Publications

If you ever plan to take out a loan or you currently owe money to another party, you need to understand credit and credit reports. Credit is the ability of a borrower to receive something (often money) in exchange to return the money to the lender at a later point in time. For example, when you buy a car, a bank (lender) provides the money to you (borrower). In exchange, the lender charges you interest. The interest charged is determined by several factors based upon your credit report. Therefore, it is important for you to monitor your credit report. Let’s take a minute to provide greater insight on credit and credit reports. Author: Jesse Ketterman, and Patricia Maynard; Title: Understanding Credit and Credit Reports (FS-1115).

Trees provide life-giving oxygen and food, regulate temperatures, sequester carbon, and yield raw materials for building. Trees also are a source of simple beauty and they utilize nutrients as they grow. If you look at the cost of buying and maintaining trees, they are a pretty good bargain when it comes to improving water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. When selecting trees for their property, a homeowner should consider intended function (privacy screening, shade, etc.), budget, size and the quantity of trees needed. This report also provides important information about how to plant, water, fertilize and mulch trees to ensure that they continue to thrive and contribute to the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Authors: Erick Buehl, Jennifer Dindinger, Amanda Rockler, Jacqueline Takas, and Krisztian Varsa; Title: The Right Tree for Your Lawn-Planting Trees to Help Improve Chesapeake Bay Water Quality (FS-1029).

Writing for professional journals is a learned skill that takes practice to excel. This fact sheet will share seven general steps to help emerging authors to begin grooming their academic writing skills.

This fact sheet provides information on methods and materials to reduce pest insect damage in the greenhouse without harming pollinators. It discusses using natural enemies, such as beneficial insects and microbes and reduced toxicity sprays with short residual activity. The focus is on native plants, which support insect life. Authors: Sara Tangren and Stanton Gill; Title: Pollinator Friendly Plant Production 2: Controlling Insect Pests (FS-1095)

This is an infographic increasing awareness of potential water quality and health risks (lead, copper, and Legionella bacteria) associated with reopening buildings that have been closed for an extended period. Authors: Andrew Lazur and Rachel Rosenberg Goldstein; Title: Think About Stagnant Water and Health Risks (EBR 2020-0542)

Thank you for your interest in the Kids Growing with Grains Virtual Field Trip. In each section, you will find two to three lessons to assign your students. You can choose any of the lessons. You do not need to do them in any particular order or use all of the lessons. Please pick those lessons that are best for you and your students.

Los cierres de edificios durante una pandemia reducen el uso de agua, generando agua es-tancada dentro de las tuberías. Esta agua puede ser insegura para beber o para otros fines per-sonales o comerciales. Los CDC y la EPA recomiendan que los administradores y propietarios de edificios se informen y tomen las medidas necesarias para limpiar las tuberías del edificio antes de reabrir.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important forage crop for dairy and beef cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, and horses. In Maryland, alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), occasionally cause significant damage on susceptible cultivars. Author: Margaret Hartman; Title: Alfalfa Weevil-A Pest of Early Season Alfalfa (FS-1096) Alfalfa weevil was first detected in Utah in 1904, and has since spread throughout the contiguous United States. It was first detected in Maryland in 1951. Efforts to suppress alfalfa weevil populations in Maryland have been largely successful because of biological control, but continued monitoring and management programs are vital to avoid localized pest outbreaks. Author: Margaret Hartman; Title: Alfalfa Weevil-A Pest of Early Season Alfalfa

A recent innovation in faculty retention has been to encourage tenure-track faculty who will be going up for tenure together to form a cohort that will work together throughout the tenure process. This cohort serves as a support network and a professional community of practice. The 2021 Cohort of University of Maryland Extension and authors of this brief found that the initiation of the cohort and the dedication and commitment of the cohort members are both necessary to make the cohort model a success. This fact sheet documents the group's plan of action through year 1, provides lessons learned and helpful hints and a highlight for year 2. It is intended to help future tenure track cohorts navigate a similar path and perhaps lessen the stress along the way. Authors: Jamie Morris, Neith Little, Alexander Chan, Andrew Kness, and Jesse Ketterman. Title: A Tenure Track Cohort Case Study (FS-1103)

Septic systems, also referred to as onsite wastewater treatment, are a well-established and effective tool for treating waste for homes, businesses, churches and small communities. If you are one of the 420,000+ homeowners in Maryland with a septic system, then you are responsible for maintaining the system to ensure effective operation and prolong its life. This folder contains information that will help you maintain your septic system properly.