Wednesday, August 19, 2009
PRINCESS ANNE, MD-Ag Field Day returns to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday, September 12. The event showcases the research and outreach being conducted at the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Maryland Cooperative Extension. Tours, demonstrations, displays and activities for all ages are planned throughout the day to educate and entertain.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. with tours starting at 10 a.m. Tours showcase featured research addressing increasing crop yield of soybeans, minimizing surface water pollution in no-till soils, minimizing E. Coli and Salmonella contamination in fresh produce and leafy greens, growing grasses for bio-fuels, food safety in seafood, protective clothing for pesticide applicators, controlling parasites in sheep and goats and growing orchids commercially.
Hands-on activities include a GPS demonstration game, a water testing activity and a self-guided tour of the floral trial garden. Children can participate in games such as finding the needle in the haystack, milking the cow and a straw maze. Healthy cooking demonstrations occur throughout the day.
An afternoon informational session is planned to educate participants about USDA programs and services available for small farmers. Community and government support agencies will be available to provide resources and information for accessing their programs.
“This event provides an excellent opportunity to educate the local, campus and farming communities about the valuable research being conducted at UMES. Much of the research addresses issues specific to the agriculture and seafood industries on the Eastern Shore. We are reaching out to share the knowledge we have gained so that others can apply it and enhance their own businesses or organizations,” said Corrie Cotton, research assistant professor at UMES and one of the field day organizers.
The event is free and open to the public. Lunch is provided for registered participants. Ag Field Day is being sponsored by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the UMES Agricultural Experiment Station and the Maryland Cooperative Extension. For more information or to register, contact Gail Sykes at 410-651-6625 or by email at gasykes@umes.edu. Online pre-registration is available at www.umes.edu/SANS.
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Courtney Harned, media specialist, Ag Communications, UMES, 410-621-3850, cpharned@umes.edu.
Gail Stephens, assistant director, Office of Public Relations, UMES, 410-651-7580, gcstephens@umes.edu.
