Maryland Climate-Smart Agriculture Project: Have Your Say!
Join The Conversation!
(Taking the survey enters you into a giveaway for a chance to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards Deadline is March 31, 2024).
Are you seeing the impacts of more extreme weather patterns on agriculture operations in Maryland? A new survey released by the Hughes Center in support of the Maryland Climate-Smart Agriculture Project (MDCSA) aims to capture this information and more.
If you are a Maryland farmer, waterman, shell stock producer, technical service provider or Extension agent, we invite you to participate in the survey.
The Maryland Climate-Smart Agriculture Project (MDCSA) is farmer-focused, bringing together producers, technical service providers, researchers, organizations, and policymakers to develop and share science-based strategies and techniques. The MDCSA aims to ensure that Maryland farms and farmers can adapt to changing conditions and remain resilient and profitable in the future as it continues to see increased weather-related impacts from factors like heavy rains, extended dry periods and extreme temperature shifts.
MDCSA is coordinated by the University of Maryland’s Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, located at the Wye Research and Education Center. Project Coordinator, Terry Nuwer, will connect with agricultural stakeholders throughout Maryland with a survey at grower meetings and trade shows to gain their input regarding their on-farm observations related to changing weather and environmental conditions.
Your input as a farmer, waterman, shell stock producer, technical service provider, Extension agent, value chain partner, or part of a trade organization in this survey is needed. Whether the farm is above or below water, under covering or out in the soil, in a mountain forest or the coastal plains, a six-house broiler farm or an equine operation, each voice matters. Producers are encouraged to pose questions, suggest ideas for research and farm demonstrations, and identify their decision-making process for adopting new practices for their operations.
The survey will be available electronically or in person, on paper and tablet. You can access the survey HERE, but you can contact Terry Nuwer at tnuwer@umd.edu for a print-ready copy. Taking the survey enters you into a giveaway for a chance to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards (Deadline is March 31, 2024).
Work To Date: The project’s research team - comprising of a dozen Maryland scientists working in the climate science and agriculture space - is simultaneously examining current climate research pertaining to Maryland agriculture. They will identify gaps in our knowledge along with their development of climate models and simulations with a resolution to the county level and projections of climate-related impacts on farming practices, pest and pathogen management, environmental justice, agricultural markets, and other factors. Your input will play a key role in identifying these knowledge gaps.
The project is guided by a leadership team composed of farmers, academics, government, NGO representatives, and value chain partners. When our final report is submitted to the Maryland legislature in June of 2024, our goal is that producers and researchers will continue to exchange information and best management practices with organizations and decision-makers to craft solutions to a sustainable and healthy future for the Maryland farmers and farms along with a healthy Chesapeake Bay.
Are you interested in being part of the conversation? Sign up for emails with surveys and the latest research, and provide your comments at lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/iDPyA50. Take Our Survey
To learn more about the Maryland Climate-Smart Ag Project, visit go.umd.edu/MDClimateSmartAg or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HughesCenterAgroEcology. You can also Contact Project Coordinator Terry Nuwer at tnuwer@umd.edu or 410-827-6202, ext. 8.