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University of Maryland Nets $500K Grant for Crop Research

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University of Maryland Nets 0K Grant for Crop Research


(TNS) — The University of Maryland Extension in Frederick is looking to expand practical research into cover crops and better understand how farmers learn from each other.

The National Fish and Wildlife Service awarded $500,000 for the project to the University of Maryland Extension in Frederick.

Mark Townsend, an associate agriculture Extension educator, will collaborate with Colorado State University’s Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRISS) and Future Harvest, a nonprofit that provides “education, networking, advocacy, and research” to farms in Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Delaware, according to their website.


Cover crops protect soil in order to limit erosion, control weeds and encourage long-term fertility, among other benefits, according to Townsend.

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“We already have the base of knowledge that says ‘here’s what crops work and here’s what doesn’t,’” Townsend said in an interview. “What we’re doing here is tailoring it to a specific operator.”

Participants in the three-year project will receive a cover crops plan customized to their land, as well as a stipend to incorporate those strategies on their farm.

Cereal rye, Austrian winter peas and red clover are common cover crops on Maryland farms, according to Townsend.

The cover crop project brings research that Extension Educator Sarah Hirsh started on the Eastern Shore to Frederick and Central Maryland.

Townsend said cover crops can be an effective tool to maximize what farmers can get out of their land, based on the specific crops, soil and conditions.

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As an example, he mentioned the “drought stress” that impacted farmers this year. Cover crops can conserve water by preventing evaporation due to increased organic matter.

A 1% increase in organic matter can cause the soil to retain over 20,000 gallons more water per acre, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

But at the same time, Townsend said that in a wet year, organic matter can help open pores and allow water to “flow through the soil profile a lot easier.”

Again, the specific crops and strategies being used matter.

Farmers will not see benefits immediately after planting cover crops, but rather over the long term. Townsend said that might take 10 to 15 years, but he emphasized the importance of implementing the practice of cover cropping as quickly as possible.

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“We don’t forget it when it becomes a problem, but we don’t necessarily position ourselves in our operations to capture the resources that currently exist,” Townsend said.

The other aspect of the project involves IRISS surveys of participating farmers.

The project will divide farmers into cohorts, then the Colorado State researchers will develop a “farmer network analysis,” according to Townsend.

He added that this will allow the academics to “see the flow of information” on best practices, handling new conditions and other information specific to the community of growers.

“The idea here is so that we can tailor our future Extension education events to better suit the methods by which farmers learn,” Townsend said.

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A press release for the project said they hope to recruit around 35 farmers from a variety of agricultural businesses.

Townsend said he is “always looking for more people to join us” and encouraged growers to reach out to him directly if interested in participating in the project.

© 2024 The Frederick News-Post (Frederick, Md.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.





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Severn scratch-off makes player a millionaire as Maryland Lottery pays $31.8M in prizes

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Severn scratch-off makes player a millionaire as Maryland Lottery pays .8M in prizes


A scratch-off ticket sold in Severn turned one Maryland Lottery player into a millionaire, leading a week in which the Lottery paid out more than $31.8 million in prizes statewide.

Maryland Lottery and Gaming said it paid more than $31.8 million in prizes from Feb. 23 through March 1, including 36 tickets worth $10,000 or more.

The top scratch-off prize claimed during that period was a $1 million winning $1,000,000 Crossword ticket sold at the Walmart at 407 George Clauss Boulevard in Severn. Another top winner was a $100,000 Red 5’s Doubler ticket sold at the Carroll Motor Fuel station at 2535 Cleanleigh Drive in Parkville.

Other scratch-off prizes claimed Feb. 23 through March 1 included two $50,000 winners: a 200X the Cash ticket sold at the Wawa at 7501 Pulaski Highway in Rosedale, and a $5,000,000 Luxe ticket sold at the Spring Hill Lake Mini Market at 9240 Spring Hill Lane in Greenbelt. A $30,000 Diamond Bingo 6th Edition ticket was sold at Tempo Lounge at 402 Back River Neck Road in Essex.

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ALSO READ | SUN | Maryland GOP unveils energy plan it says saves customers up to $40 a month

The Lottery also reported three $20,000 scratch-off winners, all on $1,000,000 Crossword tickets sold at Geresbeck’s Food Market at 8489 Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena; Hillandale Beer and Wine at 10117 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring; and Paddock Wine and Spirits at 7627 Woodbine Road in Woodbine.

The Lottery reminded players to sign the backs of tickets and keep winning tickets in a safe location.

The Lottery said the last dates to claim scratch-off tickets are posted on the scratch-offs page at mdlottery.com.

More information is available at mdlottery.com.

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SUN: Dozens of vehicles moved to planned Maryland ICE facility; advocates concerned

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SUN: Dozens of vehicles moved to planned Maryland ICE facility; advocates concerned


Advocacy groups are raising concerns over a warehouse in Washington County that is slated to become an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility after dozens of black SUVs were moved to the warehouse’s parking lot on Sunday.

“When federal enforcement vehicles begin lining the warehouse lot, it sends a clear message about what’s taking shape in our community,” said the organizer of Hagerstown Rapid Response, Claire Connor. “We refuse to let ICE quietly plant roots in Washington County without transparency, accountability and community consent.”

The 825,620-square-foot warehouse is located at 16220 Wright Road in Williamsport. Access to the facility was blocked by orange traffic barriers and signs outlining regulations and “governing conduct on federal property” with the Department of Homeland Security emblem at the top of the page.

In late January, Washington County issued a news release stating that on Jan. 14, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to the county’s historic district commission and department of planning and zoning regarding the property.

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Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun’s website.



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Howard County police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Columbia

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Howard County police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Columbia


An adult man was killed in a police-involved shooting in Columbia early Sunday, prompting an investigation by the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division.

Howard County police said officers were called on March 1, at about 12:09 a.m., to an apartment building in the 6400 block of Freetown Road for a report that involved an adult male threatening to harm himself.

According to police, at about 12:22 a.m., officers encountered the man outside the building. The man approached officers while holding a knife and ignored commands to drop the weapon, police said. Officers then shot the man.

ALSO READ | Gas leak explosion, fire in Prince George’s County leaves 1 injured

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Officers attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officersrecovered a knife near the man.

No officers were injured, and the officers were equipped with body-worn cameras.

The Independent Investigations Division is investigating.

Anyone with information about this incident, including cell phone or private surveillance video, is asked to contact the IID at (410) 576–7070 or by email atIID@oag.maryland.gov.

The IID willgenerally releasethe name of the decedent and any involved officers within two business days of the incident, although that period may be extended, if necessary,pursuant toIID protocol.

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TheIID willgenerally releasebody-worn camera footage within 20 business days of an incident. There may be situations where more than 20 days is necessary, including if investigators need more time to complete witness interviews, if there are technical delays caused by the need to shield the identities of civilian witnesses, or to allow family members to view the video before it is released to the public.



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