Virginia Cooperative Extension specialists have long offered hands-on educational workshops to share information with farmers and consumers. But in the age of COVID-19, they’ve had to switch to virtual workshops.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Extension specialists have hosted COVID-19 informational webinars, online marketing workshops, virtual 4-H club meetings and training sessions. Most courses are coordinated through the Zoom virtual meeting platform or Facebook Live or are uploaded directly to the Extension website.
A full library of courses, webinars and other resources relating to COVID-19 can be found at ext.vt.edu/covid-19updates/resources.html. Additional digital publications on a variety of topics, including help with diseases and pests that affect fruits, vegetables and row crops, can be found here.
Weekly webinars and courses hosted through Facebook can be found on the Extension Facebook page and the Virginia State University College of Agriculture Facebook page.
Upcoming meetings hosted through county Extension offices, and updates on specific agricultural topics, also can be found on Cooperative Extension’s online calendar page. Additionally, Extension leaders across the state plan to notify the public of upcoming virtual events and webinars.