Connecticut Gardeners’ 2024 Calendar

The UConn Master Gardeners have assembled a calendar for Connecticut gardeners! There are tips through every month on how to plan and maintain your garden for fresh blooms and abundant vegetables. This year there is additional information on supporting beneficial insects in the landscape, with tips on using integrated pest management, creating habitat for beneficials, […]

Why are Maple Leaves Turning Brown and Falling Early?

Anthracnose species are just some of the fungal diseases that affect many plants, especially those under stress. When maple trees are infected with anthracnose, one of the impacts is brown leaves during the fall.

Climate Adaptation Tactics in Vegetable Production

With climate change exacerbating many abiotic stresses, including heat, drought, flooding, and the increase in the frequency of extreme weather events, it is imperative to investigate adaptation tactics for successful vegetable production.

Celebrating National Farmer’s Day

Today is National Farmer’s Day, and here at UConn Extension, we celebrate our farmers every day. Extension professionals work statewide to help farmers improve their operations, diversify crops, and scale up their business models. Jiff Martin is our Food Systems Extension Educator and works with agricultural producers statewide to strengthen agriculture and promote local agriculture […]

Meet Maggie Ng

Maggie Ng recently joined UConn Extension as an outreach assistant for our vegetable crops and hemp programs, based in our Vernon office. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts where her focus was on climate change in agriculture. Maggie conducted a year-long research project for her thesis, interviewing local farmers on […]

Cultural similarities among indigenous people of U.S. and Nepal

Cultural affinities are a bridge that maintains our connections, even when we might feel distinctly separate. While each Native community is unique regarding its own distinct culture, language, history, and unique way of life, indigenous people worldwide share some common values based on the understanding that their lives are part of nature and cannot be […]

Ask UConn Extension: Why are Maple Leaves Turning Brown and Falling Early?

This summer has been one for the books, at least weather-wise. It has been rainy with little periods of dry weather, and the warm nights coupled with high humidity have provided an excellent opportunity for certain fungal pathogens to develop. Anthracnose species are just some of the fungal diseases that affect many plants, especially those […]

Applications Due Soon: 2024 Master Gardener Program

Applications are due on October 13, 2023 for the Master Gardener Program. Do you enjoy horticulture and want to expand your knowledge and also help others? Apply for the 2024 UConn Extension Master Gardener program.  Applications are due October 13, 2023 and classes begin on January 8, 2024. Class locations for 2024 are Stamford, Norwich, […]

Fireblight & Mitigating Resistant Populations

Fireblight is often one of the top concerns for Connecticut fruit producers. This disease, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is both highly destructive and infectious, making informed disease management efforts a top priority.

Power Outages: Be Prepared for when Power Goes out

Power outages can occur at any time. Some are short-term and may last for a few hours. However, it’s important to be prepared for those that last several days to a week or more. This
publication outlines what residents need to consider and how to prepare.

Flooding Preparedness for Horse Owners

Flooding is a year-round threat for horse owners and one of the most common ones that we face. This publication provides information on the two types of floods, factors to consider, and items needed in an equine disaster kit.

Beware of Hopperburn!

‘Hopperburn’ refers to the complex of symptoms associated with potato leafhopper (PLH) feeding injury. Crops primarily attacked by the potato leafhopper include potato, beans, soybeans and alfalfa. Other host plants include eggplant, cucumber, Jerusalem artichokes, squash, sweet potato and rhubarb.

Protect Humans and Animals from Mosquitoes

The presence of mosquitoes carrying Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEEV) on the rise in Connecticut, according to surveillance program from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and testing from UConn’s Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. Protect both humans and livestock with these steps: http://s.uconn.edu/eeev

Heather Peracchio Recognized for Community Contributions

UConn Extension professionals work in communities throughout the state, to apply the university’s research in practical settings and help improve lives. Heather Peracchio, an Extension professional based in Fairfield County, exemplifies these attributes for her work in community nutrition. Peracchio, a registered dietitian and certified dietitian-nutritionist, joined UConn Extension in 2012, after receiving her Master […]

Annual Beef Cattle Auction

The 2023 University of Connecticut (UConn) Beef Cattle Auction is set to occur on Sunday, October 22, 2023, at the Cattle Resource Unit (CRU) on Horsebarn Hill Road in Storrs, CT 06269. This year’s event will offer both in-person attendance and the opportunity for virtual and live bidding through Wolf Auction Group. Sale animals will […]

Report the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF)

If you see something, say something. The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) seriously threatens Connecticut agriculture and other plants we enjoy. Help the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station control the SLF by reporting and eliminating this invasive pest. Learn more at s.uconn.edu/lanternfly

Bonnie Kegler: Empowering Youth with UConn 4-H

Bonnie Kegler (’88 CAHNR, ’90 NEAG) joined UConn Extension and the 4-H program in Windham County as an assistant extension educator in July, after an award-winning teaching career at Killingly High School in the agricultural education program. “I want youth in the UConn 4-H program to have a sense of accomplishment on any level, whether […]

Meet Joanna Woodward

Joanna Woodward recently joined UConn Extension as the Master Gardener Coordinator for Tolland County. Prior to joining Extension, she spent 30 years in corporate IT working in training and help desk services, project management, library and information services, and then technology adoption and education. Joanna emigrated from the United Kingdom almost 20 years ago and […]

Ask UConn Extension: When do I prune my hydrangea?

If the shrub blooms in spring, then prune immediately after bloom period next year. If you prune it now, flower buds will be lost. If it blooms in summer, prune now or in the spring. Endless Summer hydrangea macrophylla blooms on current season growth and old wood, pruning will still result in some flower loss, but pruning […]

Stewarding Connecticut’s Coastline with Maggie Cozens

Maggie Cozens joined Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension as the Long Island Sound Study outreach coordinator this summer. Her role focuses on encouraging people to care about Long Island Sound and help steward it. The Environmental Protection Agency funds the Long Island Sound Study. It is a partnership with New York Sea Grant, and […]

Land Use Commissioner Training Opportunities

As we are approaching the January 1, 2024 deadline to complete the initial four (4) required credits of the land use commissioner training under the CGS Sec. 8-4c, I am excited to share a number of upcoming opportunities for our commissioners to obtain the required credits. I am listing the most immediate opportunities below and […]

Flooding and Hurricane Resources

Continuing rain and extreme weather events, including impacts from hurricanes, are saturating our Connecticut communities. UConn Extension has the following resources to support agricultural producers, consumers, residents, and others affected. You can also sign up for mobile weather alerts by visiting weather.gov and CT Alerts. Anyone in a Disaster area can use the Ready.gov disaster […]

Today: Sweet as Honey Event in Hartford

Today: Join us for the Sweet as Honey event at Hispanic Health Council in Hartford – a free community event with snacks and activities starting at 4:30 PM. We’ll discuss nature, climate change and you’ll take home a sample jar of honey. Location: 590 Park Street in Hartford Register online at s.uconn.edu/hhc – walk-ins also […]

Ask UConn Extension: What’s Wrong With the Maple Trees?

This year people are noticing that maple leaves appear wilted or browned and heavy leaf drops are premature in many cases. UConn Extension educator and forestry expert, Tom Worthley, says that this “maple leaf phenomenon is a foliar fungus from the anthracnose group. During summers with high humidity and lots of rainfall these fungi can […]

Meet Brenda Sanchez

Brenda Sanchez recently joined our team as an Outreach Nutrition Education Assistant with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) in our Bethel office in Fairfield County. She joins us from experiences working in the medical field and with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, where she spent 11 years as a peer […]

Solving the Food Label Mystery

Navigating the grocery store aisle is challenging for many consumers—especially those who want to buy the most nutritious food and stay within their budget. Learn more and play Unpeeled: The Case Files of Maya McCluen at http://s.uconn.edu/unpeeled. Additional food label resources, including understanding best by, sell by, and expiration date are in this article and […]

Become a Master Composter

Registration is open for the 2023 UConn Master Composter Program! Classes consist of two Saturday in-person sessions, September 16 and 30, and two Thursday night virtual ones, September 21 and 28. There are also two field trips scheduled for October. Participants will learn about composting and share their knowledge with others in a variety of […]

Meet Hannah Morillo-Galindo

Hannah Morillo-Galindo recently joined UConn Extension as an Educational Program Assistant for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program in our North Haven office. She is originally from Lexington, Kentucky and graduated in May 2023 with a degree in nutrition from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She’s looking forward to connecting with the […]

Job Opening: Evaluation Specialist

We’re hiring an Extension Evaluation Specialist. Join our team and advance the field of program evaluation by designing and testing methods that lead to improved capacity to measure outcomes of UConn Extension programs. The Specialist designs and delivers education programs and non-credit courses for UConn Extension faculty, staff, and administrators to increase their capacity to […]

Become a Master Gardener – Apply for the 2024 Program

Do you enjoy horticulture and want to expand your knowledge and also help others? Apply for the 2024 UConn Extension Master Gardener program.  Applications are due October 13, 2023 and classes begin on January 8, 2024. Class locations for 2024 are Stamford, Norwich, Torrington, New Haven, and online. Students enrolled in this program receive training […]

Stress Management Resources for Farmers

Farming is stressful, and there are resources to help navigate those challenges. Becca Toms from our Solid Ground program talked with two of our farmers – Dishaun Harris: Root Life, New Haven and Yoko Takemura: Assawaga Farm, Putnam – about the different stresses they face farming in Connecticut and some of the practices they have […]

School & Municipal Grounds Workshop on September 13th

Now Available – Register Today!UConn Extension School and Municipal Turf/Grounds Workshop 2023September 13, 20238 am-2:30 pmOld Orchard Hill School350 Foster Street, South Windsor, CTInformation and Registration at s.uconn.edu/schoolipmworkshop Join us for an exciting day of presentations featuring current science-based research and information on supporting landscape management in Connecticut schools. This program is designed for municipal grounds managers, […]