Publications

Authors: Sara BhaduriHauck

Horse trailers come in a variety of configurations and sizes. From tagalong one-horse trailers to self-propelled horse vans to semi-driven rigs, the choices can be daunting. Learn about the factors to consider when determining which type of trailer is best for you.

Authors: Sara BhaduriHauck

Choosing the right tow vehicle is just as important as selecting the right horse trailer. This factsheet explains how to safely match a trailer with an appropriate vehicle by understanding weight ratings, braking ability, vehicle styles, licensing requirements, and key features such as fuel type, drive options, axle ratios, and towing packages. Designed for horse owners and haulers, it provides practical guidance to improve safety, performance, and comfort for both horses and handlers. Author: Sara BhaduriHauck; Title: Selecting a Tow Vehicle (FS-955)

Authors: Sudeep A. Mathew - Shannon Dill

This factsheet contains a listing of important resources as you consider developing a new farm enterprise.

Authors: Daniel J. Fisher - Kenneth Staver - Lance T. Yonkos

On May 22, 2012 Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed a bill into law to ban the use of arsenic additives in poultry feed. This is the first such ban passed in the United States. The Maryland State Legisiature requested researchers from the University of Maryland to conduct a literature review on the Environmental Concerns of Arsenic Additives in Poultry Litter. This proved useful to the legisiators in their discussions of banning the use of arsenic in poutlry feed. This report provides a short summary of the findings of the reviews.

Authors: Stanton Gill - Ethel Dutky - Michael Raupp - John A. Davidson

Of the many species of thrips commonly found in greenhouses, flower thrips (Frankliniella tritici), western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) are most problematic. Chilli thrips is the fastest spreading thrips and is found throughout North America, but mainly in Florida and Texas. Adults of these three species are about 1 - 2 mm long, slender and just visible to the naked eye. Adult thrips are hard to notice flying in the greenhouse, but both nymphs and adults can often be detected in the open blossoms of your greenhouse crops.

Authors: J. Richard Nottingham - Jenny Rhodes

It’s late spring and corn has emerged. For much of the state, heavy rains have continued for several days, bringing flooding to low lying areas and causing ponding in fields. In this scenario, farmers are faced with the question of whether their corn will recover, or should they proceed with replanting.

Authors: James C. Hanson

There is increasing interest in the sale of local farm products in county and city school systems. Students can benefit from fresh, local produce and farmers can benefit from diversifying markets and increasing sales. However, increasing the sale of local farm production to schools – also known as Farm to School – has its challenges. This fact sheet examines different ideas for overcoming those challenges and improving farm to school sales.

Authors: Jennifer Rhodes

The construction process of new poultry houses can be lengthy and tedious. This fact sheet is a tool to help potential poultry growers complete all the requirements needed to construct poultry houses in Maryland. Please read this packet carefully.

Authors: J. Richard Nottingham

How well are you prepared for a natural disaster? There is no possible way to be prepared for every possible disaster. However, many things can be prepared in advance to help cope with a natural disaster. Proper planning before a disaster occurs can decrease the severity of the impact and can help a poultry producer return to normal operating conditions quickly and safely.

Authors: Jennifer Rhodes - J. Richard Nottingham

Taking just a little extra time before harvest to make simple adjustments can significantly increase farm profitability. Proper maintenance is important and will save money and down time during harvest. Start harvesting with all combine settings set according to owner’s manual and in the least aggressive part of the range (slowest rotor speed, widest rotor/concave clearance), then make adjustments one at a time and observe the effect of each change. Take an inventory of pre-harvest losses so you can determine what the harvest losses are. Getting out of the combine to check for crop loss is a must! Combine related loss should be 1 bushel/acres or less if crop is standing well. 2 kernels found in 1 square foot represents 1 bushel/acre yield loss.