A Carroll County Newsletter

Carroll County Office

700 Agriculture Center

Westminster, MD 21157

(410) 386-2760

M—F 8:00 AM—4:30 PM

extension.umd.edu/carroll-county

facebook.com/umecarroll

Peter Coffey

Small Farms Agent

plcoffey@umd.edu

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Winter Production Meetings 1

Dates of Certification

Meetings 2

Rental Rates for 2020 2

Pesticide Exam Dates 3

Rabbit and Poultry

Slaughter Training 4

Crop School 2020 4

Winter Squash 4

Bt Crop Regulatory Update 5

Winter Production Meetings

As you know, COVID-19 has changed the way we all function, and Extension is no exception. We realize that winter meetings are important to your opera-tion, specifically recertification opportu-nities to maintain your pesticide license and nutrient management vouchers. The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) will not be extending certifica-tions, so if your certification expires in December and you have not attended a meeting in the past three years, you will need to make sure to attend a recertifi-cation meeting in order to acquire the necessary credits. We have worked on several ways for you to acquire credits this winter, which are explained below. Each meeting will offer complete recer-tification credits for Maryland private applicator, nutrient management, and select credits for Maryland commercial applicator and Pennsylvania private ap-plicator. All CDC and University guide-lines must be followed at all in-person meeting locations. Northern Maryland Field Crops Day will be held on it’s traditional day, De-cember 3, 2020 from 8:00-12:15 pm. The program will be offered virtually via a Zoom webinar. If you have a computer and a good internet connec-tion, you may choose to attend this meeting live via Zoom on the date and time of the program. Alternatively, the program will be recorded and re-broadcasted at the two alternative dates listed below, which you may attend. If you cannot attend a live webinar, you can request the recording, which we will send to you on a USB drive. You can then watch the material without an internet connection and at your own pace. If you do not have internet access or a computer, a small group of individ-uals will be allowed to view the presen-tation live on December 3 at the Balti-more County Ag Center in Cockeysville, MD. Seating is limited to the first 30 participants that sign up. Meeting regis-tration details will be forthcoming in our next newsletter.

Carroll County Winter Farm Meeting will be held on its traditional date, Janu-ary 14, 2021 from 8:00-12:15 pm at the Carroll County Ag Center in Westmin-ster, MD. This will be an in-person viewing session of the recorded North-ern Maryland Field Crops Day program for those who cannot attend the live webinar or view the recordings on a USB. Seating is limited to the first 30 participants as explained above. The Harford County Mid-Winter Agronomy Meeting will be held on its traditional date, February 16, 2021 from 8:00-12:15 pm at Deer Creek Overlook in Street, MD. This will be an in-person viewing session of the recorded North-ern Maryland Field Crops Day program for those who cannot attend the live webinar or view the recordings on a USB. Seating is limited to the first 30 participants as explained above. For those interested in fruit and vegeta-ble programming, Central Maryland Fruit and Vegetable Grower’s Day will be held on January 28, 2021 from 8:00-12:15 pm. Like Field Crops Day, this program will be online via Zoom. You can choose to attend the live webi-nar, receive a recording on a USB drive, or view the program in-person with a small audience. In-person viewing ses-sions of the webinar will take place simultaneously on January 28 from three locations: the Baltimore County Ag Center Cockeysville, MD; Carroll County Ag Center in Westminster, MD; and the Harford County Ag Center in Street, MD. Registration details for each meeting will be included in upcoming newslet-ters.

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Elizabeth Thilmany, Research Assistant, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

Cash rent lease agreements are the most popular type of lease agreements in Maryland. Cash rent is a fixed

amount on a per acre basis. In this agreement the owner is relieved of operating and marketing decisions and in-

come is known year to year. The tenant has the risk and returns from the crop and can make crop and livestock

decisions.

Through USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) estimates of average cash rental rates per acre of

irrigated cropland, non-irrigated cropland and pastureland at the County, Ag District, and State level are posted

where possible. This data is sourced from responses to annual farm level surveys. To learn more about the Cash

Rents Survey from NASS, visit: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/

Cash_Rents_by_County/

University of Maryland synthesizes the NASS data to assist Marylanders in seeing and understanding the trends in

rental rates for different types of land use by different geographical areas within Maryland. Farmers and ranchers

can use this updated data on rental rates in their area, “for their use in making decisions regarding renting and

leasing farmland” as summarized by NASS on their Surveys page for Cash Rents.

The updated publication includes Maryland Total rental rates for non-irrigated cropland, irrigated cropland and

pastureland vis-ualized in moving-average line-graph from 2009-2020. As well as cash rental rates (2009-2020) for:

non-irrigated land by coun-ty and Ag district, irrigated land by Ag district and the counties in the Lower and Eastern

Shore Districts, and pastureland by Ag district and counties in the North Central and Western ag districts.

The publication is available at: https://extension.umd.edu/grainmarketing/lease-agreements

2020

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University of Maryland Extension (UME) and Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) are offering an online version of the

poultry and rabbit training on poultry production, biosecurity, federal and state poultry regulations, related environmental

regulations and the requirements to become certified to slaughter and sell poultry and rabbits other than directly to con-

sumers on the farm.

The course is self-paced and being offered continuously, so there is no deadline for registering. Successful completion of this

course is one of the requirements for poultry and rabbit producers applying to MDA for certification to sell poultry and rab-

bit meat at farmer’s markets, to retailers or any other location in Maryland.

To register, fill out the form here https://go.umd.edu/slaughtertrainingcourse. A course link and exam will be provided once

you submit the registration form. You will need to return the exam to MDA along with a $75 application fee and sample la-

bels for approval.

For more information, contact Deanna Baldwin at 410-841-5769 or Deanna.baldwin@maryland.gov.

Nov. 16-20, 2020 Online

Registration is now available for the Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School. This years school will be presented virtually

online November 16-20, 2020. Talks will be given from 8:30-11:30 each day that week and CCA credits will be available in

nutrient, crop, and pest management, as well as soil and water. There will also be nutrient and pest management credits

available for several Mid-Atlantic States.

To see the schedule, registration, and this years school design, please visit: https://go.umd.edu/crop20registration

Please contact Nicole Fiorelleno (nfiorell@umd.edu) with any questions about options and credits.

2020 -

Gordon Johnson, University of Delaware Extension Vegetable & Fruit Specialist

Growers with CSAs, sales to schools and institutions, or restaurant customers should consider storing and marketing winter

squash. Winter squash include a wide range of types including butternuts and neck pumpkins, acorns, spaghetti squash, butter

-cup and kabocha types, delicata and dumpling types, hubbards, cheese pumpkins, and others. Many of these have the ability

to be stored for long periods, especially butternuts, buttercups, and spaghetti types. New England has a tradition of eating

large quantities winter squash; however, the further south you get, the less they are eaten. This may require customer educa-

tion in order to market successfully. For example, butternut squash is great in soups, pastries, and casseroles and spaghetti

squash is a fine low calorie, low carb, pasta substitute.

Having winter squash for winter sales requires proper handling and storage. Follow a regular fungicide program during crop

production to produce disease free fruit to minimize postharvest fruit rots. Harvest when fruits are mature and prior to frost.

Use care in handling fruit to prevent wounds. Wounding can negate benefits from a season-long fungicide program. Cure fruit

after harvest at temperatures between 80 and 85°F (27-29°C) with a relative humidity of 75-80% for approximately 10 days.

Temperatures below 50°F (10°C) cause chilling injury. The hard-shelled squashes, such as Butternut, Delicious, Spaghetti, and

the Hubbard strains, can be stored at 55°F (13°C) and 50-70% relative humidity. Acorn squash will store for 5-8 weeks; pump-

kins for 2-3 months and other hard-shelled squashes will store for 3-6 months. Research has not documented any benefit to

post-harvest fruit fungicide dips.

For storage, a ventilated storage shed with supplemental heat works well. Basements are ideal. Empty greenhouses can be

used if fans are run to keep the heat down in the day and heat is run to keep the temperature above 50°F (a significant cost).

A cold room/box kept at 55° F will also work. Under these conditions, the longer keeping winter squash types can be kept in

saleable condition through late winter, into spring.

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Kelly Hamby and Galen Dively University of Maryland Department of Entomology

Insect Resistance Management in Bt Crops: Transgenic crops expressing insecticidal toxins sourced from Bacillus thuringiensis

(Bt) bacteria reduce yield loss and insecticide use, delivering economic benefits for growers. Because this breakthrough in pest

management is considered a public good and insect resistance is the largest threat to Bt crops’ durability, insect resistance man-

agement programs were developed and mandated by the EPA prior to the release of Bt crops. These plans included planting

untreated refuge crops at high enough acreage to produce many susceptible adult insects that could interbreed with and dilute

the resistance from insects surviving Bt crops (Figure 1).

In addition, crops were supposed to express Bt toxins at a high enough dose that insects with diluted resistance genes (white

and red) would be killed, called a “high dose” strategy. Finally, pyramided hybrids that contain multiple toxins targeting the

same pest were developed to make it more difficult for pests to overcome the toxins. EPA also required monitoring for insect

resistance and mitigation strategies to implement once resistance was detected.

The Issue: When best management practices for Bt insect resistance management are followed, for example, European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) management in the U.S., resistance development has been slowed. In fact, all single and pyramided Bt traited corn hybrids still provide 100% control of corn borers. However, for some pests [corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) and Cry toxins] Bt toxins were less effective and products were not high dose. This issue was further compounded by poor refuge com-pliance, which lead to the development of refuge-in-a-bag (RIB) seed mixes to increase refuge acreage. This technology was designed based on corn rootworm biology and is not as good as a separate block refuge for most other target pests. Finally, while pyramided multi-toxin hybrids were developed, hybrids that contained a single effective toxin for the management of some pests continued to be marketed. This enables insects to develop resistance to a single toxin first providing a “stepping stone” to resistance in pyramided hybrids that contain the same or similar toxins because they can already survive on some of the toxins that are being expressed. In addition, the same Bt toxins are used in both corn and cotton, so corn earworm (also known as bollworm) goes through multiple generations of selection pressure in the same year, increasing resistance. Reports of caterpillar pests resistant to Bt corn and cotton in the U.S. have occurred since 2014 for fall armyworm, since 2016 for corn ear-worm, and since 2017 for western bean cutworm. However, none of these resistance reports triggered EPA’s current regulatory definition of pest resistance and no mitigation actions were taken. Therefore, the EPA released a draft document outlining pro-posed changes to reduce resistance risks (especially for non-high dose pests at heightened risk of resistance), to increase the longevity of currently functional Bt traits and future technologies, and to improve the current caterpillar pest (Lepidopteran) resistance management program for Bt corn and cotton (USEPA 2020).

Figure 1. Susceptible (white) corn borers emerge from the untreated block refuge (yellow) planted on the side

of the Bt field (green). Resistant (red) corn borers emerge from the Bt field (green) and interbreed with suscepti-

ble moths to produce moths with diluted (white and red) resistance genes. Image: Syngenta®

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Proposed Changes: Changes build off current insect resistance management plans and incorporate feedback and recom-

mendations developed by a July 2018 Scientific Advisory Panel, independent academic scientists, the Agricultural Biotechnol-

ogy Stewardship Technical Committee, the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants, and Syngenta Crop Protection,

LLC (USEPA 2020). The EPA has 1) confirmed Bt resistance to specific Bt toxins in corn earworm, fall armyworm, and western

bean cutworm, 2) proposed a new resistance definition for non-high dose pests that acknowledges their heightened risk of

resistance and enables more rapid response to unexpected injury, 3) proposed a resistance monitoring approach that will use

sentinel plots to monitor unexpected injury in addition to reported cases of unexpected injury in Bt crops, 4) proposed an

improved resistance mitigation strategy with best management practices to respond to unexpected injury within the growing

season and moving forward, and 5) will continue to require reporting on refuge compliance, unexpected injury, and insecti-

cides targeting the pests that are also targeted by Bt (USEPA 2020).

Changes Under Discussion: In addition to the above changes, three additional changes have been proposed that require

further discussion and stakeholder comment (USEPA 2020). The first focuses on reducing the acreage of products that no

longer effectively manage resistant caterpillar pests and that share or have similar toxins as multi-toxin pyramided hybrids

that still provide control. Therefore, the EPA is proposing a short term (~ 3 year time frame) phase down of hybrids that con-

tain a single toxin for control of caterpillar pests, capping acreage planted in these hybrids to a minimum. These include field

corn (Table 1), sweet corn (Table 2), and cotton products. In addition, non-functional pyramids that do not contain effective

toxins for control of resistant caterpillar pests would have a longer term (~ 5 year time frame) phase down to minimal acre-

age (Table 3). Even with the potential phase downs Cry toxins will still be available for planting in pyramided hybrids that in-

clude the Vip3A trait.

Table 3. Multi-toxin products that are non-functional due to resistance in caterpillar pests that may be phased down in ap-

proximately 5 years.

To improve refuge compliance nationwide, the EPA proposes to increase refuge-in-the-bag (RIB) seed blend technologies to

10% refuge and maintain current requirements to plant a separate 20% block refuge in cotton producing areas (USEPA 2020).

This should help insect resistance management for all pests managed by Bt and may be especially important for pests at

heightened risk of developing resistance.

Non Functional Pyramids Potentially Affected Products

Cry1F+Cry1Ab Optimum® AcreMax® Insect Protection, Optimum® AcreMax® XTRA, Opti-mum® Intrasect® XTRA, Optimum® Intrasect Xtreme, Optimum® AcreMax® Xtreme, Optimum® AcreMax® TRIsectTM, Optimum® Intrasect TRIsectTM, Agri-sure® 3122, Agrisure® 3122 E-Z Refuge, Agrisure® Duracade 5122 E-Z Refuge, Agrisure® 3120 E-Z Refuge, Qrome®

Cry1A.105+Cry2Ab2 VT DoublePro, VT2P RIB Complete, VT TriplePRO, VT3P RIB Complete,

Cry1A.105+Cry2Ab2+Cry1F SmartStaxTM, SmartStaxTM RIB Complete, SmartStaxTM Refuge Advanced, SmartStaxTM Refuge RIB Complete, SmartStaxTM Enlist, PowerCore®, PowerCore® RIB Complete, PowerCore® Refuge Advance, PowerCore® Enlist

Table 2. Single trait (toxin) sweet corn products that may Table 1. Single trait (toxin) field corn products that may be

phased down in approximately 3 years.

Single Trait Potentially Affected Products

Cry1F toxin

Herculex® I, Herculex® I Insect Protection, Hercu-lex® XTRA Insect Protection, Optimum® Acre-Max® 1, Optimum® TRIsectTM, 4114 Maize

Cry1Ab toxin

YieldGard® Corn Borer, Yieldgard® VT Triple, Agri-sure® 3010, Agrisure® 3000GT, MON 810

Single Trait Potentially Affected Products

Cry1Ab toxin Attribute

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Peter Coffey

Extension Agent

Small Farms/Alternative Ag

Andrew Kness

Extension Agent

Ag and Food Systems

The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to all and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color,

sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affilia-

tion, or gender identity and expression. The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended

and no endorsement by University of Maryland Extension is implied. If you have a disability that requires special assistance for your partici-

pation in a program please contact the Carroll County Extension Office at 410-386-2760 two weeks prior to the program. To subscribe

or be removed from our mailing list, contact the Carroll County Extension office at (410) 386-2760 or 1-888-326-9645

To further increase refuge compliance, especially in cotton producing areas, additional strategies have been proposed. For

example, sale of Bt corn products requiring block refuge must be followed up with mandatory on-farm visits [conducted by

industry (registrants)] to assess refuge compliance during the growing season, which will be conveyed to growers at the point

of sale and be included in the grower insect resistance management agreement (USEPA 2020). Visits will be reported to the

EPA. Farmers out of compliance with block refuge standards in cotton producing regions for one year will not be allowed to

purchase Bt products, including RIB and block refuge products, for two years. Seed dealers will be required to keep grower

IRM agreement records for 3 years, with audits that could result in losing the opportunity to sell Bt seed if signature rates or

record keeping are noncompliant [conducted and enforced by industry (registrants)]. The industry (registrants) must ensure

the availability of non-Bt elite corn hybrids for refuge plantings (USEPA 2020), which should improve the quality and yield of

these plantings.

Potential Impacts to Mid-Atlantic Seed Dealers and Growers: Phase downs of single toxin and non-functional pyramid hy-

brids will impact hybrid availability and selection; however, these toxins (which control corn borers) will be available pyramid-

ed with Vip3A. If you are planting hybrids that require 20% block refuge (such as is the case with the single traited hybrids that

are being phased out), a mandatory on-farm visit by the registrants and/or seed dealers may be required. Non-Bt elite corn

hybrids will have to be made available for block refuge and refuge-in-a-bag seed mixes which should make yield more compa-

rable to Bt plants.

Stakeholder Comment Period: The EPA is soliciting comments through 11/9 seeking additional stakeholder comments from corn and cotton growers, crop consultants, academic experts, non-governmental organizations, the Bt PIP industry, and the general public regarding the changes under discussion (see above). Stakeholders can submit their comments here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/09/08/2020-19779/epa-draft-proposal-to-improve-lepidopteran-resistance-management-notice-of-availability References and Other Resources:

CropLife International. Manual: Practical approaches to insect resistance management for biotech-derived crops. https://croplife.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/IRM-Training-Manual-FINAL-January-2012.pdf

Syngenta®. Insect Resistance Management. https://www.syngenta-us.com/corn/agrisure/insect-resistance-management

US EPA. Insect resistance management for Bt plant-incorporated protectants. https://www.epa.gov/regulation-biotechnology-under-tsca-and-fifra/insect-resistance-management-bt-plant-incorporated

Porter, P. 2020. Bt Corn: Tighter EPA regulations are pending. AgFax September 11, 2020. https://agfax.com/2020/09/11/bt-corn-tighter-epa-regulations-are-pending/

US EPA. 2020. EPA draft proposal to address resistance risks to Lepidopteran pests of Bt following the July 2018 FIFRA scien-tific advisory panel recommendation. Memorandum EPA-HQ-OPP-2019-0682-0007. https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2019-0682-0007

Bryan R. Butler, Sr.

Extension Agent

Ag and Food Systems

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facebook.com/UMECarroll

extension.umd.edu/Carroll-county

A Carroll County Newsletter

Dates to Remember:

19, 20, 22 Oct. Commercial Pesticide Applicator Exams in Annapolis (See Page 3)

3 Nov. Election Day.

4 Nov. Harford Private Pesticide Applicator Exam (See Page 3)

9 Nov. EPA Comment Period for Bt crops ends

10 Nov. Baltimore Private Pesticide Applicator Exam (See Page 3)

12 Nov. Carroll Private Pesticide Applicator Exam (See Page 3)

16-20 Nov. 2020 Virtual Mid-Atlantic Crop School (See Page 4)

3 Dec. Northern Maryland Field Crops Day (See Page 1)