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200 Chesapeake Blvd, Suite 1500
Elkton, MD 21921
410-996-5280
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September 2020
Dear Cecil Friends and Neighbors-
Well September is here. Coronavirus is too, but the trend is apparently in the right direction, though there is no definitive end in sight yet. I'm sure that many of you, like me, have kids at home still and are turning into partial homeschoolers at least for the next month or so. I'm still working on getting another workspace set up, and my son started his first semester of college from his bedroom last week. Like you, the staff and faculty continue to do their job as well as they are able given the restrictions. We can all weather these storms (and that was a lot of rain last month) and grow through our struggles. Hang in there, things will improve! The Cecil UME Office sends best-wishes for a successful school year to all our students,teachers, parents, and school administrators!
Call or email us if you think there is a way that we can help. Stay safe and healthy.
Best Wishes,
Paul
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Paul R. Rickert, MS, MCJ, EdD
Upper Shore Area Extension Director
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We All Need A Little Pep Talk During This Time!
Check Out This Video!
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Agriculture/Natural Resources |
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THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY
Be on the lookout for this invasive insect!
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Crush them if you can.
If you see it -- report it!
REPORT them to
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The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect that attacks grapes, apples, stone fruits, pines, and other species. Both nymphs (immatures) and adults of spotted lanternfly cause damage when they feed, sucking sap from stems and leaves. This can reduce photosynthesis, weaken the plant, and eventually contribute to the plant’s death. Additionally, spotted lanternfly feeding creates a sugary substance called honeydew. This honeydew, in addition to being attractive to ants, wasps, and other insects, is readily colonized by sooty mold, which can cause parts of the plants to become blackened and look unsightly. |
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Source: Cornell Cooperative Extension |
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This chart shows key plant hosts of the Spotted Lanternfly throughout the growing season.
Source: Penn State Extension
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This year, the Cecil County Harvest Dinner
is going virtual!
We are working with several restaurants across the county to create a county-wide, multi-day event.
We are partnering with local restaurants that would like to participate in our virtual Harvest Celebration taking place
September 21-24, 2020, (Maryland Restaurant Week).
These restaurants will commit to purchasing local products from our farmers here in Cecil County and add locally sourced meals to their menus.
We encourage county
residents to order take-out and support local restaurants and our local farmers.
or contact Maureen O’Shea,
Ag Coordinator,
Cecil County Office of
Economic Development,
(410) 996-8469
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The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) is accepting applications for the Farming for Healthy Soil Program. This three-year program begins this fall and provides financial assistance to farmers for implementing soil health practices on their farm.
The application form should be submitted to Kevin Antoszewski, MDA Healthy Soils Program Coordinator, at kevin.antoszewski@maryland.gov. For questions, contact Kevin (email is preferred, but a voicemail can be left at 410-841-5866) or Kelly Nichols, University of Maryland Extension Ag Agent, at 301-600-3577 or kellyn@umd.edu. |
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Cecil County Extension has a new
Agriculture Facebook page.
Cecil County Extension Agriculture
Please like, follow, and share.
Thanks!
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The Fall Soil Nitrate Test (FSNT) is a tool for producers to use when determining whether additional nitrogen application is needed for their fall wheat and barley grain. MDA regulations that became effective in October 2012 require farmers that plant wheat and barley for grain production test for soil nitrate concentration before they may apply nitrogen in the fall. Soil samples for the FSNT should be taken prior to planting the fall crop. These samples maybe analyzed at your UMD extension office or one of the commercial soil testing labs.
If you would like to have your sample analyzed by the UMD extension offices in Cecil, Kent or Queen Anne’s counties please contact Jenna Talbot to make arrangements.
Jenna Talbot
Nutrient Management Advisor for Cecil and Kent Counties
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Watershed Protection & Restoration Program
Improving water quality through stormwater management and watershed restoration techniques, the Sea Grant Watershed Protection and Restoration Program works with local and state governments, watershed organizations, and community groups in Maryland to build partnerships, identify funding sources, and advise/assist in the planning, implementation and monitoring of restoration projects.
If you would like to learn more about the program or if you have any questions, please contact Eric Buehl (ebuehl@umd.edu) with University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension or Marshall McSorley (MMcSorley@ccgov.org) of the Cecil County Department of Public Works-Stormwater Management Division.
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Pest Alert: Crapemyrtle Bark Scale -- Now In Maryland!! |
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For the last 25 years, crape myrtles have increased in Maryland nurseries and they are being used heavily in Maryland landscapes. This new exotic scale pest, commonly referred to as the crapemyrtle bark scale (CMBS), is a big deal and it is a major threat to the commercial viability of nursery and landscape plantings of crape myrtles.
This pest was first found in the USA in Texas and have since spread to at least 11 states in the U.S, from New Mexico to Virginia. Since we have this scale in Maryland now, we can say it is now in 12 states and the District of Columbia. This scale can reportedly infest 17 plant genera in 13 families, including economically important crops such as pomegranate, soybean, and apple.
Please be on the look outlook for this scale and contact your local extension office if and where you find it active. Again, the primary host is crape myrtle, but we want to make sure this scale does not start showing up on apples. Soybean is not a primary host, but it has been reported to feed on the plant.
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The Cecil County Master Gardeners are continuing to offer monthly zoom presentations on various gardening and horticulture topics.
This month the training is on invasive plants. Master Gardener Christy Michaud will be presenting, Space Invaders: Invasive Plants Part #2.
Session 1: September 12, 2020
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Session 2: September 15, 2020
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
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Cecil County Master Gardeners |
Upcoming events, workshops, activities, videos, photos and advice on gardening are posted on our Facebook page, Youtube channel and website. Check them out!
Learn how to become a Master Gardener Volunteer.
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Have a plant or pest question?
University of Maryland Extension’s experts have answers!
Questions are answered by Home and Garden Information Center’s Certified Professional Horticulturists.
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Cecil County Virtual 4-H Fair
Champion Highlights
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Congratulations to all of our 4-H participants in the Virtual Cecil County Fair. We received 991 entries from 102 Cecil 4-Hers.
You all worked hard presenting your projects virtually and we are very proud of all of your accomplishments!
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Planning is Underway for Fall
Virtual 4-H Programming
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9/10-10/29: Maryland 4-H Veterinary Science Virtual Experience,
6:30-7:30 PM (Weekly on Thursdays)
9/24: Cecil 4-H Creative Clovers,
6:30-7:30 PM
9/28: Cecil 4-H Volunteer Professional Development-Disability Awareness and Reasonable Accommodations,
6-7 PM
9/28: Cecil 4-H Leaders & Volunteer Meeting, 7-8 PM
9/29: Cecil 4-H Hands-On Animal Science-Toxic Plants!, 6:30-7:30 PM
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4-H Tech Wizards Mentors
Virtual Summer Program
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This Virtual Summer Program was done in collaboration with Elkton Housing Authority (EHA), which has long provided an educational and fun summer program for the youth in the communities.
This year in partnership with our 4-H Tech Wizard mentors, EHA provided a virtual summer program in a bag. Each week an activities bag was given out to each participant, with family activities as well.
Topics included fair week, nature week, back to school week, and more!
Over 40 youth participated in zoom sessions where they showed off their work from the week.
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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education
(SNAP-Ed)
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The Maryland Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed) offers nutrition education programs to help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households and those eligible for SNAP.
SNAP-Ed programs are provided at no cost to support the work of community agencies serving SNAP-eligible individuals and families, such as local food banks, schools, out-of-school sites, farmers markets, community centers, and food assistance sites.
University of Maryland Extension‘s school-based SNAP-Ed programs reach students, teachers, and parents in low income communities including after-school sites, summer meal programs and public schools where 50% or more students qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch.
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The goal of the SNAP-Ed school-based programs is to integrate key nutrition messages into the school curriculum, policies, the lunchroom, and family shopping and meals.
Over the past several months, our state teams have worked tirelessly to update our curricula and resources to be suitable for a distance learning format. All updates and new resources will be available at Maryland SNAP-Ed Teacher Toolkit. This website is loaded with resources for your school and classroom. The Lessons/Resources tab houses our updated curricula. We encourage you to take a look and see what you can use for distance learning.
If you have any questions, please contact your local extension office.
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Our EatSmart Blog also provides weekly content and healthy recipes.
You can also access and share posts via our Maryland SNAP-Ed Facebook.
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Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) |
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The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) helps young families and youth with limited resources—those most at risk to suffer from hunger, food insecurity and the inability to connect with available support systems. |
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To learn more about this program or to sign up a group of five or more, contact Tammy Pryor, EFNEP educator at tpryor@umd.edu or call (410)-996-8136.
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Online Nutrition Classes
Being Offered
Are you interested in:
- learning more about saving money at the store and at home?
- learning how to cook budget-friendly and delicious recipes?
- eating healthy and other healthy tips?
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Join us for an interactive nutrition
workshop series!
EFNEP offers lessons for both
adults and youth.
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Check us out on Facebook!
Daily postings on delicious and healthy recipes, family fun activities, mindfulness, helpful household tips, cooking videos and more!
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Family & Consumer Sciences |
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Fresh
Conversations
is a nutrition education program for Maryland's older adults.
Sign up now and choose the sessions you would like to attend.
After each session, attendees will receive (via email), a vibrantly colored newsletter featuring the day’s topic, physical activity tips, mind-stimulating games and easy low cost recipes.
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Dining with Diabetes Program
This national Extension program is designed for adults with, or at risk for, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Caregivers for those with diabetes are welcome to attend too.
Each program includes four sessions and teaches skills needed to identify and understand important information about managing this disease.
Program 1: October 14, 21, 28 and
November 4, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Program 2: November 10, 17, 24, and
December 1, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
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Grow It Eat It Preserve It programs provide information to consumers so that they can make informed decisions about preserving food at home to maximize food safety and
reduce the risk of food borne illness.
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NEW Grow It Eat It Preserve It (GIEIPI) Program
Capture the Flavor: Herbs and Spices
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In this 75 minute, interactive program, learn about the health benefits of cooking with herbs and spices, best practices for storing them safely, and
how to flavor meals like a pro!
Register for a session below.
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Drying Foods
October 9: 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Dried foods are easy to carry and can be tasty and nutritious snacks or healthy seasonings for foods. Join us, as we demystify some key steps you need to know before drying herbs and produce at home!
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Freezing Foods
October 23: 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Freezing is the easiest and quickest method to preserve fresh produce from your garden or local farmer’s market so you ‘savor their flavors’ year round. Learn some quick tips to freeze fruits, vegetables, and proteins without the (freezer) burn!
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Cecil County Extension Office
Faculty and Staff
Paul R. Rickert, MS, MCJ, EdD
Area Extension Director - Upper Shore Cluster
Micki Preston
Administrative Assistant
Donna Witkowski
Administrative Assistant
April Barczewski
4-H Youth Development
410-996-8134
Victoria Stone
4-H Youth Development
410-996-8137
Doris Behnke
Agriculture & Natural Resources, Master Gardener Coordinator
410-996-8135
Jenna Talbot
Nutrient Management Program
410-996-8138
Eric Buehl
Regional Watershed Restoration Specialist
Beverly Jackey
Family & Consumer Sciences
410-996-8133
Vacant
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed)
Tammy Pryor
Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program
410-996-8136
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University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class. |
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