meet audiences and partners around the issues identified in the strategic initiatives set forth by the UConn College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. Youth programs, water quality, and geospatial education are all part of the sustainable landscapes and climate portfolios and […]
Hungry or Full?
Waiting too long to eat between meals or overeating at meals can make you question whether or not you are hungry or full. Not drinking enough water throughout the day can also contribute to feeling hungry. We’ve put together 5 tips to help you recognize whether your body is telling you that it needs […]
GMO Training for Science/Agriscience Educators
Agriscience and Secondary Science educators: Apply now for a research study providing 30-hours of professional development training at the UConn Storrs campus about genetically modified organisms (GMOs), receive training in a new curriculum and increase your laboratory skills to expand student understanding. Compensation of $600 will be provided to participants. Visit s.uconn.edu/applygmo to learn more!
UConn Cannabis Symposium March 16-17, 2023
UConn Cannabis Symposium March 16–17, 2023UConn Student Union The University of Connecticut has been a leader nationally in developing the first series of courses offered at a U.S. academic institution on cannabis production. Join us on March 16-17 as expert speakers cover topics related to cannabis such as: plant production, biochemistry and genetics, clinical impacts, […]
Support Extension During UConn Gives
Extension program participants everywhere know that we are committed to providing an exceptional experience. During UConn Gives, a 36-hour giving initiative on March 8-9, program participants, faculty, staff, and friends worldwide come together to give back and celebrate what they care about at UConn Extension. Please join us in supporting our Extension programs – $5 […]
Apply to Become a Summer Intern with Extension
UConn Undergraduate Students: Apply for one of our summer internships. We have 18 opportunities available throughout the state. Learn more and apply at https://s.uconn.edu/interns Get paid and gain valuable in-the-field experience in your chosen discipline at an in-state Extension office location. Food Health Nutrition Sustainability Research Agribusiness Youth Education Community Development Marketing Learn where Extension […]
Jardin Para Principiantes
¿Quieres hacer un jardin pero no sabes cómo empezar? ¡UCONN Master Gardeners pueden ayudarte! Ofrecemos un taller “Jardin para Principiantes” el 14 de marzo del 2023. La presentación incluye como planificar tu jardin, la siembra, el mantenimiento, y la cosecha de sus vegetales, frutas o flores favoritos. También hablaremos de cómo hacer un jardin en […]
Getting to the Root Videos & Farmer Panels
From UConn Solid Ground: In 2022 we kicked off a new video series with the goal of raising the visibility of some of the many entrepreneurs among the new farmer community. Last year we learned about Cut Flower Farming at Eddy Farm and Niche Livestock Farming at BOTL farm. These videos as well as the […]