Penn State Extension

10/23/2026

Join us for the Greenhouse Growers Meeting in Wexford!

Gain practical, research-based insights to help improve your crop production and business performance. This meeting will cover:

— Pest identification and management
— Worker Protection Standard (WPS) compliance
— Cash flow and risk management strategies
— New varieties from the 2026 Penn State Flower Trials

Designed for greenhouse growers and employees, interior plantscape professionals, garden center teams, and others involved in indoor plant production and management, this meeting offers actionable information you can put to work right away. Participants can also earn pesticide recertification credits!

🗓️ November 4, 2026 | 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
📍Soergel Orchards, McIntosh Hall, Wexford, PA 15090

Mark your calendar and join us: https://ow.ly/9PvT50ZYYbn

10/21/2026

As temperatures drop, mice may start looking for a warm place to spend the winter, and your barn or farm buildings can provide everything they need.

Get ahead of unwanted winter guests by focusing on sanitation, exclusion, and proper storage. Clean up spilled feed and debris, store feed in rodent-proof containers, seal potential entry points, and clean farm equipment before putting it away for the season.

Want more tips for keeping rodents out this winter? Visit the Extension website and ask Tilva your farm management questions for trusted, research-based guidance: ai.extension.psu.edu

10/19/2026

Fallen leaves aren’t yard waste—they’re a valuable resource for your landscape.

Leaves can improve soil health, protect plants, provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife, and eventually break down into nutrient-rich leaf mold.

So, should you rake them up or leave them be? 🍁

Annette MaCoy, Master Gardener coordinator for Franklin County, shares tips for managing fallen leaves, avoiding common cleanup mistakes, and finding a balance between a tidy yard and a healthier landscape:

— Mulch-mow leaves on your lawn.
— Use leaves as mulch in garden beds.
— Stockpile extra leaves to create leaf mold.
— Leave some natural leaf litter to support overwintering wildlife.

10/16/2026

Ready to get cooking? 👩‍🍳 Find a Let’s Cook class with us—online or at a location near you!

Explore hands-on classes and learn something new with topics like herbs and spices, Mediterranean cooking, charcuterie boards, plant-based cooking, and more.

Whether you’re looking to expand your kitchen skills, try new flavors, or simply have fun cooking, there’s a class for you.

Search here: https://ow.ly/4MhX50ZVYNG

10/14/2026

More AgWorks webinars are coming up this October!

Penn State Extension and the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law are continuing the AgWorks webinar series with opportunities to learn about important topics affecting agricultural employers and their workforce.

Whether you’re looking for practical information, resources, or guidance to help strengthen your operation, there’s still time to join us this month.

Explore the upcoming webinars and register: https://ow.ly/Yj3e50ZQaeF

10/13/2026

Your pumpkin. Your canvas. Your chance to win.

PA Preferred® Pumpkin Palooza: Where Gourds Go Glam is the perfect fall activity for creative minds of all ages. 🎃

Purchase a pumpkin from a Pennsylvania farm, market, or pumpkin patch, then paint or carve it and submit a photo by October 26 at 11:59 p.m.

Contest categories: Painted & Carved; Age Groups: Child (11 & under), Youth (12–17), Adult (18+)

Winners will be announced October 31 and receive a PA Preferred® swag bag, plus a spotlight on PA Department of Agriculture and PA Preferred social media.

Ready to get started? Contest details: https://bit.ly/4oPe1QV

PA Preferred

10/13/2026

10/12/2026

Important safety update! ❗

When canning tomatoes, they must be properly acidified to ensure safety. New research shows that bottled lemon juice must be labeled as "from concentrate" or "reconstituted."

Read the full newsflash from the National Center for Home Food Preservation here: https://ow.ly/S0rg50ZWQj4

10/11/2026

Frosty mornings are just around the corner. Do you know what that could mean for your livestock and forage?

Frost-damaged forage can pose potential health risks to livestock, including prussic acid poisoning and nitrate accumulation. Certain warm-season annuals are particularly susceptible, making it important to know what’s growing in your fields and how to manage it following a frost.

Before the temperatures drop, visit the Extension website and ask Tilva your forage and livestock questions for trusted, research-based guidance: ai.extension.psu.edu

10/04/2026

Health insurance changes are coming in 2027. Are you prepared?

Join us for Health Insurance Coverage Updates: A Panel Discussion, a free live webinar exploring federal changes expected to affect health insurance coverage, eligibility, verification requirements, and affordability.

Representatives from Pennie, PA MEDI, Penn State Extension, and R&B Insurance Services, LLC will share updates and resources to help Pennsylvanians—including those in rural and agricultural communities—understand their options and prepare for Open Enrollment.

Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions directly to the panel.

🗓️ October 7 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. ET

Register now: https://ow.ly/in5350ZTvf5