Publications

Health insurance plans have different rules about the health providers you can use and the claims they will cover, and appealing their decisions can be confusing. This article provides an easy guide to the health insurance claim and appeal process. Authors: Dorthy Nuckols, Catherine Sorenson, Lisa Mccoy, Rebecca Ajiboye. Title: Health Insurance Claim Problem? How to Navigate the Health Insurance Claims Process (FS-1181)

This fact sheet describes an innovative rainwater harvesting system used to irrigate produce at the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs's garden in Frederick, Maryland. The rainwater harvesting system has diverted stormwater, increased food security, and improved well-being in the community. Authors: Mayhah Suri and Dr.Rachel Rosenberg Goldstein; Title: Watering Seeds of Change with Rainwater (FS-1123)

This Fact Sheet highlights how Cooperative Extension at U.S. Land Grant Institutions benefits from and contributes to efforts toward global food security through knowledge and technology transfer, innovative leadership, cultural exchange, and institutional capacity building. Author: Taryn Devereux; Title: Why Extension Abroad Matters at Home- A Fact Sheet for Extension Specialists and Leaders (EBR-61)

During a pandemic, empower yourself and help remove the stigma related to mental and emotional health needs through education. Author: Amy Rhodes; Title: Protecting Your Mental and Emotional Health From Coronavirus (EBR-54)

Independent of the target market of your apples, estimating optimum harvest dates is critical not only for scheduling labor, but also to ensure a high-quality product. Author: Macarena Farcuh; Title: How Can Growers Determine Apple Fruit Maturity and Optimal Harvest Dates? (FS-1180)

As a prey species, chickens are stoic and typically suppress signs of weakness, including when they are sick. It is difficult to detect sick chickens because they rarely show signs of illness before it becomes severe. Chickens also instinctually hide sickness behavior in the presence of a perceived threat, such as humans, because such behavior tells predators that the ill chicken may be an easy meal (Figure 1; Tizard, 2008). While sickness is mainly associated with pathogenic disease, sickness behavior can also result from injury, nutrient deficiency, and environmental stressors, such as thermal stress. Authors: Ashlyn Snyder, Dr. Jon Moyle, and Dr. Shawna Weimer; Title: Sickness Behavior in Chickens (FS-1178)

Chickens of all types use vocalizations to communicate with each other and express their needs. We can gain insight into chicken health, behavior, and overall welfare by understanding how and why chickens vocalize. Authors: Zoie McMillian and Shawna Weimer; Title: Relationships Between Chicken Vocalizations and Health, Behavior, and Welfare (FS-1177)

Blue Catfish has a slate blue body with smooth skin, a silverwhite belly and four pairs of black, whisker-like barbels around its mouth. Its smooth skin lacks scales. Adults usually grow to be less than two feet long but can be up to five feet and weigh more than 100 pounds.

Non-native Phragmites australis can negatively impact wetlands by altering hydrology, displacing plants and animals, and increasing fire potential. Researchers are trying to understand if eradicating Phragmites without replanting the marsh with native plants can result in negative impacts to the marsh. Authors: Eric Buehl, Andrew Baldwin, Sylvia Jacobson, Karin Kettenring, Melissa McCormick, Dennis Whigham; Title: What Happens after Phragmites is Killed? (EBR-59)

During 2020, the COVID 19 Pandemic forced University of Maryland Extension (UME) into teleworking. Although UME offices were closed, programming continued. To support staff and faculty in programming for the general public, a rapid response group was assembled to address distance learning and teaching needs. Faculty and staff insights of the experience are shared which could have implications on future Extension programming approaches. Authors: Jeff Howard, Amy Rhodes, and Chenzi Wang; Title: Continuing Extension Programming During a Pandemic: University of Maryland Extension Adapts to Dynamic Learning (EBR-58)