Cooperative Extension Services
Find Your State's Cooperative Extension Service!
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Got gardening questions? You can always ask the Almanac, but you should also know about your own state’s cooperative extension service. They are made up of local experts who provide on-the-ground advice with tricky insect problems, the best varieties to plant in your area, and more! Here’s a list of cooperative extension offices by state.
What Is a Cooperative Extension?
In 1914, the U.S. Department of Agriculture partnered with a nationwide network of universities to create a system of “extension” services. The goal of these services was to provide farmers across the country with advice from local experts regarding all things agriculture and farming.
The program was a huge success, and today, there are extension services in all 50 states (though some are not associated with the USDA). Extension services routinely put on community events, hold lectures and courses, and answer gardening and farming questions from locals. Typically, an extension service has a “home base” located at a prominent university in the state, but will often have a series of county offices, too.
Contact your state’s extension service (sometimes called “cooperative extension” services) for advice on anything from combating local pests to choosing plant varieties suitable for your area. Extension services are also the place to turn to to get your garden soil tested (usually for a small fee), enroll in a Master Gardener program, or get your child involved in a 4-H club.
Cooperative Extension Services by State
Although we LOVE to answer your gardening questions here on our website, sometimes the knowledge of a local expert is required! Consult the list below to find the cooperative extension service in your state for free advice.
Note: These website links may change occasionally, so please comment below if you find the link is not working, and we will update it. Thank you.
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