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2026

  • Article Item
    Youth stand at a table between two exterior doors. A large quit hangs behind them.
    Rivanna 4-H youth grow their knowledge through hydroponics , article

    Each year, Rivanna 4-H’ers choose a new environmental topic that serves as a theme for the year. During the 2025-26 year, 4-H members explored hydroponics, learning how plants can be grown using water and nutrients instead of traditional soil. With guidance from Kim Lohan, a 4-H volunteer leader and Virginia Master Naturalist, they designed and built their own hydroponic growing system, which they voted to name “Hydrodude.”

    Date: 10/12/2026 -
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    Youth In Action: Austyn Frame, Civic Engagement
    Youth In Action: Austyn Frame, Civic Engagement , article

    Austyn Frame is a 2027 Youth In Action award semifinalist in the civic engagement pillar, which recognizes 4-H’ers who take action to address community needs, advocate for important causes and inspire others to make a difference. Note: The provided information lists both agriculture and civic engagement as possible pillars.

    Date: 10/09/2026 -
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    Youth In Action: Lyla Hatcher, Agriculture , article

    Lyla Hatcher of Hanover 4-H is a 2027 Youth In Action award semifinalist in the agriculture pillar, which recognizes 4-H’ers who explore agriculture, food systems and natural resources while developing the knowledge and skills to address challenges facing the industry and their communities.

    Date: 10/09/2026 -
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    Youth In Action: Pujitha Chippala, STEM
    Youth In Action: Pujitha Chippala, STEM , article

    Pujitha Chippala of Loudoun 4-H is a 2027 Youth In Action award semifinalist in the STEM pillar, which celebrates 4-H’ers who use science, technology, engineering and mathematics to explore new ideas, solve problems and develop innovative solutions.

    Date: 10/09/2026 -
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    Youth In Action: Kennedy Wright, Healthy Living
    Youth In Action: Kennedy Wright, Healthy Living , article

    Kennedy Wright is a 2027 Youth In Action award semifinalist in the healthy living pillar, which recognizes 4-H’ers who promote physical health, emotional well-being and positive relationships among their peers and communities.

    Date: 10/09/2026 -
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    Northampton Shellfish Mortality Response
    Northampton Shellfish Mortality Response , redirect

    In September 2026, a harmful algal bloom began affecting portions of the Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore waters, negatively impacting the aquaculture industry. In response to the HAB, a team of researchers and Extension personnel, including VCE, VIMS, ODU, and the VSAREC are working collaboratively to support affected industry members.

    Date: 10/01/2026 -
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    Water covers a brown road and a car drives through, spraying water around.
    New guide brings together climate resilience resources for farmers , article

    Farmers and Extension professionals looking for information about weather and climate-related challenges now have a new resource designed to bring that information together in one place.

    Date: 09/24/2026 -
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    Family at sunset backlit with child pointing.
    OneOp provides free professional development and resources for those serving military-connected families , article

    Virginia is home to one of the nation’s largest military populations, with 27 military installations and more than 120,000 active-duty service members. Because many military families live off base, they frequently turn to public schools, nonprofits, and other community organizations for resources and support.

    Date: 08/12/2026 -
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    Man holding a tray with small boxes of soil
    Virginia Tech Soil Testing Laboratory launches new online management system , article

    The Virginia Tech Soil Testing Laboratory processes approximately 47,000 to 50,000 soil samples annually, providing critical soil nutrient analysis and amendment recommendations to Virginia’s commercial farmers, turfgrass professionals, and home gardeners.

    Date: 08/05/2026 -
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    Group of kids gather around a table at an event.
    Extension Reality Fair prepares youth for real-world financial decisions , article

    Each year, the Virginia Beach Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) matches youth job seekers with employment opportunities throughout the city. As part of their orientation, SYEP participants gathered at Landstown High School for a Reality Fair event hosted by Karen Munden, Virginia Cooperative Extension family and consumer sciences agent, along with Extension volunteers and community partners.

    Date: 08/04/2026 -
  • Article Item
    Green corn leaf with black small spots.
    Corn tar spot spreads to another Virginia county, Extension urges growers to scout fields , article

    Corn tar spot, a fungal disease first confirmed in Virginia in 2022, continues to spread across the commonwealth. This year, the disease has been confirmed in Culpeper County (July 16), Augusta County (July 20), and Shenandoah County (July 23). While tar spot had previously been documented in Shenandoah, Rockingham, and Augusta counties, the Culpeper detection marks its first confirmed occurrence in that county.

    Date: 07/31/2026 -
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    Group performs on state
    Virginia 4-H Congress empowers youth to grow with purpose , article

    Virginia 4-H Congress gives young people the opportunity to develop leadership skills, explore new pathways, and build lifelong connections. Held June 16–19 on the Virginia Tech campus, the 2026 event brought together 4-H members from across the commonwealth under the theme “4-H Forever: Growing with Purpose.”

    Date: 07/14/2026 -
  • Article Item
    Cows linger in a dry field.
    Expert advice for Virginia producers facing spring drought conditions , article

    As drought conditions persist across Virginia, livestock and forage specialists urge cattle producers to take immediate action to protect pastures, conserve feed resources, and prepare for long-term impacts on herd management.

    Date: 06/29/2026 -
  • Article Item
    A lush green lawn.
    Native turfgrass isn’t always the best fit for Virginia lawns , article

    As gardeners increasingly look for sustainable and wildlife-friendly landscaping options, interest in native plants has surged across Virginia. But when it comes to lawns, the idea of “choosing native” is more complicated than you might expect.

    Date: 06/08/2026 -
  • Article Item
    A Virginia 4-H group visited Richmond for 4-H Day at the Capitol and the 4-H Rally, where Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Katie Frazier encouraged Virginia 4-H’ers and shared how her own 4-H experiences in Rockingham County helped shape the skills she uses today. Cooper Joines is pictured in the cowboy hat. Photo by Katherine Carter for Virginia Cooperative Extension.
    Voices of Virginia 4-H: Day at the Capitol , article

    Cooper Joines, a Virginia 4-H Youth Livestock Ambassador from Montgomery County, recently visited Richmond as part of Virginia 4-H's Day at the Capitol program.

    Date: 05/13/2026 -
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    Small green insect on a blue solid background, overlaid on a background of cotton plant leaves.
    Experts ask public to help scout for new cotton pest , article

    The two-spot cotton leafhopper (also known as or the cotton jassid) is a tiny (2–3 mm long) green insect that can cause severe plant injury as it feeds—in extreme cases reducing cotton yields by 50%. The insect is a significant pest for cotton, but it can also feed on a wide range of vegetables and ornamentals, including okra, hibiscus, and snap beans.

    Date: 05/12/2026 -
  • Article Item
    Person walking with their arms out.
    Take a “Fart Walk” for better comfort and health, according to Virginia 4-H Healthy Living Ambassadors , article

    A message from the 2025-2026 Virginia 4-H Healthy Living Ambassadors: After a large meal, many of us feel ready to sink into the couch — often accompanied by bloating, sluggishness, or acid reflux. Fortunately, there’s a simple and healthy way to ease these uncomfortable symptoms: take a short walk.

    Date: 05/12/2026 -
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    Group of youth and an adult pose in front of a banner reading "Ignite by 4-H"
    Voices of Virginia 4-H: Virginia Ignite participants connect with national 4-H'ers , article

    Colten Lewis, a Henry County-Martinsville 4-H'er describes the recent experience he had attending the Ignite by 4-H conference in Washington D.C..

    Date: 04/16/2026 -
  • Article Item
    Group of youth stand in front of the Tidal Basin, pose in front of a poster, with decorative pattern on the ends.
    Voices of Virginia 4-H: Healthy Living Ambassadors lead session at national conference , article

    Garima Patel, a Roanoke 4-H'er, describes her experience attending and presenting at Ignite by 4-H as a Virginia 4-H Healthy Living Ambassador.

    Date: 04/16/2026 -
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    Three photos of youths engaged in fun activities: cooking dinner, holding a foam finger, and sitting with a dog on a porch.
    Voices of Virginia 4-H: Inbound exchange program broadens horizons , article

    Joshua Sierra-Davidson, a Fauquier county 4-H alum, is currently in Japan working as an in intern with the Labo International Exchange Program, a partner of the 4-H Inbound Exchange program. He previously hosted two inbound exchange students, and shares his experience here.

    Date: 03/17/2026 -
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    Close-up comparison of wheat growing points on a dark background, showing injured growing points on the left that are discolored, shortened, and damaged, and healthy growing points on the right that are elongated, intact, and pale green with visible developing tissue.
    Virginia grain crops Spring 2026 update , article

    Based on forecasts for March 2026, Virginia is experiencing an unseasonably warm, dry, and potentially volatile, weather pattern following a winter that has already accelerated early development in some small grains. Extremely warm, with temperatures potentially in the 70s F to low 80s F, which is well above normal for early March. A strong cold front swept through Virginia on March 12, bringing an abrupt end to warm, springlike weather causing temperatures to drop back to the 50s F.

    Date: 03/17/2026 -
  • Article Item
    Tall trees stretch towards a blue sky above a dirt path.
    Got woods? You need a forest management plan. , article

    Whether your goals are wildlife habitat, timber, recreation, or simply leaving something meaningful behind, a written forest management plan turns your vision into action.

    Date: 03/16/2026 -
  • Article Item
    Man stands in front of a truck strewn with orange circular objects attached to leather collars.
    Virtual fencing may offer a cost-effective alternative for Southwest Virginia farms , article

    Grazing animals require fencing to remain in designated pastures and prevent them from wandering, but fences are expensive and time-consuming to install and maintain. Farmers with limited mobility face additional challenges, and not all land-use scenarios allow for the installation of fencing.

    Date: 03/10/2026 -
  • Article Item
    Woman in a button up shirt smiles as she is filmed by a camera in the foreground.
    Farms to Families project in Montgomery County supports farmers and families in need , article

    From July 2024 to December 2025, Montgomery County's Farms to Families program procured and distributed over 15,275 pounds of local ground beef and 13,500 pounds of fresh produce to more than 4,000 families in need. This program was made possible by a $150,000 Local Food Purchase Assistance Plus (LFPA+) grant from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

    Date: 03/10/2026 -

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