Maryland
Protecting the Bay means supporting farmers as they explore new solutions – Maryland Matters
A drive over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge will have anyone wanting to protect its beauty. No one feels this more deeply than the farmers and communities up and down the Bay.
For decades, these farmers have been stuck between responding to economic forces to increase production while trying to ensure farm sustainability and prioritize water quality. Despite significant progress, it’s estimated that nearly half of the nitrogen reaching the Bay today comes from farms in the Chesapeake watershed – the largest estuary in the United States, with shared responsibility for nutrient management across several states.
Farmers have long relied on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, which provide a major source of nutrients to grow their crops, but at a cost to the environment. Given the complexity of managing nutrients to protect the Bay, it is time for farmers to have all available tools at their disposal and new crop nutrition technologies are gaining their attention.
Biostimulants are made up of natural materials that enhance the uptake of nutrients in the plant. Geomaterials are naturally occurring minerals that have been shown to improve nutrient use. Biologicals like microbial nitrogen help plants create their own nitrogen and replace a portion of synthetic fertilizers. New crop nutrition options have the potential to stem the tide of nitrate pollution and achieve our nutrient goals for the Bay.
Researchers estimate that meeting nutrient targets would require taking almost half of the region’s roughly 8.2 million acres of farmland out of production or instituting other, similarly dramatic actions. These radical ideas would almost certainly hurt local farm income and negatively impact our region’s ability to contribute to the wider food supply. They are neither practical nor realistic.
More on-farm research is needed, but microbial nitrogen is one promising tool that can offer an effective solution for farmers. This crop nutrition tool may enable farmers to replace about a quarter of synthetic nitrogen needs per acre, without sacrificing yield, and may improve water quality over time.
Microbials can build soil health and improve plant uptake of nutrients, they are safer to transport and remain cost competitive despite volatility across global markets. As a result, farmers can build their on-farm sustainability, increase the watershed’s biodiversity and reduce nitrate runoff, directly addressing many of the environmental issues threatening the Bay.
Farmers are dedicated to the land. They do all they can to improve efficiency of on-farm nutrient use to improve their crops. As a Maryland small farmer, I have seen firsthand the progress our agricultural community has made in lessening our environmental impact. But these changes cannot be left to our farmers alone. They need local, state and federal support to increase adoption.
Cost-share incentives must be provided that give farmers the opportunity to make the transition to microbial nitrogen or other new crop nutrition products. State nutrient management plans and other sustainability programs are a good start, but we need to study and create more pathways for long-lasting changes that reduce risk and make sense for farm businesses and the environment.
The Chesapeake Bay Watershed has been home to generations of farmers, thanks to its rich supply of natural resources and centralized location on the East Coast. Today, one-third of the watershed is dedicated to farming. Even those who fiercely advocate for water improvements recognize that retaining this farmland is a critical component for the future of the Bay region.
To protect our state’s rich agricultural history and the shining beacon that is the Bay, it’s time we embrace new agriculture technologies such as microbial fertilizer to ensure the natural resources and beauty of our region are enjoyed by generations to come.
One of the most positive signs this season for Maryland has been the play of Derik Queen, especially against the toughest teams on the Terrapins’ schedule.
While Tuesday’s matchup against Saint Francis (Pa.) of the Northeast Conference doesn’t figure to be one of Maryland’s most challenging tests, it does find Queen in peak form.
The 6-foot-10 freshman will be a lot for the Red Flash (4-7) to handle when they travel to College Park, Md. to face the Terrapins (8-2).
In his last outing on Dec. 8, Queen delivered 26 points and 12 rebounds in Maryland’s 83-78 loss at then-No. 8 Purdue.
Last month, Queen scored 24 points in a 78-74 loss to then-No. 15 Marquette and collected 22 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in a 76-75 win over Villanova.
With Queen leading the team in scoring (17.5 points) and rebounds (8.7) per game, the Terrapins are vastly improved offensively.
But coach Kevin Willard wants to see better work at the defensive end. Maryland surrendered 52 points in the second half against Purdue.
“Our half-court defense in the first half was really good,” Willard said. “Our transition defense in the second half was, you know, the crowd got into it. We got a little bit rattled.” Another Maryland player that has risen against elite competition has been Belmont transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie.
His three highest-scoring games have come against Marquette, Purdue and Ohio State, which Maryland hammered at home 83-59 early this month. In those games, Gillespie hit a combined 12 of 24 shots (50 percent) from 3-point range, scoring 65 points.
St. Francis, which hasn’t had a winning season since 2019-20, has struggled against strong competition, losing by at least 26 points to Dayton, Clemson and Penn State.
Bobby Rosenberger is St. Francis’ top scorer (13.5 points) and rebounder (5.1). Junior college transfer Riley Parker adds 10.3 points and a team-high 4.4 assists per game.
“Riley’s growth in the last month is a product of his hard work,” coach Rob Krimmel said. “He cares. His voice is starting to emerge more and that’s part of a team’s journey.”
–Field Level Media
BALTIMORE — Rain is expected to return to the region tonight and early Tuesday as another upper-level disturbance moves through. The highest chances for rain will be after dark and through the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday. Low temperatures tonight will dip into the mid-40s.
Rain will taper off quickly before sunrise Tuesday, with skies clearing by the afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to reach near 60 degrees. Clouds will increase again Tuesday night, with low temperatures dropping into the mid-30s.
The next storm system will arrive by Wednesday afternoon and evening, bringing an increase in showers across the area as early as the evening rush hour. Rain will persist through Wednesday night. Like Monday night’s rain, this midweek system is expected to exit the region by Thursday morning.
Partly to mostly cloudy skies are forecast for Thursday and Friday. High temperatures will remain in the 40s, with Friday being the colder of the two days.
An Arctic cold front will push into the region this weekend, ushering in the coldest air of the season so far. Highs on Saturday will struggle to reach the mid-30s, and overnight lows will plummet into the teens and lower 20s. Wind chills will drop into the single digits to near zero, with areas north and west of Baltimore potentially seeing wind chills below zero.
Sunday will be the coldest day of the weekend, with highs only reaching the upper 20s to near 30 degrees. Sunday night temperatures will fall into the mid-teens across many locations. Wind chills by Monday morning could dip to dangerously low levels once again.
Temperatures will begin to rebound through Christmas Day. Highs on Monday are expected to reach the mid-30s. Christmas Eve will see highs near 40 degrees, with low 40s expected on Christmas Day.
The days leading up to Christmas will remain dry, with no threat of wintry or wet weather during the holiday period.
BALTIMORE — Early morning rain will taper off, but more showers return this afternoon. A steady rain is expected tonight.
Cloudy & Showery Monday
We are dealing with some leftover showers this morning from the disturbance that caused steady rain Sunday evening and night. These showers will continue to push offshore, so the morning will quickly dry out after 7 AM. The clouds will linger the entire day and another wave of showers will return this afternoon. While today isn’t a washout, you’ll want to have your umbrella with you. Wear a heavier fall jacket, too as highs only reach the upper 40s.
Showers this afternoon will gel into a light to steady rain tonight. Patchy areas of fog are also possible, especially toward morning. Lows will dip into the middle 40s.
Early Fog to Sunshine & Milder Temperatures Tuesday
Any early patchy fog should burn off by mid-morning on Tuesday. You’ll still want to budget yourself a little extra travel time. We’ll see fog dissipate after 9 AM and see increasing amounts of sunshine. Tuesday is our unseasonably mild day of the week with highs in the lower 60s! Expect a west wind at 5 to 10 mph.
More Showers Wednesday
We’ll see another round of showers turning into a light to steady rain starting Wednesday afternoon and continuing into Wednesday night. Temperatures will be mild enough to support all rain instead of snow and/or ice. Highs will top out in the lower 50s.
Quiet & Chilly Late Week
Thursday and Friday look like typical mid to late December days. We’ll see a mixture of clouds and sunshine with highs in the 40s. Thursday will be the breezier and sunnier day with highs in the middle 40s and a northwest wind at 15 mph gusting to 25 mph. Friday we will see passing clouds and a possible sprinkle or flurry with highs in the lower 40s.
Weekend Arctic Blast
A cold blast is on the way for next weekend. There could even be a few flurries and scattered morning snow showers Saturday. Then it’s wind and very cold temperatures for the afternoon and evening. This will impact the Ravens vs Steelers game at M & T Bank Stadium Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is at 4:30 PM. Wind-chills will be down into the lower 20s with a biting wind.
Sunday will be even colder with highs in the upper 20s to near 30°. With winds out of the north-northwest at 10 to 20 mph will create wind-chills in the teens. We’ve tagged Sunday as a possible “First Alert Weather Day” for extreme cold. Stay tuned as next weekend approaches.
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