Small Farm Program
The Small Farm Program at University of Maryland Eastern Shore Extension provides outreach and educational opportunities to equip farmers, gardeners and landowners with the knowledge and skills needed to operate farms successfully.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines small family farms as those with a gross cash farm income of less than $350,000. In Maryland, more than 75 percent of farms fall under this category and a majority report income of less than $100,000, according to the USDA census.
While our experts focus on small and beginning farms in Maryland, our program is open to all farmers and landowners.
The Small Farm Program is based at the 382-acre University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Research, Extension and Teaching Farm on Stewart Neck Road in Princess Anne, south of the UMES campus. The farm also is home to an apiary and agricultural research projects by the university’s faculty, and to research test plots for both row and alternative crops.
The teaching farm specializes in alternative crops, value-added opportunities, small-scale production and best management practices. Program activities are conducted throughout Maryland including on the Eastern Shore and in the Southern Maryland region, where our experts are based.
What We Do
The Small Farm Program focuses on:
- Resources: Connecting farmers to federal, state and local agricultural programs and services
- Business Management: Training farmers on farm business management and marketing strategies as well as maximizing productivity
- Alternative Crops: Introducing farmers to alternative crops, specialty herbs and other enterprise opportunities along with horticultural production practices
Outreach and educational programs are offered through informational meetings, workshops, farm field demonstrations, conferences and farm bus tours. Our experts also conduct individual farm visits to offer general on-farm assessments, referrals and provide technical assistance where applicable.
Signature Events
UMES Ag Showcase brings together more than 200 farmers and farm service providers each August, offering an opportunity for producers to learn the latest in research and results for smart-farming agronomy, technology and equipment, along with crop varieties.
UMES Extension’s Small Farm Conference, held each fall, equips family farmers and landowners in Maryland with tools and strategies to increase profitability and promote sustainability.
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Contact Us
Berran Rogers
Small Farm Program Coordinator
Phone: 410-651-7352
Email: blrogers@umes.edu
Crystal J. Sankar
Program Management Specialist
Phone: 410-651-7351
Email: cjsankar@umes.edu
