Penn State Extension of Westmoreland County

09/10/2026

AgWorks: Unemployment Compensation: Separation Issues. Explore how the Unemployment Compensation Service Center investigates employee separations and determines eligibility for unemployment compensation benefits.

About The Live Webinar: Many employers and claimants find the unemployment compensation process challenging to navigate when determining benefit eligibility after an employee voluntarily leaves or is discharged from a job. This webinar explains how the Unemployment Compensation Service Center investigates these situations, including the fact-finding process, burden of proof, the factors considered when making eligibility determinations, and the appeal process. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how determinations related to quits and discharges are investigated and issued, helping them better understand the requirements and procedures involved.

This webinar is open to everyone at no cost, thanks to an AgWorks grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. To help track grant reach and eligibility, participants will be asked questions about their farm or agribusiness during registration. Responses will remain confidential and will not be shared outside the project team.

As part of the AgWorks grant initiative, no-cost training and consultation services are available to qualifying small- to medium-sized farms and agribusinesses in Pennsylvania. For more information, visit AgWorks.

This event is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry through funding from the U.S. Department of Labor.
This event is being offered at no charge to participants.
Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar.
A link to the recorded webinar will be emailed to registrants within ten business days after the live event. The recording will be accessible for six months from the event date.

September 15, 2026 (10:00 AM-12:00 PM ET)

https://extension.psu.edu/agworks-unemployment-compensation-separation-issues

09/09/2026

VectorED Academy: Responding to False Information. Explore how misinformation spreads, why it is persuasive, and practical strategies for recognizing, evaluating, and responding to false information with confidence.

About The Live Webinar: Misinformation and disinformation can spread quickly and influence the way we think, make decisions, and interact with others. Join us to explore how false information is created and shared, why it can be so persuasive, and the impact it has on individuals and communities. Learn practical strategies for evaluating sources, identifying misleading content, and responding thoughtfully to misinformation in everyday life.

This event is being offered at no charge to participants.
Space is limited - preregistration is required.
Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar.
A link to the recorded webinar will be emailed to registrants within ten business days after the live event. The recording will be accessible for six months from the event date.

September 10, 2026 (12:00 PM-1:00 PM ET)

https://extension.psu.edu/vectored-academy-responding-to-false-information

09/08/2026

Westmoreland County Master Watershed Steward couple work together to improve the environment...read more here...

https://www.psu.edu/news/agricultural-sciences/story/master-watershed-steward-couple-work-together-improve-environment

09/08/2026

Applying for Funding with the Center for Plant Excellence. Learn about Track B: Plant Industry Career Development funding, including eligibility, application requirements, and tips for preparing a strong submission. Applications are due October 5.

About the Live Webinar: Join the Center for Plant Excellence (CPE) for an informational session on Track B: Plant Industry Career Development funding. Learn about application requirements and eligibility, what to include in a strong submission, and how to prepare a competitive application. Track B provides up to $10,000 to support internships, apprenticeships, structured training, and workforce development programs. The session will also include time for questions from prospective applicants. Applications are due October 5, 2026.

This event is being offered at no charge to participants.
Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar.
A link to the recorded webinar will be emailed to registrants within ten business days after the live event. The recording will be accessible for six months from the event date.

September 9, 2026 (12:00 PM-12:30 PM ET)

https://extension.psu.edu/applying-for-funding-with-the-center-for-plant-excellence

09/07/2026

Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania! Join Penn State Extension in a free virtual walking program. Walk at a time and place that is convenient for you!

About The Event: Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania is a free, eight-week virtual walking program held each spring and fall. Perfect for worksites, schools, community groups, and individuals, this biannual program encourages participants to get moving, stay connected, and support one another in reaching their wellness goals. Whether you're forming a team with colleagues or walking solo, this program offers a fun and flexible way to build healthy habits.

Gather your family, friends, or co-workers to form a team of up to five. Even your pet can be a member of your team! You may also register as an individual participant. This is a virtual walking program, so you may walk wherever you choose – a park, your neighborhood, or your yard.

Each person is encouraged to walk an average of 10 miles (or do the exercise equivalent) each week for eight weeks. Walk with your team or on your own at a time and place convenient for you.
During the program, weekly emails are sent to registrants and will include motivators to keep walking and strategies for eating healthy.

This event is being offered at no charge to participants.
Preregistration is required for this event.

When: September 14 - November 9, 2026

Registration deadline: September 11, 2026, 11:45 p.m.

https://extension.psu.edu/everybody-walk-across-pa

09/06/2026

AgWorks: Strategies for Leading Others. Build stronger leadership skills with practical strategies for communication, employee training, motivation, feedback, and leading diverse agricultural work teams.

About the Live Webinar: Effective supervisors help employees understand expectations, stay motivated, learn their responsibilities, and improve their performance. As the second session in a two-part workshop series, this program provides practical strategies for leading agricultural employees through clear communication, effective training, motivation, and constructive feedback. Participants will explore techniques for setting clear expectations, supporting employee development, and improving workplace performance while also examining common communication barriers and strategies for working effectively with diverse teams. Whether you are new to supervising or looking to strengthen your leadership skills, this workshop offers practical tools to help your employees—and your operation—succeed.

This webinar is open to everyone at no cost, thanks to an AgWorks grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. To help track grant reach and eligibility, participants will be asked questions about their farm or agribusiness during registration. Responses will remain confidential and will not be shared outside the project team.

As part of the AgWorks grant initiative, no-cost training and consultation services are available to qualifying small- to medium-sized farms and agribusinesses in Pennsylvania. For more information, visit AgWorks.

This event is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry through funding from the U.S. Department of Labor.

This event is being offered at no charge to participants.
Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar.
A link to the recorded webinar will be emailed to registrants within ten business days after the live event. The recording will be accessible for six months from the event date.

September 9, 2026 (10:00 AM-12:00 PM ET)

https://extension.psu.edu/agworks-strategies-for-leading-others

09/05/2026

Hidden Canopies: Exploring Underutilized Trees and Shrubs. Explore underutilized trees and shrubs and learn practical strategies to enhance landscapes, support biodiversity, and promote sustainable production systems.

About The Live Webinar: Explore the "hidden canopies" of underutilized trees and shrubs in this engaging webinar with Dr. Beth Brantley, research scientist and plant pathologist at the Bartlett Tree Research Lab. Discover how lesser-known woody species can enhance resilience, biodiversity, and sustainability in managed and natural landscapes. Learn practical strategies for selecting and integrating these plants into diversified production systems, with insights on food potential, pollinator support, climate adaptation, and multifunctional design. Ideal for professionals in horticulture, agriculture, and conservation, this session will expand your plant palette and inspire new approaches to landscape management.

This session is offered at no cost. A fee may apply for Continuing Education credits. To receive credits, select "credit-seeking" during registration, attend the full live session, and complete the post-webinar survey.

Space is limited - preregistration is required.
Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar.
A link to the recorded webinar will be emailed to registrants within ten business days after the live event. The recording will be accessible for six months from the event date.

September 9, 2026 (12:00 PM-1:15 PM ET)

https://extension.psu.edu/hidden-canopies-exploring-underutilized-trees-and-shrubs

09/04/2026

Forest Seminar: Forest Erosion in a Dynamic World. Learn how changing rainfall patterns affect erosion, the importance of seasonally flowing streams, and best practices for protecting forest watersheds and water quality.

About The Live Webinar: Changing rainfall patterns and increasing storm intensity are making erosion more difficult to predict, but proven management practices can help reduce soil loss and protect water resources. Join Penn State Extension to explore the fundamentals of erosion and the factors that influence streambed and streambank stability in Pennsylvania forests. Learn how seasonally flowing streams contribute to water quality and other valuable ecosystem services and examine how more than 200 years of land use continue to shape forest hydrology and erosion today. Gain a better understanding of how vegetation, landscape conditions, and human activities interact across time and space to influence erosion and discover strategies to support effective watershed management and healthier forest ecosystems.

This session is offered at no cost. A fee may apply for Continuing Education credits. To receive credits, select your desired credits during registration, attend the full live session, and complete the post-webinar survey.

Space is limited - preregistration is required.
Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar.
A link to the recorded webinar will be emailed to registrants within ten business days after the live event. The recording will be accessible for six months from the event date.

When: September 8, 2026, 12 pm-1 pm or 7 pm-8 pm

https://extension.psu.edu/forest-seminar-forest-erosion-in-a-dynamic-world

09/04/2026

09/03/2026

Did you know that September 2nd was Protect Your Groundwater Day? A reminder for water well owners to test, tend, and treat private water systems. Why not register for one of our free Safe Drinking Water Clinics, where you will learn how to protect, test, and treat water from wells and springs.

About the In-Person Workshop-More than one million homes and farms across Pennsylvania rely on private wells and springs for their drinking water—yet many owners are unaware of the steps needed to safeguard these vital supplies. The "Safe Drinking Water Clinic" is designed to empower private well and spring owners with the knowledge and tools to protect their water source, their property, and their health. Learn how to properly test your water, explore treatment options, and understand essential maintenance and inspection practices to ensure long-term water quality and system reliability. During this no-cost, ninety-minute workshop, participants will also have the opportunity to test their home’s drinking water and gain practical insights into protecting both their family and the shared groundwater resources beneath their feet.

Support provided by the Master Well Owner Network grant from PA Dept. of Environmental Protection and PA Ground Water Association. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research and extension programs are funded in part by PA counties, the Commonwealth of PA, and U.S.D.A. Funding for this event is provided by the Master Well Owner Network grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

This event is being offered at no charge to participants thanks to the Master Well Owner Network grant.

Space is limited - preregistration is required!
Washington: October 13, 2026 (7:00 PM-8:30 PM)
Greensburg: October 14, 2026 (6:30 PM-8:00 PM)

https://extension.psu.edu/safe-drinking-water-clinic