PRINCESS ANNE, MD-(July 16, 2020)- Dr. E. Nelson Escobar can add two more accolades to his 11-year career at University of Maryland Eastern Shore Extension as an administrator, professor and small ruminant specialist.
Escobar, the interim associate administrator for UMES Extension, received tenure and promotion to an associate professor in the university’s Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences July 1 and was elected to the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education’s administrative council.
Northeast SARE is among four regional offices across the nation whose mission is “to advance—to the whole of American agriculture—innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking research and education.” Supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, SARE offers competitive grants to farmers, educators, researchers and nonprofit organizations who work with farmers and supports sustainable agriculture education.
“It is a privilege to start serving in the NE SARE administrative council and represent UMES in an organization that focuses on profitable and sustainable food production, especially during the uncertain period in our nation’s history,” Escobar said.
Escobar’s research and extension activities focus on livestock production, ruminant nutrition, integrated small ruminant parasite management and honey bee colony management. He has participated in projects on the performance of sheep and goats to manage unwanted vegetation, the use of Controlled Internal Drug Release (CIDRs) for estrus synchronization in sheep and goats to enhance year-round lamb and chèvon availability, and education and training on integrated gastrointestinal parasite management in small ruminants. His research prowess was recognized when he was named the 2013 recipient of the Award for Excellence in Multi-State Research by the 1890 Agricultural Experiment Station Directors.
Escobar holds a doctorate in animal nutrition and management and a master’s degree in animal science from the University of Maryland College Park. His bachelor’s degree in livestock production was from the Universidad de El Salvador. He earned minors in biometrics, animal hygiene and plant pathology over the course of his academic career.
He is a member of the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control, the American Society of Animal Science and the International Goat Association.
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications and media associate, School of Agricultural & Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 410-621-3850, gcstephens@umes.edu.
