Upcoming Events

The 2012 Landscape Integrated Pest Management Seminar provides landscape and nursery professionals with research-based information on plant selection, pest control, and current pesticide recommendations.

You are invited to participate in the 4-H Day with the Lady Lions on Sunday, February 26, 2012. The Lady Lions will be hosting the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Time 2pm

This course addresses production management issues that are typical for traditional crop and livestock producers. The course has an intense focus on production planning. Successful completion of this course meets the production training requirements for Farm Service Agency borrowers.

Credits: 2 core; 2 category 01

2 Category Credits (Private, 01, or 18): : "Soybean Insect Management" and 2 Core Credits: "Pesticides and the Environment"

Join some of the world’s leading bioenergy scientists and researchers as we explore the emerging discoveries and new trends that are likely to shape the bioeconomy in the coming years. The emerging Short Rotation Woody Crops and Perennial Grasses bioenergy sector will be the focus of this one-day event, and attendees will have opportunities to interact with students and professors in a wide range of relevant subjects.

The Southwest Pennsylvania Tree Fruit Meeting is one of a series of meetings held for commercial fruit growers across Pennsylvania each winter to update growers on pests such as insects and diseases that affect our ability to grow quality fruit. Horticultural practices will also be covered.

Join us for a series of informal conference calls to hear researchers share information and to discuss strategies for improving your dairy farm profits from the comfort and convenience of your home or office.

Reservations required, call for registration form. Seating is limited Credits: We have been approved for six Category 05, 06, 17, 18, 23, or 25 credits. “Any update training credit assignment appearing on this program agenda is subject to the approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Changes to the program may result in adjustments to the credit assignment at the discretion of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.”

The 2012 Woodland Owners Conference will provide information to woodland owners to learn about and gain practical skills they can use in caring for their woodlots. Topics for this year’s conference include: Wildlife Habitat Improvement: Providing Cover, Small Woodlot Forestry, Communicating With Neighboring Woodland Owners to Accomplish Objectives, Mitigating Creek Damage: Steps to Stay Out of Trouble, and Forest Health Update 2012

"Leasing, Legal, and Our Water: Beyond Basics"

Designed for dairy producers and their dairy employees and milkers.

This session will focus on pruning small trees and shrubs, including training young shade trees. It is geared toward landscape professionals who care for a variety of plants in the landscapes they manage. The workshop will start in the classroom with an introduction to plant structure and growth as it relates to pruning as well as proper use of tools. Then participants will head outdoors for hands-on pruning experience.

The Strawberry / Bramble School 2012 covers everything you wanted to know about strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry production in one intensive day. The school features growers who will share their experiences in plasticulture and day-neutral strawberry production.

"Marcellus Opportunities for Products and Services: How?"

This eight-part webinar course is designed to create a foundation of beekeeping knowledge in order to confidently help beginners manage honeybees.

Venango County Master Gardeners are hosting a day of speakers and valuable information for those interested in gardening.

This short course prepares professionals to take the certified pesticide applicator's examinations, specifically for Core and Categories: 06 - Ornamental & Shade Trees; 07 - Lawn & Turf; and 23 - Parks & Schools Pest Control.

Living On A Few Acres is an introduction to small-scale agricultural production for those considering starting a business in farming. Penn State Extension experts provide instruction in fruit, vegetable and meat production.

Living On A Few Acres is an introduction to small-scale agricultural production for those considering starting a business in farming. Penn State Extension experts provide instruction in fruit, vegetable and meat production.

Today, homeowners and agencies understand the best tree care comes from trained and knowledgeable arborists. The green industry has responded to this demand for trained professionals by creating certification programs. Presently the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certifies thousands of arborists and Landscape & Nurserymen Associations certify horticulturalists. These numbers grow each year.

Join us for a series of informal conference calls to hear researchers share information and to discuss strategies for improving your dairy farm profits from the comfort and convenience of your home or office.

Join us for a series of informal conference calls to hear researchers share information and to discuss strategies for improving your dairy farm profits from the comfort and convenience of your home or office.

Leap into Science with the Lucky Leprechaun

The Penn State Extension Crop Management Team is holding an online webinar series focusing on pest management principles and practices. Each one-hour webinar in the series will cover two topics and offer 1 core pesticide recertificaiton credit and 1 category credit. The webinar series will be held each Monday, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., starting March 19 through April 9.

The Somerset Turf Conference & Mini-Trade Show is an annual event for the landscape and turf industry in Central and Western Pennsylavnia. Core and Pesticide credits in Categories 06, 07, 18, 23, & 09 are awarded to applicators during the day, after attending educational sessions.

In 2012 we are excited to once again welcome the Northwest Golf Course Superintendents Association (NWGCSA) to our list of sponsoring organizations for this event. This organization, in addition to our continual sponsors, Allegheny College and the Keystone Athletic Field Manager (KAFMO), makes this the premier Green Industry Conference in Northwest Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, and Western New York. World renowned speakers and over 30 commercial exhibitors will be present for this day-long Green Industry extravaganza.

The third annual “Local Food Showcase", will unite Western PA food producers with consumers and food industry professionals. A full spectrum of locally produced foods will be represented including fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, cheese, baked goods, sauces and salsas.

Central Susquehanna Turf & Ornamental is being provided to promote horticultural improvement, professionalism, and camaraderie in Central Pennsylvania. It is hoped that this conference is just one small step in encouraging the further study of horticulture, arboriculture, and turf science within the industry.

Bioenergy is arguably the premier renewable, sustainable energy source in the world today. However, concerns about air quality from biomass and biofuels emissions makes this a controversial subject, especially for densely populated areas. How much is known about bioenergy emissions and their health impacts? Join us for this one day short course as experts discuss the current status of the science, and its implications for policy and economic development.

Adam Martin of Martin's Flowers & Shrubs, North Belle Vernon, hosts the 2012 Western Pennsylvania Spring Greenhouse Night-Lighter. If you are a commerical greenhouse, garden center, or nursery operator in Western Pennsylvania, don't miss this tour of a very successful greenhouse operation. Following the tour, we will drive to a nearby restaurant for dinner and presentations on plant disease management and marketing to younger generations. This is a great way to meet and learn directly from others in the greenhouse business.

Penn State Crop Management Team will provide a training session that is designed for entry level scouts (i.e., non-CCAs with limited or no crop scouting experience, or as a refresher) who will be working for crop consultants, industry agronomists, or ag service providers throughout Pennsylvania or neighboring states. This school will provide crop scouts with an overview of the fundamentals necessary for scouting in corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and small grains. Some sessions will be hands-on. Each participant receives an Agronomy Scout handbook and a magnifying hand lens.

Dates and locations for county HHW collection programs are listed.

Penn State Master Gardeners of Fayette County present "Spring Garden Affair" on March 24, 2012 at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus

The National 4-H Conference is the premier youth development event for youth 4-H members (15-19 yrs.) who are actively engaged in 4-H programs across the U.S. and its territories. March 24-29, 2012

Operation: Military Kids will be holding its 4th Annual Family Fun Fair in recognition of April’s Month of the Military Child. This year’s event will take place on Sunday, March 25th at Penn State’s Snider Ag. Arena. Event time is 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. This free event is a kick-off celebration in recognition of April’s Month of the Military Child and is open to military families and the general public. We are inviting community organizations to be a part of this celebration. Last year we had over 400 people attend and hope to have number grow even higher this year!

You need this seminar if you are... Fighting Invasive Exotics, Licensed Pesticide Applicator, Supervisor of IVM Programs. This seminar will provide excellent insight and useable information for Vegetation Managers in Roadside, Public Utility, DOTs, Municipalities, Native Species Land Reclamation, and Non-Agriculture Industrial sites.

This one-day workshop is designed specifically (but not exclusively) for smaller landscapes. These small lots are a big deal, for the vast majority of Pennsylvania’s landowners have less than 10 acres. This land, wooded or not, can provide benefits.

This one-day workshop is designed specifically (but not exclusively) for smaller landscapes. These small lots are a big deal, for the vast majority of Pennsylvania’s landowners have less than 10 acres. This land, wooded or not, can provide benefits.

Pennsylvania Pork Producer Skillathon Contest Lebanon Expo Center 80 Rocherty Road, Lebanon PA 17042 Saturday, April 7, 2012

You need this seminar if you maintain landscapes professionally, train your grounds crews, are a tree board member. This seminar provides a biological background to woody plant wound response, and teaches practical pruning methods for structurally reliable results.

The Western PA Landscape Symposium is open to the public and held in conjunction with the Garden Marketplace. This is an excellent opportunity to hear nationally renowned speakers on a variety of current landscape design topics.

A "Field Day" for learning and fun on Saturday, April 21, 2012, (9:30 AM - 3:00 PM) at Rock Springs (Ag Progress Days Site) near Penn State. This state event is open to all 4-H'ers (ages 7 -18) interested in or currently taking 4-H wildlife or forestry projects. 4-H adult volunteers and parents are also welcome to attend. Three program options offered concurrently at the event.

A home gardeners educational event featuring Paul Epsom. Paul's talk, "How I'm Creating My 'E' Garden," will focus on Paul's' idea of a successful garden - one that is Effortless, Environmental, Enabled, Edible, and Extraordinary. Participants will choose an additional four out of eight workshops to attend throughout the day. A plant sale and flea market will also be operating all day.

4-H Capital Days is a program designed to educate youth about the political process and enhance their citizenship and leadership skills.

The idea for the County Council Awards program was conceived in 2006 by the 4-H State Council. In an effort to get Pennsylvania counties involved and persuade more of them to develop or enhance existing county programs, it was decided that there would be cash prizes awarded to the top three County Councils. Awards would be given based on standards set by state level faculty and staff in leadership development with 3rd place receiving $200.00, 2nd place receiving $300.00 and 1st place receiving $500.00. County Councils provide cohesion on the county level among the clubs and offer strong programming for the teen youth on all levels of the leadership ladder.

This annual event, held on the University Park campus, provides an opportunity for Pennsylvania 4-H'ers to demonstrate knowledge they've gained through participation in the 4-H program. (For 4-H members, ages 13-18)

SAVE the DATE Join with other 4-H Volunteers in your community to learn cutting edge information that will help you work with your 4-H members. Session topics include Dealing with Difficult People/Conflict Resolution, Behavior Management in Positive Youth Development Settings, and Working with Multi-Aged Youth in Club Settings. More information about the location and additional details will be announced soon! Stay current by liking the Facebook page - 2012 Northeast Region 4-H Volunteer e-Forum. Part of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents

SAVE the DATE Join with other 4-H Volunteers in your community to learn cutting edge information that will help you work with your 4-H members. Session topics include Dealing with Difficult People/Conflict Resolution, Behavior Management in Positive Youth Development Settings, and Working with Multi-Aged Youth in Club Settings. More information about the location and additional details will be announced soon! Stay current by liking the Facebook page - 2012 Northeast Region 4-H Volunteer e-Forum. Part of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents

SAVE the DATE Join with other 4-H Volunteers in your community to learn cutting edge information that will help you work with your 4-H members. Session topics include Dealing with Difficult People/Conflict Resolution, Behavior Management in Positive Youth Development Settings, and Working with Multi-Aged Youth in Club Settings. More information about the location and additional details will be announced soon! Stay current by liking the Facebook page - 2012 Northeast Region 4-H Volunteer e-Forum. Part of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents

Save the Date

The PA 4-H State Leadership Conference provides a state level educational experience for Pennsylvania 4-H members that builds and enhances skills used throughout their 4-H careers and beyond.