CROP PROTECTION
VARIETY
TESTING
NUTRIENTS
CROP PROTECTION
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Disease
Risk, Yield Loss and Fungicides in
Maryland Field Corn Production
- University of Maryland - $11,250
Independent
testing of fungicide effects in field
corn can help producers decide if there
is a role for these products in their
production system.
The
objectives for this project are to 1)
determine if strobilurin and strobilurin
blend fungicide applications in field
corn will provide foliar disease
control, improve green leaf area,
increase yield, reduce stalk rot and
lodging in different disease risk
cropping systems; and, 2) determine if
fungicide applications will affect net
photosynthesis, water use efficiency and
light use efficiency for different
levels of diseased tissue.
The goal is to then combine this
information into a rating system that
can be used to evaluate risks with
benefits that may be obtained from a
fungicide application.
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NEW
Brown Marmorated
Stink Bug and Leaffotted Bug in Corn
Fields and Impact on Grain Yield and
Quality – University of Maryland
- $18,000
The brown
marmorated stink bug (BMSB)
Halyomorphie halys, is a serious
pest of several cropping systems. It is
known to feed on corn but no
investigation has been conducted to
quantify the amount of injury it causes.
Another true bug species, the leaf
footed but (LFB)
Leptoglossu app., is also known to
feed on corn ears but their potential
damage has not been quantified. In
addition to understanding the damage
inflicted by BMSB, it is important to
understand its distribution within corn
fields. A two-year field study will be
conducted in Maryland corn fields to
determine both damages inflicted by the
MBSB and LFB to corn ears and their
spatial distribution in corn fields, and
to develop more efficient scouting and
treatment programs for both crop
systems.
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NEW Management and
Control of Slugs in Problem Fields of
Notill & Minimum Tillage Corn –
Mulford Agronomics - - $5,000
The goal of this
project is to evaluate various
management methods of slug control
during the early growth stages of notill
corn so that the young corn plant can
emerge from the soil and develop beyond
damage from slugs.
Testing will be conducted in
central Maryland.
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NEW
Examining Impact
of Cover Crops and other Plants on
Behavior and Hatching Behavior of
Root-knot Nematodes– University
of Maryland - $7,000
Plnat-parasitic nematodes affect all
crops of economic importance and present
significant and serious problems for
growers, agencies and organizations
involved in developing acceptable
control measures. The southern root-knot
nematodes (SRKN) is especially damaging
to corn, causing significant reductions
in yields, quality and profits. A major
problem with the control of this pest is
the lack of effective and economical
options for the grower beyond cultural
practices such as crop rotation, and an
increasingly limited and restricted
arsenal of effective nematicides. The
objectives of this study include 1)
determine the hatching response of the
southern root-knot nematode to various
species of winter cover crops, 2)
determine the influence of cover crop on
the reproduction of root-knot nematode,
3) examine the influence of cover crop
on the survival of root-knot nematode,
and 4) provide corn stakeholders
pertinent information on the role of
winter cover crops in southern root-knot
nematode management.
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NEW
Developing a
Biologically Based Management Strategy
for Slugs in Mid-Atlantic Grain Fields
– Pennsylvania State University -
$13,700
The goal of this two-year
project is to begin to develop tactics
for managing slugs in Mid-Atlantic
no-till corn, soybean, and small grant
acreage. Basic research will be
conducted to better understand slug
biology, their interactions with various
cover crop and natural enemy species,
and potential mechanical control
options. The goal is to develop a
biologically based approach for managing
slug populations that develop in
high-residue systems.
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Effect of
Fungicide and Insecticide Applications
on Yield, Aphid and Beneficial Organisms
in a Wheat Agroecosystem –
University of Maryland Department of
Entomology - $7,500
It is important to understand the impact
of pesticides on beneficial organisms
and final crop yields. The objectives of
this study are to 1) determine whether
applications of systemic fungicides or a
broad spectrum insecticide impact insect
pests of wheat and their associated
natural enemies, 2) determine if the
addition of TiltR, HeadlineR, or
WarriorR insecticide provide a yield
benefit to wheat, and 3) determine the
economical feasibility of using Tilt,
Headline, or Warrior based on
application cost and final yields.
During the experiment all pest and
beneficial organisms will be monitored
but greater emphasis will be placed on
treatment effect of aphid populations.
In addition, plant diseases impacting
wheat such as Septeoria leafspot will be
graded from each treatment plot if they
should occur.
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NEW
Evaluation of New
BY Stacked and Conventional Hybrids for
Protection Against Ear Insects and Stalk
Borers –
University of Maryland - $5,020
The Maryland corn hybrid performance
tests are conducted each year to provide
unbiased estimates of yield and other
agronomic characters of hybrid seed corn
sold in Maryland. The goal of this
project is to include additional
conventional hybrids and stacked Bt
hybrids of different events. Assessment
of stalk and ear damage inflicted to
these hybrids, along with the stand
agronomic measurements, will provide the
information for extension outreach
activities to inform growers and crop
advisors about the insect resistance
benefits of different Bt stacked events.
Also to be evaluated is the yield
performance and relative susceptibility
to European corn borer injury of non-Bt
hybrids adapted for Maryland growing
conditions
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Wheat Disease
Management Current Problem with
Soil-Borne Viruses and Fungicide Effects
on Vomitoxin – University of
Maryland Plant Science - $9,800
This project will continue study within
field virus nurseries to screen
varieties for resistance to wheat
spindle streak mosaic virus and
soil-borne wheat mosaic virus; and to
expand the USWBSI uniform scab fungicide
trail to include standard fungicide
treatments targeted for diseases other
than scab to determine if their use
affects vomitoxin levels.
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Doe Harvest
Incentive Program – Maryland Farm
Bureau - $60,000
Now in its third
year, the Doe Harvest Incentive Program
is expanding the eligible regions by
adding Anne Arundel County to the
Southern Maryland region of Calvert,
Charles, St. Mary’s and Prince George’s
Counties, and Queen Anne’s and Kent
Counties to the Mid-Shore region of
Caroline, Dorchester and Talbot
Counties.
These areas are experiencing high
levels of agricultural damage as a
result of overpopulations of whitetail
and sika deer. The 2011 program will
consist of five 3-week contest cycles in
each participating region. A winner is
chosen during each 3-week cycle.
There is no limit to the amount
of entries, provided they were legally
harvested doe. Grand prize winners will
be awarded to the hunter that has
donated the most deer throughout the
five contest cycles in each region.
Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry
program partners in this project.
VARIETY TESTING
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NEW
Establishing Small
Grains with Vertical Tillage –
University of Maryland - $5,000
This study will begin in the fall of
2011 and will compare planting wheat and
barley via a no-till drill with
broadcasting seed and using a
Turbo-Till.
Two seeding rates will be
incorporated into the study at three
locations to obtain environmental and
geographical differences representative
of the state.
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Improvement and Development of Barley
for Use in Fuel, Feed, and Food
- Crop & Soil Environmental
Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
- $10,000
This research is designed to assess and
improve the yield potential of hulled
and hulless barley lines for use in
fuel, food and feed industries.
Desirable traits will be
transferred into Thoroughbred to obtain
lines having high yield potential,
superior disease resistance, and
excellent end use quality. This
transformation should make barley more
competitive with wheat and corn, and
will enhance profitability of barley for
producers.
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Genetic
Improvement and Testing of Small Grains
for Maryland - Plant Science and
Landscape Architecture, University of
Maryland - $26,000
The main goal of the Maryland Small
Grains Breeding Program is to develop
high yielding, disease resistant, high
quality wheat and barley varieties by
using superior parental lines and
introducing a new germplasm from a
variety of sources. The second objective
is to conduct local testing of all the
commercially available and experimental
varieties of winter wheat, and winter
barley at several locations across
Maryland to provide growers with the
most unbiased and current performance
comparisons. Segregating populations
derived from these crosses will be
evaluated in replicated yield trials
under Maryland’s conditions.
A DNA-assisted selection program
is being used to develop new scab and
rust-tolerant varieties. The barley
state test includes new hulless entries.
Chesapeake, a variety resulting from
this research, has high yield, high test
weight, and resistance to powdery
mildew, and is widely available to
growers.
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State Corn Hybrid
Test: Inclusion of Benchmark Hybrids
- Plant Science and Landscape
Architecture, University of Maryland -
$5,000
The annual State Corn Hybrid Variety
Test will include up to six popularly
grown corn hybrids not otherwise entered
so farmers will be provided with
unbiased information to make meaningful
comparisons among hybrids before
purchasing seed.
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Falling Number
Research - Natural Resource
Sciences & Landscape Architecture,
University of Maryland - $4,000
Currently grown soft red winter wheat
cultivars will be screened for
susceptibility to pre-harvest sprouting
measured by the Falling Number test.
Soft red winter wheat varieties
in the state performance test will be
grown across several locations. Three
replications of the falling number test
will be done for each variety from each
location. Locations that had sprouting
with those that did not will be
compared, and a late harvest location
will be established to promote
sprouting.
NUTRIENTS
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NEW
Using an Adaptive
Management Approach for Improving
Nitrogen-Use Efficiency in the
Chesapeake Bay Region
– University of Maryland - $25,000
Researchers and producers have long
sought a reliable and efficient method
for determining the nitrogen (N) status
of corn during the early growing season
because weather conditions early can
often have a big influence on amounts of
N available for growing an optimal corn
crop. Accurate assessments of N status
would allow effective and
environmentally sound fertilizer
practices. Optical sensors can be used
to measure the vigor of a crop and show
variability across a field. These
sensors can be especially advantageous
on manured fields because the sensors
can provide feedback on amounts of N
mineralized from the manure.
Studies show that the same grain
yields or slightly better can be
achieved with 21% less N in corn and 10%
less N in wheat using active optical
sensors.
However, there is little data at
the production scale, especially where
manure has been applied, showing the
benefit of these sensors.
This proposed project seeks to
employ an adaptive management approach
integrating active optical sensors into
an N management strategy that includes
manure to lead to widespread adoption of
adaptive management, active optical
sensors, and an overall increase in
N-use efficiency on the Delmarva
Peninsula.
Ten farmers will participate in
this project using a Greenseeker optical
sensor unit on a minimum of 250 acres of
corn to conduct a comparison project to
analyze the overall effectiveness of the
Greenseeker and the total amount of N
fertilizer reduced when using the
Greenseeker as compared to their
standard practice.
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NEW
Nitrogen Sources
and Management Systems in No-till and
Minimum Till Wheat – Mulford Agronomics
- $4,000
This study will include 3 detailed
studies. Study 1 will focus on nitrogen
sources available to growers. Notill and
minimum tillage wheat will follow notill
and conventional corn and soybeans.
Emphasis will be on comparing 17
treatments of nitrogen sources and
blends of nitrogen sources for N
efficiency.
In Study 2 the previously funded
MGPUB notill and minimum till wheat
study will be revised to look at areas
of management to improve production
efficiency and wheat quality. Some of
the same treatments that produced
excellent yields and quality in 2009
will be compared to new management
systems in 2011. Notill and minimum
tillage wheat will be grown after notill
corn and notill single crop soybeans.
Each tillage system will evaluate seven
crop management treatments. Low rate
fertilizer technology will be compared
to standard fertilizer programs.
Fertilizer treatments with and without a
Fall starter will be included. Study 3.
Using six wheat varieties, three
production systems will be compared: a)
single application of 80 lbs./a of N
with no further treatments; b) a higher
level of nitrogen with a traditional
fungicide program; and c) a management
program that consistently produced
yields and quality above average in the
Coker Seed Breeding program.
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Corn Hybrids and
Nitrogen Rate Response
– University of Maryland - $7,500
This project will
evaluate available corn hybrids for
their nitrogen use efficiency to provide
farmers with optimum nitrogen rates for
raising crops as environmentally
friendly and economical as possible.
Corn hybrids representing conventional
to Smart Stax genetic technologies will
be tested with various fertilizer
nitrogen rates under dry land conditions
at multiple sites across Maryland.
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Evaluation of Soil
Pest Control Services and Nutrient
Retention in No-till Corn Production
– University of Maryland Entomology -
$9,905
Data collected on
entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), which
can control outbreaks of soil insect
pests, will allow the design of an
experimental framework to manage soils
to promote retention and the long-term
persistence of EPN and their biological
control services.
EPN populations will be surveyed
and compared under tilled and no-till
field conditions.
Soil physical and abiotic
properties will be measured and nutrient
fluxes will be analyzed to form results.
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Seeding Rates for
Cereal Cover Crops
– University of Maryland Plant Science -
$7,500
The Maryland Cover Crop Program needs
recommendations for standard seeding
rates and stand establishment.
A field study will evaluate a
range of seeding rates for rye, wheat
and barley to analyze seedling
emergence, biomass production, and
nitrogen uptake.
Recommendations will then be
established for seeding rate and stand
establishment.
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Wheat Spring
Nitrogen: Application Dates
– University of Maryland Plant Science -
$7,500
This study will investigate the
performance of wheat that receives its
first spring application of nitrogen
across a range of dates during late
winter to provide research that can be
used by farmers to optimize crop
production and by MDA as they assess the
need for changes to the Cover Crop
Program March 1st statewide
date.
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Nitrogen
Stabilizer Products: Wheat Performance
following their Use with Corn
– University of Maryland - $7,500
This project investigates nitrogen
management practices that, if
successful, may allow for reduced
amounts of nitrogen for both corn and
wheat production.
The response of wheat with and
without fall nitrogen that follows corn,
which received pre-plant or side dress
nitrogen that included nitrogen
stabilizer products, will be
investigated and reported.
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Nitrogen and
Phosphorous Fertilization on Long-Term
No-Tillage Corn, Soybean, Wheat Rotation
– VA Polytech Institute - $4,000
Continuous no-tillage is a best
management practice for soil and
nutrient conservation but comes with
challenges, such as nutrient
stratification since the soil layers are
no longer mixed with cultivation.
Similarly, poultry litter amended with
alum is a best management strategy to
mitigate phosphorus (P) issues in
runoff, but crop P availability is
unknown over long periods of time. This
project will continue a long-term study
that was initiated in 2003 by planting a
corn – wheat – soybean - fallow no-till
rotation on a Bojac sandy loam on the
Eastern Shore of Virginia. From these
data, a long-term average of crop
nutrient removal can be derived for the
Mid-Atlantic region, soil carbon
sequestration, and nutrient
stratification for poultry litter and
fertilizer applications.
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Cereal-Legume
Cover Crop Mixture to Increase Nutrient
Cycling Organisms and Crop Productivity
– University of Maryland Entomology -
$11,855
Cover crops may provide long-term
advantages to crop lands such as
improving soil health through
enhancement of beneficial soil organisms
(ie. Soil mites, free-living nematodes,
and other decomposers). Unlike
plant-parasitic nematodes that feed on
plant roots, free-living nematodes are
beneficial in that they contribute to
nutrient cycling. Soil health providers
increase the capacity of soil to perform
essential functions such as nutrient
cycling which subsequently leads to
greater crop productivity. The
objectives of this study include 1)
determine species composition of
parassitoids and predators and rate of
egg parasilkization and predation for
the BMSB, 2) determine the influence of
cover crop on the parasitization and
predation of brown marmorated stink bug
egg masses, 3) determine the effects of
cover crops on soil organism involved in
nutrient cycling, 4) determine the
contribution of cover crop to crop
nitrogen content, 5) determine the
effect of cover crop on soil insect
pests, and 6) determine the effect of
cover crop on corn productivity and
grain yield.
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NEW
Cropping Systems Effects on Soil
Phosphorus – University of
Maryland–- $5,000
This long term study evaluates the
effects that two different cropping
systems (grain-based and forage-based)
have on soil phosphorus concentration.
This project was started in the
mid-90s with the establishment at three
Maryland sites of five soil phosphorus
levels that range from medium to
excessive in soil concentration.
Measurements on the effect that
the systems have on soil P began in
2000, and crop P uptake and removal
measurements have been collected
annually since then.
In addition, change in soil P
concentration has been collected
bi-annually.
The large data set created over
the past 11 years will be analyzed,
summarized and assessed.
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Evaluate New
Production Practices in Dry Land Corn
Production Utilization
– Mulford Agronomics - $5,000
Corn yields have increased in recent
years with improved hybrids.
This study will investigate the
limits of response of modern corn
hybrids to various inputs, and assess
agronomic approaches to manage corn
production as populations and yields
increase. Study 1 will look at corn
planted notill and reduced tillage at
five nitrogen rates. Study 2 will be a
continuation of the comparison of dry
and liquid nitrogen sources and
additives. Study 3 will evaluate several
starter fertilizers at different methods
of application. Study 4 will be a
continuation of the poultry manure
project evaluating four tillage methods
after broiler manure application and
before corn planting.
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Maryland Oyster
Restoration Program - Chesapeake
Bay Program –- $10,000
This project adds oyster beds to the
Chesapeake Bay for study of filtration
effects on water quality.
The oyster population of
Chesapeake Bay has been estimated to be
as low as one percent of its historic
size, depriving the Bay system a
keystone species in the Bay’s ecosystem.
Oysters filter the Bay’s waters and in
the process, remove huge quantities of
planktonic algae, microscopic plants
that are overabundant in the Bay due to
excessive nitrogen.
In
2010, 240 concrete reef ball reef
modules were made, set and placed on
sanctuary reef sites in Maryland tidal
waters. The goal is to produce and plant
ten million seed oysters on sanctuary
reef sites in Maryland tidal waters.