Agriculture & Food

Ensuring a vibrant and sustainable agricultural industry and food supply

Take survey on Contaminants of Emerging Concern

A partnership of the Connecticut, New Hampshire and North Carolina Sea Grant programs is conducting a survey as part of a federally funded project announced in September 2021. Survey responses, which will be kept confidential, are due by Dec. 31. Contaminants of Emerging Concern are not well regulated and their impacts on human health and ecosystems […]

2022 Vegetable Production Certificate Course

We’re offering a Vegetable Production Certificate Course, beginning on January 20, 2022. It is a fully online course for new and beginning farmers who have 0-3 years of vegetable growing experience or no formal training in agriculture. The participants will learn answers to the basic questions about farm business planning, planning and preparing for vegetable […]

Job: Associate Dean for Extension and Diversity

The College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) at the University of Connecticut (UConn) invites applications for the position of Associate Dean for Extension and Diversity with appointment as Full Professor with tenure in a CAHNR Department related to the candidate’s academic discipline. We are seeking an inspirational, dynamic, and visionary individual to provide […]

Support for Extension

Thank you! Your support helped us co-create solutions to the critical issues facing Connecticut in 2021. We are committed to providing transformational learning experiences to all our audiences. Extension continues to adapt and collaborate to find solutions for the human, environmental, and agricultural issues that our state faces. You can support Extension at: s.uconn.edu/givetoextension

CT Sea Grant Fall-Winter Magazine

Connecticut Sea Grant has published their Fall-Winter 2021-2022 issue of Wrack Lines magazine. The theme is “Discovery, Rediscovery and Rebirth”. It can be found in print and online here.  The lead article package describes the Connecticut Estuarine Research Reserve (CT NERR), a collection of the waters and lands at the lower Connecticut River and the […]

Celebrate Native American History with Recipes

November is Native American History month and our UConn Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) recommends adding some Native American recipes to your menu. We have the Blueberry Slump and Three Sisters recipes in English and Spanish. In Native American folklore, blueberries are called “star berries’ because the blossom at the end of […]

USDA Ready to Help Connecticut Farmers and Ranchers Recover from Extreme Weather

USDA Ready to Help Connecticut Farmers and Ranchers Recover from Extreme Weather TOLLAND, Connecticut, November 15, 2021 — Recent extreme weather conditions have impacted farmers in Connecticut. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), has disaster assistance programs available to help agricultural producers recover after natural disasters, including flooding and wind events. […]

CT Sea Grant Research Projects

Connecticut Sea Grant has selected six research projects for the 2022-2024 funding cycle. Focuses of these grants include gaining an understanding of marine life amid changing environmental conditions, community’s perception and behaviors in response to flood risks, and human relationships with the marine environment and individuals’ “ocean identity”. The projects are slated to receive a […]

AG Mechanics Workshop Series hosted by Solid Ground

Solid Ground is excited to Announce our 2021-2022 Ag-Mechanics Workshop Series! (COST PER WORKSHOP $25 – Lunch included | SPACES ARE LIMITED! If the cost is prohibitive, you may request a stipend for lost wages and/or travel, by emailing Rebecca.Toms@UConn.edu Please contact us 2 weeks in advance with special needs (dietary, translation, accessibility, etc.) We’ll […]

Faces of Extension

“What I find rewarding in my role as an Extension Educator is working with stakeholders to not only address barriers they encounter but to create resources to better inform various audiences,” Anoushka says, one of our Connecticut Sea Grant educators that specializes in seaweed. Learn more at https://seagrant.uconn.edu/.     Meet Shuresh Ghimire, one of […]

Faces of Extension: Bill Davenport

Meet Bill Davenport, our UConn 4-H Litchfield County Educator. “After growing up as an active UConn 4-H member, my ultimate career goal was to become a UConn 4-H Educator so I could help provide 4-H youth with the life-changing experiences, skills and friendships I received from my own 4-H experience. I am thrilled to finally […]

Department of Animal Science UConn Beef Cattle to be Sold at Middlesex Livestock Auction

UConn beef cattle will be sold at the Middlesex Livestock Auction (488 Cherry Hill Road, Middlefield, CT 06455) on Monday, October 25, 2021. Sale animals are available for public viewing at the Cattle Resource Unit on Horsebarn Hill Road in Storrs, CT Monday through Friday between 10 AM and 4 PM. All animals will receive a […]

Danbury Farmers’ Market YouTube Page

SNAP-Ed has been a long standing community partner of the Danbury Farmers’ Market Community Collaborative (DFMCC) providing on-site indirect or direct nutrition education for the past 12 years. In the past 5 years, SNAP participants have benefited from direct nutrition education via a 30-minute bilingual nutrition presentation and cooking demonstration.  This year given COVID-19, only farm […]

Job Opening: Public Service Specialist

Public Service Specialist UConn Extension, Hartford County The UConn Department of Extension welcomes applications for an experienced part-time professional to coordinate and assist with implementing professional development and creating educational resources on genetic engineering. This is a temporary position that reports to the Associate Extension Educator. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Plan and implement professional development experiences […]

Part-time Jobs: Master Gardener County Coordinator Positions

We have two part-time jobs open for Master Gardener County Coordinators, one in Tolland County (Vernon office) and one in New London County (Norwich office). Position descriptions and application information are below. Position Description: Master Gardener County Coordinator – Tolland County  (We also have a position open in New London County – see below for […]

CT Sea Grant publishes guidebook on Long Island Sound

In the early 1990s Connecticut Sea Grant published popular guidebooks of Long Island Sound called Living Treasures: The Plants and Animals of Long Island Sound and Tesoros Vivientes: Las plantas y animales del Long Island Sound. Accompanying the books, the Sea Grant educators also developed slide presentations, which provide a great overview of the plants and animals that live […]

Job Openings in Farmington and Bethel

We’re hiring! Extension has two positions open: Assistant/Associate Cooperative Extension Educator (UConn 4-H educator based in our Bethel office) Educational Program Assistant 1, Hartford County Extension (75% part-time position located in Hartford).   Apply online at https://hr.uconn.edu/jobs/. Educational Program Assistant (75% Position) JOB SUMMARY The UConn Extension Center located in Farmington, CT is seeking applications […]

Extension EFNEP Programming Positively Impacts Participants

Our Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) shifted during the pandemic, just as everyone did. Last summer I had the opportunity to work with Bristol and New Britain HRA programs teaching their summer youth employment program. Their Program Director asked me to create a five-week virtual class, with 16 hours’ worth of work per […]

Help Contain the Spread of the Spotted Lanternfly in Connecticut

The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is continuing its move through Connecticut. It has been found in Orange and Milford, Connecticut. It is important that everyone help spread the word about this invasive pest. Many farms in Connecticut have visitors that travel from areas where SLF populations are established in Connecticut and outside Connecticut. What can you […]

USDA Encourages Ag Producers, Residents to Prepare for Tropical Storm

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses in the path of tropical storms that USDA has programs that provide assistance in the wake of disasters. USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices stand ready and are eager to help.  USDA partnered with FEMA and other disaster-focused organizations […]

Unpeeled: The Case Files of Maya McCluen Game is Available

Navigating the grocery store aisle is challenging for many consumers—especially those who want to buy the most nutritious food and stay within their budget. The University of Connecticut (UConn) Extension New Technologies in Agricultural Extension (NTAE) team developed an interactive learning activity (or game), Unpeeled: The Case Studies of Maya McCluen. Our team sought to clarify […]

UConn Native Plants and Pollinators conference

The third biennial Native Plants and Pollinators conference will be held Friday, November 5, 2021, beginning at 9 a.m., virtually via Zoom.  Register at s.uconn.edu/NPPC2021Register! Early Registration $30.00, by Thursday, September 30, 2021 $35.00, after September 30, 2021 Students, $15.00 with valid school ID Join us for 4 hours of presentations featuring current science-based research and […]

Apply to Become a UConn Extension Master Gardener

2022 classes will include hybrid and virtual options Fall is a great time to plan for next year’s gardening activities! Apply now for the 2022 UConn Extension Master Gardener Program. Classes will be held in New Haven, Norwich, Tolland, Torrington, and Stamford. The deadline for applications is Friday, October 18, 2021. “The program provides the […]

Tackling Food & Justice, Youth Style!

On Wednesday, August 18th, The CT Farm to School Collaborative partnered with The CT Youth Food Program Alliance to host a virtual event, for youth, by youth! The virtual event included a career panel, and mini-workshops, that were hosted by the following Youth MCs, Sayaada Arouna of Grow Hartford Youth Program, Melyssa Cristino of Grow Windham, […]

Birch Mill Farm – Connecticut Dairy Farm of the Year 2021

New England Green Pastures Connecticut Dairy Farm of the Year 2021 We are delighted to announce that Katlyn and Tim Kinsella of Birch Mill Farm have been selected as the 2021 New England Green Pastures Connecticut Outstanding Farm. Birch Mill Farm is located in Falls Village in the bucolic northwest corner of Connecticut. They are […]

USDA Issues Statewide Farmland Disaster Declaration

Governor Ned Lamont announced late yesterday that farmers statewide will be able to apply for emergency disaster loans due to production loss based upon severe weather caused by Tropical Storm Elsa. Farmers have eight (8) months from yesterday’s date to apply for federal assistance. Please contact your local FSA office to discuss emergency assistance that […]

Online Course: Let’s Talk GMOs

Are you confused or do you have questions about GMOs? Do you feel inadequate when discussing GMOs? Are you given opposing information of GMOs and not sure what is right? Do you wonder how the misinformation about GMOs spreads like a wildfire? UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources is offering an online course, […]

Urban Farmer Trainings in Hartford

Urban Farmers and Hartford area Friends!    Get ready for Urban Farmer Trainings in Hartford!   August 21st and August 28th At Keney Park Sustainability Project and KNOX Inc 9:00am to 4:00pm Join the I Got Next Farmers (Lauren Little Edutainment, Samad Garden Initiative, Micro2Life and Derrick Bedward) as they cover topics such as  Community Farming Soil […]

Controlling Black Knot – #AskUConnExtension

What is Black Knot? Black Knot, is a disease commonly found on plums and Prunus species. The fungus causes the plant to produce unusual galls which eventually grow to girdle twigs and branches, restricting water supply and killing portions of the canopy. It is spread to other plants via wind and water. Control Manage the disease […]