Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School

Crop Management

Biologicals in Crop Production -- During this talk we will cover the use of various biological products in corn, wheat, soybean, and cotton. Current products are marketed with various mechanisms related to the crop's ability to deal with abiotic and biotic stressors during the season. Results from replicated field trials will be presented. Instructor: Dr. Trenton Roberts, University of Arkansas. Tuesday 10:00am and 11:00am.

Pushing Yield on Wheat: The key is not going overboard -- Getting 130-150 bushel wheat isn’t always about pushing inputs. Often maximizing yield requires pulling back on the range and looking at how we are managing the crop and the inputs. This talk with discuss the management strategies to optimize wheat grain yield, while maximizing input efficiencies. Instructor: Dr. Brian Arnall, Oklahoma State University. Tuesday 1:00pm and 2:00pm.

In-Season Fertilizer Management and After-Market Planter Technologies for Improving Corn Establishment and Yield following a Rye Cover Crop -- Cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop (RCC) use continues to gain popularity due to soil, water quality, and weed control benefits. However, farmers are often hesitant to adopt this practice prior to corn production due to exacerbated stand establishment issues, nutrient deficiencies, and yield losses when following a RCC. The objective of this research was to 1) understand optimum in-season nitrogen (N) fertilizer timings for reducing corn N deficiencies and yield losses when following a RCC and 2) understand the influence of after-market closing wheel types for improving corn emergence and establishment in high-residue RCC systems. Multiple research trials were established across the state of Indiana in both small-plot and field scale no-till/RCC environments to examine the role of multiple in-season N fertilizer application timings (2x2 starter fertilizer + V5, V10 or V5 + V10 sidedress N) for improving corn N uptake and reducing N deficiencies and yield losses following a RCC. In addition, multiple research trials were established to examine the role of after-market closing wheel use designed for high residue/cover crop systems (e.g., Cruiser Xtreme, Copperhead Ag and Cupped Razor, Martin Till) in comparison to standard rubber closing wheels in no-till and RCC environments for improving seed-to-soil contact, furrow residue removal, and corn stand establishment in a RCC system. Instructor: Dr. Dan Quinn, Purdue University. Tuesday 3:10pm and 4:10pm.

Nutrient Management

Cation Exchange Capacity and Nutrient Availability – As a soil property, cation exchange capacity (CEC) is used to relate to nutrient holding. Specifically it can determine the relative availability of macronutrients (Ca, Mg, K), but is generally used to estimate all nutrient holding. Understanding CEC is important when considering how it is measured, nutrient holding, and the efficient use of fertilizers. A general overview of how it is measured will help communicate nutrient cycling for crop production. Instructor: Dr. Jarrod Miller, University of Delaware. Tuesday 10:00am and 11:00am.

Nutrient Stratification in No-till and its Implication on Management -- Historically tillage homogenized the soil on an annual basis so that the top 6-10 inches of soil was effectively the same. With the implementation of No-till practices, farmers are no longer mixing the soil. This means that surface applied nutrients, specifically immobile nutrients, have increased concentrations in the top 2 inches of the soil. Along with fertilizer, the breakdown of OM on the surface leads to further stratification. This stratification does have an impact on soil sampling and management, this talk will discuss a few key points. Instructor: Dr. Brian Arnall, Oklahoma State University. Tuesday 10:00am and 11:00am.

Tissue Testing for Nitrogen and Potassium Management in Corn and Soybean -- Nitrogen fertilization in corn and potassium fertilization in soybean represent the single largest input cost for most producers. Proper management of these nutrients is essential for profitable production. Proactive tissue sampling can provide producers with valuable information to ensure that nutrients are not limiting their yields, but also prevent unnecessary applications that limit profitability. Tissue sampling protocols and proper data interpretation based on crop growth stage will be discussed. Instructor: Dr. Trenton Roberts, University of Arkansas. Tuesday 1:00pm and 2:00pm.

Taking Credit to Save Money and Benefit the Environment -- Nitrogen management of crops can be very challenging. In this session, we will talk about different nitrogen sources (soil, manure, crop rotations) and discuss different ways of fine-tuning nitrogen management, with specific focus on corn crop rotations. Instructor: Dr. Quirine Ketterings, Cornell University. Wednesday 3:10pm and 4:10pm.

Pest Management

New Spray Application Methods and Herbicide-Resistant Weed Management -- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are widely used for mapping and classification of weed species these days. Along with sensing and collecting image data, a novel idea of pest management through UAS-based site-specific and broadcast pesticide-spray applications has emerged as a potential crop protection tool. Such interventions are necessary for reducing expenses, labor, and chemical load on the agroecosystems and managing pest-resistance issues. UAS-based herbicide applications, spray standardizations, harvest weed seed control strategies, and results of on-going research have shown potential to assist in smart farming. Instructor: Dr. Vijay Singh, Virginia Tech. Tuesday 1:00pm and 2:00pm.

Multiple-Resistance in Mid-Atlantic Weeds. What can we do? -- Mid-Atlantic growers continue to struggle with herbicide-resistant weeds. Certain species have recently been confirmed to be resistant to multiple herbicide groups. This presentation will review the resistance mechanisms in these species, provide an overview of research in the region being conducted to help combat these species, and precautions that should be followed to preserve weed control programs. Instructor: Dr. Kurt Vollmer, University of Maryland. Tuesday 3:10pm and 4:10pm.

Special Pests in Specialty Crops -- This session will cover recent work and changes with regards to vegetable insect pest management. Discussed pests will focus on cucurbits, sweet corn, and early season processing vegetables. Cucumber beetle and corn earworm insecticide efficacy patterns have changed on Delmarva over the years. Other vegetable pests will be discussed depending on participant interest and time and cover tomato, beans, and fruit and vine crops. Instructor: Dr. David Owens, University of Delaware. Tuesday 3:10pm and 4:10pm.

Soil and Water

Connecting Soil Health to Nutrient Management Decisions -- Soil health/biological processes play a role in nutrient cycling, which affects soil fertility tests. However, there is little research relating soil health/biological measurements to crop yield or fertilization recommendations. Therefore, there is potential for improving the accuracy of fertilizer rate recommendations by including soil health/biological test results with traditionally used soil fertility tests. Research was conducted in 101 Missouri fields and 43 sites in South Dakota from 2019-2022 to determine what soil health tests could be used to improve corn phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen recommendations. During the presentation we will discuss what soil health tests and other basic soil tests can be used to improve phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen fertilizer recommendations in corn. For example, for phosphorus including soil respiration, cation exchange capacity, and clay % improved corn response prediction accuracy by 6% and for potassium including cation exchange capacity, soil organic matter, and permanganate oxidizable carbon improved corn response prediction accuracy by 10%. Additionally, we will discuss the soil measurements that have the best relationship with corn nitrogen fertilizer recommendations. Instructor: Dr. Jason Clark, South Dakota State University. Tuesday 10:00am and 11:00am.

Urban Agriculture and Conservation - Urban Agriculture is a strategy used by communities to address food security, climate-change, storm-water management, economic and career development, social and environmental justice, and overall resilience.  Learn how agricultural service providers from Maryland promote and support urban agriculture and conservation in Baltimore, Prince George’s County, and Washington DC. This session will review common soil and water resource concerns found on urban farms as well as infrastructure challenges. Instructors will provide case studies and examples of strategies used by urban farms to address these resource concerns and challenges, as well as resources to support and fund their successful implementation. Finally, hear how local policy and programs can both support and hinder the success of urban farms, as well as their capacity to incorporate conservation measures and effectively serve their communities. Instructors: Dr. Collene Kiefer, USDA NRCS, Ms. Kim Rush Lynch, Prince George’s County Soil Conservation District, and Ms. Alison Worman, Farm Alliance of Baltimore. Tuesday 1:00pm and 2:00pm.

Alternative

Air Quality, Right-to-Farm, and Californians: 2023 Court Decisions and Implications on Nutrient Management -- CAFO permit decision for MD involving air quality, a Talbot County right-to-farm decision, and the Prop 12 decision (California standards for how pork, veal, and eggs would be produced to be sold in CA) have possible implications to Mid-Atlantic agriculture. The implications of all those decisions will potentially impact nutrient management in MD and the region. Instructor: Mr. Paul Goeringer, University of Maryland. Tuesday 10:00am and 11:00am. (1 CEU in Nutrient Management)

Specialty Certifications

Adoption of Precision Conservation – Precision ag technologies offer an opportunity to gather a tremendous amount of information about crop production over time. Coupling economic information with the precision ag data we were able to evaluate within-field profitability over time. Field management was adjusted on several fields and this presentation will include the resulting crop production, economics, and environmental outcomes of adopting precision conservation.  Instructor: Dr. Douglas Smith. Tuesday 1:00pm and 2:00pm. (1 CEU in Sustainability)

So You Want to Write Nutrient Management Plans Privately? What Do You Need To Know – For those considering writing nutrient management programs for a fee, this session will cover the ends and outs of what you should think about to set your business up in a way to manage risks. Instructor: Mr. Paul Goeringer, University of Maryland. Tuesday 3:10pm and 4:10pm. (1 CEU in Professional Development)

Crop Management

How Crop Modelling Can Help Make Farming Decisions -- Crop modelling is a tool that has been widely explored in the last decade to understand the physiological basis behind the cropping systems. However, its impact in farming systems has been limited. We will discuss how crop modelling can support farmers in their decision-making process using examples in corn, soybeans, and sorghum. Instructor: Ms. Ana Carcedo, Kansas State University. Wednesday 8:00am and 9:00am.

Soybean Management Misconceptions – The soybean crop sensitivity to stress varies across growth stages. This risk can be mitigated through management. This presentation explores common misconceptions with risk and management. Instructor: Dr. Mark Licht, Iowa State University. Wednesday 10:10am and 11:10am.

What Can We Learn from Yield Contests? -- Untangling the most relevant factors explaining yields is critical to identify environments and the management practices that increase crop production within them. With this in mind, the Corn and Sorghum yield contest data was employed to provide insights on the major components limiting attainable yields. We will be showcasing the conclusions that can be made from farmers’ self-reported data, and the relevance of these assessments to guide future research into practical recommendations. Instructor: Ms. Ana Carcedo, Kansas State University. Wednesday 1:00pm and 2:00pm.

Phantom Yield Loss: Myth or Reality -- Whether converting land from conventional to organic grain production would reduce or increase environmental impacts is an open question, especially in the Delmarva region where the majority of conventional grain farmers already employ such conservation practices as no-till or minimum-till soil management, integrated pest management, nutrient management, and cover crops.  Given this starting point, we wanted to learn how a switch to organic farming could avoid significant increases in soil disturbance, greater erosion, more runoff, and a deterioration of soil health. Instructor: Dr. Mark Licht, Iowa State University. Wednesday 3:10pm and 4:10pm.

Nutrient Management

Fine-Tuning Nitrogen Management in Corn – Applying the most profitable rate of nitrogen fertilizer is an ongoing challenge for corn production. Optimal rates may vary by field and even by year depending on weather and crop growth conditions. In this session, we will demonstrate a new tool for determining optimal nitrogen fertilizer rate for corn production in Pennsylvania. This tool estimates total nitrogen fertilizer needs ahead of the season based on site-specific information such as soil organic matter and cover crop inputs. We will also discuss ongoing efforts to inform optimal sidedress nitrogen rate based on early season crop conditions. Instructor: Dr. Daniela Carrijo, Pennsylvania State University. Wednesday 8:00am and 9:00am.

Using ManureDB to View Aggregated Manure Nutrient Data -- Livestock and poultry manure can provide valuable nutrients for cropping systems, however overapplication can lead to the risk of nutrient loss to the environment. Planning for appropriate application rates can be complicated as manure nutrients vary greatly based on species, animal nutrition, animal housing, anure storage and handling, animal age, climate, and manure application method. University of Minnesota researchers in the College of Food and Agriculture Natural Resource Sciences, Extension, and the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, along with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture have publicly released a U.S. manure test database called ManureDB. Sixteen manure testing laboratory partners have submitted over 400,000 manure samples to the ManureDB project, and those numbers continually grow. With manure data from 49 states, spanning over two decades, and a variety of sample details, not only does this new resource improve inputs for nutrient management planning and agricultural modeling, but also allows for other research and analysis. Additional geospatial and statistical features will be added to ManureDB and the data will be eventually annually archived in the National Agricultural Library’s Ag Data Commons. Instructor: Dr. Nancy Bohl Bormann, University of Minnesota. Wednesday 10:10am and 11:10am.

How Much Phosphorus is Required for Achieving Maximum Corn Grain Yield? Luxury Consumption and Implications for Grain Yield -- While luxury consumption is generally only thought to occur for nitrogen and potassium, previous studies have hinted at the possibility of luxury consumption of phosphorus (P) in corn.  Luxury consumption of P in corn was confirmed in a controlled grow-room study that prevented confounding interactions between plants and soil. Corn exhibited a two-step P luxury consumption with respect to both max grain and biomass production; i.e. max grain yield was achieved with total uptake of 580 mg/plant, with further P uptake no longer increasing grain yield but still increasing total biomass until uptake of 730 mg P/plant. Further P uptake occurred after 730 mg/plant, but with no increase in total biomass. Excess P uptake decreased grain yield due to less Cu, Zn, and Fe being translocated from roots to grain, which reduced grain protein content. The P uptake value of 580 mg/plant can be used as a target in developing nutrient uptake models and tools that provide a soil-specific agronomic critical P value. Instructor: Dr. Chad Penn, USDA-ARS. Wednesday 1:00pm and 2:00pm.

Foliar Fertilizers for Soybean Production -- This presentation will cover the basics of foliar fertilizers for soybean production, including information about diagnosing nutrient deficiencies, results from recent foliar fertilizer trials, and considerations for making foliar fertilizer applications. Instructor: Dr. Emma Matchum, University of Florida. Tuesday 3:10pm and 4:10pm.

Pest Management

Recent Findings in Soybean Nematode Management in Virginia -- Plant-parasitic nematodes are the most damaging disease pest in Virginia soybeans.  Short rotations and fields planted to continuous soybean have resulted in severely damaging populations in some fields.  Nematode-resistant varieties provide the best solution to reducing nematode damage but many field populations of SCN (soybean cyst nematode) that have overcome the most common source of SCN resistance (R3 conferred by PI 88788).  Soybeans with the Peking source of SCN still consistently perform well in fields where SCN populations have a high frequency of races that have overcome R3 resistance.  Soybean resistance to RKN (root-knot nematode) is very effective in fields with damaging levels.  Seed treatment and in-furrow nematicide options have shown to be very inconsistent for season-long management of nematodes in soybeans.  Results from field trials along with nematode control measures will be presented. Instructor: Dr. David Langston, Virginia Tech. Wednesday 8:00am and 9:00am.

Endangered Species Act: Potential Label Changes -- The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was enacted in 1973 and requires all Federal Agencies to consider the impacts of their decisions on threatened and endangered species and their critical habitat.  The ESA only considers impacts to listed species it does not consider impacts to growers.  In 2023 the EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs said it would consider the impacts on listed species from all new pesticide registrations and future pesticide re-registration.  Considering impacts on endangered and threatened species will have a large impact because there are over 1,800 of these species which occur in all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.  To reduce offsite movement new pesticide labels will include requirements regarding: soil moisture, infield buffers, and conservation practices.  Instructor: Dr. Bill Chism, US-EPA (retired). Wednesday 10:10am and 11:10am.

Crash Course on Corn Disease Identification -- Diagnosis is a critical step for making effective disease management decisions, but correct identification can be difficult. In this session we will build skills for improved diagnosis and rating of diseases in corn. Live plant samples and preserved specimens will be used for hand-on disease identification training and interactive disease ratings. This session will also introduce regional diagnostic resources and discuss disease management strategies. Instructors: Dr. Alyssa Koehler, Dr. Isabel Emanuel, and Ms. Maddle Henrickson, University of Delaware. Wednesday 3:10pm and 4:10pm.

Soil and Water

Thinking of $15 Corn and $30 Soybeans but Worried About Losing Soil Heath and Maybe Your Shirt During the Organic Transition? -- The demand for organic grain has outstripped domestic supplies, and large amounts are being imported both as human food and animal feed. Maryland has a large poultry production industry that is ramping up organic poultry production and needs more organically certified grains. These trends have led to consistently attractive prices for organic corn and soybeans. But transitioning to organic grain production is no easy feat. The challenging 3-year process requires using 100% organic approved practices but most likely getting only conventional prices.  The learning curve may involve navigating unfamiliar management practices, equipment, allowable chemicals, and markets - not to mention the soil health and financial implications. Join me to learn about our 4-years of research trials (and tribulations) testing different management strategies for the transition period.  This session will discuss what we learned to do (and not do) as we attempted to find the Goldilocks strategy of crop, tillage, and cover crops that would best promote both soil health and profits. Instructor: Dr. Ray Weil, University of Maryland. Wednesday 8:00am and 9:00am.

Agricultural Strategies for Mitigating and Adapting to Saltwater Intrusion -- This presentation will highlight some appropriate conservation practices and field management strategies to help mitigate the impacts of coastal flooding and saltwater intrusion on working lands. Instructor: Dr. Christopher Miller, USDA NRCS. Wednesday 10:10am and 11:10am.

Adaptation of Pasture and Hayland Species for Mechanical and Simulated Ruminant Harvest in Appalachia -- In the Appalachian region, overgrazing is a common occurrence, due to continuous grazing and overstocking, leading to increased soil erosion, limited forage availability, decreased animal performance, animal health issues, and water quality and soil health degradation. This talk will summarize a study designed to demonstrate the effects of overgrazing and limited soil nutrient availability on forage species longevity, composition, and production. Through the completion of the study, the presence of adaptive species in certain regions has provided not only ground cover in critical intense rainfall periods but also fills a forage gap that may otherwise be void. These forage species may also prove useful in other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region to address water and forage quality on a much broader scale. Instructor: Mr. Isaac Wolford, USDA NRCS. Wednesday 1:00pm and 2:00pm.

Sustainable Intensification of Agricultural Drainage Systems -- Drainage is essential for agricultural production. Sustainable intensification of agricultural drainage is needed to meet production, environmental, and greenhouse gas goals. This will entail re-designing drainage systems to handle larger precipitation events, manage water through droughts, and reduce nutrient losses. Conservation drainage covers a suite of practices that help achieve these goals and are being implemented throughout the Delmarva. This presentation will go over sustainable intensification of agricultural drainage systems and basic research being conducted on performance of these systems to enhance nutrient use efficiency and improve water quality. Instructor: Mr. Timothy Rosen, ShoreRivers. Wednesday 1:00pm and 2:00pm.

Grow Your Stewardship -- Join the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to learn about the additional funding opportunities available to producers and opportunities for Technical Service Providers (TSPs) through the historic, once-in-a-generation Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and how conserving, maintaining, and restoring our natural resources can improve both the health and wealth of agricultural operations in the future. Instructor: USDA NRCS Staff. Wednesday 3:10pm and 4:10pm.

Alternative

How Plants Cultivate Soil Microbes to Obtain Nutrients -- This presentation will discuss how plants use soil microbes and endophytes to obtain nutrients in the rhizophagy cycle.  The roles of root hairs, trichomes and other plant structures in nitrogen acquisition will also be covered. Instructor: Dr. James White, Rutgers University. Wednesday 8:00am and 9:00am. (1 CEU in Nutrient Management)

Research and Recommendations on Blueberry and Bramble Establishment -- Blueberries, blackberries and raspberries can be profitable crops in the Mid-Atlantic region, but successful establishment is key to achieving good yield and quality early in the life of the planting. Recommended establishment practices for each of these crops will be discussed, including soil preparation, mulching, trellis options, irrigation, fertilization and establishment pruning. Variety selection is another important decision made at establishment; results from blueberry and bramble variety evaluations conducted in Delaware and regionally will be presented. Instructor: Ms. Emmalea Ernest, University of Delaware. Wednesday 10:10am and 11:10am. (1 CEU in Crop Management)

Strawberries at the USDA in Beltsville: New Cultivars, Diseases, Practices, and Perspectives -- For over 100 years, the USDA-ARS strawberry breeding program in Beltsville, MD, has made major contributions to the development of the strawberry as a crop. Emphasis has long been on natural disease resistance and flavor. Recent cultivars include Flavorfest (mid-season), Keepsake (mid-season to late mid-season), Cordial (late-season) and a new early season cultivar to be released and named very soon. Emerging diseases have affected the breeding fields since 2020, identifying selections that are either resistant or carry genes for resistance. Small hand-held tools for evaluating flavor have been compared for reliability and ease of use. Fruit qualities key to perception of freshness have been identified during post-harvest evaluation. Field management protocols have been adjusted to accommodate reduced staff. Our experiences and findings will be shared for discussion. Instructor: Dr. Kim Lewers, USDA ARS. Wednesday 1:00pm and 2:00pm. (1 CEU in Pest Management??)

Spotted Wing Drosophila IPM Best Practices and Updates -- Quick to reproduce and tricky to manage, spotted wing drosophila is the key insect pest of U.S. small fruit production. This presentation will highlight management lessons learned from over a decade of research globally as well as ongoing advancements with the potential to help Mid-Atlantic producers. Instructor: Dr. Kelly Hamby, University of Maryland. Wednesday 3:10pm and 4:10pm. (1 CEU in Pest Management)

Crop Management

Applying Automation Practically At the Farm Level -- As we move into the future we are hearing and seeing more about automation, robotics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Agriculture. We need to understand how we can apply this practically at the farm level to leverage these technologies to be more efficient and profitable. The main goal of this talk is to discuss how automation can be applied at the farm level for our everyday farmer to ensure they are as successful as possible. Instructor: Dr. Wesley Porter, University of Georgia. Thursday 8:00am and 9:00am.

Effects of Fertilization Strategy on Triticale Forage Quality and Dairy Cow Performance -- Winter forages can provide environmental benefits through nutrient retention and soil erosion control, but can also be a high yielding and high quality source of forage for livestock. As a result, triticale silage has become a popular forage choice for many dairy producers to increase forage supply. This presentation will discuss some of the best management strategies for maximizing winter forage productivity and will provide preliminary results for a study evaluating the effects of fertilization strategy on triticale forage quality and dairy cow performance. Objectives of the study were 1) to investigate the effect of increasing nitrogen fertility rates with and without sulfur on triticale yield and quality, and 2) to evaluate production implications when incorporating the resulting forage into dairy cow diets. Instructor: Dr. Amanda Grev, University of Maryland. Thursday 10:10am and 11:10 am.

Nutrient Management

Utilizing Cover Crops to Offset Fertilizer Inputs for Corn on Sandy Loam Soils -- On the coastal plain, sandy loam soils are generally prone to subsurface nutrient leaching, such as nitrogen, sulfur, and potassium. Drastic increases in fertilizer prices have severely impacted the profitability of grain production. We will discuss results from our 9-year long-term cover cropping systems study at the Virginia Tech Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center which evaluated nutrient cycling through cover crops, impacts on corn yield and soil health, as well as the economics of these diverse cropping systems. Instructor: Mr. Joseph Haymaker, Virginia Tech. Thursday 8:00am and 9:00am.

Nitrogen from Cover Crops -- The adoption of cover crops has increased in the Mid-Atlantic region. Understanding decomposition and nitrogen release from cover crops may help us reduce our nitrogen fertilizer application rate. This presentation will layout the cover crop residue breakdown rates and also amount of nitrogen release from different cover crops at different stages of corn growth stages. Instructor: Dr. Sapana Pokhrel, University of Delaware. Thursday 10:10am and 11:10am.

Pest Management

Pros and Cons of Grain Insect Pest Management Options -- Seed treatment and plant incorporated Bt trait selection occurs when seed is purchased, setting the stage for season-long insect management. This talk will discuss the pros and cons of these products, in-season foliar insecticide options, and recent insect pest management research results. Instructor: Dr. Kelly Hamby, University of Maryland. Thursday 8:00am and 9:00am.

Soil and Water

Beyond the Ditches: Ten More Years of Research on P Removal Structures - Excessive losses of dissolved phosphorus (P) from high P soils to surface waters can occur for decades, even after P application has ceased and traditional conservation practices have been implemented.  For this reason, P removal structures were developed to intercept and filter dissolved P until soil test P levels are drawn down to safe levels via crop removal. Fifteen years ago, the initial research was conducted by constructing “ditch filters” on the Eastern Shore. While effective, major advancements have been made since that time, including design, more economical and efficient filter media, software for fast and easy site-specific design (P-Trap), and training videos on all aspects from choosing a site to construction tips. This presentation will summarize advancements and current recommendations, discuss how blind inlets can be designed to additionally serve as a P removal structures, and provide a brief demonstration of the P-Trap software. Instructor: Dr. Chad Penn, USDA ARS. Thursday 8:00am and 9:00am.

Understanding Soil Moisture Sensors and Irrigation Scheduling -- While they are one of the most accurate ways of scheduling irrigation, soil moisture sensors are often one of the lowest methods of irrigation scheduling. There are many reasons behind low adoption, some include cost, complexity of the systems, how to make decisions from the data and reliability of systems. The main goal of this talk is to educate producers on how to better interpret data, the benefits of using sensors, and some economic advantages of using sensors compared to other methods. While there are other valid methods available, producers should consider some sort of advanced irrigation scheduling beyond checkbook, calendar and visual scheduling, and ideally this talk will help them feel more comfortable in doing that. Instructor: Dr. Wesley Porter, University of Georgia. Thursday 10:10am and 11:10am.

Alternative

Turfgrass Breeding Revolution - Why Cultivar Selection Matters -- Turfgrass cultivar selection prior to establishment is often overlooked or viewed as less important when compared to other management issues such as fertility and irrigation. With  giant leaps being made in the turfgrass breeding industry, proper cultivar selection is even more critical to ensure long-term viability of a sward. We will cover the current revolution in breeding, how cultivars are selected and evaluated,  and how to make sound cultivar selection choices based on the data from the NTEP (National Turfgrass Evaluation Program) trials. Instructor: Mr. John Emerson, University of Delaware. Thursday 8:00am and 9:00am. (1 CEU in Crop Management)

Advancing Cover Cropping to a Purpose-driven, Site-specific Model -- Cover crops can fit and be beneficial in diverse types of cropping systems and enterprises. Strategic cover crop planning can increase the agronomic, economic, and environmental benefits achieved through cover cropping. This session will discuss strategies and tools for farmers to identify the top needs of the cropland that can be addressed through cover cropping, identify and potentially create gaps in the cash crop rotations to fit cover crops, and critically evaluate the limitations of cover crops. Farmers can then evaluate and plan cover crop species and management that will provide the most benefits while also fitting within the farmer’s limitations. Instructor: Dr. Sarah Hirsh, University of Maryland. Thursday 10:10am and 11:10am. (1 CEU in Crop Management)

Specialty Certifications

Maryland Nutrient Management - Moving the Program Forward in 2023 and Beyond – The MDA Nutrient Management Program will update and explain efforts being taken to improve the delivery of quality, efficient and effective nutrient management planning in the state. Discussion will include the current situation and availability of NM Plan writers both at UME and private, and a review of the issues being addressed by the Department and the NM Advisory Committee. Other issues to be presented include efforts to revise or replace the NuMan planning software, the need for the latest technology to be integrated into the planning process, enhanced nutrient management opportunities, and alternatives to traditional nutrient management planning to meet individual needs of progressive farm operators. An update will be given on the efforts of the newly appointed Farmer Task Force and feedback will be accepted from Crop School attendees. Conference attendees are strongly encouraged to come prepared with comments and suggestions that can be taken back to the Department and the Advisory Committee. Instructor: Mr. Dwight Dotterer, Maryland Department of Agriculture. Thursday 10:10am and 11:10am. (1 CEU in Professional Development)