Agriculture & Farming

Ensuring a vibrant and sustainable agricultural industry and food supply

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 […]

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 […]

Celebrating George Washington Carver

As the first African American who attended Iowa State University, George Washington Carver earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. An expert in plant research and development, Dr. Carver was recruited to Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, by the Black Educator, Booker T. Washington. Some of Dr. Carver’s accomplishments include: 👉🏾Taught black farmers how to rotate […]

Questions About Feeding Your Family?

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle may be difficulty when you are worried about the affordability of healthy foods and creating nutritious meals. UConn EFNEP, UConn Healthy Family CT, and SNAP-Ed are dedicated to helping you and your family achieve health goals. Scan the QR code to learn more or visit communitynutrition.cahnr.uconn.edu

Seminarios Web para Trabajadores de la Industria de Invernaderos y Viveros Ornamentales – 2023

Le invitamos a atender a estos seminarios web (webinars) en español diseñados para trabajadores en invernaderos y viveros de producción de plantas ornamentales. El programa incluye ocho presentaciones/videos de 30 minutos cada una. Marzo 20: Saneamiento de superficies duras entre ciclos de cultivos en invernaderos que producen plantas ornamentales – Rosa Raudales Marzo 2: Control de malezas como […]

Deploying Sugar Kelp Seed String

The collapse of the lobster fishery in the late 1990s forced many lobstering families to find alternative ways to make a living on the water. While many transitioned into shellfish aquaculture, one lobsterman was interested in adding a new crop into his business: sugar kelp. DJ King (King Lobsters) cultivates shellfish and sugar kelp on […]

Black History Month – Week 2

The theme for this week is Activism. Food activism can be seen in many aspects of African American History. 👉🏾When the Transatlantic Slave Trade started, captured Africans braided seeds and grains into their hair to bring their foods with them as a way of survival. Rice, okra, peanuts, benne, watermelon are some examples of seeds […]

Substitutability of cash and in-kind benefit among the poor farming households in developing countries

  PI: Shuresh Ghimire The purpose of this study is to find the value of in-kind benefit respondent is willing to give up for less cash amount or vice-versa and identify the factors affecting the preference of cash vs in-kind benefit. Funded by: UConn’s OVPR Research Excellence Program This study expects to determine the degree of […]

Deciding How Much to Make or Buy?

Save money and improve nutrition by deciding what to make and buy. Try buying in bulk, doubling recipes, using leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch/dinner or freezing leftovers for future meals!   Ahorre dinero   y mejore la nutrición al decidir qué hacer y comprar. Intente comprar al por mayor, duplicando recetas, usando las sobras para el almuerzo/cena […]

Recognizing Diane Gawronski, UConn Master Gardener, for Receiving Haddam Historical Society Award

We love sharing the accomplishments of Master Gardeners! Diane Gawronski, MG Middlesex Class of 2022, was honored this year with an award by the Haddam Historical Society. See their full post below: “This year the Haddam Historical Society acknowledged garden volunteer Dr. Diane Gawronski, DMD with the Founders’ Day Award. Diane has been responsible for […]

Tri-State SARE Professional Development Needs Assessment

The Tri-State (CT, MA, RI) SARE Professional Development Program is planning activities for the next three years – through 2026. The project will focus on training agricultural service providers as well as farmers in CT, MA and RI on sustainable livestock production practices. Specific content areas will be determined based on the feedback and needs […]

Holiday Giving With Fairfield County Community Nutrition

The Fairfield County Community Nutrition team assembled and delivered a can opener and  ‘Canned Foods Fill MyPlate’ materials to the Jericho Food Pantry in Danbury. Seventy-five of Danbury’s most in need residents will receive the gift bags in time for the holidays.              

CT GROWN MARKETING TOOLS: LIST YOUR CSA

Does your farm offer a CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) program?  In the upcoming months the Connecticut Grown campaign will be promoting CSA’s and we want to be sure your farm is included. The Department of Agriculture maintains a list of Connecticut CSAs at https://portal.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74ef6c0c3fdcad5c83a78f294&id=343708bd23&e=075feba670. To add your farm to this list, or to update the information […]

Foundations of Shellfish Farming Training Course 2023

Registration: http://s.uconn.edu/shellfish  Cost: $300 Foundations of Shellfish Farming is a training course for new and prospective farmers and those who simply seek to learn more about aquaculture practices and techniques. Topics that will be covered include: how to establish and operate a shellfish business; leasing and permitting requirements; considerations for gear, vessels, and facilities, shellfish biology, aquaculture techniques and best practices, and risks […]

Give to Extension

Gifts to Extension support programs in all 169 cities and towns of Connecticut. Your contribution positively impacts the 4-H youth program, agriculture and food, climate, health, and sustainable landscapes. Support Extension today at s.uconn.edu/givetoextension   #GivingDay

8 Essential “Always” of Holiday Food Safety

Read the updated version of this article. Article by Indu Upadhyaya, Ph.D., Assistant Extension Educator, Food Safety Holiday gatherings bring families and friends together, to spread more joy and happiness. While the merriment begins around Thanksgiving and continues until the New Years’, the food during holiday buffets, the party trays, the turkey, and other delicacies […]

Programas y Servicios en Español

    ¿Sabía que la Extensión de UConn ofrece programas y servicios en español? Si tiene interés en la salud, nutrición, horticultura, manejo integrado de plagas, y el desarrollo personal y comunitario nuestros programas están disponibles para ayudarlo a aprender!   UConn EFNEP El Programa Ampliado de Educación en Alimentación y Nutrición (UConn EFNEP) ayuda […]

Spanish Produce Safety Training Videos

Produce Safety Training VideosAvailable in Spanish and English Attention Farmers: UConn Extension’s 2 farm worker training videos are available now in Spanish. These are to help you with training your Spanish speaking employees in produce safety practices. These resources will help make your employees follow proper food safety on farm and ensure a safe food production. The videos were […]

Husky Harvest Info Session- Regional Campus Food Pantry

  SNAP-Ed Food Security recently teamed up with United Way to offer a info session for Stamford campus students and Husky Harvest clients.  Husky Harvest is the name for the new regional campus food pantry program. Food insecurity is rising on many college campuses and Husky Harvest strives to provide students with resources while minimizing […]

Respecting Our Roots with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation

A partnership between UConn and local tribes led to the development of Meechooôk Farm and other programs that strengthen the tribal community, their land-base, and self-sufficiency. Learn more about the project by reading this article. Financial support for this work was provided by the USDA NIFA Federally-Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP Awards 2017-41580-26950 and 2022-41580-37944). […]

Fall Updates from Extension

The changing seasons are a reliable time marker, and this fall, UConn Extension is experiencing our own transitions. It’s an exciting time as new educators join the team and continue implementing our statewide programs. Catch up on our latest updates: s.uconn.edu/fall-news

Keep Your Food Safe & Fresh: Simple Canning & Preservation Tips

Are you looking for a way to keep fruits and vegetables fresh for longer? Do you want to extend the shelf life of summer and fall foods from your garden?  The webinar hosted in late September is now available for viewing online! Follow the link below to the webinar recording, and follow along with the […]

Novice or veteran, fishermen value safety & survival training

Participants in Safety at Sea training practice boarding a life raft. Story and photos by Judy Benson Dan Russell and Abraham Powell are at opposite ends of their fishing careers. While both work from vessels docked in New London, Russell is a boat captain who’s been fishing for 50 years. Powell is brand new, having […]

UConn Beef Cattle to Be Sold at Middlesex Livestock Auction

EDIT: Today’s sale of UConn Beef Cattle at the Middlesex Livestock Auction has been changed to next Monday, October 31, 2022. A select number of cows will still be sold at today’s auction (starting at 7PM) and a number of young stock will be for sale on the 31st.  More details can be found at […]

Indigenous People’s Day

Indigenous People’s Day celebrates the cultures, histories, and contributions of Native and Indigenous peoples in the United States and across the world. It honors America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal nations that continue to thrive here today, recognizing their contributions and acknowledging their resilience and strength in the face of a centuries-long campaign of violence, […]

Encuesta del USDA para Agricultores Latin@ de habla hispana (estipendio de $200) // Latinx Spanish Speaking Farmers USDA Survey ($200 Stipend)

English message follows below the Spanish message // El mensaje en inglés sigue debajo de este mensaje en español.   Estimada comunidad agrícola de CT y del noreste:   Espero que todos hayan tenido un gran comienzo de semana. Mi nombre es Dra. Ivette Ruiz soy la fundadora de Healing By Growing Farms. Estoy muy […]

Nutrition Education in Action

Extension is out and about – and you may run into us at a local event. Our nutrition educators were at two events on Saturday, September 17th.   First, the public learned how “Healthy Eating can Boost Your Immune System” through two on-site classes and cooking demonstrations at the Danbury Farmers’ Market. Participants learned how […]

Home and Garden Center Launches New Website

The UConn Home & Garden Education Center has been posting weekly blogs on a variety of horticultural topics since 2009. Over the years, contributors have included UConn faculty, staff, students and even a few guest columnists, each providing their unique takes on what’s happening in their yards and gardens, the latest horticultural happenings, ways to […]

Adventures in Agriculture with Mashantucket Youth and 4-H

As a part of the symbiotic partnership between the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (MPTN) and UConn Extension and supported by USDA NIFA’s Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP), tribal youth engage in outreach opportunities designed to educate students about the origin of food and fiber. Programming during summer 2022 included a series of STEM activity […]

10 Ways to Volunteer with UConn 4-H

No matter how much time you have, volunteering with UConn 4-H makes a difference by helping youth explore and discover the skills they need to lead for a lifetime. There are lots of ways to get involved! Please note, your volunteer experience and/or opportunities may be happening virtually or in-person. Contact UConn 4-H for more […]

Online Course Explores History of GMOs and More

UConn Extension 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. The asynchronous course is available on-demand; it has eight online modules with instructors […]

Help Wanted: Become a UConn 4-H Volunteer

UConn 4-H is Accepting Volunteer Applications UConn 4-H provides youth with life-changing experiences from flying rockets into space with NASA to organizing national conferences for other youth, and everything in between. These experiences are possible because of thousands of adult mentors and volunteers who work throughout the state and guide youth to reach their potential. […]

Spotted Lanternfly on the Move in Connecticut

The Spotted Lanternfly is on the move in Connecticut. In mid-August adults were confirmed in Norwich (New London County) and this week in two locations in New Milford (Litchfield County). These confirmed populations are in addition to the ones already known in Fairfield County (Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, Darian, Norwalk, Westport & Fairfield) and New […]

ConnCAP and SNAP-Ed/EFNEP

Article by Riley Courtney In July, Heather Peracchio, RDN and summer Extension intern Riley Courtney visited UConn’s Stamford campus for the purpose of providing nutrition and healthy eating education to teen members of the ConnCAP program. To start off, the two instructed the group on some principals of nutrition using the USDA’s MyPlate as a […]