Farm Stress Management
Farm Stress Management Course
This online self-paced training is designed for Agriculture Service Providers to equip them with the skills and knowledge to support farms and farm families in times of distress. The training was developed by the University of Maryland Extension Farm Stress Management Team. The goals include: identify signs of distress, develop skills to communicate with those experiencing stress, and provide resources both locally and nationally. Financial and regulatory topics will also be discussed as they are often contributors to stress on the farm. To access the course visit our online portal at https://umeagfs.teachable.com/p/farm-stress-management.
For more information on the Farm Stress Management program visit go.umd.edu/farmfamily. The program is open to all and is funded through a grant with the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under sub award number ENE20-160-34268.
Agricultural Law
Event: Solar Visioning Info Session
Date: August 26, 2024 | Monday
Time: 5:30-8:30 PM | Cost: Visioning Info Session is free to attend, but registration is required
Location: Chesapeake College, HEC 1000 College Circle, Wye Mills, MD 21679
Description: Residents of Queen Anne’s County are invited to attend an upcoming Solar Visioning Info Session to learn about utility-scale solar development and participate in facilitated discussions.
This session aims to educate the public on regional utility-scale solar development and provide a platform for community dialogue on various aspects of solar projects. The insights gathered from this community conversation will inform local leaders, government officials, and the research team about resident perceptions of solar development. The discussion will help shape the following:
- Community vision
- Comprehensive planning, including solar overlay maps
- Strategies for landowners to negotiate with solar developers
- Strategies for communities to negotiate with solar developers.
Your participation will help University of Maryland (UMD) Extension and public officials in understanding how to proactively engage communities in planning for solar energy land use. Recognizing that many rural landowners may be approached by developers, our goal is to enhance the solar siting process by incorporating the voices and priorities of local and county government and community members. A summary report will be provided to all participants later in the summer.
This event is organized in partnership with Queen Anne’s County Government, MDA’s Maryland Agricultural Conflict Resolution Service, UMD’s Agriculture Law and Education Initiative, and UMD Extension. UMD Extension provides Maryland residents with the highest quality of public service, distinguished educational programming, and cutting-edge research through the dissemination of unbiased research-based educational information. The upcoming Solar Visioning Info Session is free to attend, but registration is required. For more information and to register, visit go.umd.edu/QASolar. Register by August 12, 2024 to secure a dinner meal and to receive a gift valued at $25 when you attend the meeting. We look forward to your participation in this important community event.
For more information, or if you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Drew Schiavone (dschiavo@umd.edu; 301-432-2767).
Register for QA Solar
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Land in Maryland: Basic Legal Issues for All Landowners (ONLINE COURSE FOR LANDOWNERS)
The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC) has released a new online course for rural landowners in Maryland. The So You Want to Own Farmland in Maryland course is now available through the University of Maryland’s Enterprise Learning Management System – Canvas. The free program will cover those legal issues that Maryland landowners may face. A grant funds the program through the Northeast Risk Management
Education Center. The online course will feature Paul Goeringer, a Senior Faculty Specialist and Extension Specialist in agricultural law. He will address leasing, landowner liability issues, right-to-farm law, fencing laws, livestock liability, and estate planning. For more information or to register, go to https://go.umd.edu/3ZSkv4r.
LEAD Maryland
The LEAD Program seeks applicants with career, service, or interest in: production agriculture, natural resources, the environment and conservation, food (processing, sourcing, distribution, marketing, safety), rural communities and development, business, communications, education, government, science and technology, finance, and much more. Fellowships provide:
- Public Issues Education (PIE);
- Personal growth and leadership development opportunities;
- Communications and problem-solving skills training;
- Support, direction, and resources to help emerging leaders succeed in serving agricultural, natural resources, and rural community sectors; Opportunities to learn more about Maryland and to meet leaders from throughout the state.
For more information about the program and the application process
Beginning Farmers
Maryland Beginning Farmer Success Online Course
The course starts February 13, 2025 and ends April 17, 2025.
Each week there will be some required material, and some optional electives. Required material will be on core topics necessary for all kinds of aspiring farmers to have some knowledge about. Electives will offer you the opportunity to explore your unique interests and dig into more advanced material.
To incentivize completing the course,
students who complete the week's required material by noon on Thursday will be entered into a drawing to be mailed a book on a farming related topic.
Students who complete all the required material by 5 pm EST April 24, 2025 will get a certificate of completion.
Each Thursday night, from 7 to 8:30 pm, we will have a live class. All classes will be held online via the software Zoom.
Registration
Register for course using the Eventbrite link. Course registration is $60 plus Eventbrite fees of $5.87. Two people from the same family/couple may attend the course under one registration.
If the registration fee is is a financial barrier, please fill out this scholarship application available through registration contact Andrea Franchini at andrea1@umd.edu or 301-226-7416