Agronomy News-April 2023

UMD Seeking On-Farm Research Partners

Maryland Grain Producer’s Utilization Board press release (abridged)

The Maryland Grain Producers encourages you to sign-up for one of the three new on-farm research trials for the 2023 growing season! Maryland grain check-off dollars are funding technical assistance through the University of Maryland and compensation to you, for this year’s on-farm research. Conducting this applied research on farms will lead to meaningful agronomic production data across the state at the field scale. The three different trials are listed below.

• Nitrogen Rate – the study is evaluating corn yield response to a range of nitrogen application rates.
• Biological Product Evaluation – the study is going to determine the impact of biological fertilizer enhancement products on corn yield.
• Potassium Rate – the study will evaluate corn yield response to potassium fertilizer to determine the agronomic critical level and adjust land-grant fertilizer recommendations.

Dr. Nicole Fiorellino and Gene Hahn, the On-Farms Trials Coordinator, will be working directly with you to provide hands-on assistance throughout the entirety of the trial. Compensation is available to participating growers who complete the protocols on their farms.

Findings will be aggregated with no identifying information or location and shared for other farmers to see and learn more. Contact Dr. Fiorellino at (443) 446-4275 or nfiorello@umd.edu to enroll today.

2023 Field Crop Budgets and Custom Farming Rates

Shannon Dill, Principal Agriculture Agent, University of Maryland Extension, Talbot County

The University of Maryland Extension has updated the grain marketing website (www.go.umd.edu/grainmarketing) with new input data and spray programs for the 2023 field crop budgets. Also posted is the recent...Read more about 2023 Field Crop Budgets and Custom Farming Rates

UMD Extension Welcomes New AgFS Agent in Howard County

Serena Newton, AgFS Marketing and Communications Intern, University of Maryland Extension

Agriculture and Food Systems (AgFS) Extension welcomes Nathan Glenn to the team as the new Howard County Agent Associate. Nathan will work with the AgFS team to support Maryland food production and...Read more about UMD Extension Welcomes New AgFS Agent in Howard County.

Considerations for Burndown Programs in 2023

Kurt Vollmer, Extension Weed Management Specialist, University of Maryland Extension

It’s that time of year when growers are considering which herbicides to include in their burndown programs. Utilizing effective herbicides will help to ensure less weed competition at planting. However, growers should consider not only...Read more about Considerations for Burndown Programs in 2023

Grid Sampling Soils to Improve Understanding of Soil Variability

Jarrod Miller, Extension Agronomist, and James Adkins, Irrigation Engineer, University of Delaware Extension

One method to uncover soil variability and crop response is to use precision soil sampling, including either grid or zone methods. Both increase the cost of taking soil samples, and each have their value depending on the desired outcomes...Read more about Grid Sampling Soils to Improve Understanding of Soil Variability

Hughes Center Ag/Environmental Communications Internship

University of Maryland, Harry Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology press release

We are seeking one student for a summer internship that offers an opportunity to work with an environmental and agricultural nonprofit organization, the Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology. The Hughes Center is affiliated with the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and is located at...Read more about Hughes Center Ag/Environmental Communications Internship

Class A CDL Grants

Maryland Grain Producer’s Utilization Board press release

Understanding the new challenges of acquiring Maryland's new Class A Commercial Driver's License process, the Maryland Grain Producers is offering a grant opportunity to farmers across the state. The new required class...Read more about Class A CLD Grants

Survey: Nitrogen Management in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science press release

What are your thoughts on nitrogen management in the Chesapeake Bay watershed? What can we do to reduce nitrogen pollution in the Bay while meeting the demands for nutritious food and economic development? Your thoughts are very important for us to identify barriers and opportunities for improving the Bay’s health! Thanks to our farmers, we have made progress in reducing nitrogen pollution reaching the Bay in the past few decades, but there is still more work to do.

If you live/work in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and are over 18 years old, we would like to invite you to take a quick online survey (password: cafe2021) to share your thoughts. Our research team at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science developed this project to help understand and increase the region’s capacity to efficiently and profitably manage nitrogen across the food system, from crop and animal production, to distribution, to consumer waste treatment! Reducing nutrient loss depends on all parts of the food system, and participation of all different stakeholders like you!

This survey will take about 20 minutes. We will email the first 100 participants a $20 e-gift card. This survey is part of an NSF-funded project and it is approved by the University of Maryland Institutional Review Board ([1864028-3]. Sustainable nitrogen management across spatial and system scales). Please find more details about the project in the document attached. Any questions, please let us know. You can contact us via this email cafesurveys@umces.edu. Thank you in advance for your contribution to the research project and the Bay’s health!

Best regards,
The CAFE Team
cafesurveys@umces.edu
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

Hiring: Nutrient Management Advisors

The University of Maryland is looking to hire nutrient management advisors who are organized, have solid computer skills, and a great communicator, with a background in agriculture and/or resource conservation. Make a difference for farm productivity and Chesapeake Bay health. There are currently open positions in Allegany, Frederick, Montgomery, and Worcester Counties.

Nutrient management advisors develop nutrient management plans for agricultural producers to balance nutrient inputs with crop requirements, thus enhancing production potential, improving farm profitability, reducing excess nutrient inputs into the Chesapeake Bay and enabling producers to comply with the State of Maryland’s Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998. Responsibilities include:

• Develop and deliver nutrient management plans using specially designed software and software applications;
• Explain nutrient management planning and plans to agricultural producers;
• Perform phosphorus-loss risk assessments when required;
• Demonstrate proper techniques of soil and manure sampling for agricultural producers and, when appropriate, collect soil and manure samples;
• Sample and analyze soils for nitrate-related tests;
• Demonstrate and train agricultural producers in equipment calibration and crop yield measurements.

Visit go.umd.edu/anmp-jobs to find links for the current openings. The best consideration date is 4/8/2023- submit your application today and share it with others who may be interested! All applications must be submitted online through ejobs.umd.edu. This institution is an equal-opportunity employer.

Small Grain Disease Resources

Alyssa Koehler, Extension Field Crop Pathologist, University of Delaware

Spring is moving right along and the warm weather this week will really have small grains moving. If you are considering use of a fungicide during the season, the 2023 wheat fungicide efficacy ratings are now available...Read more about Small Grain Disease Resources

Fusarium Head Blight Overview

Alyssa Koehler, Extension Field Crop Pathologist, University of Delaware

Fusarium species that cause FHB can infect both corn and small grains. Walking through fields with corn stubble, you may see orange growth on old debris (Figure 1). Since much of our small grain acreage is planted into corn fodder, FHB inoculum is...Read more about Fusarium Head Blight Overview.

Preparing for Tar Spot of Corn in 2023

Andrew Kness, Senior Agriculture Agent, University of Maryland Extension, Harford County

Tar spot is a foliar disease of corn caused by the fungus Phyllachora maydis and we confirmed it for the first time in Maryland from a grower field in Harford County in 2022;  however, it is likely that it has been present in fields at...Read more about Preparing for Tar Spot of Corn in 2023.