Agriculture and Natural Resources

AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY

Please contact the UME Calvert office for information regarding programs to the county's agriculture community and natural resources topics. Agriculture Programs focus on issues which include:

Agricultural Production
Water Quality
Marketing
Integrated Pest Management
Land and Soil Resources

Special annual programs include the Southern Maryland Crops Conference, the Southern Maryland Vegetable Conference and the Upper Marlboro Ag Field Day. Certification classes for private pesticide applicators are conducted several times a year.

Nutrient Management Program

Chris Dowell, Nutrient Management Advisor, works with farmers to develop plans to balance fertilizer application rates with crop requirements, thereby protecting water quality and enhancing farm profitability. The Nutrient Management program, a cooperative effort with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, includes soil and manure testing, developing realistic yield goals, corn pre-sidedress nitrate tests (PSNT) and equipment calibration. Contact us for more information.

Soil Testing
Although the University of Maryland Soil Testing Lab will no longer be doing soil testing, testing kits can be picked up at the Extension Office. We supply bags, instructions, and a listing for other laboratories in the area. Listings of labs are provided as an information service. They do not constitute an endorsement of any non-affiliated organizations, businesses, product or content of these pages by the University of Maryland Extension or the University of Maryland. We are not responsible for their content.

Nutrient Management Plan Checklist

Soil Testing and Soil Testing Labs

Selecting and Using a Soil Testing Laboratory

Soil Lab Comparison Sheet

Manure Lab Comparison Sheet

Position Announcements:

Coordinator (Nutrient Management Advisor)

University of Maryland Extension is seeking to fill five (5) Coordinator – Nutrient Management Advisor positions, with one position at each of the following county Extension office locations:

Caroline County (position number 128845)
Montgomery County (position number 128857)
Wicomico/Worcester County (position number 128843)
Washington County (position number 128913)
Statewide (position number 128851)

Click Here to Apply

Faculty Specialist, Agricultural Nutrient Management Program Director

The Agricultural Nutrient Management Program (ANMP) Director works collaboratively with the Assistant Director of Agriculture and Food Systems Extension (AgFS) to provide leadership for the ANMP which is dedicated to delivering education, research, and plan writing services in the field of agricultural nutrient management throughout Maryland.

Click Here to Apply

New Updates to the Nutrient Management Program

University of Maryland Extension (UME) has launched an enhanced nutrient management planning process designed to adapt to modern farming practices and operations that better align with Maryland’s agricultural regulations and environmental goals. Moving forward, UME will now administer and coordinate statewide nutrient management planning following the finalization of the agreement between the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) and the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

View Press Release

Nutrient Management Program Changes by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA)

Read Dean Beyrouty and Dr. Jinhee Kim’s Letter to the Community

MDA/AGNR announcement

Get answers to your questions about the program changes

Contact your local Extension office for more information

UME Nutrient Management Advisors

To obtain old/current planning documents and information, farmers should contact their current or prior nutrient management advisor or county ag agent. In the case that they are not available, please leave your contact information with your local county office and someone will get back to you asap.

Register now for the Urban Farmer Meeting or the Beginning Farmer Course

Are you a current urban farmer in Maryland? Register now for UMD Extension's 7th Annual Urban Farmer Winter Meeting: https://bit.ly/ufwm2024

Do you want to start a farm in Maryland? Register now for UMD Extension's Maryland Beginning Farmer Success Course: https://bit.ly/bfs2024

The Urban Farmer Winter Meeting
will be held Saturday, January 27 in Baltimore, MD. An online stream is available. The agenda includes time for networking and talks on USDA cost-share programs, direct-marketing legal issues, microgreens and specialty mushrooms market research, lessons learned from starting a demonstration urban farm, and rainwater harvesting. https://bit.ly/ufwm2024

The Maryland Beginning Farmer Success Course
is a blended in person and online course covering the foundational topics an aspiring farmer in Maryland should know. The class will meet on Thursday evenings, from 7 to 8:30 pm, from February 8 through April 11, 2024. https://bit.ly/bfs2024

Maryland Forests: Great for the Environment and the Economy

Publication with information about forest management in Maryland, the role trees play in the health of the Chesapeake Bay and forest regeneration.

This carefully curated schedule of events is solely dedicated to topics related to sustainability and the role of agriculture in environmental, social, and economic issues, with a heavy emphasis on the food we consume in our everyday lives. The series is part of our strategic initiative, Establish a Healthy Food System and Ensure Global Food and Nutritional Security. This year's lecture series is centered around topics of food security and equity, with a theme of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect for all in sustainable agriculture.

Sustainable Food Systems Lecture Series Recordings

Branching Out, Maryland's Forest Stewardship Education newsletter, is published four times per year by University of Maryland Extension. Branching Out provides educational information and current news and events, and is intended to reach anyone interested in forest stewardship including landowners and natural resource professionals.

Read the latest issue of the Branching Out newsletter here.

We encourage you to share this free newsletter with others and to invite them to subscribe here.

ACE VIRTUAL CENTER

ACE Webinar Series
Roots In Research

Inaugural Issue Newsletter

Agriculture and Natural Resources