Publications

Many thornless blackberry cultivars are suited for the Mid-Atlantic. Here, we highlight traits like yield, fruit quality, and cold hardiness to help growers select the best varieties for their needs. Authors: Haley Sater and Alan Leslie; Title: Thornless Blackberry Cultivars Suited for the Mid-Atlantic (FS-2024-0709).

Medication Management: Ways to save money on prescription drugs to help you manage your health. Authors: Carrie Sorenson and Lynn Matava; Saving Money on Prescription Drugs" (FS-2024-0712).

Giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus) is a perennial nonnative grass hybrid that is being investigated as an alternative crop in Maryland. Although the invasive potential of this species appears to be low, there is little information about how to manage giant miscanthus should it become weedy, or should another crop be desired following miscanthus production. Therefore, studies were conducted to evaluate control methods for giant miscanthus in two agronomic settings (discing and no-till) as well as herbicide options for riparian settings. Results indicated that multiple herbicide treatments or mowing followed by herbicide treatments over successive years would be needed to eliminate giant miscanthus. Authors: Kurt Vollmer and Ellie Rogers; Considerations for Terminating Giant Miscanthus on Maryland Farms (FS-2023-0685).

Dry field conditions that are ideal for a successful fall harvest also bring the danger of combine fires. Dry crop residue provides the tinder, and a tiny spark or heat source is all that is necessary for a combine fire to start. Combine fires can lead to lost time, substantial property damage, and even injury or loss of life. This fact sheet will share what you can do to lessen your risk. Author: J. Richard Nottingham; Preventing Combine Fires (FS-845).

The University of Maryland Extension (UME) Agriculture and Food Systems team organizes annual winter agriculture production meetings to provide updates on the latest research and practices in various areas, including agronomy, vegetable, fruit, and forage production, as well as urban agriculture systems. These sessions also offer recertification opportunities for pesticide and nutrient management. The meetings attract a wide audience of participants, including farmers, industry professionals, government, and nonprofit representatives, fostering networking and knowledge sharing. To assess the impact of these meetings, the team implemented a survey to gather demographic, production, and economic data from participants. The survey results provide valuable data on production practices and profitability. Authors: Shannon Dill, Serena Taylor Newton, Andrew Kness, and Jennifer Rhodes; Title: University of Maryland Extension Winter Meeting Data 2022 (FS-2022-0642).

Health care expenses can be costly, and it's important to set money aside to manage these costs. One option is to save money in an emergency fund or a savings account that provides tax-saving benefits. The two most common options for saving are Health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Authors: Virginia Brown, Maria Pippidis, Dorothy Nuckols, and Kelly Sipple; Title: Saving for Health & Medical Expenses: Health Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts (FS-1019).

Aquaponics is a soilless farming method that combines aquaculture and hydroponics. By combining the two methods the user achieves a mutually beneficial system of plant and fish production that can produce high-yield crops with limited space and water. This factsheet is a step-by-step guide to building a small aquaponics system using repurposed Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) and parts easily found online or at your local aquarium and hardware stores. Do-it-yourself construction may save farmers money on startup costs and may provide a system with which they can learn and practice aquaponic methods before investing in larger or commercial-scale systems. Authors: Andrea Franchini, Jose-Luis Izursa, Neith Grace Little; Title: How to Build a Low-Cost, Small-Scale Aquaponic System

After selecting a health insurance plan, it is crucial to choose a primary care provider. This factsheet will outline four steps to assist you in selecting the right one for you. Authors: Virginia Brown, updated by Jesse Ketterman and Suzanne Cooke; Title: How do I Choose a Primary Care Provider? Ask the Right Questions (FS-1022).

Knowing health care insurance options are important to farm families, employees, and managers of the farm business operation. This factsheet outlines available health insurance options that managers of farm operations can consider and provides some tools you can use to compare plans. Authors: Jesse Ketterman, Paul Goeringer, Maria Pippidis, and Nate Bruce; Health Care Insurance Options for Farm Business Operations (FS-2024-0706).

The greenhouse gas emissions from manure storage and emissions reductions that could be realized through implementation of three animal waste technologies (anaerobic digestion, composting, and thermochemical processing) are presented. This Factsheet is part of the “Animal Waste Technology” series. Authors: Amro Hassanein, Stephanie Lansing, and Danielle Delp; Title: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Improved Manure Management (FS-2023-0689).