January 29, 2026

Deadline Tomorrow! Spanish for Produce Course Katie Dotterer founded Agvokate; a small business focused on bridging the language and culture gap in agriculture through Spanish and ESL programs designed specifically for the industry. She is launching a new program: Spanish for Produce Course. This is a program to help English speakers learn Spanish to more effectively communicate with Spanish speaking workers. View the event flyer.

Course starts February 3
Deadline to enroll is January 30

New! Precision Agriculture Technology Conference on February 26, 2026 University of Maryland College Park is thrilled to welcome experts from across the state and beyond who are advancing research and technology that directly impact field-level agricultural practices. This year’s conference features a speaker on virtual fencing for livestock management, a cutting-edge topic with a limited number of experts who bring together research-based knowledge and practical, real-world experience. Register and learn more about the event speakers on the conference website.

February 5th! Nursery Operator Certification (FTC) for Writing Nutrient Management Plans Offered in Feb 2026 Nursery Operator Certification (FTC) for writing nursery nutrient management plans will be offered to growers who are interested in attaining Farmer Training Certification for writing nutrient management plans. This program consists of a Training Day and an Exam/Signoff Day. The cost for this program is $40.00 and includes program costs (including lunch) and the MDA exam fee ($20). For consultants not taking the exam, the cost is $20. This training day, Thursday, February 5th, 2026, will consist of learning the plan-writing process. After the training day, you will have about 5 weeks, during which time you will study the Nursery Nutrient Management Training Manual and develop your plan. The Exam/Signoff Day will be at a location and on a date “to be announced”. This date will also be for reviewing your newly developed plan (or renewing your old plan). You must write a plan for Maryland Dept of Agriculture (MDA) to become certified. Learn more and register.

February 11th! 2026 H2-A Labor Workshops and Farm Succession Workshops The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC), University of Maryland Extension, and the Ag Law Education Initiative will host the final one-day workshop on Feb. 11 at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center, in the English Room. The Estate Planning workshop will be from 10 am to 2:30 pm. For more information or to register, go to https://agrisk.umd.edu/events. For more information, please contact Paul Goeringer at lgoering@umd.edu. View the event flyer

Maryland Farm Bureau Has a New Website Address! Be sure to check out the MDFB's new website: http://www.marylandfb.org/

Maryland Farm Bureau Demands Dismissal of MPRP Project: Legal Filing Highlights Project’s Failed Timeline On November 3rd, the MDFB in partnership with the Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick County Farm Bureaus, announced that it has filed a crucial motion with the Public Service Commission of Maryland (PSC) demanding the outright dismissal of the proposed Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP) transmission line application by PSEG. The filing argues that the PSEG’s own admission that it cannot meet the project’s critical June 2027 deadline is sufficient reason to immediately halt the case, saving Maryland taxpayers and hundreds of farmers from months of needless legal and financial burdens. (Read the Full Filing) Read the full press release.

BCFB Members! McGinnis Family from Baltimore County to Receive Maryland’s Prestigious Agriculture Award Congratulations to the McGinnis family, long-time BCFB members! “The McGinnis family truly embodies the spirit and dedication of Maryland agriculture,” said Governor Moore.
New! Secretary Atticks Appoints Elizabeth Hoffman as Program Manager for Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming Initiative
New! Department encourages farmers to file their Annual Implementation Reports (AIRs)
New! NourishMD Grant Program Creates New Opportunities for Farmers Markets, Farm Stands, and Local Food Retailers to Strengthen Maryland’s Food System
New! Registration Now Open for Maryland’s Farmers Market Conference
Winter Ban on Spreading Manure, FPRs, and Other Nutrient Sources Began December 16 Ends March 1st
Blackout Dates for Lawn Fertilizer Applications Began November 16 Deadline March 1st
Enrollment Period for Maryland’s 2025 Conservation Buffer Initiative Began November 1st Deadline April 30th

February 18th! Immigration Policy Webinar with the Governor's Office

FREE ONLINE WEBINAR
Wednesday, February 18
11:30 noon - 12:30 p.m.

The Maryland Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Governor's Office, invites you to a critical virtual roundtable addressing the immediate impacts of recent and looming immigration policy changes on your business operations. Maryland Employers:
How Will Federal Immigration Policies Affect Your Business in 2026?

Register for the Webinar.

Landscape and Nursery IPM Reports Read the most recent report from October 31, 2025. For information on how and where to send submissions and guidelines for sending photos, please see the notice sent out on March 4, 2025.

IPM Report Index: The IPM report index is now updated to include 2025. Access the subject indexes at on the UMD website. You will need to scroll down the page a bit to see the list of links.

Winter 2026 Conferences: A list of commercial horticulture conferences is available on the UMD Extension web page.

New! CCBC Landscape and Nursery Career Exploration and Job Fair On Friday, February 20th, from 10am - 2pm, CCBC Sustainable Horticulture will be hosting a job fair at the CCBC Dundalk campus. Meet with more than 30 landscaping companies, garden centers, and nurseries to explore employment opportunities and learn about the industry. View the event flyer.

MARBIDCO Offers Two Maryland Resource-Based Industry Financing Fund (MRBIFF) Options MARBIDCO's popular “MRBIFF” Loan Program now offers a Participation Loan option in addition to its traditional Direct Loan option. The Participation Loan option is currently offered through Horizon Farm Credit and Colonial Farm Credit. MARBIDCO welcomes other lenders to adopt this lending approach.

Learn more and apply for the MRBIFF Program

The Baltimore County Agribusiness Incubator Initiative is a business development program for new, beginning, and historically underserved farmers in Baltimore County. The Agribusiness Incubator: Greenhouse Program supports farmers launching their Agribusiness, and gives them the opportunity to rent table space in the greenhouse at the Baltimore County Agricultural Center. Apply for the program. View the flyer. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications for initial selection ninety days prior to the start of the next growing season. For additional questions or assistance completing the application, please contact the Baltimore County Division of Agriculture: agriculture@baltimorecountymd.gov