Nutrient Management

Authors: Qianwen Lu - Neith Little - Kayla Griffith - Maxine Da-Som Yoon - Xuan Wei

Learn how to stay compliant with Maryland’s Nutrient Management Plan requirements by understanding recordkeeping rules, key deadlines, practical suggestions, and best practices to protect soil, crops, and Chesapeake Bay water quality. Authors: Qianwen Lu, UME Urban Ag Production Specialist, Neith Little, UME Urban Ag Educator, Kayla Griffith, UME Nutrient Management Faculty Specialist, Maxine Da-Som Yoon, Home Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener Coordinator, and Xuan Wei, UME Urban Agribusiness Specialist; Title: Keep up with Nutrient Management Plan Requirements in Maryland (FS-2024-0739).

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).

Authors: Sarah Hirsh

Cover crops are crops planted for a primary purpose other than harvest. They are often grown during the time when the primary or harvested crop is not growing. Cover crops can be grown for a variety of agronomic and environmental purposes. However, the effect of cover crops on subsequent cash crops and the environment will vary depending on how intentionally and effectively they are managed to achieve those purposes. Cover crop species and mixtures, timing and growth window, termination, and the effect of cover crops on subsequent crops should all be considered when planning and implementing cover crop systems. Author: Sarah M. Hirsh; Title: Introduction to Growing Cover Crops in the Mid-Atlantic (FS-2023-0692).

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: Shannon Dill - Serena Taylor Newton - Andrew Kness - Erika Crowl - Sarah Hirsh - Jennifer Rhodes

This publication highlights the impact and effectiveness of the UMD Extension (UME) winter meetings held during 2022-2023. It provides insights into participant engagement, preferred learning methods, and the adoption of recommended agricultural practices. The survey results included in the publication demonstrate how these meetings support farmers in implementing improved crop production, pest management, and nutrient management strategies. It outlines key priorities for Extension programming and reports satisfaction with the UME Nutrient Management program. Authors: Shannon Dill, Serena Taylor Newton, Andrew Kness, Erika Crowl, Sarah Hirsh, and Jennifer Rhodes; Title: University of Maryland Extension Winter Meeting Data 2023" (FS-2024-0731).