Agronomy News-November 2021

2021 Cash Rental Rates for Maryland

Paul Goeringer, Agriculture Legal Specialist, University of Maryland, Agriculture Law Education InitiativeReposted from the Ag Risk Management Blog. This article is not a substitute for legal advice.

Each year, the National Agricultural Statistic Service (NASS) releases county rental rate data based on surveys. NASS collects this data from 240,000 farms across the United States annually...Read more

2021 Maryland Corn Hybrid Performance Tests

Nicole Fiorellino, Extension Agronomist, Loius Thorne, and Joeseph Crank, University of Maryland, College Park

Test Procedures
The University of Maryland offers a fee-based, corn hybrid performance testing program to local and national seed companies. The results from these replicated trials...Read more

Options for Postemergence Common Ragweed Control in Enlist E3 Soybean

Kurt Vollmer, Extension Weed Management Specialist, University of Maryland Extension

Introduction
In Maryland, populations of common ragweed have developed resistance to three herbicide groups, Group 9 (glyphosate), Group 2 (FirstRate, Synchrony), and Group 14 (Flexstar, Valor). These herbicide-resistant populations limit options for effective postemergence control. Even though...Read more

Managing Herbicide Resistant Common Ragweed Emergence and Growth in Soybean With Cover Crops and Residual Herbicides

Sarah Hirsh, Agriculture Agent, University of Maryland Extension, Somerset County

Herbicide resistant common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) is prevalent on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland and other areas in the region. In 2019, common ragweed populations...Read more

Farmland Transition

Jeff Semler, Principal Agriculture Agent, University of Maryland Extension, Washington County

Depending on your source, it is estimated 40% to 70% of family farms will transition over the next 15 years, and 80% of the rented farmland in our country could be owned and controlled by...Read more

Research Update: Effect of Soil Fertility on Triticale Yield and Quality

Amanda Grev, Pasture & Forage Specialist, Sarah Potts, Dairy and Beef Specialist, and Jeff Semler, Principal Agriculture Agent, University of Maryland Extension

Many producers recognize the value of winter forages, such as triticale, as a high-yielding and high quality forage for feeding livestock. The yield potential for winter forages is largely based...Read more

Webinar: Nematode in Atlantic Soybean Production

Nematodes consistently rank as a top yield robber of soybeans. Join us November 16 from 9-12:00 noon for the Nematode in Atlantic Soybean Production Webinar to discuss nematode distribution and management strategies for the region. The webinar is free, but registration is needed for access to the zoom link. Registration information can be found at https://www.pcsreg.com/nematodes-in-atlantic-soybean-production-webinar. Topics of emphasis will include updates from regional nematode distribution surveys, assessment of soybean cyst nematode seed treatments, root knot nematode on-farm field trials, general management strategies, and how to collect and submit soil samples. Please email Alyssa Koehler akoehler@udel.edu with any questions.

New Lessons learned in Organic Grain Transitions

Date: Friday, December 10, 2021  |  Time: 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 pm.
Cost: Free Program, continuing education credits offered.
Location: Virtual
Description: Program topics: results from the Maryland organic transition research trials, farmer panel (field observations from various transition strategies, farmer perspectives on managing weeds in organic grain, soil quality demonstrations and discussion, and interactive budgeting and business planning for organic grain operations.
Register: Call the University of Maryland Extension-Somerset County Office at (410) 651-1350 or send your name and email address to Sarah Hirsh at shirsh@umd.edu.

Effect of foliar fungicides on frogeye leaf spot management in Northwestern Maryland, 2020

Andrew Kness, Agriculture Agent, University of Maryland Extension, Harford County

Editor’s note: Data from 2020 is presented here since 2021 trials are not yet harvested. 2021 results will be posted to the Agronomy News Blog.

Trials were established at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center in Keedysville, MD in 2020 to assess the efficacy of select fungicides for the suppression of foliar...Read more

Effect of foliar fungicides on frogeye leaf spot on the Maryland Eastern Shore, 2020

Andrew Kness, Agriculture Agent, University of Maryland Extension, Harford County

Editor’s note: Data from 2020 is presented here since 2021 trials are not yet harvested. 2021 results will be posted to the Agronomy News Blog.

Trials were established at the Wye Research and Education Center in Queenstown, MD in 2020 to assess the efficacy of select fungicides for the suppression of foliar diseases of soybean. Soybean Mid-Atlantic...Read more

Slug Damage to Soybeans—Do Cover Crops Help or Hurt?

Melissa Stefun, Graduate Student, Sydney Garbitzer and Ray Weil, Professor of Soil Science, University of Maryland, College Park

Reports of slug damage to emerging soybean seedlings (Glycine max) have increased in recent years, though their activity is highly variable from field to field, and within a field from year to year. Spring, 2021 weather was both cool and wet, conditions that many...Read more

Interested in $10 corn and $30 soybeans for certified organic, but not sure how to transition?

Biwek Gairhe¹, Sarah Hirsh², and Ray Weil¹
¹Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland College Park
²University of Maryland Extension, Somerset County

Organic grain production is promoted for greater potential profits with premium grain prices, improved soil health with organic inputs and fewer environmental hazards in the absence of synthetic chemical use. However, the three-year period required for organic certification is a challenging phase when transitioning farmers are learning to do without synthetic chemical manage soil fertility, weeds, diseases and pests, while not...Read more

Corn Yields Following Cover Crops

Jarrod Miller, Extension Agronomist, Jamie Taraila, and Amy Shober, University of Delaware

This fall marks the end of a three-year study sponsored by the Delaware NRCS to look at cover crop mixes and their effects on subsequent grain crops. On a sandy loam soil, we planted corn into bare plots, as well as plots containing rye, a rye/clover mix, and...Read more

Leachable Nutrients: Sulfur, Boron, and Nitrogen Fertility in Corn

Jarrod Miller, Extension Agronomist, and Amy Shober, Professor and Nutrient Management Specialist, University of Delaware

For a project sponsored by the Maryland Grain Producers, we looked at increasing applications of sulfur (S) and boron (B) on corn yields and nutrient uptake. As anions, S and B leach easily from the soil surface (particularly sandy loams), potentially leading to crop deficiencies. In the...Read more

Estimation of Cover Crop Nitrogen with Drones

Jarrod Miller, Extension Agronomist, Jamie Taraila, and Amy Shober, University of Delaware

As part of a Northeastern SARE graduate student grant, we used a drone to predict the nitrogen (N) that may be present in cover crops prior to burndown. We flew three Delaware fields in April and May with a Phantom4 and a standard (RGB) camera, stitching images into map of the cover crops (Figure 1a). The camera captured...Read more

Farm Stress Network and Workshops

Maryland Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network
Our Services

Behavioral Health Counseling Up to six free counseling sessions, by professionals who know the farming community. To set up an appointment complete this interest form.	Training Workshops Stress management Succession planning Family communication Navigating health insurance Reach out to us to request training for your audience	Farm Stress Website and Resource List Farm Stress Assistance resources on the UME website Includes phone numbers for national farm helplines and local human service agencies
	Outreach Media and outreach campaign to increase awareness of mental health issues in the farming community

Farm Succession Planning & Family Communications Workshops

Family Communications and Estate Planning Workshop for Farm Families - Eastern Shore
Date: December 7, 2021  | Time: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (EST)  |  Cost: Free
Location: Chesapeake College HEC 110, 1000 College Circle Wye Mills, MD 21679
Register

Family Communications and Estate Planning Workshop for Farm Families - Virtual Session
Date: Jan 22, 2022  | Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (EST)  | Cost: Free
Location: Virtual Session
Description: This webinar will cover the essentials of estate planning, as well as practical activities to assist with family communication about business matters.
Register

Family Communications and Estate Planning Workshop for Farm Families - Western MD
Date: February 12, 2022  | Time: 11:00 a.m – 1:00 p.m (EST) | Cost: Free
Location: Carroll County Ag Center, 706 Agricultural Center Dr, Westminster, MD 21157, USA

Register

When Self-Help Isn't Enough (stress management)
Date: December 15, 2021  |  Time: 9:00 a.m.  | Cost: free
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Description: This presentation is designed to reduce avoidable delays in receiving appropriate mental health care. In this session, participants will learn to identify and address the internal roadblocks one may experience when making the decision to seek professional assistance with mental health issues.
Register

Pesticide Recertification Workbook

A team of Extension agents from University of Maryland, University of Delaware, and Penn State have produced a workbook for applicators that do not have access to our virtual training materials. This workbook is intended to give Maryland Private Pesticide Applicators the recertification training (4 credits) needed to renew the applicator’s license. Topics covered in this workbook are MDA-approved and are equivalent to two hours of in-person training needed every three years to renew your private applicator’s license. This workbook is also approved for three (3) Delaware credits and two (2) core Pennsylvania credits. 

In order to receive credit you must complete the entire workbook. At the end of the workbook you will answer a 30-question quiz and return it to the Baltimore County Extension

To order your free workbook, please call the Harford County Extension office at (410) 638-3255.