Publications

This is an infographic increasing awareness of potential water quality and health risks (lead, copper, and Legionella bacteria) associated with reopening buildings that have been closed for an extended period. Authors: Andrew Lazur and Rachel Rosenberg Goldstein; Title: Think About Stagnant Water and Health Risks (EBR 2020-0542)

Thank you for your interest in the Kids Growing with Grains Virtual Field Trip. In each section, you will find two to three lessons to assign your students. You can choose any of the lessons. You do not need to do them in any particular order or use all of the lessons. Please pick those lessons that are best for you and your students.

Los cierres de edificios durante una pandemia reducen el uso de agua, generando agua es-tancada dentro de las tuberías. Esta agua puede ser insegura para beber o para otros fines per-sonales o comerciales. Los CDC y la EPA recomiendan que los administradores y propietarios de edificios se informen y tomen las medidas necesarias para limpiar las tuberías del edificio antes de reabrir.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important forage crop for dairy and beef cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, and horses. In Maryland, alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), occasionally cause significant damage on susceptible cultivars. Author: Margaret Hartman; Title: Alfalfa Weevil-A Pest of Early Season Alfalfa (FS-1096) Alfalfa weevil was first detected in Utah in 1904, and has since spread throughout the contiguous United States. It was first detected in Maryland in 1951. Efforts to suppress alfalfa weevil populations in Maryland have been largely successful because of biological control, but continued monitoring and management programs are vital to avoid localized pest outbreaks. Author: Margaret Hartman; Title: Alfalfa Weevil-A Pest of Early Season Alfalfa

A recent innovation in faculty retention has been to encourage tenure-track faculty who will be going up for tenure together to form a cohort that will work together throughout the tenure process. This cohort serves as a support network and a professional community of practice. The 2021 Cohort of University of Maryland Extension and authors of this brief found that the initiation of the cohort and the dedication and commitment of the cohort members are both necessary to make the cohort model a success. This fact sheet documents the group's plan of action through year 1, provides lessons learned and helpful hints and a highlight for year 2. It is intended to help future tenure track cohorts navigate a similar path and perhaps lessen the stress along the way. Authors: Jamie Morris, Neith Little, Alexander Chan, Andrew Kness, and Jesse Ketterman. Title: A Tenure Track Cohort Case Study (FS-1103)

Septic systems, also referred to as onsite wastewater treatment, are a well-established and effective tool for treating waste for homes, businesses, churches and small communities. If you are one of the 420,000+ homeowners in Maryland with a septic system, then you are responsible for maintaining the system to ensure effective operation and prolong its life. This folder contains information that will help you maintain your septic system properly.

Due to increasing stress on existing water resources, many farmers are considering alternative water sources to maintain the long-term sustainability of production. One option is recycled water, highly treated municipal wastewater that is then used for agricultural and other beneficial purposes. Farmers have expressed interest in recycled water but want to know if consumers would buy products made with it. This document is a summary of results from economics experiments on consumer willingness to pay for agricultural products made with recycled water, including how different types of information affect consumer willingness to pay for these products.

How does a 4-H youth select which livestock project to complete for their first experience? There are many considerations for children in families who have no livestock background when youth take on their first 4-H livestock project. Some of the first questions to answer before committing to a project animal include “Which species and type of project do I select?,” “Where do I find my project animals?,” “What kind of facilities do I need?,” and “How do I take care of my animals?” This factsheet will present answers to these questions.

Farmers need water to grow their crops. But what happens when the freshwater sources farmers rely on become stressed or unavailable? Learn about an innovative partnership between a farmer and a nearby wastewater treatment plant that uses water reuse to safely and efficiently grow crops on one Maryland farm.

This factsheet highlights that public speaking is one of the most common fears among adults in the United States. However, it is also considered one of the most valuable life skills that young people can acquire through their involvement in 4-H. The Maryland 4-H Public Speaking contest is an excellent opportunity for youth to hone their public speaking skills. This publication contains valuable information about the contest and includes worksheets that can assist youth in the development of their speeches. Authors: Rachel Bayer, Sara Arnold, Sheryl Bennett, and Chris Rein; Title: Public Speaking-Making a Great Speech (FS-1135).