Updated: October 18, 2024
By Shannon Dill , Serena Taylor Newton , Andrew Kness , and Jennifer Rhodes

FS-2022-0642  |  October 2024

University of Maryland Extension Winter Meeting Data 2022

Meeting particpants watching presentation.
Image credit: Susan Barnes/UME

The University of Maryland Extension (UME) Agriculture and Food Systems team coordinates a series of winter agriculture production meetings annually. The educational sessions include diverse topics in agronomy, vegetable production, fruit production, forage management, and urban production systems. The meetings also offer recertification in pesticide and nutrient management.

The overarching objective is to provide a comprehensive update on the latest research findings and growing methods. Audiences range from new and beginning farmers to long-time farm families, reaching over 600 participants. Representatives from service and support industries also attend to network with farmers and to receive industry updates.

Beyond agricultural audiences, these meetings attract representatives from private industry, government, and nonprofit organizations, creating networking opportunities, and disseminating industry updates. Winter meetings are an important educational platform for those seeking new technologies and production practices.

The Agriculture and Food Systems team has implemented a survey mechanism to capture demographic, production, and economic data. The results provide important information and reporting data on the efficacy and relevance of education received.

Methods

Agriculture and Food Systems educators met to discuss survey questions for the winter meeting season and agreed upon a standard evaluation. The final survey had 15 questions, including multiple-choice and open-ended questions (available upon request from the author), and collected farm and demographic information, production practices, and profitability estimates. The Institutional Review Board approved the survey.

UME educators provided a consent statement to participants before distributing the survey following each in-person or virtual meeting. The consent statement explained the reason for the survey, contained a privacy notice, and offered the ability to opt out. The in-person meetings received a paper survey, and virtual participants received a link to complete the survey online. All data was compiled into one Qualtrics survey for ease of analysis. Qualtrics provided results in percentages, means, and counts in order to analyze the data. No additional statistical analysis was conducted beyond descriptive statistics. A total of 411 participants completed all or part of the survey.

Meetings

UME educators conducted 22 meetings between November 2021 and March 2022. The meetings are strategically located around the state to reach the intended audience of farmers (Table 1). Eleven of the educational meetings focused on agronomy, four on vegetable production, two on fruit production, three on forage and hay production, and two on urban farming. The team offered a series of virtual meetings to those who could not attend in person.

Results

The 2021-2022 winter meetings held by the University of Maryland Extension drew participants from 20 Maryland counties and from Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. These meetings aim to improve yields and profitability by updating farmers and agriculture service providers on relevant regulations and practices. The UME Agriculture and Food Systems team distributed surveys to discover:

  1. who attended the meetings,
  2. to obtain farm production outcomes due to information received, and
  3. to assess impacts on the farm due to information obtained.

Table 1. List of Winter Meeting Dates and Locations

Meeting Type Meeting Date Meeting Location
Agronomy November 30, 2021 Southern MD Field Crops Conference
Agronomy December 1, 2021 Washington County Agronomy Day
Agronomy December 2, 2021 Northern MD Field Crops Day
Agronomy January 13, 2022 Carroll County MidWinter Meeting
Agronomy January 18, 2022 Cecil County Winter Meeting
Agronomy February 3, 2022 Virtual
Agronomy February 15, 2022 Harford County Mid-Winter Meeting
Agronomy February 16, 2022 Caroline County Winter Meeting
Agronomy February 23, 2022 Montgomery Winter Meeting
Agronomy March 4, 2022 Queen Anne's Agronomy Meeting
Agronomy March 30, 2022 Lower Shore Agronomy Day
Vegetable January 27, 2022 Central MD Vegetable Growers Meeting
Vegetable February 8, 2022 Virtual
Vegetable February 10, 2022 Southern MD Vegetable and Fruit Meeting
Vegetable February 16, 2022 Eastern Shore Vegetable Growers Meeting
Fruit Growers February 10, 2022 Western Maryland Fruit Meeting
Fruit Growers March 1, 2022 Virtual
Forage January 18, 2022 Southern MD Forage Conference
Forage January 25, 2022 Virtual
Forage January 27, 2022 Virtual
Urban Farmer January 22, 2022 Urban Farmer Winter Meeting Baltimore City
Urban Farmer January 24, 2022 Virtual

Note. Five meetings were offered virtually.

Farmer and Farm Information Results

A pie graph on the participants’ association with agriculture.
Figure 1. Participants’ association with agriculture

The surveys included a series of questions designed to learn more about the participants and farms, including acreage, years of experience, and demographics. Agronomy and forage participants farmed on average 482 acres while vegetable and fruit participants farm an average of 84 acres. The winter meetings attract long-time farmers, with 64% farming for over 20 years. Additionally, 20% identified as agriculture service providers in attendance to learn and network (Figure 1).

The winter meetings' demographics are strongly aligned with the USDA Agriculture Census for Maryland, with 76% male, 54% between the ages of 55 and 75, and 95% self-identifying as White/not Latino.

Participants were asked to select their most significant farm challenges from a list and could choose as many as they wished. The most commonly selected challenges were input costs (68%), weather (65%), and regulations (55%) (Table 2). Some participants also identified challenges not included in the survey’s list, including limited access to labor, public perception, and supply chain.

Table 2. Greatest Farming Challenge (select all that apply)

Challenge Percent
Input costs 68%
Weather 65%
Regulations 55%
Markets 46%
Wildlife damage 46%
Diseases 37%
Loss of farmland 36%
Insects 30%
Weeds 18%

Note. Participants could select all that applied from the list of challenges as well as include written comments.

Farm Production Results

The survey included questions related to farm production practices and how UME winter meetings have affected farms and businesses. Participants chose as many production practices as they wished to represent those they plan to implement because of attendance at the winter meetings. The most selected practices include improved crop production efficiencies (53%), improved pest management practices (42%), increased knowledge of regulations (38%), and enhanced manure and nutrient management practices (37%) (Table 3). When asked how the winter meetings have affected their farms and businesses, most survey participants (91%) expressed that their operations benefited from the meetings.

Table 3. Production Practices Planned as a Result of the Winter Meeting Attendance

Activity Percent
Improved crop production efficiencies 53%
Improved pest management practices 42%
Increased knowledge of regulations 38%
Improved manure and nutrient 37%
Increased use of conservation best 28%
Improved risk management practices 19%
Improved financial management 19%
Improved marketing 15%

Note. Participants could select more than one option. Percent equals more than 100%.

Farm Economic Results

The economic impacts from education obtained during both winter meetings and year-round Extension events were evaluated using key metrics including yield per acre and dollars per acre. Winter meeting participants completed survey questions designed to measure the influence of the knowledge and skills they acquired. The assessment’s purpose was to capture the outcomes and economic implications of the educational opportunities provided. By gaining participants' feedback, UME can gain valuable insights into the application of educational offerings, allowing for informed decision-making and an understanding of the economic value generated.

A bar chart on the estimated yield increase
Figure 2. Estimated Yield Increase Per Acre. Note. 21% of respondents were unable to estimate a yield increase per acre.
A bar chart on the estimated dollars earned per acre
Figure 3. Estimated Dollars Earned Per Acre. Note. 27% of respondents were unable to estimate dollars earned per acre.

Participants were asked to estimate their increase in yield per acre based on knowledge and skills gained from Extension programming through the year and by selecting from a range of percentages from zero to “More than 30%.” Those taking the survey could select “Unsure” if they were unable to estimate the percentage. Participants estimated a farm increase of yield by 6-12% per acre, with the average estimating an increase of 9% per acre (Figure 2).

Participants also completed survey questions to assess dollars earned per acre. They were asked specifically about the estimated increase in dollars earned per acre resulting from the knowledge and skills acquired through Extension programming. The survey included a monetary range from $0 to “More than $50,” as well as the option to select “Unsure” if they were unable to estimate the dollar per acre amount. Participants estimated a farm increase in dollars earned per acre between $15-$24, with the average estimated at $19 per acre (Figure 3).

Open-Ended Questions

Participants could provide additional comments and feedback about the event. Many of the comments were related to the format or facilities of the event. Many others suggested education topics and learning formats. Selected quotes about the day include:

  • “Great job of bringing important updates and research results to the vegetable industry”
  • “Put together well; very knowledgeable and engaging speakers/topics.”
  • “Prefer in-person meetings, extension always provides good content. Thanks!”
  • “I prefer the virtual meetings because I can see and hear better than the in-person meetings. I am also more comfortable so I am learning more from the sessions.”

Conclusion

The UME winter meetings serve as critical events to provide education and recertification options to farmers and the industry. The survey results assist UME in understanding the audience of participants, implementation of production practices, and farm economic impacts. Furthermore, UME can utilize the survey results in individual and team reporting.

Impact Statement: UMD Extension 2022 Winter Meetings

Participants from Western Maryland to the Lower Eastern Shore attended winter production meetings hosted by UMD Extension during the winter of 2021-2022. The objective is to provide updates on the latest research findings and production practices. There were 22 events from November 2021 to March 2022 reaching 411 farmers. Of those replying to a post-meeting survey, 91% report the ability to use information gained at the meeting on their farm. When asked about production practices that will be implemented due to information received:

  • 53% report improved crop production practices,
  • 42% report improved pest management practices,
  • 38% report increased knowledge of regulations, and
  • 37% report improved manure and nutrient management.

Based on knowledge and skills gained from Extension programming throughout the year, participants estimate increasing farm yield by 9% per acre. Participants also estimated $19 per acre as the total value in dollars earned because of Extension programming throughout the year.

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