Farm Stress Management
There are no programs scheduled at this time. Please check back soon for upcoming events.
Agricultural Law
2026 Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference
Date: October 28, 2026
Time: 7:30 am. to 3:30 pm | Cost: General Early Bird (on or before Sept. 30) $100, General: $200; Student*: $25 *Valid Student ID will need to be shown on the day of the event
Location: Crowne Plaza Annapolis by IHG, 173 Jennifer Road Annapolis, MD 21401
Description: This event attracts agricultural service providers, attorneys, educators, environmentalists, producers, landowners, policymakers, and students to discuss the complex intersection of environmental regulation and agriculture in Maryland. ALEI prides itself on hosting an event that brings agriculture and conservation experts together in a forum that allows for exchanging ideas and education for conference attendees on current legal topics of interest. For more information, to view the agenda, or to register, visit 2026 Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference.
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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/
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
Beginning Farmer Financials and Business Lunch and Learn Web Series
Date: Wednesdays, September 30 through November 18, 2026
Time: Noon to 1:00 p.m. (Virtual) | Cost: Free
Description: Join this free webinar series designed to help beginning farmers strengthen their business management skills. Each session focuses on a different topic and may be attended independently. Register once to attend one or all sessions.
- September 30: Farm Business Entities
Presenter: Paul Goeringer, Agricultural Law Education Initiative (ALEI), University of Maryland - October 7: Business Planning
Presenter: Neith Little, University of Maryland Extension (UME) - October 14: Budgets and Financial Record Keeping
Presenter: Dr. Xuan Wei, University of Maryland Extension (UME) - October 21 & October 28: No Session
- November 4: Introduction to On-Farm Insurance for Produce Farms
Presenter: Samantha Capaldo, ALEI, University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) - November 11: Introduction to Farm Taxes
Presenter: Nicole Cook, ALEI, University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) - November 18: How to Accept Supplemental Nutrition Benefit Payments
Presenter: Megan Todd, ALEI, University of Maryland
Register online at: https://go.umd.edu/BFFBLL26 or call Emily Zobel at 410-228-8800.
Accommodation Requests: If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Emily Zobel at 410-228-8800 or ezobel@umd.edu by September 13, 2026.
This program is available in Spanish upon request.
Funding Acknowledgment: This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number SNE25-005.
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Small Farm Success Workshop
Date: October 15, 2026 | Thursday
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Cost: Free, but registration is required.
Location: Elk Room, Cecil County Administration Building, 200 Chesapeake Blvd., Elkton, MD 21921
Description: Topics to be covered include: pest management, soil fertility and nutrient management, ag business and marketing, right-to-farm law, ag leasing, micro grant resources, NRCS cost-share resources.
To register online, visit the Small Farm Success Workshop registration page, or call the Kent County Extension Office at (410) 778-1661, or email asteele4@umd.edu. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the Kent County Extension Office at (410) 778-1661, option 6, on or before October 1, 2026.