Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:UMES Extension has established a partnership with USDA agencies and other regional non-governmental organizations, to design and execute an outreach project for limited resource, socially disadvantaged farmers, landowners, women farmers, and veterans in Maryland and along the Delmarva Peninsula. The overall goal of the projects is to improve farmers and landowners' access to resources and management solutions that will increase their ability to start and maintain successful agricultural businesses to preserve small farms and woodlots. The knowledge transfer will be done by exposing farmers to a cadre of educational and experiential learning activities. Changes/Problems:The transition from joint administrative governance with UME/UMD since summer 2018 and adjustments to new administrative procedures, changes of personnel and leadership, faculty gaps, etc., is now complete and the planning, implementation, and execution of activities are continuing vigorously. The global disturbance caused by COVID-19 affected the scheduled multiple in-person meetings. Some of the content was re-packaged and shared through a variety of media: websites, brochures, digital media, national tele-conferences, and regional webinars. Additionally, an Environmental and Agricultural Faculty Legal Specialist, associated with the Maryland Agricultural Law Education Initiative, provided instruction on farm estate planning, farms risks, generational succession planning, land purchase transactions, legal and institutional risks associated with farm ownership, and other topics. This instruction continues in 2020-2021. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Faculty, educators and specialists participated in national and local conferences with peers; networking with national leaders. Maryland Farm Bureau, Future Harvest, Maryland Extension Agents Association, etc., sponsored the conferences. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Taking into account that the COVID-19 pandemic prevented multiple pre-scheduled in-person meetings, the results and teaching materials were prepared and shared through a variety of media: websites, brochures, digital media, national tele-conferences, and regional webinars. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Since March 2020, UMES Extension is following CDC and UMES guidelines for in-person meetings. The limitations depended on the number of registrants and location (indoors or outdoors). UMES Extension's specialists and educators will continue to building the capacity of small landowners on the Eastern Shore of Maryland by designing and implementing a variety of educational and training activities (as allowed by COVID-19 restrictions), including bus tours, farm visits, agriculture law workshops, etc.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Since July 1, 2018, extension activities conducted by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore are executed under the umbrella of the UMES Extension Program. Multiple outreach and educational activities took place during the 16th Annual Small Farm Conference, November 1-2, 2019. Along with a robust educational program, a pre-conference session involved specialists and educators on industrial hemp production targeting processing, marketing and the legal and regulatory details of industrial hemp. The interest on the pre-conference was overwhelming, attracting many landowners and farmers. The workshops, farm tours, and training sessions implemented at the conference targeted the needs of small landowners, ranchers, women farmers, and veterans. In particular, the tour participants learned stewardship of renewable resources and pastureland in year-round pasture rotation plot for sheep and goats. Additionally, an Environmental and Agricultural Faculty Legal Specialist, associated with the Maryland Agricultural Law Education Initiative, provided instruction on farm estate planning, generational succession planning, land purchase transactions, legal and institutional risks associated with farm ownership, and other topics. In addition, the significance of hundreds of invasive plant species that are present in the forestlands due to the North Atlantic ecological amplitude and distribution. Up to 32 species have been identified as invasives (i.e., mile-a-minute weed, Persicaria perfoliata; kudzu, Pueraria montana; black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia; multiflora rose, Rosa multiflora; etc.). Landowners, municipalities, conservation organizations, and other agencies have conducted efforts on management/control of invasive species in woodlands, wildlife refuges, and recreational areas. Novel efforts are strategic and economically effective. For example, UMES Extension specialists are assisting a number of entrepreneurial farmers who have embarked in commercially using sheep and goats to manage and utilize invasive species, as forage, in forestlands and sensitive areas (i.e. www.browsinggreengoats, Sunderland, Maryland). To support sheep and goat owners who are using small ruminants for vegetation management, UMES Extension specialists have conducted in-person and virtual workshops for integrated gastrointestinal parasite management. However, it is recognized and accepted that land plant invasive species are a permanent nuisance Given the threat posed to global agriculture, food supply, and food security by the steady decline of pollinators and honeybee colonies worldwide, UMES Extension continued supporting educational programs for owners of small woodlots who desired to learn how to increase the farm income by promoting honeybees and other pollinators on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Forestland owners also had an opportunity to learn about agricultural risk management, crop insurance and farm credit programs.
Publications
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Progress 03/19/19 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:UMES Extension has established a partnership with USDA agencies to design and execute an outreach project for limited-resource, socially disadvantaged farmers, landowners, women farmers, and veterans in Maryland and along the Delmarva Peninsula. The overall goal of the projects is to improve farmers' and landowners' access to resources and management solutions that will increase their ability to start and maintain successful agricultural businesses to preserve small farms and woodlots. The knowledge transfer will be done by exposing farmers to a cadre of educational and experiential learning activities. Changes/Problems:The establishment of an Extension Program in Summer 2018 that is managed directly by UMES presented some challenges, including the adjustment to new administrative procedures, changes of personnel and leadership, faculty gaps, etc. However, the transition is now complete and the planning, implementation, and execution of activities are continuing smoothly. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Faculty and specialists participate in national and local conferences with peers; networking with national leaders. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results were prepared and shared through a variety of media: websites, brochures, digital media, national conferences, and regional workshops. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?UMES Extension's Small Farm Program will continue to building the capacity of small landowners on the Eastern Shore of Maryland by designing and implementing a variety of educational and training activities, including bus tours, farm visits, agriculture law workshops, etc
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Since July 1, 2018, extension activities conducted by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore have been executed under the umbrella of the UMES Extension Program. Multiple outreach and educational activities took place during the Small Farm Conference, which was held in the first weekend in November. The workshops, farm tours, and training sessions implemented at the conference targeted the needs of small landowners, ranchers, women farmers, and veterans. Additionally, an Environmental and Agricultural Faculty Legal Specialist provided instruction on farm estate planning, land purchase transactions, legal and institutional risks associated with farm ownership, and other topics. Given the threat posed to global agriculture, food supply, and security by the decline of pollinator and honeybee colonies worldwide, UMES Extension continued supporting educational programs for owners of small woodlots who wanted to learn how to promote honeybees and other pollinators on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Previously scheduled honeybee workshops have been very well attended, with attendees strongly expressing the need for training and education.
Publications
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