The University of Maryland Extension Agricultural Nutrient Management Program (UME ANMP) is entering an exciting phase as it gears up for winter plan writing and educational events. As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance nutrient management practices, UME ANMP is dedicated to providing valuable resources and educational opportunities to farmers and stakeholders across the state.
New Hires
The program is delighted to announce the appointment of two key positions within the state, underscoring its commitment to excellence and expanding its outreach efforts. Craig Yohn has been appointed interim ANMP Program Director. Craig brings a wealth of experience to the role, having spent 30 years as a West Virginia University Extension agent and later serving as a nutrient management advisor in Caroline County for nine years. He has been actively involved in supporting counties in writing nutrient management plans, training new advisors, and contributing to educational events. Currently, he serves as the advisor in Dorchester County, with additional responsibilities in Caroline and Wicomico until new advisors are hired.
Kayla Griffith has accepted the ANMP faculty specialist position. Kayla graduated from Michigan Technological University with a BS in Biology, Iowa State University with a MS in Agronomy, and is presently working toward a PhD in Agricultural Education from the University of Missouri. She was a nutrient management advisor from 2018-2021 and has been a private plan writer since that time. Kayla has also been the instructor for PLSC 112 and 113, Introductory Crop Science at the University of Maryland and is the fifth generation on her family's grain and hay farm in Anne Arundel County.
We welcome both Craig and Kayla to our statewide ANMP Team. UME ANMP is actively recruiting additional Nutrient Management Advisors across the state and look forward to announcing those additional staff in the near future.
Farmer Training & Certification Workshops
In an effort to empower producers and farmers, the program has conducted Farmer Training & Certification (FTC) workshops, designed for those looking to become certified to write nutrient management plans for their operations. These classes are conducted with small audiences to provide personalized guidance. Recent events include:
- An August FTC training in Annapolis focused on Diverse Agronomic Operations, with 12 participants.
- An online FTC training that commenced in September with 31 registered participants.
- A September FTC training for nursery and greenhouse operators, attended by nine individuals, offering six hours of credits for the training.
- Recent USDA NRCS presentation at the Monthly Technical Training Webinar in October providing nutrient management credits to 120 participants.
- Information on upcoming FTC’s are available on this website https://extension.umd.edu/resource/agricultural-nutrient-management-meetings.
Upcoming conferences, schools and meetings
Significant preparations for upcoming crops conferences, crop schools, and UMD winter meetings are underway, most of which will include nutrient management training and the opportunity to earn credits. For more details about these events, please visit https://go.umd.edu/CPM.
For information on developing a nutrient management plan for the upcoming 2024 growing season, reach out to your local Extension office https://extension.umd.edu/locations. For more information on the UME ANMP, please visit https://go.umd.edu/anmp.