Cover Crops

Authors: Shannon Dill - Sarah Hirsh - Serena Taylor Newton - Hemendra Kumar, Ph.D. - Kurt Vollmer - Dr. Nicole Fiorellino - Andrew Kness

This publication highlights the impact of the 2023-2024 UMD Extension (UME) Winter Agriculture Production Meetings, focusing on participant engagement, preferred learning methods, and the adoption of recommended agricultural practices. Survey results demonstrate how these meetings support farmers in improving crop production, pest and nutrient management, weed control, precision agriculture, and on-farm research participation. Authors: Shannon Dill, Sarah Hirsh, Serena Newton, Hemendra Kumar, Kurt Vollmer, Nicole Fiorellino, and Andrew Kness, Title: University of Maryland Extension Winter Meeting Data 2023-2024 (FS-2024-0744).

Authors: Sarah Hirsh

Soil health is the status of soil in terms of its ability to function and sustain life. It involves physical, chemical, and biological factors that are all interrelated. Soil organisms are critical for building good soil structure, ensuring air and water movements through the soil, decomposing organic materials, and cycling nutrients. A soil with good physical structure and with sufficient nutrient cycling will encourage increased numbers and diversity of soil organisms. When we manage soil with practices that minimize disturbance, maximize soil cover, maximize biodiversity, and maximize the presence of living roots, we can increase soil health, increasing the sustainability and profitability of agriculture. Author: Sarah Hirsh; Title: Soil Health (FS-2025-0754).