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| Loading the Big Dog for Montgomery County. |
Thompson’s “Agriculture, Food and Society - Philosophy to Nanotechnology.” In it, Paul
attempts to provide a clear understanding of the uniqueness of agriculture despite the
industrialization of the sector within the economy. A vast majority of the citizenry may not care
or bother to understand how food and fiber products are provided to be consumed. Yet, when
walking into and shopping in a department store or grocery store, for example, most customers
expect to buy the latest fashions or food products for their use and consumption.
As part of our discussion, we had a guest lecturer in the person of Professor Dr. Jarrod
Miller from the University of Delaware. He specializes in agronomy and precision agriculture.
Technology has improved industrialization which has benefited the agriculture industry.
Furthermore, mechanization has reshaped the agriculture sector with the goal of managing the
natural resources while maximizing profits. I tend to not agree, however, that the required
machinery are cost prohibitive especially for small farmers or those who want to enter into
farming.
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| Sarah Supervising the Mixing of Soil Samples. |
The following day, I met Haley and Sarah at Hurley’s farm to take soil samples. Mr.
Hurley had separated his farm into two sides; one containing fertilizers, including chicken
manure, and the other side without. He had an interest in ascertaining the level of soil health that
was achieved from the covered crop. Haley was assigned to the field with the fertilizer and me
the field without. We used the “w” style to take a cross samples of the soil. Next, we filled each
of the buckets with a little over ¼ full of soil and then mixed the soil to ensure that a cross
section of the area was fully captured. Also, we labeled each bag to be mailed for testing. We
then proceeded to Wright’s farm to collect soil sample for testing. This time, it was one
farmland. Haley and I started at different ends of the farmland, still using the “w” style to collect
soil samples. Upon completion, we made our way back to the office to complete the paperwork
before mailing the sample off to Agro Lab in Delaware for testing.
By Wednesday, Haley and I met at 26737 Radio Station Way, Leonard Town—the Saint
Mary County extension office. We had to pick up about 2000 varieties of tomatoes and distribute
them to farmers in Montgomery, Prince Georges, Anne Arundel, Queens Anne, and Wicomico
counties. The goal is to gather feedback from growers which varieties perform the best. Haley
drove the university truck and trailer but could not fit all the cultivars. To assist in a timely
delivery, we call in the big dog, my Toyota Rav4. I took about 900 cultivars for delivery to
Montgomery County and Haley took the rest to deliver them along the way as she returned to the
office.
Mary County extension office. We had to pick up about 2000 varieties of tomatoes and distribute
them to farmers in Montgomery, Prince Georges, Anne Arundel, Queens Anne, and Wicomico
counties. The goal is to gather feedback from growers which varieties perform the best. Haley
drove the university truck and trailer but could not fit all the cultivars. To assist in a timely
delivery, we call in the big dog, my Toyota Rav4. I took about 900 cultivars for delivery to
Montgomery County and Haley took the rest to deliver them along the way as she returned to the
office.
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| Haley & I are getting ready to lay out the lanes for the watermelons cultivars |
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| With Ben & Haley at the Saint Mary Extension Office |
The next day, Sarah and I met at Rice farm. He had experienced nematodes infestation
and was concerned. He’s seen signs that such infestation was still present and needed
confirmation. He split his farm into two tilled without insecticide and no tilled with insecticide.
Within the no tilled after 24 rows of corn, Mr. Rice created a buffer of no insecticide placement.
This time, instead of the “w” style of collection, we did a straight line. Sarah walked four rows
from the buffer, while I walked in through the buffer collecting soil samples in the middle. At the
end of the field, we shifted to the next separation, but this time we collected the soil two to four
inches from the corn. At the end of the field, we mixed our bucket of soil separately, bag, and tag
them “no tillage” and “complete soil”. We shifted to the tilled field, and follow the same
procedure.
and was concerned. He’s seen signs that such infestation was still present and needed
confirmation. He split his farm into two tilled without insecticide and no tilled with insecticide.
Within the no tilled after 24 rows of corn, Mr. Rice created a buffer of no insecticide placement.
This time, instead of the “w” style of collection, we did a straight line. Sarah walked four rows
from the buffer, while I walked in through the buffer collecting soil samples in the middle. At the
end of the field, we shifted to the next separation, but this time we collected the soil two to four
inches from the corn. At the end of the field, we mixed our bucket of soil separately, bag, and tag
them “no tillage” and “complete soil”. We shifted to the tilled field, and follow the same
procedure.
 Top Image:Dropping off the tomatoes cultivars Bottom Image: Digging for Nematodes |
Friday was the best day. Haley had received 946 cultivars of grafted Carolina Strong
Black watermelon the day prior and we had to get them in the ground. This study is intended to
test different plant spacing and determine if there is a difference in yield if you put more or fewer
plants in the field. If using these grafted plants will the farmer save money on yield as they are
costly as compared to normal seedlings? Wright’s farm had agree to participate in a study. We
had to lay out the 6 lanes of approximately 880 feet or 270 meters long. Each lane was had three
groups of 3ft/.91m, 5ft/1.5m, and 7ft/2.1m. We planted the first 5 lanes without any issues. At
the 6 th lane we found out we were about 200 cultivars short and planted two groups.
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