NHFB is a grassroots, nonpartisan membership-based organization.

That means that ag policy decisions, ag community, and agricultural advocacy in your county (and in NH) begins with YOU!!!

October 11, 2026 - Vol. 14 No. 40

NH Farm Bureau Federation's Weekly E-Newsletter

Your one stop shop for events, workshops, and resources for

New Hampshire's farmers, landowners, and supporters!

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WHAT YOU'LL FIND THIS WEEK

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  • Oct 12 Cheshire County Annual Meeting
  • Oct 15 Understanding H-2A Labor Law
  • Oct 15 Carroll County Annual Meeting
  • Oct 16 Belknap County Annual meeting
  • Oct 20 Cut Flower Growers' Conference
  • Oct 20 Pesticide Practices
  • Oct 29 Connecting Local Producers to School Districts
  • Nov 5 Coffee & Conversation
  • Nov 12-14 Tri-State Annual Meeting
  • Dec 10 NHFB Holiday Open House!!
  • Dec 15 New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference
  • Newsworthy Announcements & Helpful Resources.

Be sure to download all the pictures for complete list of activities & info!

SHOP NH's Producers & Farm Classifieds! Click on the tiles below..

EVENTS

It is ANNUAL MEETING Season and YOUR voice matters!!

Check out the county schedule and be sure to contact the office if you don't know who your county president is. 603.224.0334


County Annual Meeting Dates - Support your agriculture. Attend your county's annual meeting!

  • Belknap County: Friday, October 16 at Prescott Farm at 6:00 p.m.
  • Carroll County: Thursday, October 15, at the Sand Trap Restaurant at Kingswood Golf Club in Wolfeboro, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
  • Cheshire County: Monday, October 12, at The Inn at East Hill Farm in Troy, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
  • Hillsborough County: Date to be determined
  • Merrimack County: Wednesday, October 21, at Dell-Lea in Chichester. Prime rib dinner at 6:00 p.m. Entertainment: Rebecca Rule, storyteller, MCFB Registration LINK
  • Rockingham County: Tuesday, October 20, at J&F Farms. Social hour at 6:00 with the business meeting and dinner at 7:00.

Comply Before You Apply

 

Rules and Best Practices for Safe Pesticide Application in New Hampshire: A Webinar Discussion Series


This monthly webinar series takes a practical look at the rules and responsibilities you encounter in your day-to-day work as a pesticide applicator. Each session brings together UNH Extension educators and staff from the NH DAMF, Division of Pesticide Control to help you learn about applicable regulations, common mistakes and practical strategies you can use to avoid problems in the field.

 

Join us for a lively discussion the third Tuesday of each month (October to March) from 9:00am - 10:00am. A Zoom link is provided upon registration.

Earn 1 pesticide recertification credit per webinar session.


October Webinar | Super-Vison: Developing a clear view of the rules and responsibilities of holding a supervisory commercial pesticide applicator license.

October 20 | 9:00 - 10:00am

Online Only 

Cost:  

  • Non-credit seeking participant: Free
  • 1 pesticide recertification credit: $10.00 per session

Please reach out to Amy Papineau (Amy.Papineau@unh.edu or (603) 862-7143) with any questions. 

If you need an accommodation to participate in our programming, please contact Amy Papineau (Amy.Papineau@unh.edu or (603) 862-7143) prior to the event. Given ample time, we will make any reasonable effort to meet your needs, including language access services if requested, which will be provided free of charge.

2026 Cut Flower Growers’ Conference

October 20, 2026 | 8:30am - 4:30pm

Puritan Conference Center

Manchester, NH 

Cost: $75, including lunch and morning refreshments 

Designed for current commercial cut flower growers of all levels, the conference will feature practical production and business education including interactive demonstrations, grower panels and discussions, and plenty of opportunities to connect with other flower farmers.

Last year’s conference filled quickly, so growers are encouraged to register early!

Connecting Local Producers to School Districts

October 29, 2026 | 12pm 

Online

Cost: Free 


The Urban School Food Alliance (USFA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created by school food service professionals in 2012 to address the unique needs of the nation’s largest school districts. Our members collaborate to share best practices, develop procurement standards, and advocate for the health and wellness of students.

Please join us and the University of New Hampshire Extension for the next Webinar for Local Producers! This year, USFA will be hosting Webinars for Local Producers, with school districts and local producer organizations of all sizes across the country. These Webinars aim to share an overview of school food procurement and introduce producers to school districts as potential revenue streams for their operations.

Twilight Meeting for Greenhouse, Garden Center and Nursery 

November 5, 2026 | 5:30 - 7:30pm 

Gardener's Supply 

64 Breakfast Hill Road, Greenland, NH 03840 

Cost: Free!

Come see what’s new at Gardener’s Supply Company in Greenland, learn from industry experts and from other growers, and enjoy networking and refreshments with other growers and garden centers. 

Schedule of Events 

  • 5:30 - 5:45pm: Welcome from Gardener’s Supply Company and mingle/ refreshments. 
  • 5:45 - 6:00pm: What's new and upcoming at Gardener’s Supply Company 
  • 6:00 - 6:30pm: Things to consider when offering new product lines or utilizing new market channels. Adding cut flowers to your garden center? Adding nursery stock to your production greenhouse? Maybe adding on water garden installs? How do we make these decisions intelligently? How do we assess their success? How can we shield ourselves from risk when expanding our offerings?
  • 6:30 - 7:20pm: Moderated group discussion. We will learn from one another’s successes and failures!

Registration is required to attend this Twilight Meeting for Greenhouse, Garden Center and Nursery.

Registration is now open for the first-ever

Tri-State Farm Bureau Annual Meeting!

 

Thursday, November 12-Saturday, November 14, 2026 DCU Convention Center, 50 Foster Street, Worcester, MA

 

Special Early Bird Member Pricing is available through November 1!

Registration remains open through the day of the event, with pricing increasing after November 1.

 

Workshops & Agenda - More details can be found on the meeting website: newenglandfarmbureau.com

 

Hotel accommodations and parking are available with the hotel block at the Hilton Garden Inn Worcester, 35 Major Taylor Blvd, Worcester, MA 01608. $154/night + taxes, availability Thursday, November 12th and Friday, November 13th.

 

Parking available for a fee across from the hotel at Major Taylor Parking Garage.

 

Questions? Contact us at (603) 224-1934

 

New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference

December 15, 2026 - December 17, 2026 

DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown 

700 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 

Join hundreds of fellow farmers for three days of learning, networking, and innovation featuring 31 educational sessions, daily farmer-to-farmer discussions, a research poster session, and more than 130 trade show exhibitors.


Register by November 30 to take advantage of early bird rates.  Pre-registration fee: $130 per person, $100 additional attendee if registering at the same time as a group; $60 for students (high school or college). Students must show a valid student ID when picking up their registration packet. 

Deadline: Pre-registration must be completed by November 30, 2026. After this date, the fee increases to $165 ($70 for students, $135 for each additional). Late (after 12/11) or walk-in registration is $180. 

For more details, including online and downloadable registration materials, visit our New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference webpage. 

Sponsors: The event is Sponsored by the New England Vegetable & Berry Growers’ Association and the Massachusetts Fruit Growers’ Association in conjunction with the Universities of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as Cornell University, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & RESOURCES

Are you involved in the equine industry in NH as a participant or volunteer? Do you have an equine related business? Would you have a NH Winery story to share or a vineyard to advertise? We'd love to chat with you about our next edition of The Communicator: Celebrating NH's Wine and Equine Industries.

Email editor@nhfarmbureau.org or call 603.224.1934

Does your business have ties agriculture or a connection to NH's rural landscape?


Check out our upcoming magazine themes to see where your business can shine!


  • Fall- Whinny & Wine--showcasing the amazing equine and wine industries in NH.
  • Winter- Farming on the Fringe--stretching our traditional idea of farming.
  • Spring- What "Cents" Does It Make -- the cost of farming and how to make a go of it.


Call the office at 603.224.1934 or check out tinyurl.com/NHFB-Ads to find out more.

We can't wait to hear from you!

Farmer Self-Care Grants

Since 2020, Real Farmer Care's flagship program has awarded self-care grants directly to farmers and ranchers — no strings attached. Starting Fall 2026, farmers can apply online for two grant types: the Immediate Care Grant ($200), for a single, immediate self-care need — a first therapy session, an initial body treatment after injury, or a restorative wellness visit — and the Sustained Care Grant ($1,000), for ongoing care across a farming season — a series of therapy sessions, multiple chiropractic or bodywork appointments, or sustained mental health support. Over 600 farmers across 45 states have already received a grant, each choosing exactly what care looks like for them: a massage, a therapy session, a gym membership, a night away from the farm. 

Eligibility: You are eligible to apply if you...

  • Farm or ranch in the contiguous United States or any U.S. territory 
  • Have an annual farming income of $1,000 or more 
  • Priority is given to farmers who have not previously received a Real Farmer Care grant 


How It Works: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed in the order received. Awards are distributed in seasonal rounds when funds are available. Late applications are held for future rounds. Grants are delivered either as mailed checks or ACH direct deposits. 

Status Notice: Applications will open Fall 2026

For more information, visit Real Farmer Care's Resources.

Diesel Prices Surge as Global Supplies Tighten 

Farm Bureau Intel | Markets | Sept 17 | by Faith Paraum, Ph.D.


Diesel prices are on the rise as harvest begins across the country, adding another cost for farmers during one of the most fuel-intensive times of the year. On Sept. 14, the national average on-highway diesel price reached $6.285 per gallon, up from $5.97 the week before and up more than $2.50 per gallon from the same week last year, an increase of nearly 70% year over year.


Diesel used for farming purposes is generally exempt from the 24.4-cent-per-gallon federal highway fuel tax, with state tax treatment varying by state. Even with that exemption, farm diesel prices have climbed sharply. The average farm diesel price reached $5.45 per gallon on Sept. 4, up from $3.02 a year earlier, an increase of about 80%


Read the full story HERE

Organic Support Hour

Every Wednesday at 1PM

Interested in Organic Farming?

Are you curious about what it takes to grow under organic regulations? Want to better understand the organic standards or how your current practices might align?

Join our weekly online gathering for an open discussion and Q&A session! 

https://www.nofanh.org/events/septembersupporthour

 

Organic Technical Assistance

Get organic technical assistance to help with certification, developing your organic system plan, recordkeeping, preparation for your inspection, how to meet the organic regulations, and much more!

https://www.nofanh.org/technical-assistance

 

Pesticide Sprayer Calibration, Use and Care


Whether you’re using a backpack, boom, air blast or air shear sprayer, UNH Extension resources will help you get the most of your equipment. Access dozens of videos, worksheets and other resources to help you save money and get better results with your spray equipment. 

 

Featured video: Greenhouse Sprayer Calibration

Learn how to accurately calculate pesticide amounts and calibrate your sprayer for greenhouse and nursery applications using the Greenhouse Calibration Worksheet. This step-by-step video walks you through the process of determining spray volume and chemical needs, helping you ensure proper application rates, reduce waste, and maintain compliance. 

Join NHFB/NHAITC's Friendly Farmer Program!!!


We know there are educators out there looking to enrich their students with authentic ag experiences, as well as farmers interested in cultivating the next generation farmer. The difficulty is matching educator wishes with farmers, friendly farmers, looking to provide those experiences.


Would you be interested in taking your knowledge and agricultural experience to a classroom? Maybe you'd like to host an onsite visit, share your farm, barn, or market storefront?


The Friendly Farmer program is a way to connect farmers and ag leaders with classrooms and schools to offer authentic ag experiences. Help us grow together!

A partnership between NH Ag in the Classroom & NHFB.



Sign up today!!

Grant Opportunities:

Wolfe's Neck Center Northeast Farmers Fund

The Wolfe’s Neck Center Northeast Farmers Fund is designed to support market access for regenerative products for farmers across the region. NEFF is particularly focused on supporting small- and mid-sized farms that are implementing or transitioning toward regenerative or sustainable production. Funding can support projects related to expanded regenerative production and market opportunities, including:

  • Equipment, infrastructure and tools to expand scale and diversity of products
  • Certification and verification
  • Post-harvest handling and value-added processing
  • Marketing, branding, packaging and distribution improvements that help farms access new or higher-value markets.

Applications will be open from October 1-14, 2026. You must complete the interest form to receive the application when it goes live on October 1.

 More on Northeast Farmers Fund here  

Dairy Farm Improvement and Modernization Grant

This grant will fund a wide range of projects that prioritize long term dairy farm viability and climate/economic resilience. Grants will range from $15,000 to $100,000 with a 25% (cash or in-kind) match commitment requirement.

The RFA is expected to be released in October 2026. The application period is expected to be October – December 2026.

*Important note: this year, the Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant application has two stages.  

 Overview: Dairy Farm Improvement and Modernization Grant  

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting applications for two vacancies on our New Hampshire team; a Loan Analyst and a County Program Analyst/Trainee. Both positions are open externally to the public.

 

The Loan Analyst position is located in our Concord Service Center and serves agricultural borrowers throughout the state. The County Program Analyst/Trainee position is located in Lancaster and serves the farmers of Coos and Carroll Counties.

 

I am reaching out to you now in hopes that you will help notify potential applicants of this position. These are amazing opportunities to work in agriculture and enter the Federal workforce, which offers excellent benefits.

 

All of our positions are posted on www.usajobs.gov. The links to each position are located below. An online resume, built on the USAJobs website, and an online application will be necessary for applying for the positions. Resumes and applicant profiles may be created on the USAJobs website in advance. These resumes and profiles may be used for multiple applications. Also, potential applicants may sign up on the USAJobs website to receive notice when vacancies are posted.

 

Loan Analyst Position – Merrimack County Office

Vacancy: FSA-26-13071659-DE-NH-KBS

Control number: 885821700

Opens: September 24, 2026

Closes: October 07, 2026

Series/Grade: GS 1101

Area of consideration: Open to all U.S. Citizens

The full announcement is available in USAJOBS at the following link:

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/885821700

 

CO Program Analyst/Trainee Position – Coos-Carroll County

Vacancy: FSACO- 13076191-26-NH-RW

Control number: 886372700

Opens: September 25, 2026

Closes: October 09, 2026

Series/Grade: CO 1101

Area of consideration: Open to all U.S. Citizens

The full announcement is available in USAJOBS at the following link:

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/886372700


Farmer-to-Farmer Micro-learning Videos

Busy NH farmers get successful tip and tricks in over 70 microlearning videos of 3-minutes or less from peers who have improved efficiency, quality, and food safety in their operations.

The versatility of a @CAT Skid Steer with any attachments makes it easy to tackle your to do list. New Hampshire Farm Bureau members can save BIG on both today. https://bit.ly/3uOgbZw  

The Communicator


"Amplifying NH's Women in Agriculture", this summer's edition of The Communicator, is full of meaningful articles celebrating just a few of NH's amazing women whose work is woven through the ag industry & we are soooo excited to share it with you!!


The Communicator is the New Hampshire Farm Bureau's quarterly agricultural paper! As a benefit of your membership, a copy is sent right to your mailbox.



Become a member today!

NH Farm Bureau proudly endorses Farm Family Insurance

603-724-1367 www.farmfamily.com

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