Animal Science Meetings

Livestock

Meat Processing In-Depth Training Sponsorship Program

The Meat Processing In-Depth Training Sponsorship Program is a competitive opportunity designed to support individuals currently working in the meat processing industry who are seeking to advance their technical skills and industry knowledge.

Selected participants will be sponsored to complete the Related Technical Instruction (RTI) portion of the Penn State Butcher Apprenticeship Program. This training provides intensive, hands-on education in meat cutting, butchery techniques, product fabrication, food safety, and related technical competencies essential to the meat processing workforce.

This sponsorship is part of a broader regional effort led by University of Maryland Extension.  

Learn more and apply for the Meat Processing In-Depth Training Sponsorship Program
 

Aquaculture 

Currently, there are no scheduled events. Please check back later.

Horses

Equine educational programs are offered throughout the year. They are primarily focused on pasture management and equine nutrition.

Check out our upcoming programs 

Poultry

Poultry educational programs are offered throughout the year.

Check out our upcoming programs

Forage

Event: Pasture Walk at Blue Moon Farm
Date: May 28, 2026  |  Thursday
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm  |  Cost: Free 
Location: Blue Moon Farm, 4430 Damascus Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20882
Summary: Join University of Maryland Extension for an educational pasture walk at Blue Moon Farm in Gaithersburg, MD (Montgomery County). Dave and Ellen Quirk have set up a small-scale rotational grazing system for their horses and are working on improving the soil health an fertility of their pastures with an on-farm composting system. Discussion will include practical pasture management for horses, soil health in pasture systems, and composting and spreading manure on pastures as a fertility source.

Sponsored by University of Maryland Extension and NE SARE

If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity please contact us at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

Registration: go.umd.edu/pwmay

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Event: Pasture Walk at University of Maryland WMREC
Date: June 23, 2026  |  Tuesday
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm  |  Cost: Free 
Location: Western Maryland Research and Education Center, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD. 21756
Summary: Join University of Maryland Extension for an educational pasture walk at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center in Keedysville, MD (Washington County). This pasture walk will feature a mixed-species grazing system with sheep and cattle utilizing both perennial and annual forages. Discussion will include setting up a grazing system, mixed-species grazing, parasite management, utilizing annual forages to extend the grazing season, pasture renovation, and what to do with failed seedings. Extension educators are also starting work on a soil amendment study looking at diferent sources of fertility (compost, litter, etc.) on a pasture-based system.

Sponsored by University of Maryland Extension and NE SARE

If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity please contact us at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

Registration: go.umd.edu/pwjune

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Event: Pasture Walk at Maryland Solar Grazing Solutions
Date: July 15, 2026  |  Tuesday
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm  |  Cost: Free 
Location: Maryland Solar Grazing Solutions, Hagerstown, MD 21740 (address TBD)
Summary: Join University of Maryland Extension for an educational pasture walk with Maryland Solar Grazing Solutions in Hagerstown, MD (Washington County).

This pasture walk will feature a unique opportunity to tour an active solar site where sheep are being grazed for vegetation management. Business owners Sara and Joseph Kidd specialize in grazing Katahdin sheep on solar arrays and raise and sell lambs for market. They will share their story and discuss the pros and cons of grazing sheep under solar panels.

Sponsored by University of Maryland Extension

If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity please contact us at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

Registration: go.umd.edu/pwjuly
 

Ag Law

Hiring and Retaining Farm Employees – What you Need to Know and Do
Are you trying to find, hire and keep great employees? Is it a bit confusing and time consuming? Do you know where to start and who to involve? Are you worried about the legal considerations when having non-family members employed? This course will help you sort through all these questions and concerns. Navigating this process doesn’t have to be difficult as this course will share with you. Through the four modules of this course, you’ll get important information and resources you can adapt for your own operation. For more information go to https://agrisk.umd.edu/grant-proposals/hiring-and-retaining-farm-employees

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Land in Maryland: Basic Legal Issues for All 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://extension.umd.edu/resource/so-you-want-own-rural-land-maryland-basic-legal-issues-all-landowners-online-course/