Ingenuity Magazine 2025

School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences

2025

SCHOOL OF AGRIGULTURAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES

RESEARCH advancing knowledge

TEACHING elevating the next generation

EXTENSION supporting farmers and families

Making a difference We make an impact thanks to the support of federal and state agencies, along with private organizations.

INGENUITY is the Research and Extension magazine of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. It is published yearly for alumni, students, stakeholders, clients and friends of the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences.

This work was supported in part by the Evans-Allen Program and other state appropriated funds.

Administration Heidi M. Anderson, Ph.D. President

Moses T. Kairo, Ph.D., DIC

Dean of the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences

Paulinus Chigbu, Ph.D.

Associate Dean For Research, Development & Graduate Education, professor and director, NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center

E. Nelson Escobar, Ph.D.

Associate Dean and Associate Administrator for UMES Extension

Jonathan Cumming, Ph.D. Professor and Chair, Department of Natural Sciences

Grace Namwamba, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair, Department of Human Ecology

Stephan L. Tubene, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair, Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences

Laura Duck

CONTENTS

2 3

CRIS Site Administrator

Earle Canter

Farm Manager, Crop Research and Aquaculture

Editing and Production Editor-in-chief: Laura Benedict Sileo Primary Writer: Gail Stephens Writer: Kara Nuzback

Heidi M. Anderson and Moses T. Kairo

About the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences Academics, Research, Extension

Mosquitoes Pose Growing Threat

4 8 11

West Nile virus and EEE cases can swell with extreme weather Category: Research

Wine vs. Warming Temperatures

Can gene editing relieve heat stress on grapes?

Category: Research

Strengthening Food Security Partnerships Category: Teaching

A Marine Mystery

12

Putting the puzzle pieces together on why thousands of horseshoe crabs died Category: Research

The Child Care Gap

16

New online degrees open door to untapped workforce Category: Teaching

Innovate & Educate

18

Precision agriculture, research for farms of all sizes is focus of annual event Category: Extension, Research

The Buzz in Agritourism

20

Farm-to-table hype sows farm experience tourism opportunities Category: Extension

Passion for Fish

23

UMES Land-Grant Scholar tracks marine habitats in Chesapeake Bay Category: Teaching

Tackling PFAS

Assistant to the 1890 Research Director

Tracie Bishop

Letters from the President and the Dean

24 25 26 26

University’s goal is to provide forever chemical research, outreach and support to Marylanders Category: Research

UMES Research Advances Global Worker PPE Garment protects farm workers against spray pesticides Category: Research

Fueling Change

UMES explores trees as bioenergy source Category: Research

Study Focuses on How Pasture-raised Chickens Tolerate Heat Category: Research

Proofreader: Kamleshkumar Desai Photographer: Todd Dudek Graphic Designer: Jeremy Laney Pope

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Publications

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•••

From the President • • •

E

xceptional teaching, impactful research and extension engagement are the trifecta of a successful land-grant university. UMES’ School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences is at the heart of this mission.

As a Top 10 public HBCU, we know 2025 holds much change that can serve as a catalyst to help energize us for the future — with a ready workforce and data-driven knowledge to support vibrant communities and a thriving economy in Maryland, especially in the agricultural industry.

Construction got underway last year on the Agricultural Research & Education Center.

The facility, with an anticipated mid-year opening, is designed to support agribusiness and economic development throughout the state. We are deeply grateful to USDA and the Maryland Legislature for investing resources to make this development possible.

The university achieved a fourth consecutive year of continued enrollment growth, in part to the announcement of the future School of Veterinary Medicine. That news brought an increase in pre-veterinary student interest to the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences.

The new veterinary medicine school will fill a yet unmet workforce need. I am delighted that our efforts to establish the SVM continue to make excellent progress.

Our work is made possible by our many supporters. Sincere appreciation is extended to the Maryland Legislature, federal partners such as the USDA, NOAA and NSF, as well as private entities.

With so many good things happening in UMES research, teaching and extension, we hope you find the topics in this issue of Ingenuity worth sharing.

Heidi M. Anderson, Ph.D. President

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•••

T

From the Dean • • •

he School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences has much to look forward to in 2025.

Value addition continues to be an important recurring theme in agriculture. With that being said, UMES’ Maryland Agritourism Conference returns in November, connecting agricultural producers interested in enhancing their income streams and agencies looking to expand their tourism offerings.

Research projects with the potential to impact the Delmarva Peninsula, Maryland, the nation and beyond are taking place each day at UMES. In this issue, you’ll read about vital work on addressing PFAS in the environment, mosquitoborne diseases and extreme weather events, new poultry practices, and coastal marine resources including work to assess horseshoe crab mortality in Ocean City and more.

The school remains steadfastly committed to workforce development, with a fresh crop of our graduates entering the industry. We are excited about fresh opportunities including new degree offerings, scholarships and international collaborations and experiential learning opportunities for students.

We are grateful for the support from federal and state agencies, along with the private sector for making our work possible and impactful.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about the research, teaching and extension activities featured in this issue.

Moses T. Kairo, Ph.D., DIC Professor and Dean

•••

About the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences • • •

Academics

SANS Academic Departments

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences offers personalized student attention, authentic research opportunities, experiential learning and specialized facilities to train tomorrow’s workforce as leaders in agriculture and science. Strong research and extension programs are integrated with the school’s academic programming.

Research

Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences:

• A gribusiness Management (BS) • U rban Forestry (BS) • G eneral Agriculture (BS) • A gricultural Education • P lant and Soil Science • A nimal and Poultry Science

•B usiness and Technology Option I

The UMES Agricultural Experiment Station within the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences provides enhanced knowledge and technology to improve agriculture and food systems; enhance the quality of natural resources and the environment; and serve communities, families and consumers. Research is organized around: Agriculture and Food, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Human Health and Development, and Product Development.

UMES is one of two land-grant institutions in Maryland that provide leadership for research in agriculture, food, biomedical science and natural resource conservation and use.

Extension UMES Extension uses research-based knowledge to provide practical educational opportunities to help people, businesses and communities solve problems, develop skills and build better futures. Our programs specialize in: the Agriculture Law and Education Initiative, Alternative Crops, Community and Economic Development, Family Nutrition and Health, Food Safety, Horticulture and Fruits, Small Farm, Small Ruminants, and 4-H STEM & Youth Development.

• F ood and Agricultural Sciences (MS and Ph.D.) Natural Sciences:

• B iochemistry (BS) • B iology (BS) • C hemistry (BS) • E nvironmental Sciences (BS) • C hemistry (MS) •M arine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences (MS, PhD) • T oxicology (MS, PhD) Human Ecology:

• H uman Ecology (BS) (Child Development/CHDE Online

Option, Dietetics, Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences, Family and Consumer Sciences Education Fashion Merchandising and Design (BS) (Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Merchandising/FIT Option, Fashion Design) Human Ecology (MS) online (Child Development; Clinical Nutrition, Nutrition and Wellness; Family and Consumer Sciences; Fashion Merchandising) Dietetic I Internship

• • •

Students tour the Richard A. Henson Center.

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POSE GROWING THREAT West Nile virus and EEE cases can swell with extreme weather

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West Nile virus made headlines last summer with Maryland’s first human case for the season reported in the Baltimore Metropolitan region, along with an equine case in Frederick, Maryland. Neighboring Delaware saw a human case in New Castle County and two horse cases in Kent County.

Elsewhere, mosquito-borne illnesses prompted curfews and other actions to mitigate spread. Local experts vehemently track reports like this with an eye toward the future. >>

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W

uito

es a

or-borne disea nd vect ses.

m

Ad a

Ja dia

students Doaa Barri, le ft , a nd

osq

S UME

m on

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y ud st

”

– Professor Dia-Eldin Elnaiem

a

“

Increasing amounts of rain from climate-intensified weather and natural disasters like hurricanes give more places for mosquitoes to breed.

Sea level rise contributes to more brackish water standing where it was once dry land.

on

“Insects are very susceptible to changes in temperature and other weather patterns and it can happen fast,” Elnaiem explained. “Increasing amounts of rain from climate-intensified weather and natural disasters like “Our region is full of mosquitoes, including hurricanes give more places for mosquitoes to h o n u e s k e c in Som a chi erse side tC out at least 31 varieties,” said Dr. Dia-Eldin e o c breed. Sea level rise contributes to more un vi ty de as ion Elnaiem, a professor of medical t t he brackish water standing where it was c yw lle co or entomology at the University of a once dry land.” k p Maryland Eastern Shore.

Numbers can multiply quickly and mosquito species He and colleague Dr. carrying a variety of Mobolaji Okulate along diseases like dengue, zika, with undergraduate encephalitis and malaria students, spent the can spread into new areas summer trapping and to inhabit. They can also identifying them at 65 become more voracious sites. They were with changes in habitat evaluating the perforand environmental mance of mosquito conditions. surveillance tools, critical for predicting “The Asian tiger mosquito, the impacts of extreme for instance, is an aggressive weather events on vectorbiter and carrier of diseases borne diseases in the region. that was not seen in the United States until 30 years ago. It “The extensive fresh and brackish originated in Asia, but spread to the water resources on the Delmarva southeastern U.S. and throughout 26 states,” Peninsula and relatively long hot summer Elnaiem said. “Cases of dengue, mainly from season already provide a favorable environment for international travel, have recently been seen in Texas, mosquitoes to thrive,” he said.

Florida and the non-continental states like Puerto Rico.

There are pockets of yellow fever in Africa that have the Add to that the increasing effects of extreme weather potential to make a comeback, if not properly controlled.” and a perfect storm could be brewing on the horizon. se tu

hile not every mosquito carries disease, they are endemic to Maryland and Delaware, and can be impacted by extreme weather.

There are

59 SPECIES

of mosquitoes in Maryland with at least

31 SPECIES encountered on the Eastern Shore

Educating the next generation of scientists and raising public awareness are keys to controlling vector-borne diseases.

How can UMES help keep Maryland ahead of mosquito changes?

Biological products are being more frequently used to mitigate toxicity and assure safety to humans, animals

“On the UMES side, our research can provide global mapping of populations and environmental changes that can help us predict their activity, prevalence and migration,” Elnaiem said. “The state’s mosquito control program does a great job with monitoring and control.”

r

es as se di

ud en

What can you do?

“All Marylanders should take precautions against mosquito bites. Try to avoid being outside in mosquitoprone areas at dawn and dusk. Wear long sleeved as part of a study on m raps osq t k shirts and pants, particularly at those uito hec es sc an sor s d times when outdoors or use insect e ve of ct pr or d -b repellent,” Schamberger said. an o

.

UM ES

st

ts

and desired insect species.”

ne

Elnaiem collaborates with Dan Schamberger, an administrator III with the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Mosquito Control Section.

CDC Gravid Trap used for mosquito collection

“Surveillance is the best method to see what is changing in the field,” said Schamberger, a 30-year veteran with the MDA program.

“For a new species, it is important to know the biology of the insect and its preferred habitat for laying eggs.

Knowledge-based decisions can then be made on how to control them, such as spraying adults or controlling larvae in the water.”

Technology has come a long way for safely preventing mosquito populations from getting out of control.

“We follow an Integrated Pest Management Program that relies on multiple, rather than one, method for mosquito control,” Schamberger said. “It is also important to use products tested, labeled and regulated through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“Symptoms are similar to the flu and usually resolve on their own. Complications can arise, particularly among the elderly, so consult a health care provider if anything is concerning. A veterinarian should be consulted for livestock concerns, and animals should be up to date on all necessary and available vaccinations.”

Elnaiem added that educating the next generation of scientists and raising public awareness are keys to controlling vector-borne diseases. UMES aims to train undergraduates in new upper-level courses and research experiences in medical and vectoral entomology, and medical and parasitical entomology.

“The public is also encouraged to cooperate with the Maryland Department of Agriculture in reporting so that the Mosquito Control Section can appropriately respond with monitoring and control.”

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WINE VS WARMING T E M P E R A T U R E S

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Title illustration: Jeremy Laney Pope

CAN GENE EDITING RELIEVE HEAT STRESS ON GRAPES? This work is supported in part by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 2024-38821-42091.

General Agriculture majors Shanaya Hines, left, and Kennedy Wallace, right, examine grapevines at UMES.

G

rapevines, just as with other crops, have a new enemy: extreme weather events. Producers and researchers are noticing changes in the leaves and berries, causing concern for a $270 billion table and wine grape industry across the United States.

University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s “grape guy,” Dr. Sadanand Dhekney, has worked on improving the fruit staple for disease resistance for the past two decades. A new U.S. Department of Agriculture grant allows him to address the impacts of extreme weather events and build on his research on fungal diseases like powdery mildew that grapevines are susceptible to.

“Worldwide, grape growers are seeing a decrease in berry colors, along with sunburn damage in berries caused by heat stress from high temperatures,” the professor of plant breeding and biotechnology said.

“The new project will allow us to study these effects and the genes involved. Using techniques in precision breeding and genome editing, we hope to improve table and wine grape cultivars for climate resiliency.”

Quality of the fruit and increased shelf life are key outcomes.

Maryland has more than 1,000 acres in grape production, with hopes of expanding that number to service a burgeoning wine industry, that includes agritourism. Dhekney’s work is timely, as a new law took effect in 2024 requiring the state’s farm wineries to grow at least 20 acres of their own grapes or other fruit, or 51 percent of their ingredients sourced in-state.

Along with developing climate-smart grapevine cultivars, the grant also funds extension activities to increase grower awareness of grapevine canopy management practices. The $600,000 capacity building grant, a competitive grant among the nation’s landgrant institutions, was awarded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

“Traditional varieties of grapevines are ancient, having been discovered or developed over several hundreds of years.”

– Dr. Sadanand Dhekney

“Traditional varieties of grapevines are ancient, having been discovered or developed over several hundreds of years,” Dhekney said. “The goal is to use these cuttingedge techniques to add traits for abiotic stress tolerance while keeping the desirable traits intact.”

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“Precision breeding and gene editing involve modifying grape genomic DNA sequences, which is more consumer and eco-friendly than traditional breeding and avoids concerns about genetically modified organisms.”

The state of Maryland currently has over

1,000

acres dedicated to grape growing and production

– Dr. Sadanand Dhekney

The benefits of the project are multifaceted, Dhekney explained, touching grape producers, farm workers and consumers.

“Precision breeding and gene editing involve modifying grape genomic DNA sequences, which is more consumer and eco-friendly than traditional breeding and avoids concerns about genetically modified organisms. Pesticide usage is minimized or prevented, which decreases production costs for growers, reduces field workers’ exposure and lessens the risk of negative effects for consumers,” he said. “Plus, it’s safe for the environment, as it promotes using sustainable management and practices.”

Dhekney’s other research projects are funded by different programs under USDA-NIFA including the Evans-Allen Program, supporting the nation’s 1890 land-grant institutions, and its competitive programs, the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative and the Specialty Crop Research Initiative.

Undergraduate and graduate students also reap the benefits of Dhekney’s research, as it heavily involves their participation.

“Student researchers are trained in diverse areas, including cell and molecular biology,” he said. “They also get quality experience in gene editing and genetic engineering. The education and hands-on training on these techniques they get from working in the lab and in the field allows them to be competitive in the industry’s workforce.”

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Professor Sadanand Dhekney leads grape research at UMES.

Strengthening Food Security Partnerships

The CEGFSD team interacted with a widows’ group at Agribina Micheni Farm in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. The Nthima Self Help Group grafts fruit trees and seedlings for sale after receiving training from university partners.

I

n July, Dr. Caleb Nindo, professor and director of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Food and Agricultural Sciences Ph.D. program, traveled with a team from three 1890 land-grant universities to visit Kenya and discuss collaborations on projects supported by the Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense, or CEGFSD. Since its creation in 2020, the CEGFSD has worked to address food security and defense challenges encountered in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.

In addition to supplying the U.S. with a globally educated workforce, the center addresses critical needs in global food security and defense, including strengthening agricultural development in developing countries, addressing new and emerging pests and diseases, and agricultural disaster recovery.

The CEGFSD team tours a fruit tree nursery at Agribina Micheni Farm.

Nindo was joined by Dr. Pamela Moore of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and Dr. James Obuya of Southern University. Their visit included stops at Kenyatta University, Egerton University, South Eastern Kenya University in Kitui County, Maseno University, and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, or KALRO.

Dr. Caleb Nindo of UMES participated in a research progress meeting at Maseno University to discuss the partnership between the two universities.

Participants included, from left, graduate student Jacob Chesang, Drs. Mathews Dida and Fredrick Aila, Nindo, Julius Otengo, Consolata Ojwang, Brenda Otieno, and Drs. Jairo Mise, Simon Ondiwa, and Renson Wahono.

Photo Courtesy Maseno University

“Among the institutions that we visited, Egerton University, South Eastern Kenya University and KALRO expressed their willingness for strengthening the relationship with the Center and UMES, including the signing of (memorandums of understanding) or other frameworks for long-term sustainable engagements,” Nindo said.

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A

Marine MYSTERY ?

Putting the puzzle pieces toge ther on why thousands o f horseshoe crabs died

This research is partially funded by National Science Foundation Grant No. 0453251.

Photos: Kara Nuzback Title illustration: Jeremy Laney Pope

Y

ou finally made it to your favorite summer beach destination. After a restful sleep overnight, you toss on your bathing suit and hop on a beach cruiser. As you make the short ride to the ocean, you’re hit with a smell far different than the salty air you desire.

A canal is crowded with horseshoe crabs lifelessly bobbing and knocking against shiny white speed boats and personal watercrafts in their slips.

“It smells like death,” said Dr. Margaret Sexton, assistant professor of biological oceanography and deputy director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center, or NOAA LMRCSC, at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. “And when you’re handling it, it sticks to your skin — and soap does not cut it.”

A large number of dead horseshoe crabs appeared in residential canals in Ocean City, Maryland, in 2021.

According to an article in OC Today-Dispatch: “The town placed a 300-gallon garbage can at the site on Tuesday morning. It was filled by noon and dumped midafternoon. At 3 p.m., that can and another of the same size were both full and were picked up by a garbage truck.”

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A mass horseshoe crab mortality event has occurred every year since, in almost exactly the same spot. And for the past three years, marine researchers at UMES have been trying to figure out what happened and why.

Theories on why Ocean City is a barrier island, stretching nearly 10 miles from its southern inlet north to the Delaware state line.

It is sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Assawoman and Isle of Wight bays to the west. In addition to nearly 7,000 year-round residents, Ocean City hosts about 8 million visitors per year, mostly during the summer months, which is also when the dead horseshoe crabs have been found.

Sexton and Dr. Eric May, professor of fish biology and pathology at UMES, have been leading teams of graduate students and research interns into the 94th Street canals every summer since 2022. The team has several theories about the cause of the mortality events; the primary theory centers around spawning stress.

To spawn, a male horseshoe crab attaches itself to a female. The female must then drag the male to a shore to lay her eggs. The researchers hypothesize females are

searching for a shoreline in the canals but when they encounter a 90-degree wall of bulkhead instead, they die of exhaustion trying to scale it.

“Since there is no sandy shoreline inside the canals, we wondered if we could provide one,” Sexton said.

UMES summer research interns construct an artificial beach at the edge of a canal in Ocean City, Maryland.

In summer 2023, the research team built a small platform in the back of the canal to hold sand above the water level at low tide.

“The crabs were able to locate the platform and were highly motivated to climb into it,” Sexton said. “While we did not observe any spawning on the platform, we are hopeful that some design upgrades will help.”

In June 2024, the team installed a larger, more stable platform in the canal, along with a 24-hour camera to record activity at the man-made beach. But still, the team saw no spawning activity.

Temperatures in July 2024 exceeded 90 degrees and, with humidity felt like it was in the 100s. Sexton said the heat plays a role.

A UMES SANS student shows interns the underside of a live horseshoe crab.

“It’s high enough to cause stress, but it shouldn’t be lethal,” she said.

3

5

Number of mass extinctions horseshoe crabs have survived including one that killed the dinosaurs

In a canal, researchers discuss how best to aid horseshoe crabs in traversing an artificial beach.

number of species that live in Southeast Asia

1

Number of species in North America along Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Maine to Mexico

Resilience Horseshoe crabs are, after all, one of Earth’s most resilient creatures as the species has remained largely unchanged for more than 300 million years.

Because of their unique ability to survive, horseshoe crabs are an invaluable asset to the biomedical industry, which uses them to ensure the safety of vaccines before disseminating them to humans.

Horseshoe crabs are also an important part of our ecosystem. Many shorebirds depend on horseshoe crabs’ nutrient-rich eggs to fuel their annual migrations.

The Atlantic horseshoe crab is not currently classified as

Staff and students exit the water after a day of field work.

endangered, but its numbers are dwindling.

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DNA research Another part of the UMES research involves tagging horseshoe crabs to glean information about the number of crabs in the canals, as well as whether they come and go.

Dr. Dannise Ruiz-Ramos, an assistant professor at UMES, joined the project in 2024. Ruiz-Ramos, who specializes in environmental DNA and conservation genomics, plans to use DNA samples to compare the horseshoe crabs in the Ocean City canals to those of nearby estuaries and those offshore.

“If we have different populations, it will imply there is little movement of individuals between the populations, and the crabs in the bay have fewer choices of mates,” Ruiz-Ramos said. “It would also suggest the crabs are not coming from offshore to die in the canals.”

Scientists 20 years ago found the Mid-Atlantic horseshoe crab population was genetically diverse, Ruiz-Ramos said. If she finds the same results, that will indicate the local horseshoe crab population is continuing to do well.

“Usually, populations with high genetic diversity are more resilient to mass mortalities than populations with lower genetic diversity,” she said.

“The crabs were able to locate the platform and were highly motivated to climb into it.”

– Dr. Margaret Sexton

What’s next Ultimately, Sexton said, the team has more questions now than when the research began. Thus far the project has been funded on a shoestring budget mostly through NOAA LMRCSC summer internship funding.

With more substantial funding, the team could experiment to better understand crab movement; redesign the artificial spawning beaches; and ramp up public outreach to foster citizen observation to better understand the scope of the issue.

“Everyone wants to solve this problem. Everyone wants horseshoe crabs to live and thrive,” Sexton said. “It’s unusual that we all want the same thing. We just have to figure out how to do it.”

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Horseshoe Crab

(Limulus polyphemus) inset photos: Adobe Stock

UMES researchers and students install an artificial beach to study horseshoe crabs. photo: Kara Nuzback

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THE

D L I CH

E R CA

P A G

New online degrees open door to untapped workforce

I

nnovative new programs are enabling students to earn their degrees while balancing professional and personal commitments. The Department of Human Ecology added two fully online learning opportunities to help meet workforce demand for qualified professionals in child development, dietetics and nutrition, family and consumer sciences, and fashion merchandising and design.

An online bachelor’s degree in child development received more than 200 inquiries from February to May 2024 after its approval by the University System of Maryland Board of Regents. The wave of interest translated into 62 applicants accepted (an 89% acceptance rate) and five eight-week courses running for the inaugural fall semester.

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UMES now has a fully online bachelor’s degree in child development.

A student worker joins children in play and learning at the UMES Child and Family Development Center.

“Many of the students were pursuing or have completed associate’s degrees in child development or related fields and are located far from the UMES campus, or are working full-time. Traveling to campus, then, is not an option,” said Dr. Michelle Spencer, director of the UMES Child Development Program.

Among the inaugural students, 23 will earn their degrees at a substantial cost reduction thanks to the availability of Child Care Center and Professional Development scholarship funds from the Maryland State Department of Education, Spencer said.

and wellness, family and consumer sciences, and fashion merchandising. Students can choose the track that best aligns with their interests, said Dr. Bridgett Clinton-Scott, Human Ecology Graduate Program director.

Also in Fall 2024, UMES expended its concentration in fashion to a full-fledged bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising and design. The in-person program aims to give students a comprehensive understanding of the industry, including product development, fashion entrepreneurship and merchandising.

An online master’s degree in human ecology is also aimed at helping students further their career goals.

The interdisciplinary program offers five specialized tracks, child development, clinical nutrition, nutrition

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INNOVATE & EDUCATE

Precision agriculture, research for farms of all sizes is focus of annual event

Descending from a sprayer is Jolan Stoltzfus holding Mandre, 1, of Pocomoke City.

T

he fourth annual UMES Ag Showcase brought large- and small-scale farmers together to learn of research and take part in educational opportunities.

“When you think of Somerset County, you think of agriculture and seafood,” said Danny Thompson, executive director of Somerset County, Maryland’s Economic Development Commission, who attended Ag Showcase. “Agriculture is so critical to economic development in this rural region. The existence of UMES right here in the center of ag country, there are so many positive things that come of it.”

Agricultural producers and gardeners spent a day in August 2024 at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Research, Extension and Teaching Farm south

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“ Precision farming information and updates on the newest technology is what brings me back each year.”

– Max Schnoor Jr. of the main campus. The free event, held in partnership with Simplot Grower Solutions, Atlantic Tractor LLC and Mountaire’s Prime Quality Grain, attracted farmers from near and far.

“Precision farming information and updates on the newest technology is what brings me back each year,” said Max Schnoor Jr., a farmer from Dorchester County with a medium-size operation.

Smart-farming technology Schnoor and fellow farmers got a look at John Deere’s ExactShot and See & Spray equipment designed to reduce the necessary amounts of starter fertilizer and in-season herbicide, respectively. The ExactShot uses sensors and robotics to fertilize seeds with precision as they are planted, rather than applying a continuous flow to the entire row.

Similarly, See & Spray involves targeting and spraying weeds with only the amount of chemical needed, proving to be more cost effective for growers and friendly for the environment.

First-timers Angela Washington-Daniels of Prince George’s County, Maryland, and her husband, Charles, came to “learn about modernized technology and equipment as well as understand available resources and partnership interests in terms of cultural exchange.”

Charles, who was visiting the U.S., owns a small to midsize farm in the southeast region of Nigeria, Africa.

“We want to thank UMES and all who were involved with the showcase for this collaboration and the opportunity to educate the community about agriculture,” said Carrie Glasgow, a field technician with Simplot Grower Solutions, who presented information on corn field trials involving seven seed varieties and a microbial product

top: Travis Ford is an agronomist with Atlantic Tractor. center: Ag Showcase attendees learn about corn field trials. bottom: Joshua Kurtz, left, speaks with Tori Hlas of Brevant Seeds.

for phosphorus use efficiency called Revv-uP.

Alternative crops A gardener from Salisbury, Joseph Derbyshire, attended for the first-time in search of integrated pest management solutions.

“It’s a nice facility, busy with activities with an environmental focus from what I see,” Derbyshire said.

“That’s important: environmental management and sustainable operations.”

Attendees like Derbyshire took part in the alternative crop production tour, with stops at the site’s vineyard, tree farm, and specialty herb and ethnic crop gardens.

Sadanand Dhekney, a professor of plant breeding and biotechnology, showcased cultivation research on 44 varieties of grapes being grown on the farm.

“The goal of the project is to identify the varieties and management practices that do well in the region’s climate and soil conditions to pass on to growers,” Dhekney said.

Among the challenges, he cautioned, are birds, insect pests, disease and proper drainage.

Maryland Department of Energy environmental compliance specialist Colin McAllister was also interested in sustainability and “better use of organic fertilizer and innovations in phosphorus management.”

“I also like to see what’s going on with innovative crops,” he said.

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BUZZ

THE

in AGRITOURISM

Farm-to-table hype sows farm experience tourism opportunities

As part of a Traveling Agritourism Workshop in 2024, Sugar Water Manor owner Dana Zucker gave participants a tour of her farm.

F

or some, it’s hearing bees buzz in the calming key of C while walking among the hives or being lulled to sleep in a loft above an apiary.

For others, it’s collecting eggs from a chicken coop and picking veggies fresh from the garden to make a meal after a day on the farm, brushing and feeding the goats and donkeys, and even helping clean their stalls.

“People have lost the hands-on, feet-in-the-earth knowledge,” said Lauren Pascarella, who owns BayBees Honey LLC in Whaleyville, Maryland, with her husband, Fred Kelly.

She and other like-minded agritourism operators highlighted during UMES Extension’s latest traveling workshop are giving tourists an education through experience on where their food comes from.

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“ Our farm stay guests need a place to eat, and our hotel guests are looking for experiences at our farm and places in the area. We’re getting feet on others’ farms.”

– Dana Zucker, owner of Sugar Water Manor What started in Pascarella’s backyard as a hobby and side income, “blew up during COVID,” with people wanting outdoor excursions and entertainment. They now offer arranged educational visits to the apiary, which supplements their main income from pollination services for customers as varied as big crop farmers to homesteaders. Their honey products are also sold at off-site markets.

The public’s interest has continued and sparked an upswing in agritourism in the state of Maryland, benefiting consumers, the agricultural community and local economies. UMES’ agritourism program is geared toward helping these groups connect through events, including the Maryland Agritourism Conference, the Traveling Agritourism Workshop series and other training and networking opportunities.

What is agritourism?

“Agritourism is about getting feet on the farm,” said Dana Zucker. She and her husband, David, relocated from Nebraska to the Clifton Estate on the banks of the Manokin River in Westover, Maryland. The Clifton, their private residence, was built in 1804 on property with the highest point in Somerset County.

The Zuckers offer a farm bed-and-breakfast experience at Sugar Water Manor in two restored farmhouses. Recently, they made the leap to adding the historic Washington Inn and Tavern to their suite of businesses. Returning to the previous name, Washington Hotel, it showcases their farm- and water-to-table restaurant, Sugar Water.

The hotel, she said, is a diversification of their agritourism ventures.

“Our farm stay guests need a place to eat, and our hotel guests are looking for experiences at our farm and places in the area. We’re getting feet on others’ farms,” the enterprising small farmer said.

Participant Insights Everette Landon, who was wearing two hats for the day as owner of Experience Smith Island and an assistant with the Somerset County Tourism Office, was taking it all in.

Born and raised on the island, he spent years on the water as a local crabber before turning his attention to educating people on the history and way of life on Smith Island.

What started as a hobby three years ago has morphed into a “full-blown business” over the past year.

“This tour has helped me better understand the business end of things, like setup, taxes, insurance, finance and general ideas about what to offer customers,” Landon said. “All of the information I’ve gotten today helps me in the next steps to take.”

Pascarella joined her in bringing home the “know your liability and the legalities” of your operation.

“Protect yourself, the building, the land you own and your employees. There are layers of protection that you need that an insurance agent can advise you on,” Zucker said. Another tip: “Know your market and market to your market!”

That’s what UMES agritourism initiatives are all about: connecting agricultural producers interested in enhancing their income streams with each other to share first-hand their successes and challenges, said Dr. Prem Bhandari, agritourism and value-added agricultural marketing specialist with UMES Extension.

Learning from others Zucker’s first piece of advice: “Setting a business plan in place is the key to anything you do. Then go be an entrepreneur! You have to have a five-year plan for diversified revenue and know your expenses.”

She also suggests consulting an experienced certified public accountant, banker and other professionals to “set yourself up for success in the best possible way.”

Different arms of the business, for example, might be split for liability, tax and zoning classification.

BayBees Honey owner Lauren Pascarella explains her operation in Whaleyville during a Traveling Agritourism Workshop in 2024.

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Giving tourism something to shout about Agritourism events not only show operators what others are doing, they also provide an avenue for local tourism agencies to get a glimpse of agribusinesses they can help promote.

“It’s important to be involved in these events to explore ways the town can work with UMES and discover how to make Princess Anne attractive through agritourism,” said Izabell Wilk, the new town planner.

Landon seconded the thought, saying: “When you experience first-hand what is here in the county, you are better able to share what we can offer tourists.”

Sugar Water Manor owner Dana Zucker shows off goats on her farm to participants.

“Now that we’ve built a network, it’s easier to hire locally through word of mouth,” she said.

Fair wages, diverse experiences and accommodating workers’ schedules is a must, she pointed out.

Creating a network also allows agritourism operators to bundle their services or cooperatively market each other’s services. By helping each other get the word out, it also allows farmers to spend less on advertising. For example, Zucker has teamed up with local organizations for a fundraising garden tour.

“What I give, gives back to me in other ways,” she said.

Participants get hands-on with the hives at BayBees Honey in Whaleyville.

Agritourism boosts the local economy Our employees are mainly from Somerset County, Zucker said. The 10-room hotel has a UMES intern from the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program who works and lives there for room and board, and a stipend. He’s getting a variety of experiences, like managing the Airbnb listing and communication, social media and working on special events. Also, horticulture students are employed on the farm.

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Traveling Agritourism Workshop participants learn the business behind bees from Lauren Pascarella, BayBees Honey owner.

Passion for Fish UMES Land-Grant Scholar tracks marine habitats in Chesapeake Bay

“As long as I’m doing something with marine science, I’ll be happy!”

“I

’m on a boat off Deal Island evaluating a site for my master’s degree research,” Glen Collins Jr. warned of spotty cellphone reception. Less than a week prior, he walked across the stage to accept a hard-earned bachelor’s degree in environmental science during the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s 137th Spring Commencement on May 17, 2024.

Collins returned to UMES in the fall as a fellow of the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center for an advanced degree in marine-estuarine environmental sciences. The Salisbury resident’s research project will focus on oyster reef habitats and how fish utilize them. He will use acoustic telemetry to track federally managed fish species in different habitats in the Chesapeake Bay. Choosing his field of interest was easy, Collins said.

“I grew up going out fishing with my dad and love being out on the water.”

Originally from Queens, New York, the rural Princess Anne campus was a good fit with the opportunity for oneon-one contact with faculty.

“They were always available, especially my internship mentors,” Collins said. “Being able to talk to them created a more supportive environment for me personally.”

Through connections made as an undergraduate participant in NOAA LMRCSC, Collins landed research internships at Woods Hole, Massachusetts; Savannah State University’s Bridge to Research in Marine Science program; and the Great Lakes Fisheries Science Training Workshop at Ohio State University.

SANS graduate Glen Collins Jr. gets ready for the 137th Spring Commencement at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on May 17, 2024.

About UMES Land-grant Scholars 110

91%

Number of UMES students the scholarship program has helped with an allocated

Students who entered the program as freshmen graduated within

$2 million

4.5 years

Collins’ final project in an upper-level environmental science class involved hands-on work identifying tree species on campus and measuring them as part of the university’s Tree Campus USA designation. His activities, and that of peers, also contribute to vital research being done at UMES to address extreme weather events, ghost forests and saltwater intrusion on forests and fields on the Eastern Shore.

His interest in the environment led him to be a founding member of the university’s Environmental Science Association.

Collins was among the first group of graduates of the UMES Land-grant Scholarship who entered the program as freshmen. This provided him with financial support and experiential learning opportunities.

The aspiring marine scientist is planning on a career potentially with a federal agency like NOAA Fisheries. His passion, he said, is for fish. He aims to work in aquaculture, improving fish populations, or restoring habitats.

“When I accepted my degree, it was knowing that I would be debt-free,” he said.

“As long as I’m doing something with marine science, I’ll be happy!”

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“The focus of the collaborative workshop was to gather PFAS stakeholders to hear from those who have experienced its challenges and those resolved to finding solutions and ways to move forward,” said Dr. Moses T. Kairo, dean of the school. “Our goal as a university is to identify the research, outreach and support we can provide citizens of Maryland in addressing these issues through our Agricultural Experiment Station, UMES Extension and by exploring the establishment of a dedicated center.”

Dr. Wayne Omagamre, assistant professor of biology, tests water for PFAS in his lab on the campus of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Tackling PFAS University’s goal is to provide forever chemical research, outreach and support to Marylanders

U

MES is answering the call to develop a better understanding of PFAS in Maryland, particularly on the Eastern Shore, through a gamut of grant-funded research projects.

Maryland is creating an approach to PFAS taking into account what has been learned from other states, like Maine, that were at the forefront of addressing this hotbutton issue. Widely distributed in the environment, the estimated 12,000 compounds classified as perand polyfluoroalkyl substances have become increasingly concerning.

Maine, where PFAS was first detected in 2016 and standardized testing and tracking began in 2021, became the first state to ban products containing the substances. The state has since become a model for its response, including for agriculture.

“They have one of the strongest chemical bonds we know of, leading to its persistence and bioaccumulation. This perfect storm will be part of the environmental landscape and for a very long time. It will be in every corner of what EPA does,” said Dr. Greg Allen, an environmental scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office and a UMES alumnus.

Allen spoke during an April 2024 PFAS summit hosted by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences. Representatives of federal and state agencies, researchers, and Maine stakeholders were in attendance.

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Congress appropriated $8 million in fiscal 2023 to the EPA to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund research that prioritizes helping farmers, ranchers and rural communities manage PFAS impacts, reduce exposure in the food supply and promote farm viability.

UMES was the recipient of nearly $1 million across ongoing research projects addressing PFAS. According to Dr. Joseph Pitula, director of research and professor of natural sciences at UMES, the work encompasses:

• Investigating PFAS uptake and accumulation in relation

to soybean reproductive phenotypes. UMES researchers are examining the types of PFAS that accumulate in the roots and beans under different exposure and environmental conditions. The genes uniquely expressed in response to PFAS exposure are also being observed with the goal of discovering ways to limit PFAS uptake.

• Studying the effects of crop-accumulated PFAS on pest development and proliferation. The focus is on how PFAS exposure impacts insect herbivory and larval gene expression profiles, particularly those related to insect metamorphosis.

Assistant professor of biology Wayne Omagamre looks over plants in his lab.

UMES Research Advances Global Worker PPE Garment protects farm workers against spray pesticides ICPPE is supported in part through USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Evans-Allen, NI241445XXXXG016.

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he safety of workers who spray pesticides took a major leap forward in August when a new product, backed by science, hit the market to protect them from inadvertent exposure. The ISOcertified garment looks like an ordinary jumpsuit, but it is protective clothing that is comfortable, affordable and the first-of-its-kind available in Africa.

UMES hopes to become a one-stop resource for PFAS knowledge.

Here a water sample is tested.

• Researching PFAS in Maryland and Chesapeake Coastal Bays and associated aquatic species. This project investigates the types and levels of PFAS present, in addition to investigating whether PFAS exposure correlates with infection rates in blue crabs.

• Examining the impact of wastewater treatment

plants and biosolid application on PFAS levels in waterways. Assessments are being made on how these factors contribute to PFAS contamination in aquatic environments.

• Developing modified biochar variants for PFAS

immobilization. The project explores using recycled

Dr. Anugrah Shaw is a textile technologist and director of the International Center for Personal Protective Equipment, or ICPPE, at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She has conducted research on protective clothing for pesticide applicators for more than 20 years. The center tested and compiled information on fabrics available throughout the world and guidance on the level of protective property each has against spray pesticides. The ICPPE at UMES worked in collaboration with the Pest Control Products Board (a Kenyan governmental entity), chemical company BASF and agricultural technology company Syngenta, to develop the new protective garment for farmers and pesticide operators. The garment could prove essential to those workers in Africa, where PPE is not yet standardized.

“The users and other stakeholders are confused,” said Fredrick Muchiri, CEO of the Pest Control Products Board. “Certified garments will go a long way in assisting our farmers be able to identify a particular garment which is suitable for their use.”

organic and inorganic materials to create biochar capable of immobilizing PFAS in the soil.

• Investigating the potential of mosquitoes as bio-

monitors for environmental and population PFAS exposure. Evaluations are being conducted to ascertain whether insects such as mosquitoes can serve as effective indicators of PFAS levels in various ecosystems.

The university is tackling the complexity of PFAS by increasing understanding of the problem, assessing the impact and developing solutions, said Dr. Eguono “Wayne” Omagamre, assistant professor of biology and part of the PFAS research team at UMES. “UMES aspires to be a key resource, or one-stop shop, when it comes to research on these forever chemicals and the path forward,” he said.

According to articles appearing in mass circulation newspapers including “The Daily Nation” in Kenya and “The Citizen” in Tanzania, the garment is made of breathable, reuseable textiles reviewed by more than 110 Kenyan farmers.

“One of the challenges with users not wearing appropriate protective clothing is due to heat stress and comfort. This is an even bigger issue in tropical climates. Our approach with the new ISO-certified garment is to balance protection and comfort,” Shaw told “Science Africa.”

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“The proof in the pudding is putting the right genetically modified tree in the right field,” Cumming said.

Dr. Jonathan Cumming discusses tree research into carbon storage and transfer at the UMES Research, Extension and Teaching Farm.

Fueling Change

More than 200 of the trees in the U.S. Department of Energy-funded study were planted four years ago and 2023 in a 1.5-acre plot at UMES’ Research, Extension and Teaching Farm. The trees are not irrigated and the field is monitored for temperature, rainfall and salinity, among other conditions.

UMES explores trees as bioenergy source

“We are looking at what is happening both above and below ground to understand the patterns of carbon storage in the trees and carbon transfer to the soil that are helpful for the environment,” Cumming said.

he quest for renewable energy sources is taking a new turn at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Research is in progress to see if several varieties of trees and other plants, such as switchgrass, can be grown, harvested economically and used as sustainable bioenergy feedstocks.

So far, he said, the eastern cottonwood and poplar trees are “getting really good growth” in the field test. Trees could be ready for harvest after three years. The tree trunks would be ground, and the lignin and cellulose extracted and used for feedstocks for biofuel production.

“Bioenergy is one future source of renewable energy, but there are a lot of variables that effect both the economics and the sustainability of biofeedstock sources,” said Dr. Jonathan Cumming, chair of UMES’ Department of Natural Sciences. “We are investigating a diverse portfolio of feedstocks for their viability for this purpose. They require a lot of processing to yield energy-dense fuels, such as aviation fuel, but they provide many benefits.”

Supported by a Climate Smart grant from USDA’s NRCS, Cumming is also working with partners the University of Maryland and Chesapeake Utilities Corp. on using switchgrass and other Maryland cover crops as alternative cellulosic feedstocks for biogas production from the anaerobic digestion of chicken litter. The anaerobic digestion process is a way of treating excess chicken litter, extract usable energy in the form of methane from it, and creating a nutrient stable end product for field application.

T

Bioenergy feedstocks help mitigate extreme weather events and support ecosystem health, Cumming said.

These plants absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and convert it into biomass through photosynthesis.

Carbon from plant material is used as the source of carbon for fuel, rather than fossil sources like oil, but the plants use carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and also transfer organic carbon into the ground, enhancing the health of the soil.

“The big thing now with bioenergy is providing alternatives to fossil fuels without taking away from the food chain,” he said, referring to the current practice of producing ethanol from corn.

Cumming and researchers associated with the Center for Bioenergy Innovation at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee are exploring eastern cottonwood trees and nine genotypes of a poplar hybrid species altered genetically to deposit more carbon in the soil than is typical and to be more drought-resistant to withstand effects of extreme weather.

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Study Focuses on How Pasture-raised Chickens Tolerate Heat This work is supported in part by USDA NIFA Capacity Building grant, 2023-38821-39583.

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he tastes and preferences of consumers when it comes to their food are changing as the nation’s demographics change. Demand for meat produced through alternative methods, such as free range, organic and pastured, is on the rise. Today, however, when it comes to chickens, conventionally raised broilers dominate the U.S. poultry industry with 60 billion pounds produced annually.

In Maryland, the broiler chicken industry was valued at $1.75 billion in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service. In southern Delaware and on the Eastern Shores of Maryland and Virginia, the meat chicken industry adds $4.4 billion to the collective Delmarva Peninsula economy.

“Raising chickens in commercial houses is an efficient and safe method of broiler production,” said UMES poultry researcher Dr. Jennifer Timmons. “Over 1,000 chicken growers contribute to the 100-year-old tradition on Delmarva.”

Growers are committed to raising healthy and productive birds as efficiently as possible, while protecting the environment, she said. Modern technology allows them to monitor their flocks several times a day to ensure the welfare of their chickens. In response, consumers are supplied with fresh and frozen meat through U.S. poultry companies that is safe.

Despite the economical supply of quality poultry products, interest remains in exploring other methods like pastured poultry. This alternative system involves placing broiler chickens in moveable pens on pasture where they can feed on a diverse diet of grass, grass seeds and small insects, along with being fed a supplemental grain diet.

Pasture poultry The University of Maryland Eastern Shore was awarded $550,000 to evaluate heat mitigation strategies of broiler chickens raised on pasture as part of the 2023 round of competitive USDA-NIFA capacity building grants.

The project, a first for UMES, according to Timmons, is in collaboration with the University of Arkansas and Alcorn State University.

“Pasture-raised chickens may be susceptible to predators, including foxes and birds of prey, along with environmental conditions, including heat or wet, rainy weather,” Timmons said.

The idea of pastured poultry, she said, is to allow consumption of grasses and insects. Unlike ruminant animals (cattle and sheep) or hind-gut fermenters (horses and rabbits), chickens do not have the digestive ability to break down the fiber components of plants.

With pasture-raised chickens, most of the grasses are removed due to walking, scratching or pecking. The chickens are also provided their treatment diets, which were made from corn and soybean meal.

For the first round of the UMES study, a pasture was planted in fall 2023 with a mix of clover, alfalfa, field pea and ryegrass. Portable chicken pens were constructed over that winter for a trial that commenced in May 2024.

The research team’s goal was to evaluate the impact of feeding pasture-raised birds a higher level of an essential amino acid, tryptophan, to learn if it helped “mitigate the impact of heat stress” on broiler health and performance. The broilers were exposed to an acute heat stress environment at 20 and 41 days of age.

Chicks were raised inside for the first two weeks, then transferred to pasture pens and fed the study’s treatment diets until they reached 42 days old. The birds and feeders were weighed each week to measure weight gain and feed efficiency, Timmons said. In addition to performance data, cameras were installed in the pens to monitor bird welfare and behavior. At the end of the trial, carcass yield was measured and samples were collected to evaluate the food safety aspect of the poultry meat. A second trial began in early September 2024 using a slow-growing breed of chicken, which will evaluate the same dietary treatments.

“There were many lessons learned with these first trials,” Timmons said in late fall. “The summer trial was very hot, and we learned a lot about pen placement and how often the pens should be moved. Overall, the performance of the broilers raised during the summer was similar between the two dietary treatments.

However, additional data is still being analyzed.”

Four-week-old chickens are weighed in as part of the pasture chicken research conducted in June 2024.

“Two additional trials are scheduled for spring 2025 that will expose birds to high temperatures at a young age.

This will potentially shift their thermal neutral zone, which would allow them to tolerate higher temperatures later in development, the poultry researcher said.”

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•••

Publications • • •

The following are a selection of peer-reviewed works published in 2023 and part of 2024.

Khadka, Raksha, and Yeong, Nain Chi. 2024.

Forecasting the Global Price of Corn: Unveiling Insights with SARIMA Modeling Amidst Geopolitical Events and Market Dynamics. American Journal of Applied Statistics and Economics, Vol. 3, No. 1, 124-135.

Chi, Jennifer, and Yeong, Nain Chi. 2024. ColorBased Image Segmentation Using K-Means Clustering Approach. Global Journal of Engineering and Technology, Vol. 3, Issue 2, 11-15.

Aduteye, Erasmus Kabu, Tseganesh, Tegegne Sete, and Yeong, Nain Chi. 2023. Time Series Analysis of Global Prices of Coffee: Insights into a Complex Market. International Journal of Business & Economics, Vol. 8, No. 2, 138-151.

Chi, Yeong Nain. 2023. Time Series Modeling of Global Average Absolute Sea Level Change.

American Journal of Environment and Climate, Volume 2, Issue 3, 81-90.

Chi, Yeong Nain. 2023. Time Series Analysis of Global Average Absolute Sea Level Change Using Nonlinear Autoregressive Neural Network Model.

International Journal of Data Science and Advanced Analytics, Vol. 5, Issue. 5, 175-183.

Chi, Yeong Nain. 2023. Nonlinear Autoregressive Neural Network Analysis of Global Mean Absolute Sea Level Change, 1880 - 2014. Proceedings of ISERD International Conference, pp. 5-10, July 17-18, 2023, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. Chi, Yeong Nain. 2023. Climate Change Threat Assessment to Marine Environment: A MultiAttribute Framework Approach. Proceedings of AW International Conference, pp. 2-8, March 18-19, 2023, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A. Barnas M.R., Attuquayefio W.D., Donovan D.M., Skory C.D., Hammond R.W., Siragusa G.R., Timmons J.R. (corresponding author). Yeast Expressing a Phage Endolysin Reduces Endogenous Clostridium perfringens Ex Vivo in 21-Day-Old Broiler Chicken Intestinal Fluids. Avian Dis. 2024 Jun;68(2):129-133. doi: 10.1637/aviandiseases-D-23-00088.

PMID: 38885054.

Singh P.S., Dhakal J., Kumar P. 2024. Antiviral Properties of Milk Proteins and Peptides Against SARS- COV-2: A Review. Journal of Functional Food.

DOI- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2024.106237 Dhakal J., Rivera J., Siliveru K., and Aldrich C.G. 2023. Control of Grain Molds in Wheat Using Sodium Bisulfate (SBS) Acidulant. Food Protection Trends.

DOI-10.4315/FPT-23-006 Dhakal J., and Aldrich C.G. 2023. Application of Acidulants to Control Salmonella spp. in Rendered Animal Fats and Oils with Different Levels of Unsaturation. Animals. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13081304.

Kiprotich S., Dhakal J., Rasmussen C. and Aldrich G. 2023. Assessment of the antifungal efficacy of Whey Protein Fermentate alone or in combination with Citrus Oil Extract to control Aspergillus flavus mold in semi-moist pet food for dogs. Frontiers in Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1188834 Deliephan A., Dhakal J., Bhadriraju S. and Aldrich, C.G. 2023. Effects of liquid smoke preparations on shelf life and growth of wild-type mold and Aspergillus flavus in a model semi-moist pet food system. Frontiers in Microbiology. https://doi:10.3389/ fmicb.2023.115476

Deliephan A., Dhakal J., Bhadriraju S., and Aldrich C.G. 2023. Use of Organic Acid Mixtures Containing 2-Hydroxy-4-(Methylthio) Butanoic Acid (HMTBa) to Mitigate Salmonella enterica, Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Aspergillus flavus in Pet Food Kibbles. Foods. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13050877.

Deliephan A., Dhakal J., Bhadriraju S., and Aldrich, C.G. 2023. Mitigation of Salmonella on food contact surfaces using organic acid mixtures containing 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (HMTBa).

Foods. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040874 Dhakal J., Hiep Vu, Jayeshbhai Chaudhari, Khang Nguyen, Byron D Chaves. 2023. Method validation for the recovery of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus, a potential SARS-CoV-2 surrogate from food contact surfaces. Letters in Applied Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovac068.

Dhakal J., Cancio L.P.M., Deliephan .A, Chaves B.D., Tubene S. 2024. Salmonella Presence and Risk Mitigation in Pet Foods: A Growing Challenge with Implications for Human Health. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2024 Nov;23(6):e70060. doi: 10.1111/15414337.70060. PMID: 39530630; PMCID: PMC11605167.

Xu J., Knight T., Boone D., Saleem M., Finley S.J., Gauthier N., Ayariga J.A., Akinrinlola R., Pulkoski M., Britt K., Tolosa T., Zebelo S. et al. 2024. Influence of Fungicide Application on Rhizosphere Microbiota Structure and Microbial Secreted Enzymes in Diverse Cannabinoid-Rich Hemp Cultivars. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024; 25(11):5892. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25115892 Simmons J., Tolosa T., Zebelo S., 2023. Plant growthpromoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) modulates sweet corn-corn earworm interactions. Crop Protection, 106246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2023.106246 Pires A.F.A., Ramos T., Baron J.N., Millner P.D., Pagliari P.H., Hutchinson M., Haghani V., Aminabadi P., Kenney A., Hashem F., Martínez-López B., Bihn E.A., Clements D.P., Shade J.B., Sciligo A.R. and Jay-Russell M.T. 2023. Risk factors associated with the prevalence of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli in manured soils on certified organic farms in four regions of the USA. Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

7:1125996. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2023.1125996.

Kim S., Packespsky Y., Micallef S.A., Goldstein R.R., Sapkota A.R., Hashem F., Parveen S., Kneil K.E. and Sharma M. 2023. Temporal stability of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes in surface waters used for irrigation in the Mid-Atlantic United States.

J. Food Protection, manuscript #JFP-22-272R1, February 2023, DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2023.100058 Carolyn Chandler Khayd, Juliette Di Francesco, Jerome Nicholas Baron, Thais M. Ramos, Peiman Aminabadi, Michele Jay-Russell, Viktoria Haghani, Patricia D Millner, Paulo Pagliari, Mark Hutchinson, Annette Kenney, Fawzy Hashem, Beatriz MartínezLópez, Elizabeth A Bihn, Donna Clements, Jessica Shade, Amber R Sciligo, Alda F. A. Pires. 2023. Risk factors associated with the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in manured soils on certified organic farms in four regions of the United States. Front.

Sustain. Food Syst., Sec. Agro-Food Safety, Volume 7 – 2023, https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1222192 Goodwyn B., Millner P., Punchihewage-Don A.J., Schwarz M., Hashem F., Bowers J., Biswas D. and Parveen S. 2023. Survival and persistence of

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foodborne pathogenic and indicator bacteria in spatially separated integrated crop-livestock farms.

Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 7:1287371. doi: 10.3389/ fsufs.2023.1287371 Acheamfour C., Parveen S*., Gutierrez A., Handy E., Behal S., Kim D., Kim S., East C., Xiong R., Haymaker J.R., Micallef A., Rosenberg R.E., Kniel K.E., Hashem F., Sharma M. 2024. Detection of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes in alternative irrigation water by culture and qPCRbased methods in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. 2024.

Microbiology Spectrum. 12(4):e0353623 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03536-23.

Amin M.B., Talukdar P.K., Sraboni A.S., Islam M.R., Mahmud Z.H., Berendes D., Narrod C., Parveen S., Islam M.A. (2024).

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of major foodborne pathogens isolated from pangas and tilapia fish sold in retail markets of Dhaka city, Bangladesh. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 110717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2024.110717 Elbashir S.M., Adnan A.M., Bowers J., DePaola A., Jahncke M., Punchihewage Don A.J., Da Silva L.V., Hashem F., Parveen, S. 2023. Antimicrobial resistance, virulence properties and genetic diversity of Salmonella Typhimurium recovered from domestic and imported seafood. Pathogens. 12(7): 897. https:// www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/7/897.

Feng S., Karanth S., Almuhaideb E., Parveen S., Pradhan A. K. 2024. Machine learning to predict the relationship between Vibrio spp. concentrations in seawater and oysters and prevalent environmental conditions. Food Research International, 188, 114464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. foodres.2024.114464.

Gilstrap O., Liu C., Nindo C., and Parveen S. 2024.

Pilot scale assessment of high-pressure processing (HPP) to enhance microbiological quality and shelf life of fresh ready-to-eat (RTE) blue crab meat. Microorganisms 2023,11, 2909. https://doi. org/10.3390/microorganisms11122909. https://www. mdpi.com/journal/microorganisms.

Liu Y., Zhang F., Hawkins J.L., Elder J.R., Baranzoni G.M., Huang Z., Fratamico P.M., Parveen S. 2024. Comparative gene expression analysis of Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 in ground chicken extract and brain heart infusion broth. Microorganisms, 12(7), 461. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12071461.

Punchihewage Don A. J., Hasan N.A., Rashed S.M., Parveen S. 2023. Microbiome analysis of organic and conventional chickens processed using whole carcass enrichment and rinse methods.

Journal of Food Protection. 86(11): 100176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfp.2023.100176.

Punchihewage Don A.J., Schwarz J., Diria A., Bowers J., Parveen S. 2024. Prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella in organic and non-organic chickens on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, USA. Frontiers in Microbiology. 17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1272892 Smalls J., Grim C., and Parveen S. 2023. Assessments of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus levels and microbial community compositions in blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) and seawater harvested from the Maryland Coastal Bays. Frontiers in Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1235070.

••• Phelix Omondi, Fredrick Aila, Benjamin Ombok, Nelson Obange, Mathews Dida, and Caleb Nindo.

2023. Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts of the Fall Armyworm and The Striga Weed at Three Stages of the Maize (Corn) Value Chains in Kenya: A Review. Professional Agricultural Workers Journal (PAWJ) Vol. 9 (2) https://tuspubs.tuskegee.edu/pawj/ Nagchaudhuri A., Pandya J., Nnebedum B., Mitra M., and Nindo C. 2023. Leveraging smart farming technologies for optimal pH adjustments with variable rate lime application. Volume 7: 19th IEEE/ ASME International Conference on Mechatronic and Embedded Systems and Applications (MESA). https://doi.org/10.1115/detc2023-114933.

Dixit N. 2024. Differential Oxidative Stress Management in Industrial Hemp (IH: Cannabis sativa L.) for Fiber under Saline Regimes.

Metabolites. 2024 Jul 31;14(8):420. doi: 10.3390/ metabo14080420. PMID: 39195516; PMCID: PMC11356328.

Bhandari P.B., Ejiogu K., Karki L.B., Escobar E.N., Arbab N.N., and Kairo M.T. 2024. Factors Associated with the Profitability of Agritourism Operations in Maryland, USA. Sustainability 2024, 16, 1025. https:// doi.org/10.3390/su16031025 Karki L.B. and Bhandari P.B. 2023. Risk Mitigation Practices in Urban Gardening: A Case of Small Minority Producers in Maryland. Global Journal of Agricultural Research, 11(2), 17-31, Print ISSN: 2053-5805(Print), Online ISSN: 2053-5813(Online), November 29, 2023. https://doi.org/10.37745/gjar.2013/vol11n21731 Shrestha B., Karki U., Chaudhary S., Tiwari A., and Karki L.B., 2023. Supplement Type Impact on the Performance and Nutrient Dynamics of Nursing Does and Kids Raised in Woodlands. Animals 2024, 14, 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14010068 Karki L.B. and Bhandari P.B. 2023. The Significance of Urban Gardening on the Household Economy: A Case of Minority Urban Gardeners. Professional Agricultural Workers Journal (PAWJ). Vol. 9(2). ISSN 2328-3742. https://tuspubs.tuskegee.edu/pawj/ Paneru B., Karki U., Bhattrai S., Ellis N., Karki L.B. and Mentreddy S. R. 2023. Suitable Browse Species for Small Ruminants: Growth Pattern and Animal Preference. Global Journal of Agricultural and Allied Sciences, 4(1), 1-8. ISSN online: 2575-1670. https://doi.org/10.35251/gjaas.2022.001 Chaudhary Santoshi, Karki Uma, Shrestha Bhuwan, Lamsal Sadikshya and Karki Lila B. 2023.

Supplement Type Influenced the Performance and Resiliency against Gastrointestinal Parasites of Nursing Lambs Raised in Woodlands. Professional Agricultural Workers Journal (PAWJ). Vol. 9(2). ISSN 2328-3742. https://tuspubs.tuskegee.edu/pawj/ Karki L.B. and Bhandari P.B. 2023. Preferences of Farmers for Educational Materials to Build their Capacity for Small-Scale Urban Gardening: A Case of Maryland. International Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Studies (IJAERDS), Vol.10(2), pp.13-29. Print ISSN: 2058-9093, Online ISSN 2058-9107. https://eajournals.org/ijaerds/vol10-issue-2-2023/ Klick S.A., Pitula J.S., Bryant R.B., Collick A.S., May E.B., Pisani O. 2023. Natural sources and controlling factors of Urea‐nitrogen concentrations in agricultural drainage ditches. J. Environ. Qual. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20498

Publications • • •

Bediako, B. and Sauder, D.G. 2023. First Measurement of Ambient Air Quality on the Rural Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Agronomy 2023,13, 1952. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13071952 Faith O. Osinaga, Yu-Chih Chen, Madan K. Kharel, Yan Waguespack, Sichu Li, and Shaochung Victor Hsia. 2023. “Early Events after Herpes Simplex Virus-Type 1 Entry Are Necessary for the Release of Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate upon Acute Infection”.

Pharmaceuticals, 2023, 16, 1104 Rodríguez-Villegas C., Figueroa R.I., Baldrich A.M., Pérez-Santos I., Díaz M., Tomasetti S.J., Seguel M., Álvarez G., Salgado P., Díaz P.A. 2023.Small and patchy is enough: An example about how toxic HAB events can spread through low resting cyst loads.

Harmful Algae. 2023 Nov;129:102495 . doi: 10.1016/j. hal.2023.102495. Epub 2023 Sep 9. PMID: 37951626.

Delavaux et al. (J.R. Cumming). 2023. Native diversity buffers against severity of non-native tree invasions.

Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06440-7 Tomasetti S.J., Gobler C.J.. 2023. Estuarine Shellfish and Climate Change. In MJ Kennish, HW Paerl, JA Crosswell (Eds.) Climate Change and Estuaries, CRC Press, pp 451-474. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003126096 Das K. 2023. Inexpensive Benchtop Soft Photolithography Technique for Microfluidics and Other Applications. ArXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.02141 Xia M., Mao M., Kang X. 2023. Storm Surge Modeling: Influencing Factors, Chapter 2023. Impact of extreme events, Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science, 2nd Edition Nguyen Q. T, Mao M., and Xia M. 2023. Numerical modeling of nearshore wave transformation and breaking processes in the Yellow River Delta with FUNWAVE-TVD wave model, Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 11(7) 1380.

Dzwonkowski B., Kang X., Sahoo B., Veeramony J., Mitchell S., Xia M. 2023. Mixing and Transport in estuaries and coastal waters a special issue in Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Sciences, 288.

Bediako B., and Sauder D.G. 2023. Ambient Air Quality on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland: Impact of Poultry Farms. In: R. Teodor (Ed.), Emerging Issues in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 9, 82 -110. BP International. https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/eias/v9/6699C Mao M., and Xia M. 2023. Seasonal dynamics of water circulation and exchanging flows in a shallow lagoon-inlet-coastal ocean system, Ocean Modelling 186(2):102276

Thornbrugh, E.N. Curchitser, J.G. Hunter, and K. Law. 2023. Ch. 21. Northeast. In: Fifth National Climate Assessment. Crimmins, A.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, B.C. Stewart, and T.K. Maycock, Eds. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA. https://doi.org/10.7930/NCA5.2023.CH21.

Jibreel T., Khogali A., Jiménez M., Raiyed A., Dakein O., Alsharif B., Khalid N.M., Osman O.F., Nour B.Y.M., Mohamed G.H., Molina R., Vidal-López A., Díaz-Regañón R., den Boer M., Alvar J., Courtenay O., Elnaiem D.E. 2023. Host preference and human blood index of Phlebotomus orientalis, an exophilic sand fly vector of visceral leishmaniasis in eastern Sudan. Med Vet Entomol. 2023 Aug 4. doi: 10.1111/ mve.12683. PMID: 37540228 Mao M.*, & Xia M. 2023. Seasonal dynamics of water circulation and exchanging flows in a shallow lagoon-inlet-coastal ocean system, Ocean Modelling 186, 1-20.

I. Hordijk et al. (J.R. Cumming). 2023. Evenness mediates the global relationship between forest productivity and richness. Journal of Ecology DOI: 10.1111/1365- 2745.14098.

Khogali A., Elnaiem D.E., Díaz-Regañón R., Jibreel T., Nour B.Y.M., Abdelrahman S.H., Molina R., Jiménez M. 2024. Infection of Leishmania donovani in Phlebotomus orientalis Sand Flies at Different Microhabitats of a Kala-Azar Endemic Village in Eastern Sudan. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2024, 9, 40..

Infect. Dis. 2024, 9, 40. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9020040 Peng J., Mao M., & Xia M. 2024. “Wave spectra analysis on the spatiotemporal variability of sea states under distinct typhoon tracks in a semienclosed sea” Journal of Physical Oceanography (In Press) E. Kangi, E. Brzostek, R. Bills, S.Jj Callister, E. Zink, Y.-M. Kim, P. Larsen and J.R. Cumming.

2024. A Multi-omic Survey of Black Cottonwood Tissues Highlights Coordinated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Mechanisms for Plant Adaptation to Phosphorus Deficiency. Frontiers in Plant SciencePlant Abiotic Stress. ID 1324608 Ruiz-Ramos D.V., Thompson N., Richter C., Voshage M., Schreier T., Merkes C., Klymus K. 2024. Environmental DNA dynamics of three species of Unionid freshwater mussels. Environmental DNA, 6, e543.

Mao M.*, & Xia M. 2024. Modeling blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) larval transport and recruitment dynamics in a shallow lagoon-inletcoastal ocean system, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 129(5). DOI: 10.1029/2023JC020785

Ma H., et al. (J.R. Cumming). 2023. The global biogeography of tree leaf form and habit. Nature Plants. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-023-01543-5

Khogali A., Elnaiem D.A., Díaz-Regañón R., Jibreel T., Nour B.Y.M., Abdelrahman S.H., Molina R., Jiménez M. 2024. Infection of Leishmania donovani in Phlebotomus orientalis Sand Flies at Different Microhabitats of a Kala-Azar Endemic Village in Eastern Sudan. Trop Med Infect Dis. 2024 Feb 2;9(2):40. doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed9020040. PMID: 38393129; PMCID: PMC10892308.

Tomasetti S.J., et al. 2023. Oyster reefs’ control of carbonate chemistry—Implications for oyster reef restoration in estuaries subject to coastal ocean acidification. Global Change Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16960

Sabrina A. Klick, Joseph S. Pitula, Amy S. Collick , Eric B. May, Oliva Pisani. 2024. Bacterial diversity in agricultural drainage ditches shifts with increasing urea-N concentrations. FEMS Microbiology Ecology.

April, 2024. DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae057

J.C. Whitehead, E.L. Mecray, E.D. Lane, L. Kerr, M.L. Finucane, D.R. Reidmiller, M.C. Bove, F.A. Montalto, S. O’Rourke, D.A. Zarrilli, P. Chigbu, C.C.

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