>Oct. 18 is the early registration deadline for the Alaska Invasive Species Conference Nov. 5–7 in Fairbanks. The conference is a forum for discussing invasive species management activities and offers expert presentations about emerging science and management issues. See registration information and a tentative conference program online. A complete agenda will be posted soon.

>The Eighth Circumpolar Agricultural Conference and UArctic Inaugural Food Summit will take place Sept. 29 to Oct. 3 in Girdwood. The scientists, farmers, policymakers and others who attend will work to strengthen, support and expand food resources and northern community development. The event is hosted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the Circumpolar Agricultural Association, UArctic and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. See the conference blog.

>If you’d like to learn more about gardening in Alaska and are willing to share your knowledge with others, consider signing up for Extension’s Master Gardener training. Classes start soon in Anchorage, Ketchikan and Fairbanks. The 40-hour training begins Oct. 7, in Anchorage, Oct. 12 in Ketchikan, and Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 (two classes) in Fairbanks. See registration and class information for Anchorage, Ketchikan (including flier) and Fairbanks. Online training will be offered in the spring of 2014.

>The Anchorage District office will offer hands-on food preservation classes this fall. Anchorage classes will meet Wednesday nights through Nov 6. Topics will include making jam and jelly, canning fish and meat, drying, pickling, drying fruits and vegetables, and making sausage and jerky. See details on Anchorage classes or register online.

>Check out our new YouTube video, How to Take A Soil Sample, with Bethel agent Leif Albertson and Tuesday, the quality control dog. In this nine-minute video, Albertson demonstrates the steps needed to collect a soil sample for analysis by a testing laboratory.

> For past announcements please visit our home page news archive.