{"id":13366,"date":"2025-05-21T10:00:41","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T14:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/?p=13366"},"modified":"2025-12-11T11:47:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T16:47:03","slug":"research-farm-manager-retires-after-five-decades-farming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/sans-monthly-digest\/research-farm-manager-retires-after-five-decades-farming\/","title":{"rendered":"Research farm manager retires after five decades farming"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Retiring<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Did you know that the University of Maryland Eastern Shore is comprised of more than 1,530 acres? Of that, nearly 340 acres is tillable, including pasture for about 150 sheep, goats and chickens. Merton \u201cEarle\u201d Canter<\/strong>, the man responsible for the daily operation of the campus farm and the fields at the UMES Research, Extension and Teaching Farm, is retiring this month after 20 years of service.

Canter, UMES\u2019 research farm manager, has seen a lot of changes over the years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have gone from the old ways of farming to utilizing yield monitors and moisture sensors with GPS mapping, plastic layers and drip irrigation to machinery with auto guidance, variable rate nutrient application and exact applications of spray coverage,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Precision agricultural practices are now used on the university\u2019s farms to grow corn, high oleic soybeans and wheat, which are sold to the area\u2019s poultry industry. Hay and wheat are also grown for feed and bedding for campus livestock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a feeling of accomplishment, he said, at harvest \u201cwhen good crops and higher yields are achieved through all the hard work of the agricultural technicians.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the more unusual crops that have been grown at UMES, he said, are sugar beets, ginger, quinoa, industrial hemp, miscanthus, pigeon peas, callaloo and scotch bonnet peppers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cThe thing I enjoy most about my job is that every day is a little different,\u201d Canter said. \u201cResearchers are always coming up with new ideas and projects that the farm crew needs to implement by figuring out the best way to make things happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part of the job is also talking to farmers about new practices and products, which may prove useful to UMES\u2019 farming operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe biggest challenge for agricultural producers is to stay sustainable,\u201d Canter said. \u201cWith constantly rising costs of equipment and inputs, and low commodity prices of grains, farmers need best management practices to survive another generation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Canter would know, as he spent three decades farming before his post at UMES, including seven years working in nutrient management with the Maryland Department of Agriculture. He holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in agricultural and extension education from the University of Maryland, College Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although he will miss \u201cthe people and the challenges,\u201d Canter plans on traveling and spending more time with his family, including three adult children and eight grandchildren. Also, \u201cworking on the house before I get to old to do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is an avid reader of the SANS Digest and Extension Connections and looks for opportunities to expand his knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI do enjoy reading the newsletters to see what’s going on throughout campus that I may not have been aware of,\u201d Canter said. \u201cThere are so many projects being done at UMES that I would never have known about otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gail Stephens, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, <\/em>gcstephens@umes.edu<\/em><\/a>, 410-621-3850.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photos by Todd Dudek, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, <\/em>tdudek@umes.edu<\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n