It is hard to believe I have been at the University of Maryland for two months already! Time has passed quickly. I have gotten out a fair bit to meet members of AGNR and a number of partners. I still have a lot to learn. Thanks to all who have reached out to introduce themselves!
During my travels it has become clear that, while smaller in square miles, Maryland agriculture is not so different from many other places. The diversity of agriculture rivals many other states, though scale is unquestionably different. The focus on natural resources rivals any other state I have called home. As a result, Maryland agriculture practices are perhaps ahead of the curve. This was reinforced for me during a recent conversation with a grower who also farms in the Midwest. He shared that dust is far more prevalent in his Midwest fields and cover crops are used to a much lesser extent than in Maryland. In thinking about the dust storms experienced lately in some parts of the country, I can’t help but wonder how we might all benefit from greater opportunities for peer sharing and learning.
I visited my first Maryland winery during August. During dinner conversation, Joseph Fiola’s name came up more than once, in the context of the importance of his work and the breadth of responsibilities he has. Given the strong support for Joe, it is no surprise to see him featured in Hagerstown Magazine within an article that talks about the rise of Washington County wineries. Congratulations on this recognition, Joe!
I have been meeting AGNR faculty and learning about their work. I have a long way to go. But what I know already - our faculty are impressive! Even better is that I have observed firsthand how eager our department chairs and directors are to share the accomplishments of their talented faculty, staff, and students! Have you heard about Yiping Qi's accomplishment in co-developing a new gene gun for editing plant genomes with colleagues at Iowa State University? The team has broken through a barrier with their Flow Guided Barrel to improve gene editing effectiveness by as much as 70%! Congratulations Yiping. This is a great example of the work going on in Plant Science and Landscape Architecture! Every one of our units has countless stories to share that demonstrate impact like this. I am eager to share them with you in upcoming posts.
Speaking of plants, here’s an AGNR fun fact: The Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) is welcoming students back with first-day-of-school plant giveaway. Any student can receive a free houseplant. What a thoughtful way for our IAA students to welcome back students from across campus! It’s no wonder the Institute of Applied Agriculture has record enrollment this fall.
My journey has just begun. I can’t wait to see what September brings! This first week is a short one, but a busy one with state committee meetings, my first change to get to the lower Eastern Shore to meet with poultry growers, a full day retreat with the AGNR leadership team, and more Maryland State Fair fun. Be sure to help our new students find their way around campus and feel welcome!