October 2025 | Volume 16, Issue 7
Inside this Issue:
- Herbicide Spray Before Harvest
- Fusarium Head Blight Risk Tool Survey
- Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School
- Irrigation Management Survey
- Land & Wildlife Webinar
- Cost-Share for Fall Manure Transport
- Barley Yellow Dwarf Management in Small Grains
- New World Screwworm
- Fire Hazards and Safety During Harvest
- On-Farm Research Trial Signup
- NRCS Program Cutoff Dates
- Planting Cover Crops During Dry Weather
- Grain Market Report
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Regional Crop Reports
Regional Crop Reports -
Weather Outlook
Weather Outlook -
University of Maryland Agriculture & Food Systems Faculty Directory
University of Maryland Agriculture & Food Systems Faculty Directory
Irrigation Management Survey
Hemendra Kumar, Precision Agriculture Specialist, University of Maryland Extension
The Precision Agriculture Lab at the UME is conducting a survey of all farmers in Maryland on irrigation management practices and expertise. We are asking for your help with an important survey on irrigation management practices and knowledge to as many farmers in Maryland as possible, regardless of whether they currently irrigate or not. This survey will help to collect data to better address the need in the state and develop irrigation management resources. We would sincerely appreciate your assistance in this endeavor by completing or distributing this survey: Irrigation Management Survey. The survey is accessible on a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
This survey is meant for anyone who grows a crop of any kind in Maryland, including but not limited to vegetables, grains, flowers, nursery plants, vineyards, and orchard fruits. All survey participants must be at least 18 years old and operate in the state. We anticipate the survey will take 10 minutes or less to complete.
All responses to this survey will be anonymous; no identifying information will be collected or connected to participant responses.
Thank you again for your assistance with developing applicable and useful extension resources to better serve farmers in Maryland!
Any questions or comments can be directed to Dr. Hemendra Kumar (hemendra@umd.edu) or Dr. Cara Peterson (cmpeters@umd.edu) of the Precision Agriculture Lab at University of Maryland Extension.
We would greatly appreciate your support in completing the survey or sending the survey link to as many farmers as possible who fit this criteria.
Attention Wheat Growers!
Call for volunteers for On-Farm Trials
- Person plot layout and technical support
- Stipend provided to offset yield loss and cost of your time
- Funding for technical support and stipend payments provided by Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board
Visit go.umd.edu/UMDOnFarmTrials.
For more information, reach out to Gene Hahn at ghahn@umd.edu or 301-514-8569
Fusarium Head Blight Risk Tool Survey
With the conclusion of the wheat and barley growing season you might find yourself evaluating the influence of weather conditions, management decisions and activities that affected the productivity of your farm or business. As researchers for the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative, we are evaluating the influence of our work as well.
As a user of the FHB Risk Tool and FHB Alert System, we are interested in your evaluation of its performance and value of the information provided. Please, take a few minutes to complete this quick survey and share your input. The information you provide is critical as we seek to improve the performance of the models and document the value of this information overall. Results are also used to inform advocacy efforts with legislators for continued support of USWBSI funding.
Please Provide Your Input by Thursday, October 23: Take the USWBSI FHB Risk Tool Survey
Your privacy is important to us. The information you provide is used for research purposes only and will not be shared with any other person, business or organization.
Land & Wildlife Management Webinar
Wildlife-Friendly Insect Management in Corn and Soybean Farming Join us on October 15th, 2025, at Noon for this month’s installment of the Land and Wildlife Speaker Series featuring Dr. Kelly Hamby from the University of Maryland. This month’s webinar topic will be Wildlife-Friendly Insect Management in Corn and Soybean Farming.
Looking ahead, mark your calendars for the upcoming sessions in the series:
- The Role of Real Estate Professionals in Achieving Wildlife Habitat Conservation with Ben Alder - November 19, 2025
- One Nest Box at a Time: Bringing Barn Owls and Kestrels Back to Maryland’s Working Landscapes with Andy Brown and Alex Pellegrini - January 21, 2026
To sign up for this and following months' webinars in our monthly Land & Wildlife Speaker Series, join the mailing list at https://www.wildlife.umd.edu/.
Planting Cover Crops During Dry Weather
Kelly Nichols, Agriculture Agent, University of Maryland Extension, Montgomery County
As corn and soybeans are harvested, the focus turns to cover crops. Cover crops have many benefits, including preventing soil erosion, capturing nutrients, and managing soil water. But how do we ensure good establishment and maximize those benefits when it’s so dry? Wait to plant just before or after a rain (maybe mid to late next week, according to the extended forecast). When planting, ensure good seed to soil contact with your drill, or by using a harrow or vertical tillage after broadcasting the seed. Cover crop seeds can also be planted a bit deeper to help get a little more moisture. Planting deeper can also delay emergence a bit until more moisture is available. In general, don’t plant deeper than 2 inches.
Another option is to change the cover crop species. For example, we’re past the point of being able to plant clovers (except frost seeding red clover in late winter). Also, as time passes, cover crops that will winter kill (such as oats) will be in the ground for a shorter period of time, and the cost of establishment may not be worth the reduced benefits. Wheat, barley, and especially rye, are much more winter hardy and can be planted later in the fall. If you do change cover crop species, be aware of any potential herbicide carryover from corn and soybean herbicides. This article from Ohio State Extension includes a summary table of cover crops that are safe to plant and those that may be injured. If you’re not sure what cover crop species is best for your situation, check out the Cover Crop Selector Tool from the Northeast Cover Crop Council.
Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference
ALEI hosts an Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference annually. This event attracts agricultural service providers, attorneys, educators, environmentalists, producers, landowners, policymakers, and students to discuss the complex intersection of environmental regulation and agriculture in Maryland. ALEI prides itself on hosting an event that brings agriculture and conservation experts together in a forum that allows for exchanging ideas and education for conference attendees on current legal topics of interest.
This year’s conference will be held in person on November 10, 2025, at the Graduate Hotel in Annapolis. Registration is now available!
Register Here: https://app.certain.com/profile/3452491
Events
Event: Ag Integrated Pest Management Web Series
Time: 12 noon - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Online webinar (via Zoom)
Description: Weeds, diseases, and insects are often a major concern for growers in Maryland. Integrated pest management (IPM) programs incorporate multiple pest management strategies into their production practices. Join us monthly for timely topics to help manage pests on the farms. Hosted via Zoom, on the Third Thursday of every month at noon, these one-hour sessions are both informative and interactive, providing an opportunity for participants to learn and engage with specialists in the field.
- October 16th - Cover crops for weed management - Dr. Dwayne Joseph, University of Maryland Extension
Pesticide Credits will be available but vary by date. Please contact Emily Zobel (ezobel@umd.edu) or Hayden Schug (hschug@umd.edu) for more information.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Emily Zobel (ezobel@umd.edu) or Hayden Schug (hschug@umd.edu).
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Event: Pasture Walk at Wilson Dowell Farms
Date: October 15, 2025 | Wednesday
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. | Cost: free
Location: Wilson Dowell Farms, 8210 Cattle Run, Owings, MD 20736
Description: Join University of Maryland Extension, NRCS, and Jason Leavitt for an educational pasture walk at Wilson Dowell Farms in Owings, MD (Calvert county). Wilson Dowell Farms is a multi-generational, family farm that produces high quality, pasture-raised meats and grass-fed beef. The farm raises and sells beef, pork, and goat and focuses on growing premium quality forage that the cattle and goats graze for a majority of the year. Join us to hear from Jason and discuss topics like grazing management, maximizing grazing days, and multi-species management.
For more information or to register: https://go.umd.edu/pasture-october
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Event: The Mid-Atlantic Ag & Resource Law Conference
Date: October 28-29, 2025
Location: National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown, WV.
Description: Virginia Tech, West Virginia University, North Carolina State University, Penn State University, Ohio State University, and the University of Maryland are proud to announce the Mid- Atlantic Agricultural and Resource Law Conference, scheduled for October 28–29, 2025, at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. This annual event brings together legal professionals, policymakers, academics, students, and agricultural stakeholders from across the region to explore the latest developments in agriculture, energy, land use, and natural resource law.
For more information or to register: https://extension.wvu.edu/conferences/agricultural-and-resource-law-conference
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Event: Pasture Walk at University of Maryland - WMREC
Date: November 13, 2025 | Thursday
Time: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Cost: free
Location: WMREC, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedsyville, MD 21756
Description: Join University of Maryland Extension and NRCS for an educational pasture walk at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center in Keedysville, MD (Washington county). Extension educators are working on an ongoing mixed-species grazing management study utilizing annual forages as a means to extend the grazing season and will discuss grazing and parasite management, mixed-species grazing, and strategies for working annual forages into a pasture system. Join us to hear preliminary findings and learn about winter annual forage options for late fall/early spring grazing, stockpiled forage for winter grazing, and managing a mixed-species grazing 'flerd' with sheep and cattle.
For more information or to register: https://go.umd.edu/pasture-november
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Event: 2025 Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School
Date: November 18-20, 2025 | Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Time: varies | Cost: Early bird: $350 (Early bird ends on Oct. 24); General Registration: $410
Location: Princess Royale, 9110 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842
Description: The Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School offers a 2 1/2 day format with a variety of breakout sessions. Individuals needing training in soil and water, nutrient management, crop management and pest management can create their own schedule by choosing from up to 5 program options offered each hour. Emphasis is placed on new and advanced information, with group discussions and interaction encouraged.
For more information or to register: http://go.umd.edu/25crop
Download Agronomy News, October 2025, Volume 16, Issue 7 (PDF)
Agronomy News is a statewide newsletter for farmers, consultants, researchers, and educators interested in grain and row crop forage production systems. This newsletter is published by the University of Maryland Extension, Agriculture & Food Systems Agronomy Team every month during the growing season and will include topics pertinent to agronomic crop production. The subscription is free.