We are working hard to make our expertise and resources available to you in this challenging time. While in-person events and some on-campus services are suspended to protect public health, we are continuing with some scouting and farm visits, and many existing and new resources are available online and through virtual delivery.
Summary of Programming Changes by Program and Unit in CAFE
UMass Cranberry Station
UMass Cranberry team remains committed to serving growers during the pandemic. Although our buildings are physically closed to the public, we are available by email and phone. We can do bog visits, just call us. Please check our website for current information. If you are not on our newsletter list, please sign up (it’s free) and it will continue to be one of our main ways to communicate with you. (September 12, 2020)
UMass Extension 4-H Youth Development Program
The UMass Extension 4-H Youth Development Program is holding both in-person and virtual educational programs and club meetings. Weekly email news blasts are shared with all registered 4-H members and volunteers; these are archived on the UMass 4-H website. The program activities found there are developed through UMass 4-H, other 4-H programs, and curated sites, and have a variety of virtual activities, animal project contests, and educational opportunities. In addition, other news can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Mass4H/. Some 4-H offices have reopened; however it is best to reach out to your local educator if you plan to visit. 4-H staff members are available through email. Please visit our contact page for information. (September 16, 2021)
UMass Extension Agriculture Program (including Soil Testing and Plant Disease Labs)
Extension Agriculture programs—including Production Agriculture, Commercial Horticulture, and Pesticide Education—are actively serving our constituents by publishing newsletters, providing remote advice, and offering virtual programming and online resources, with most staff working remotely and available from home. Our Soils and Plant Disease labs are operating with some restrictions. Limited field scouting, on-farm consultations, and work on essential projects at the UMass farms are being conducted under strict safety guidelines. In-person events are canceled indefinitetly. (September 30, 2020)
UMass Extension Clean Energy Extension
The UMass Clean Energy Extension is open for business. Projects, initiatives, and collaborations are progressing as closely to normal as possible, with some small adjustments made to accommodate shifting timelines and work patterns. Staff members are working remotely and can be contacted in the typical ways, as provided on our Contacts page. (September 12, 2020)
UMass Extension Nutrition Education Program (including SNAP-Ed)
UMass Extension Nutrition Education Program staff are continuing to provide the “Nutrition Bites” and “Produce Spotlight” newsletters to our program collaborators and participants to share recipes, shopping tips, nutrition/food safety/physical activity tips, and food access information and resources that are especially helpful during this pandemic. We are working with community and school collaborators to offer and provide virtual and online nutrition education lessons for low-income adults, youth, and families. We are also delivering ‘kits’ of educational materials and reinforcement items to our collaborators for them to provide to participants, to help them implement what they are learning in the nutrition education sessions. (September 12, 2020)
UMass Research and Education Farms
The CAFE farm facilities are open to researchers and other facility users who have an approved Research and Library Operating Plan (RLOP). In order to protect the health and safety of all facility users, CAFE requires all individuals accessing facilities to have prior authorization. Please contact Bob Skalbite, CAFE Farm Manager, at rskalbit@umass.edu to request access to farm facilities. Reading the Covid-19 Farm Facility User Access Protocol is required before going to any CAFE Farm Facility. Reading the Covid-19 Farm Facility User Access Protocol is required before going to any CAFE Farm Facility. (September 12, 2020)
UMass Water Resources Research Center
The WRRC staff is working remotely except for laboratory analyses, and following regular hours of 8:30-5. We respond to all emails and calls (directly or voice mail). Most work is proceeding unchanged, except for the Acid Rain Monitoring Project, which is not scheduled at this time. Our lab is accepting water samples for the analysis of chlorophyll and total phosphorus, and sending quality assurance. (September 12, 2020)
For Farmers and Growers
Laboratories and services
- Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory
Clem Clay (soiltest@umass.edu)
The UMass Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Lab is operating at limited capacity and accepting new orders for Routine Soil Analysis (including optional organic matter, soluble salts, and nitrates) and Particle Size Analysis ONLY. The lab office will remain closed to the general public until further notice and is currently unable to accept most hand-delivered orders for analysis. If you have 30 or more samples, please email soiltest@umass.edu or call 413-545-2311 to arrange a contactless dropoff outside our building. All other orders must be mailed through the US Postal Service, UPS, FedEx, or other private carrier. On-campus orders may be delivered to the lab via Campus Mail. Processing time may be longer than usual since we are operating with reduced staff. For updates and information about available services, please visit the Lab's website. Current turn-around times are regularly updated here.
- Plant Diagnostics Laboratory
Disease Diagnostics of Woody Plants: Nicholas Brazee (nbrazee@umass.edu)
Disease and Insect Diagnostics of Non-Woody Plants: Angie Madeiras (madeiras@umass.edu)
The Plant Diagnostics Laboratory is open for plant disease, insect pest and invasive plant/weed samples. Mail delivery services and staffing have been altered due to the pandemic, so please allow for some additional time for samples to arrive at the lab and undergo the diagnostic process. Please note that visitors are not allowed inside the building, but clients who would like to hand-deliver samples that are difficult to mail may do so by leaving them in the bin marked "Diagnostic Lab Samples" near the back door of French Hall. Please refer to our website for instructions on sample submission and to access the submission form.
- Environmental Analysis Laboratory
The Water Resources Research Center's Environmental Analysis Laboratory is keeping reduced hours due to concerns about the spread of coronavirus. We are accepting samples for analysis at this time. To contact the lab, email wrrceal@umass.edu.
Online information resources from our program teams
- Extension Crops, Dairy, Livestock and Equine
Masoud Hashemi (masoud@umass.edu)
Publications and Resources | Videos and Guides | Fact Sheets
- Extension Crop Insurance/Risk Management
Tom Smiarowski (tsmiarowski@umass.edu)
- Extension Fruit
Jaime Piñero (umassfruit@umass.edu)
Covid-19 Fruit-related Resources: A regularly updated set of resources from state, federal and other sources addressing a range of issues relevant to the Fruit Industry in Massachusetts.
Fact Sheets I Healthy Fruit Newsletter I IPM Berry Blast Newsletter I New England Grape Notes Newsletter I YouTube Channel I IPM Podcasts
- Extension Greenhouse Crops & Floriculture
Jason Lanier (jdl@umass.edu)
COVID-19 Information and Support for Landscapers, Nurseries, Turf Managers, Garden Centers, Arborists, and Greenhouse Operations.
Fact Sheets | Greenhouse Updates | Publications and Resources | TickTalk Webinars
- Extension Landscape, Nursery & Urban Forestry
Tawny Simisky (tsimisky@umass.edu)
Coronavirus Resources and Information for Landscapers, Nurseries, Turf Managers, Garden Centers, Arborists, and Greenhouse Operations.
Landscape Message | Hort Notes: Clippings from the Garden | Publications and Resources | Fact Sheets | TickTalk Webinars | InsectXaminer | Invasive Insect Webinar Series
- Extension Pesticide Education Training
Natalia Clifton: (nclifton@umass.edu)
- Extension Turf
Jason Lanier (jdl@umass.edu)
COVID-19 Information and Support for Landscapers, Nurseries, Turf Managers, Garden Centers, Arborists, and Greenhouse Operations.
Management Updates | Publications and Resources | TurfTalk mailing list
- Extension Vegetable
Sue Scheufele (sscheufele@umext.umass.edu)
Coronavirus Resources and Information for Mass.Vegetable Growers A regularly updated set of resources from state, federal, and other sources addressing a range of issues including small business management and financial relief, food and worker safety, and more.
VegNotes A weekly publication for vegetable growers that contains timely information on vegetable crop production, upcoming meetings and other opportunities. During the pandemic, it will include relevant resources. Subscribe.
Guides | Fact Sheets | Resources and Services
- Pollinator and Honeybee Resources
Hannah Whitehead (hwhitehead@umass.edu)
What to Know Before Getting a Hive
- UMass Cranberry Station
IPM Message for Cranberry Growers | Publications and Resources on Cranberry Production
- Water Resources Research Center
Make Sure Water in Your Pipes is Fresh. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some buildings have little or no water running through the pipes, which can results in problems. MassDEP has issued guidance regarding the issue of stagnant water in buildings.
For Families
Online programs and resources for kids and teens
- The national 4-H program provides activities and curricula around wind energy and biotechnology, as well as a variety of at-home activities and virtual camps.
- Explore Backpocket Learning to find a variety of projects, crafts and recipes for both home and garden. You may also search the site by age and by time allotment.
- Visit the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website to find an array of lesson plans, teacher guides and environmental education resources.
- Learn to handle your dog when you participate in the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine College FREE Conformation for Beginners Course. This course covers important elements of ring-craft, such as properly putting a lead on your dog, interacting with a judge, and other basic conformation skills.
- Green Genes: Genetics – A DNA Curriculum
- Use this multi-media curriculum designed for the non-scientist adult working with a 4-H group or your own children at home! The curriculum has hands-on activities, supplemental Web modules/activities and PowerPoint presentations. Many of the materials are already at hand. This is designed for youth between the ages of 10 and 13.
- Design Squad's award winning web video series is available to watch at the Design Squad website or on YouTube. The videos are a great introduction to engineering projects and the design process.
- PEEP and the Big Wide World, the award–winning series that teaches science and math to an early childhood audience, offers professional development videos hosted by and tailored to family child care educators or parents doing home schooling at this time. You can explore the collection by science topic and learn how to bring these science exploration activities home! Science topics include: Ramps, sounds, lights & shadows, plants, and colors.
- Massachusetts 4-H Youth Development Program (members only programs) Please visit the 4-H page for additional information and updates on these offerings, and much more!
- Goat Zooms | Animal Science Zooms | Puppy Pawlooza | Learn about Pets and Pet Therapy
- Make-It Springfield. The miission of Make-It Springfield is to be a community incubator and workshop space for everyone to make, create & share their skills and tools. Make-It provides a platform for community members of all backgrounds to learn new skills, build relationships, launch businesses & inspire one another. Virtual Make-It Springfield is now starting up.
Gardening information
Home Lawn & Garden Fact sheets, newsletters, and services | Vegetable Fact sheets | Fruit Fact Sheets
Nutrition
Healthy Recipes | Nutrition Bites newsletter
Keeping your food safe
Mass. Food Safety Education Partnership | UMass Food Science Extension | Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
Cleaning and disinfecting
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
For Municipalities, Agencies and Others
