Impending foul weather from Tropical Storm Debby held off in Princess Anne for the fourth annual UMES Ag Showcase. It was a hot and humid, but informative, day for about 175 attendees.
“I am not sure who spoke with Mother Nature, but they should get a round of applause. We want to thank UMES and all who were involved with the showcase for this collaboration and the opportunity to educate the community about agriculture,” said Carrie Glasgow (at right), a field technician with Simplot Grower Solutions, who presented information on corn field trials involving seven seed varieties and a microbial product for phosphorus use efficiency called Revv-uP.
Agricultural producers and gardeners spent the better part of the day at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Research, Extension and Teaching Farm just south of campus. The free event, held in partnership with Simplot Grower Solutions, Atlantic Tractor LLC and Mountaire’s Prime Quality Grain, attracted farmers from near and far.
“Precision farming information and updates on the newest technology is what brings me back each year,” said Max Schnoor Jr. (at left), a farmer from Dorchester County with a medium-size operation.
Smart-farming technology
Schnoor and fellow farmers got a look at John Deere’s ExactShot and See & Spray equipment designed to reduce the necessary amounts of starter fertilizer and in-season herbicide, respectively. The ExactShot uses sensors and robotics to fertilize seeds with precision as they are planted, rather than applying a continuous flow to the entire row. Similarly, See & Spray involves targeting and spraying weeds with only the amount of chemical needed, proving to be more cost effective for growers and more friendly for the environment.
First-timers Angela Washington-Daniels of Prince George’s County and her husband, Charles (at right with Dr. Moses T. Kairo), came to “learn about modernized technology and equipment as well as understand available resources and partnership interests in terms of cultural exchange.” Charles, who was visiting the U.S. for the first time, owns a small to mid-size farm in the southeast region of Nigeria, Africa.
Alternative crops
A gardener from Salisbury, Joseph Derbyshire, attended for the first-time in search of integrated pest management solutions.
“It’s a nice facility, busy with activities with an environmental focus from what I see,” Derbyshire said. “That’s important: environmental management and sustainable operations.”
Attendees like Derbyshire took part in the alternative crop production tour, with stops at the site’s vineyard, tree farm, and specialty herb and ethnic crop gardens.
Sadanand Dhekney, a professor of plant breeding and biotechnology, showcased cultivation research on 44 varieties of grapes being grown on the farm.
“The goal of the project is to identify the varieties and management practices that do well in the region’s climate and soil conditions to pass on to growers,” Dhekney said.
Among the challenges, he cautioned, are birds, insect pests, disease and proper drainage.
Maryland Department of Energy environmental compliance specialist Colin McAllister (far right) was also interested in sustainability and “better use of organic fertilizer and innovations in phosphorus management.”
“I also like to see what’s going on with innovative crops,” he said.
Crops for bioenergy
He and a co-worker, Richard Stewart (second from right), took in the tour of different trees being grown at UMES for use as a sustainable bioenergy feedstock.
Dr. Jonathan Cumming (at right center), chair of UMES’ Department of Natural Sciences, is involved in a research project growing trees and switchgrass as a renewable energy source and alternative crop for farmers. Among the benefits, he said, are carbon sequestration to help mitigate climate change, supporting soil health and providing a crop that does not take away from the global food supply.
“When you think of Somerset County, you think of agriculture and seafood,” said Danny Thompson (at left), executive director of Somerset County, Maryland’s Economic Development Commission, who attended Ag Showcase. “Agriculture is so critical to the economic development in this rural region. The existence of UMES right here in the center of ag country, there are so many positive things that come of it.”
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, gcstephens@umes.edu, 410-621-3850.
Photos by Todd Dudek, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, tdudek@umes.edu.
