October 2026 | Volume 17, Issue 9
Inside this issue:
- IPM Vegetable and Fruit Scouting Tips
- Vegetable Insecticide Quick Reference: IRAC Groups, Classes & Active Ingredients
- Xanthomonas Leaf Spot on Pumpkin
- Warm Rooms for Storage Crops & Freeze Protection for Coolers
- EPA Launches New Email Subscription Feature to Help Pesticide Users with Endangered Species Act Requirements
- Soft Rot on Cabbage
- Weather Update - October 2026
- University of Maryland Extension Events
-
Vegetable Production Guide Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations (EB-236)
Vegetable Production Guide Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations (EB-236) -
Spray Program for Multi-Small Fruit Plantings
Spray Program for Multi-Small Fruit Plantings -
Common Fruit Herbicides*
Common Fruit Herbicides*
Weather Update- October 2026
The weather information contained in this chart is compiled using the data collected using the Online Phenology and Degree-Day Models site (https://uspest.org/cgi-bin/ddmodel.us). The Drought Map is from U.S. Drought Monitor (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/) Information is available for free for all to use.
| Location | Base 50°F |
|---|---|
| Annapolis (MD029) | 4470.6 |
| Baltimore, MD (KBWI) | 4144.1 |
| Chestertown (016 MD) | 3909.9 |
| College Park (KCGS) | 4268.4 |
| Frederick (KFDK) | 3769.8 |
| Garrett County Airport | 2710.9 |
| Greater Cumberland Reg (KCBE) | 3692.8 |
| Hagerstown (C1323MD) | 3843.5 |
| Jarrettsville MD | 3488.4 |
| Mont. Co. Airport | 3952.7 |
| Patuent River Naval Air MD/ Lexington Park | 4372.2 |
| Pocomoke City (MD070) | 4266.1 |
| Ridgely (005MD) | 3918.7 |
| Salisbury/Ocean City (KSBY) | 4155.8 |
| Vienna (MD038) | 4636.1 |
| Waldorf | 3854.2 |
Maryland Drought Map
Map released: Thurs. October 8, 2026
Data valid: October 6, 2026 at 8 a.m. EDT
Authors:
United States and Puerto Rico Author(s): Richard Tinker, CPC/NOAA/NWS/NCEP
Upcoming UME Events!
IPM Webinar Series:
The series meets on the third Thursday of every month from 12 to 1 pm. For more details and registration, visit https://go.umd.edu/ipmwebinar. Maryland Pesticide Credits are available. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Hayden Schug at 301-226-7502.
Oct 15, 2026: Precision herbicide application - Dr. Travis Ford, University of Maryland Extension
- Dec 3, 2026: Understanding IPM Basics and Developing an IPM Plan - Emily Zobel, UME
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Intro to Farm Business Web series
Dates (Wednesday):
- October 14, 2026: Budgets and Financial Record Keeping
- November 4, 2026: TBD
- November 11, 2026: TBD
- November 18, 2026: TBD
Time:12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Location: Virtual.
Description: Sessions are independent of each other. Sign up once to attend one or all. Registration at
https://go.umd.edu/BFFBLL26 . If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Emily Zobel at 410-228-8800.
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Spanish-Language Pest Control Training—Provided by Maryland State Pest Control Association October 15, 2026 9:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Location: Virtual program. Agenda and Registration Information can be found at https://tinyurl.com/spanish-pesticide-training
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Small Farm Success Workshop
Date: October 15, 2026, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Location: The Elk Room - Cecil County Administration Building (200 Chesapeake Blvd, Elkton, MD 21921).
Description: Please join us for a practical, hands-on program designed to provide useful information and
resources for small-acreage farmers. Lunch will be provided.
More information at https://go.umd.edu/smallfarmsuccessworkshop. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Annie Steele at UME Kent County at 410-778-1661 or asteele4@umd.edu by October 1, 2026.
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Maryland Agritourism Conference Nov. 15-17, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort in Cambridge, Maryland. The three-day conference promotes real-world strategies to boost agritourism as a profitable, value-added opportunity. Cost $216. More information can be found at https://www.umes.edu/extension/community/agritourism-conference/
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Take Your Farm or Food Business to the Next Level—for Free (8 week online course)
Are you a farmer or food entrepreneur? Are you considering launching a new product, applying for a loan or grant, or expanding into a new market? Do you want expert help taking the next step for your business?
Apply today to join the new Maryland Agribusiness Coaching Level 2 program taught by the University of Maryland Extension faculty. The University of Maryland Extension is opening registration for their free, 8-week online Farm Business Coaching Program to help you grow your agricultural business. The course will run Sept. 28 through Nov. 20, 2026. Led by experienced UME faculty, you’ll develop a comprehensive business portfolio covering your mission and goals, production plan, financials, marketing, and more. At the end, a professional business consultant will review your plan and provide tailored feedback from a financing perspective. This training is offered at no cost to you, thanks to a grant from AgriProspects, a project of the Extension Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Apply now to get the coaching support you need to take your farm or food business to the next level: https://go.umd.edu/UMEMDAGBCL2026
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Urban Farming Vegetable and Fruit Production IPM Workshops PAT/NM Recertification
Date: December 17, 2026 | Thursday
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Cost: Free, but registration is required.
Location: University of Maryland Extension-Anne Arundel County Office, 97 Dairy Lane, Gambrills, MD, 21054
Description: The workshop will explore advanced fruit and vegetable production practices focusing on sustainability, food security and integrated pest management tactics. This meeting will provide Private Applicator Recertification & Nutrient Applicator Voucher Recertification.
To register, please complete the Google Form IPM Workshop, December 17, 2026.
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Urban Farming Vegetable and Fruit Production IPM Workshops PAT/NM Recertification
Date: March 9, 2027 | Tuesday
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Cost: Free, but registration is required.
Location: University of Maryland Extension-Anne Arundel County Office, 97 Dairy Lane, Gambrills, MD, 21054
Description: The workshop will explore advanced fruit and vegetable production practices focusing on sustainability, food security and integrated pest management tactics. This meeting will provide Private Applicator Recertification & Nutrient Applicator Voucher Recertification.
To register, please complete the Google Form IPM Workshop March 9, 2027
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SAVE THE DATE for 2027!
- Jan 20, 2027 Central Maryland Vegetable Grower Meeting, Monkton, MD
- Feb 11, 2027 Western Maryland Reginonal Fruit Meeting, Keedysville, MD
- Feb 17, 2027 Eastern Shore Vegetable Grower Meeting, Cambridge, MD
- Feb 23, 2027 Bay Area Fruit Meeting, Queenstown, MD
- Feb 2-4, 2027 Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention, Hershey, PA
Discover more upcoming events from University of Maryland Extension!
Browse our full calendar and find programs near you!
Maryland has a network of weather stations (Maryland Mesonet) that is administered by the University of Maryland's Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, in partnership with the MD Department of Emergency Management. Each mesonet site measures air temperature, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, rainfall, snow depth, and soil moisture and temperature at five depths, most at 1-minute intervals. The measurements are available to Maryland citizens from the Mesonet website (https://mesonet.umd.edu/index.html).
Extensión en Español Check out Extensión en Español, a Spanish language blog by two UMD professors, Anahí Espíndola (Entomology) and Macarena Farcuh (Plant Sciences & Landscape Architecture). https://extensionesp.umd.edu/
They cover a range of topics, including fruit, pollinators, pests, soils, and pesticides.
Vegetable & Fruit News Volume 17 Issue 9 - Download PDF
Vegetable & Fruit News is a research-based publication for the commercial vegetable and fruit industry available electronically from April through October. Published by the University of Maryland Extension Agriculture and Food Systems team.
Subscribe to Fruit and Vegetable News
EDITOR
Emily Zobel University of Maryland Extension Agent - Dorchester County
501 Court Lane, Room 208
Cambridge, MD 21613
Phone: (410) 410-228-8800
Email: ezobel@umd.edu
Note: Registered Trade Mark® Products, Manufacturers, or Companies mentioned within this newsletter are not to be considered as sole endorsements. The information has been provided for educational purposes only.