Penn State Extension | The Pennsylvania State University
Lifelong learning you can trust
Practical knowledge to work the land, develop skills, grow your business, serve your community, steward the environment, and raise healthy families.
Learn when, where, and how you need
Choose from thousands of in-person workshops, online courses, publications, and onsite consultations on topics that matter to you.


Solve Problems
Got an issue? Let’s work together to identify and solve the most important challenges impacting your business, home, or health.


Develop Skills
Expert resources to develop competencies for the workforce, build your business, pursue a hobby, or follow your passion.


Earn Certificates
Professional credentials you need to demonstrate that you are safe, competent, and qualified.
Featured Online Courses
-
Online CoursesLandscaping Safety: Pesticides
Sections 6Length 4 hoursLearn about pesticide labels, regulations, and application. Follow procedures for storage, spills, emergencies, and safety precautions. Earn PCH credits.$19.00
-
Online CoursesEmployee Landscape Training: Introduction to Soils
Sections 3Length 2 hoursThis course helps landscape businesses train beginner and seasonal employees to identify soil properties, fertilize and amend soils, and grade, level, and fill. Earn PCH credits.$19.00
-
Online CoursesEmployee Landscape Training: Planting, Mulching, and Watering
Sections 2Length 1 hour, 30 minutesThis course helps landscape businesses train beginner and seasonal employees to inspect and handle nursery stock, dig, edge, mulch, water, and stake trees. Earn PCH credits.$19.00
-
Online CoursesGrant Writing: How to Find Funds and Write a Winning Proposal
Sections 4Length 4 hoursWrite a successful grant proposal. Learn about the grant review process, organizational missions, and public and private funding sources.$99.00
-
Online CoursesNutrition 101: Healthy Eating Guidelines and Meal Planning
Sections 6Length 6 hoursIn this online course, learn the basics of nutrition, and practical suggestions for creating healthy food choices to improve and maintain your health.$69.00
-
Online CoursesForest Taxation: Forest Finance and Timber Tax Education
Sections 13Length 8 hoursTax professionals and forest landowners learn about finance, taxation, and timber sales and taxation in order to save money on taxes. Earn 8 CFEs, 8 CPEs, or 8 IRS CEs.$160.00
-
Online CoursesPruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs
Sections 5Length 3 hoursThis online course for landscape professionals and home gardeners covers pruning basics: how trees and shrubs grow, when and how to prune, and safety and tools.$39.00
-
Online CoursesGrowing Raspberries and Blackberries: From Planting to Harvest
Sections 3Length 7 hours, 30 minutesThis course prepares you to grow berries, from choosing varieties, to planting, to handling pests and diseases. Growing can be rewarding and profitable.$99.00
-
Online CoursesPrivate Wells and Water Systems Management
Sections 5Length 4 hoursThis online course will help you identify the proper location, construction, maintenance, testing and treatment of a water well, spring or cistern.$39.00
-
Online CoursesFarmers Market Food Safety
Sections 7Length 4 hoursSelling food at farmers' markets is popular and profitable. This online course teaches vendors and producers about food safety and preventing foodborne illness.$39.00
-
Online CoursesOrchard Management: Site Planning and Preparation
Sections 4Length 3 hoursThis course is designed for beginning and next-generation commercial tree fruit growers. Learn to choose an appropriate orchard site, address climate considerations, and prepare for planting.$89.00
-
Online CoursesPlant Health Diagnosis: Assessing Plant Diseases, Pests and Problems
Sections 4Length 2 hoursLearn a process for diagnosing plant health problems, including signs and symptoms of diseases, pests and insects, and environment or management issues. Earn 4 Category 6, 7, 18, 23, or Private Category credits and a certificate of completion.$39.00
-
Online CoursesTotally Veggies
Sections 6Length 8 hoursVegetables are crucial to your health. In this course, learn shopping and storage tips, cooking techniques, helpful videos and handouts, and easy recipes.$39.00
-
Online CoursesPond Management for Rural and Farm Pond Owners
Sections 6Length 8 hoursLearn basic pond maintenance and how to address common pond issues including excessive plant and algae growth, nuisance wildlife, and fishery management.$99.00
-
Online CoursesWoodland Stewardship: Management Practices for Landowners
Sections 8Length 12 hoursLearn about forest ecosystems, management, and stewardship practices, as well as wildlife, water, tree identification and measurement, and legacy planning.$99.00
-
Online CoursesFood for Profit
Sections 9Length 4 hours, 30 minutesIn this online course, small-scale food business entrepreneurs learn how to create a business using marketing, pricing, financing, and risk management tools.$279.00
You May Also Be Interested In...
- Webinars
Extension by the Numbers
People, resources, and ideas advancing the extension mission.
320+
Subject Matter Experts
1,500+
in-person and online events per year
6,000+
articles, publications, and fact sheets
Trending Topics
Extension offers the latest information and resources on topics impacting Pennsylvania today.
Latest News
-
News11/29/2022How to Become a Private Certified Pesticide Applicator
New applicator? First time using restricted-use pesticides? Fumigants? Retesting after a lapsed license? These are the simplified steps to obtain a private pesticide license.$0.00
-
News12/7/2022The Experts Were Wrong...Pick-Your-Own is Not Dead!
Some agricultural economists warned agricultural entrepreneurs that the days of "pick-your-own" farms were ending and that the average American no longer had time to venture out to neighboring farms to harvest fresh fruits, vegetables, or flowers.$0.00 -
News12/7/2022Mid-Atlantic Growers Can Capitalize On Emerging Food Trends
Pennsylvania growers should always scan the horizon looking for new or emerging culinary trends that could increase farm profits.$0.00 -
News12/6/2022Shorter Than Normal Plants? Your High Tunnel May Have a Salt Problem
Were your high tunnel tomato plants a little shorter than normal despite following your regular fertility program?$0.00
-
News11/29/20222022 Census of Agriculture
Questionnaires are now arriving in ag producer's mailboxes to collect data from the 2022 growing season. Farmers can respond online or return their completed questionnaires by mail.$0.00
-
News11/29/2022Weather Outlook for the Week of November 29, 2022
As the seasons transition from meteorological fall to winter, an active weather pattern with swings in temperatures will highlight the next several days.$0.00
Our Vision
We believe that all people should have access to science-based information.
Penn State Extension is a modern educational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities. We provide access to face-to-face and online education to our customers—when they want it, where they want it, and how they want it—to help them address problems and take advantage of opportunities for improvement and innovation. Partnering with and funded by federal, state, and county governments, we have a long tradition of bringing unbiased support and education to the citizens of Pennsylvania. We make a difference locally through focused engagement, and more widely to customers connecting in the digital landscape.
You May Also Be Interested In...
-
ArticlesSpotted Lanternfly Management Guide
Publication providing comprehensive details on the spotted lanternfly, including identification and life cycle; quarantine and distribution; host range, phenology, and damage; and management. -
ArticlesAvian Influenza
By Gino Lorenzoni, Chrislyn Wood Nicholson, DVM MPHAvian Influenza is a respiratory and/or systemic disease of poultry with the potential to cause rapid and severe illness, as well as high mortality, and which has major economic implications. -
ArticlesRoadside Guide to Clean Water
By Jennifer R FetterRecognizing good practices to protect water in your community. -
ArticlesBest Practices for Managing and Moderating Community Social Media Groups
By Sarah CornelisseThis article discusses reasons people join local community social media groups and provides best practices for those who manage and moderate those groups. -
ArticlesBeer and Spirits: Supplying the Craft Beverage Boom with Local Ingredients
By Heather E. Manzo, Maria L Graziani, Molly Berntsen, Rachel Hair, Thy Le An NgoPenn State Extension conducted research in 2017 to assess current and future production levels and supply chain actors and identify future potential for local and regional sourcing of ingredients -
ArticlesMulching Landscape Trees
By David R. JacksonMulches are materials placed over the soil surface to enhance landscape beauty, improve soil conditions, protect plants from foot traffic and lawn equipment, and suppress weeds. -
ArticlesHow You Can Comply with the Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Regulations
By Emelie SwackhamerSome tips to help you avoid spreading Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) and be in compliance with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) regulations. -
ArticlesTree-of-Heaven
By David R. Jackson, Art Gover, Sarah WurzbacherTree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is an invasive tree and noxious weed in PA. This article displays images to assist with identification and provides recommendations for control, including a management calendar and treatment and timing table. -
ArticlesChoosing a Qualified Pest Management or Lawn Care Company
By Sharon I GrippWhen you discover a pest problem in or around your home, such as the spotted lanternfly, the first step is to identify the pest. -
ArticlesCommon Drinking Water Problems and Solutions
By Bryan Swistock, James Andrew ClarkA listing of symptoms in water (color, smell, taste), the common causes, and possible solutions to common drinking water problems. -
ArticlesCover Crop Interseeder and Applicator
By Sjoerd Willem Duiker, Ph.D., CCA, Gregory W. Roth, Ph.D., William S. Curran, Ph.D.The Penn State Cover Crop Interseeder and Applicator was designed to help establish cover crops in areas where cover crop establishment is not that feasible because of a late harvest and short season. -
ArticlesPennsylvania Native Plants for the Perennial Garden
By Constance SchmotzerHerbaceous (nonwoody) perennial plants add year round interest to any landscape and are a popular choice of plants among gardeners. -
ArticlesFruit and Vegetable Marketing for Small-Scale and Part-Time Growers
By Jayson K. Harper, Ph.D., Lynn Kime, James Dunn, Ph.D.Marketing is important to all farm enterprises, regardless of size. -
ArticlesPennsylvania Pesticide Applicator Certification
Learn how to become a pesticide applicator in Pennsylvania. -
Articles8 Things You Need to Know Before Starting Your Own Dairy Farm
By Mathew M. HaanWhatever your background and experience, there are some things you need to know before you start milking cows.
Featured Articles
-
ArticlesSpotted Lanternfly Management Guide
Publication providing comprehensive details on the spotted lanternfly, including identification and life cycle; quarantine and distribution; host range, phenology, and damage; and management. -
ArticlesAvian Influenza
By Gino Lorenzoni, Chrislyn Wood Nicholson, DVM MPHAvian Influenza is a respiratory and/or systemic disease of poultry with the potential to cause rapid and severe illness, as well as high mortality, and which has major economic implications. -
ArticlesRoadside Guide to Clean Water
By Jennifer R FetterRecognizing good practices to protect water in your community. -
ArticlesBest Practices for Managing and Moderating Community Social Media Groups
By Sarah CornelisseThis article discusses reasons people join local community social media groups and provides best practices for those who manage and moderate those groups. -
ArticlesBeer and Spirits: Supplying the Craft Beverage Boom with Local Ingredients
By Heather E. Manzo, Maria L Graziani, Molly Berntsen, Rachel Hair, Thy Le An NgoPenn State Extension conducted research in 2017 to assess current and future production levels and supply chain actors and identify future potential for local and regional sourcing of ingredients -
ArticlesMulching Landscape Trees
By David R. JacksonMulches are materials placed over the soil surface to enhance landscape beauty, improve soil conditions, protect plants from foot traffic and lawn equipment, and suppress weeds. -
ArticlesHow You Can Comply with the Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Regulations
By Emelie SwackhamerSome tips to help you avoid spreading Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) and be in compliance with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) regulations. -
ArticlesTree-of-Heaven
By David R. Jackson, Art Gover, Sarah WurzbacherTree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is an invasive tree and noxious weed in PA. This article displays images to assist with identification and provides recommendations for control, including a management calendar and treatment and timing table. -
ArticlesChoosing a Qualified Pest Management or Lawn Care Company
By Sharon I GrippWhen you discover a pest problem in or around your home, such as the spotted lanternfly, the first step is to identify the pest. -
ArticlesCommon Drinking Water Problems and Solutions
By Bryan Swistock, James Andrew ClarkA listing of symptoms in water (color, smell, taste), the common causes, and possible solutions to common drinking water problems. -
ArticlesCover Crop Interseeder and Applicator
By Sjoerd Willem Duiker, Ph.D., CCA, Gregory W. Roth, Ph.D., William S. Curran, Ph.D.The Penn State Cover Crop Interseeder and Applicator was designed to help establish cover crops in areas where cover crop establishment is not that feasible because of a late harvest and short season. -
ArticlesPennsylvania Native Plants for the Perennial Garden
By Constance SchmotzerHerbaceous (nonwoody) perennial plants add year round interest to any landscape and are a popular choice of plants among gardeners. -
ArticlesFruit and Vegetable Marketing for Small-Scale and Part-Time Growers
By Jayson K. Harper, Ph.D., Lynn Kime, James Dunn, Ph.D.Marketing is important to all farm enterprises, regardless of size. -
ArticlesPennsylvania Pesticide Applicator Certification
Learn how to become a pesticide applicator in Pennsylvania. -
Articles8 Things You Need to Know Before Starting Your Own Dairy Farm
By Mathew M. HaanWhatever your background and experience, there are some things you need to know before you start milking cows.
Upcoming Workshops
-
WorkshopsWinter Sowing Workshop
When Multiple Options AvailableLength 1 hour, 45 minutesGet a head start on your spring gardening by learning how to start germinating seeds in your garden in the winter months.Free
-
WorkshopsCommercial Canners Gathering
When 01/04/2023Gather with a group of home-based commercial wholesale canners who will share their knowledge and teach about the techniques, equipment, and regulations they have learned.Free
-
WorkshopsLet's Cook for Weight Management
When Multiple Options AvailableLearn the basics of weight management while making healthy meals and snacks with fewer calories.$30.00
-
WorkshopsMaple Sugaring - From Sap to Syrup
When 01/25/2023Length 1 hourThis workshop will teach participants how to make their own maple syrup.Free
-
WorkshopsLIFT (Lifelong Improvements through Fitness Together)
When Multiple Options AvailableMake a commitment to grow stronger and feel better about yourself! LIFT is a safe, simple, and effective strength training program.$60.00
-
WorkshopsSmall Fruit and Vegetable Meeting
When Multiple Options AvailableLearn about pest issues in small fruits and vegetables and earn Core and Cat. pesticide credits.$10.00
-
WorkshopsFood Safety Modernization Act: Produce Grower Certification Training
When Multiple Options AvailableFruit and vegetable growers will learn about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices, and co-management of natural resources and food safety.$30.00
-
WorkshopsServSafe®
When Multiple Options AvailableLength 2 daysUpon successful completion, participants can receive their ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Certificate, which meets the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requirements for the Food Employee Certification Act.$165.00
-
WorkshopsArborist Short Course
When Multiple Options AvailableThe Arborist Short Course is a four-day workshop designed to increase working tree knowledge and prepare participants for the ISA Certified Arborist exam.Starting at $275.00
What our customers are saying
Everything we do is centered around animal welfare and food safety. However, we needed the science. It's all that partnership and education. I've learned so much through the years working with extension. It's been a great thing.
Frank Connett
Manager of Flock Services at Kreider Farms
Management of forest invasives has been a very large problem for me, and I've managed to keep on top of it, but I found the resources offered by extension have been very valuable in that. It is very helpful because if you talk to the professionals who do it, you get a very different view point and in many cases you could be wasting thousands of dollars in doing the wrong thing, or the right thing at the wrong time. I found that having the resources from extension has aided me in many ways.
John Hoover
Bald Eagle Tree Farm
The extension programs have given me reference making me a much better steward of our property and a better understanding of how the ecosystem fits together. Since I've been managing it, we've seen a return of fishers and beavers to our stream so we are getting back pieces to the ecosystem that have been missing.
Susan Shoemaker-Benedict
Beartown Family Limited Partnership
Penn State has been an integral part of the business since I’ve been here. We do about 3.5 million pounds of fresh sausage a year. We’ve relied on Penn State many times because we do not have the budget to have a full-time person here that deals with food safety or research and development.
Len Caric
President/CEO Uncle Charley’s Sausage Co.
We work very closely with Penn State Extension, and that has been instrumental in developing best practices and new processes and technologies, both in the orchard and the packhouse.
Danijel Lolic
Rice Fruit Company
I really appreciate the instructors from Penn State Extension mostly because they serve as a really good resource. They're well-spoken and very clear. They'll take subject matter and dumb it down–so to speak–so that on every level, you understand it.
Ester Betley
Dining with Diabetes Participant
Penn State Extension and the University have provided us uncounted resources when it comes to the education of our employees.
Byron Shaffer
Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance at Kreider Farms


Volunteers are the backbone of extension
Join a highly engaged team that supports Master Gardener; Master Watershed Steward; 4-H; and Nutrition, Health, and Wellness programs.


Pennsylvania 4-H: Transforming kids through doing
4-H is the state's largest youth development organization, with clubs in rural communities, small towns, and big cities–including a club near you. Members tackle projects that build life skills, explore careers, and help young people find their passion in life.
Learn more about Pennsylvania 4-H



