Publications

Authors: Shannon Hood - Jim LaChance - Dr. Catherine Liu - Fredrika Moser - Matthew Parker - Don Webster

Overview of Maryland’s oyster aquaculture industry as of 2020, including context, cumulative harvest data, monthly harvest data, lease totals, and leased acreage, with historic data provided to indicate change over time. Authors: Shannon Hood, Jim LaChance, Cathy Liu, Fredrika Moser, Matthew Parker, and Donald Webster; Title: Maryland Aquaculture Industry in 2020 at a Glance (EBR-62).

Authors: Maegan Perdue - Dr. Kimberly Braxton, DVM - Jonathan Moyle

Urinary Calculi is a nutritional disease caused by an improper balance of calcium to phosphorus in the diet of goats and sheep. Due to their anatomy, a buildup of urinary calculi can become deadly for male goats and sheep. Proper feeding and proper access to water is essential to prevent this disease. Prompt recognition of urinary calculi is essential to save the animal’s life. A good relationship with a knowledgeable livestock veterinarian is necessary if an emergency arises and owners should seek treatment immediately if urinary calculi is suspected. Treatment by a veterinarian is not always successful and there is a chance it can reoccur, so prevention is key. Authors: Maegan Perdue, Dr. Kimberly Braxton, DVM, Dr. Jonathan Moyle; Title: Urinary Calculi in Male Goats and Sheep (FS-2021-0581)

Authors: Macarena Farcuh

Physiological disorders are abnormalities within the different apple fruit tissues that lead to a loss of quality, marketability, and profitability, and therefore an increase in fruit loss and waste. Physiological disorders are not caused by pathogens or mechanical damage but can be a result of several factors, such as: genotype/genetic background (cultivar/strain), maturity at harvest time, orchard/preharvest factors, seasonal variations, and postharvest storage conditions. Different cultivars are more prone to developing certain disorders than others, e.g., Honeycrisp fruits are highly prone to bitter pit development. In the case of maturity at harvest, it is known that fruit that is harvested too early are more prone to developing bitter pit, while fruits that are harvested too late (overripe) are prone to developing chilling injury. Besides, late-ripening cultivars are more susceptible to disorders such as watercore. Preharvest factors such as tree fruit mineral nutrition, rootstock selection, or crop load, have all been shown to play a key role in the development of physiological disorders, as bitter pit has been shown to be exacerbated in Honeycrisp fruit with low calcium levels and larger sizes. Additionally, environmental variations such as high temperatures, increased precipitation or excessive sunlight exposure can all trigger physiological disorder development. Finally, postharvest storage conditions, e.g., humidity levels, temperature, gas concentrations, which are key in maintaining fruit quality during storage, can also increase susceptibility to physiological disorders. In this fact sheet we will take a closer look at nine physiological disorders that can develop in apples during postharvest storage, but can be triggered by the different factors described above. We will briefly discuss their symptoms, why and when do they develop, and how can they be prevented. Authors: Carlos Corte, Candidate for B.S. in Biochemistry, and Macarena Farcuh, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist; Title: From the Orchard to Cold Storage: A Closer Look at the Development of Nine Physiological Disorders in Apples (FS-2022-0640)

Authors: Sinead Claffey - Macarena Farcuh

Rootstocks are a key element in the establishment of any commercial apple orchard. Apple trees are not grown on their own roots, but propagated on rootstocks that can impart important characteristics to the tree, improving the economics and profitability of growing apples. The number of rootstocks available commercially has been steadily increasing. As there is a not a one-size-fits-all rootstock, it is of vital importance to be informed, and select the rootstock that satisfies your needs and performs best under your soil and environmental conditions. Authors: Sinead Claffey and Macarena Farcuh, Ph.D.; Title: All About Apple Rootstocks (FS-2022-0638)

Authors: Paul Goeringer

Many people think an estate plan is just a will, but it is much more than that. Your estate plan will typically include documents and tools to distribute your property according to your wishes following your death. When it comes to transitioning your farm or any family business to the next generation, how property is owned and the property transfers prior to your death can be important features of your succession plan or estate plan. Titling property in a joint tenancy with rights of survivorship allows you to choose who inherits upon your death and to transfer the property outside the will. Transferring property, such as through gifting, allows the property to go to the next generation prior to your death and provides control over who gets your property. Author: Paul Goeringer; Title: Property Ownership and Transferring Are Important Features of Your Farm Succession Plan (FS-1056)

Authors: Lori Lynch - Paul Goeringer

Maryland had established a variety of programs to assist in the preservation of farmland. This fact sheet, revised in December 2014, presents information vital for computing the capital gains tax. Authors: Lori Lynch and Paul Goeringer; Title: Taxes and Land Preservation: Computing the Capital Gains Tax (FS-780)

Authors: Dr. Kelly Hamby - Alan Leslie - David Owens

Dectes stem borer (DSB; Dectes texanus) is a native species of long-horned beetle that can be a sporadic pest of soybeans. Damage to soybean plants is caused by the larvae, which feed internally on soybean stems. As the plant matures, the larvae girdle the stem at the base of the plant, which can cause lodging before soybeans are harvested. Continuous soybean production favors Dectes stem borer populations. Few management tactics effectively reduce damage once populations build up, and insecticides provide inconsistent protection. Timely harvest of infested fields can help avoid lodging yield loss. Authors: Kelly Hamby, Alan Leslie, and David Owens; Title: Dectes Stem Borer Management in Soybeans (FS-1196)

Authors: Paul Goeringer

Selecting an attorney to represent you is not always an easy prospect especially if it is your first time needing legal help. You may not know how to go about finding the right attorney or what questions to ask. Does the attorney have experience handling cases like yours? Do you understand how the attorney will bill you? Are you paying a flat fee or being billed hourly? Selecting the right attorney and understanding expectations on both sides will hopefully lead to a successful attorney-client relationship. Author: Paul Goeringer; Title: Finding An Attorney for Your Case Requires Asking the Right Questions (FS-1097)

Authors: Brian Kalmbach - Gurpal Toor

Soil samples provide information about the soil fertility status of a field, which is used to generate nutrient and lime recommendations and develop a farm's nutrient management plan. This factsheet outlines proper soil sampling techniques (how, when, why) to optimize crop production, minimize environmental degradation, and maximize farm profitability. Authors: Brian Kalmbach and Dr. Gurpal Toor; Title: Soil Sampling for Optimizing Agricultural Production in Maryland (FS-1184)

Authors: Jarrod Miller - Craig W. Yohn

Precision agriculture allows modern producers to manage within fields rather than managing the whole field.¹‚² By integrating global positioning systems (GPS), variable rate (VR) application equipment, and geographic information systems (GIS), farmers are allowed increased efficiency. However, prior to using VR equipment, accurate maps of yield-limiting factors must be created.³,⁴,⁵5 Nutrients in any field vary due to topography, soil properties and past management (manure application patterns, crop history, etc.). To account for this variability, farmers will need more than one soil sample in each field (Figure 1a). A more intensive sampling scheme must be performed, through either grid or zone sampling. Looking to the future, on-the-go sensors, whether attached to tractors or unmanned aerial vehicles, may also increase accuracy and decrease the cost of soil sampling. Authors: Jarrod O. Miller and Craig W. Yohn; Title: Precision Soil Sampling Helps Farmers Target Nutrient Application (FS-1046)