Responding with Purpose: Disaster Preparedness for New Hampshire Ag Professionals [8 Week Online Program]

The University of New Hampshire Extension is launching a new online course to equip agricultural service providers (ASPs) with the tools and training needed to support New Hampshire’s farms during natural disasters, climate-related events, and other agricultural emergencies.

Responding with Purpose: Disaster Preparedness for New Hampshire Ag Professionals is an eight-module program designed specifically for Extension staff, non-profit professionals, and state agency personnel who work with farms across all commodities. The training focuses on real-world scenarios in New Hampshire and addresses key topics such as severe weather events, zoonotic disease outbreaks, and economic relief programs.

"New Hampshire farmers face increasing risks from extreme weather and other disruptions," said Olivia Saunders, Project Lead. "This course is about preparing the people who serve them, so they’re not only ready to respond but are also able to guide farms through recovery with long term sustainability in mind."

Program Highlights:

• Practical training in agricultural disaster preparedness and response
• New Hampshire-specific case studies and tools
• Develop understanding of climate readiness resources and recovery programs
• One-on-one engagement: Each ASP will work directly with a farm to apply what they’ve learned using a Disaster Management Manual

Who Should Apply: 

Extension professionals, state agency staff, and non-profit agricultural support personnel committed to supporting NH farms before, during, and or after disaster events.

Timeline & Format:

• Weekly online modules completed at your own pace
• Live virtual sessions and peer discussion
• Program runs March 9-May 1
• Limited to 20 participants

Course expectations:

• This is an online, self-paced course. Participants may complete each lesson at a time that works best for their schedule.
• A new module or lesson will be uploaded each week. Learners are encouraged to complete each module during the week it is released to stay on track.
• Expect to spend no more than two hours per week on course activities. This includes watching videos, reviewing materials, and completing assignments or reflections.
• All assignments are required for successful course completion. Activities are designed to be practical and relevant to agricultural service providers.
• While the course is self-paced, consistent weekly participation is recommended to support learning and application.
• Participants will be invited to attend a follow-up, in-person session in the summer (date TBD). This session will provide hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that build on concepts covered in the online course.
• Participants who complete all online modules and assignments will receive a certificate of completion.

Deadline to Apply: February 25, 2026 

Apply Here

This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number SNE24-008-NH

If you need an accommodation to participate in our programming, please contact Olivia Saunders, olivia.saunders@unh.edu and 603-447-3834 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.