fostering knowledge, celebrating discovery · undergraduate research projects, and several of our...

Raising the Bar, UMESWins Competitive Funding

Grant FundsCurtain Project

SANS Sustaining the University and Leading ChangeFEATURES

T H E U M E S A G R I C U L T U R A L E X P E R I M E N T S T A T I O N R E S E A R C H M A G A Z I N E

INGENUITYFostering Knowledge, Celebrating Discovery

Exemplary Linkages for Real iz ing Solut ions

8 12 18

Winter 2012

UNIVERSITY of MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE/ INGENUITY MAGAZINE - WINTER 2012

Table of Contents

2 | A Message from the Dean

DEPARTMENTS2 | Research Briefs

7 | Linkage Spotlight

20 | Graduate/Undergraduate Research

23 | Points of Pride

FEATURES8 | Raising the Bar, UMES Wins Competitive Funding

10 | Allen Earns Journal’s Best Article Award

12 | School of Agricultural and Natural Science, Sustaining the University and Leading Change

14 | UMES Researcher Targets Food Safety

16 | UMES Researcher Awarded Project of Excellence

18 | Grant Funds Curtain Project

The School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences (SANS) is

unique among the academic schools at UMES in that the food and

agricultural research programs receive annual federal formula

funding through provisions of Public Law 89-106. The fund is

identified as the Evans-Allen Program under Section 1445 of the

Farm Bill (PL95-113) and is appropriated to the UMES campus by

the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Because of these annual

appropriations, the research agenda and goals of the departments

of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences and Human Ecology are

aligned with those of the USDA and the Experiment Station Section

About the

(ESS) of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Colleges (APLU).

The USDA also provides 1890 Land-Grants with the opportunity to

compete for research, extension, and teaching capacity building

grants, which strengthen research, extension, and teaching in the

food and agricultural sciences at these institutions.

The aim of the Agricultural Experiment Station is to provide

enhanced knowledge and technology to improve the viability and

sustainability of agriculture and food systems; enhance the quality

of natural resources and the environment; and serve communities,

families, and consumers.

Agricultural Experiment Station

UMES Ingenuity is the research magazine for theAgricultural Experiment Station of theUniversity of Maryland Eastern Shore. It ispublished twice a year for alumni, students, andfriends of the School of Agricultural and NaturalSciences.

ADMINISTRATION

Dr. Mortimer Neufville, Ph.D.Interim President

Charles Williams, Ph.D.Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Jurgen Schwarz, Ph.D.Acting Dean, School of Agricultural and NaturalSciencesActing Director, Agricultural ExperimentStation

Dr. Arthur AllenAssociate Research Director

Laura DuckAssistant Research Director

Tracie BishopCRIS Site Administrator

Earle CanterFarm Manager, Crop Research and Aquaculture

INGENUITY MAGAZINE

Editor Suzanne Waters Street, Agriculture Communications Specialist

Designer: Debi Rus, Rus Design, Inc.

Photographers: Edwin Remsberg, JimGlovier, Suzanne Street

Opinions expressed are not necessarilyshared by the University, School, or editor.This publication is available in alternativemedia on request.

UMES is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Cover Photo: Edwin Remsberg

INGENUITYMAGAZINE - WINTER 2012| 1

INGENUITYUNIVERSITY of MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE

2 | UNIVERSITY ofMARYLAND EASTERN SHORE INGENUITYMAGAZINE - WINTER 2012 | 3

Over the past year, we have hadseveral opportunities to showcase theoutstanding research performed by ourstudents. There is nothing more rewardingthan to witness the growth and thedevelopment of the next generation ofscientists. It is their intellect, and their

work ethic, and their determination that will shape our future. Theproblems that they must solve seem deeper and wider than theproblems that plagued society just a few short years ago.Interestingly, agricultural sciences will play a major role inaddressing these issues, such as renewable energy, environmentalstewardship, producing enough food for a growing worldpopulation, food safety, global warming, and others. We play acritical role in equipping our students to answer the perplexities ofour world.

The faculty and staff associated with the UMES ExperimentStation work hard at teaching, guiding, challenging, and mentoringour students in a wide spectrum, centering on environmentalquality, sustainable agriculture, human health and safety, and foodscience. As a result of that type of motivation, many students gaveoral as well as poster presentations at major research conferencesacross the nation and beyond. Several, as you will find in the pagesof this publication, have been recognized for their work.

In my tripartite role, as acting dean of the School ofAgricultural and Natural Sciences, acting research director, and asdirector of the food science and technology doctoral program, I getthat rare birds-eye view of the talent as well as the wide-eyedanticipation of our students as they embark upon their chosen areasof study within the field of agriculture. I am sure you’ve seen thesame in students of science all over the world.

As we move forward in our quest for knowledge, we takeseriously our responsibility to our students. We know what guidingthem and leading them means to the welfare of our world and tothe next generations to come. We congratulate our students ofscience, and we celebrate them.

Happy Reading,

Dr. Jurgen SchwarzActing Dean of the School of Agricultural and Natural ResourcesDirector, Food Science and Technology Doctoral ProgramActing Research DirectorAssociate Professor, Food Science and Technology

The use of chemicalathelmintics (dewormers)has been the traditionalmethod used to controlinternal parasites in sheepand goats. Overuse and

misuse of athelmintics, however, have led to an increasedresistance of gastrointestinal nematodes to chemicaldewormers in many parts of the world, including the UnitedStates. Consequently, new methods to control or modulateinternal parasites must be found. Experiments conducted incountries around the world have indicated some success inusing garlic and papaya seeds for their anthelmintic

A Message from the Dean

Researcher Legend:Dr. Arthur Allen; Associate Research Director and Associate Professor, Agriculture

Dr. Nina Bennett; Acting Chair and Assistant Professor, Human Ecology

Tracie Bishop; GIS Coordinator and CRIS Site Administrator, Agriculture

Ms. Malinda Cecil; Lecturer, Human Ecology

Ms. Bridgett Clinton; Lecturer, Human Ecology

Ms. Corrie Cotton; Research Assistant Professor, Agriculture

Dr. Robert Dadson; Professor and Acting Chair, Agriculture

Dr. Enrique Escobar; Assistant Professor, Agriculture

Dr. Bessie Green; Research Associate, Agriculture

Dr. Tao Gong; Assistant Professor, Agriculture

Dr. Jeannine Harter-Dennis; Associate Professor, Agriculture

Dr. Fawzy Hashem; Research Associate Professor, Agriculture

Dr. Lombuso Khoza; Assistant Professor, Human Ecology

Dr. Lurline Marsh; Professor, Agriculture

Dr. Eric May; Distinguished Research Scientist, Natural Sciences

Dr. Byungrok Min; Assistant Professor, Food Science and Techology

Dr. Madhumi Mitra; Associate Professor, Natural Sciences

Dr. Abhijit Nagchaudhuri; Professor, Engineering and Aviation Science

Dr. Salina Parveen; Associate Professor, Food Science and Technology

Dr. Anugrah Shaw; Professor, Human Ecology

Dr. Jurgen Schwarz; Director and Associate Professor, Food Science and Technology

Dr. Stephan Tubene; Associate Professor, Agriculture

Dr. Virginie Zoumenou; CNS, LDN, 1890 FCS Program Leader, Extension

Effect of Garlic and Papaya Seed onFecal Egg Counts in Sheep and Goats

Using Variable Rate Seeding to MaximizeCorn Yield and Profit on a Field withManagement Zones

Xavier Henry, a recent graduate ofthe UMES Food and AgriculturalScience program, asserts that yieldmonitoring (a major component ofPA) allows for unprecedented

insight into spatial yield variations experienced within a field. He furtherasserts that normalizing several seasons of yield data helps one identifyareas that can be individually managed depending on yield potential(management zones). So far, management zone (MZ) research has beenlimited to in-season chemical applications, although benefits are possible inother aspects of PA, and its use in variable rate seeding (VRS) exhibits greatpotential. The traditional approach of uniform rate seeding (URS) in fieldswith uneven yield potential has led to reduced efficiency and adverseenvironmental effects. Three previously identified MZs within a field wereseeded with corn at three population densities. The leaf area index heightand relative greenness were monitored for seven weeks and analyzed byANOVA to identify differences existing between treatments. Also, aerialimages were captured by Henry to provide normalized differencevegetative index information as another measure of crop vigor. Seed,fertilizer costs, and harvest price were used to calculate the subsequentefficiency of each treatment. The results of the trial indicated that VRSbased on MZs provided marginally better returns for farmers than URSunder similar conditions. However, better results may be anticipated withappropriate irrigation, since during the project period the area experiencedsubpar rainfall.

X. Henry*, Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences; A. Nagchaudhuri,Department of Engineering &Aviation Sciences; and M. Mitra, Department of Natural Sciences,University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853.

Gastrointestinal nematodes(worms) continue to be amajor constraint to sheepand goat producersthroughout the world.

Precision agriculture (PA) allowsfarmers to make markedimprovements in efficiency,profitability, and sustainability

properties. The objective of this study, conducted by Mark Gooden, graduatestudent in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Science, was toevaluate the efficacy of garlic juice and papaya seeds in reducing fecal eggcounts (FEC) in sheep and goats. In Experiment 1, 18 Katahdin ewe lambs wereplaced in individual pens and were administered either 5ml garlic juice or waterdaily for 21 days. In Experiment 2, 22 naturally infected Boer-Spanish crossbredyearling does were randomly assigned treatments of papaya seeds or waterevery two days for 21 days. In Exp. 1, FEC increased over time for all animalsbut were not influenced by treatment. In Exp. 2, papaya seeds failed tosignificantly reduce FEC in goats. In this study, garlic juice and papaya seedswere not effective in reducing fecal egg counts in lambs and goats. More studiesare needed to evaluate the use of natural plant dewormers in small ruminants.

M. C. Gooden*, J. G. Schwarz, Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences, Universityof Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853; N. C. Whitley, North Carolina A&T StateUniversity, Cooperative Extension Program, Greensboro, NC 27420; and D. Jackson O’Brien,Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Delaware State University, Dover, DE 19901.

Research Briefs

Occurrence and Quantities ofSalmonella and E. coli in RunoffWater From Soil Amended WithVarious Manure Types

This study assessed thepotential for E. coli andSalmonella to travel throughrainfall-simulated runofffrom soil amended withdairy slurry, liquid swinemanure, poultry litter, and

Research Briefs

The Impact of Wild Birds and FarmManagement on Campylobacter andSalmonella in Small Ruminants

Bridget Hagens is agraduate student inthe Food Science &Technology program.

Her study, which is led by Virginia State University faculty, isdesigned to evaluate the potential pathways and control offoodborne pathogen transmission between wild birds andfarm animals. At two farms, one at Virginia State and one atUMES, a total of 14 one-acre pastures were each fenced tohost 12 sheep and goats. For the control group, pastures were

set up with open water tubs and grain pans to feedanimals and attract wild birds. In contrast,

the treatment group used nipplewaterers and custom feed pans.

Fecal and water sampleswere taken every twoweeks May-June andOctober-November fortwo years. The samples

were analyzed for thepresence of Salmonella and

4 | UNIVERSITY ofMARYLAND EASTERN SHORE

I can hardly contain my excitement, as I have been ableto see the pages of this edition of Ingenuity slowly unfold. Itwas clear to me early on that our theme would target thework of our young scientists. At times, however, words havefailed to portray the wonder of all that they do.

Our research briefs detail various graduate andundergraduate research projects, and several of our featuresdo the same. We here at the University of Maryland EasternShore (UMES) are indeed fostering knowledge andcelebrating discovery.

So as you journey through the upcoming pages,

Letter from the Editor

Campylobacter using selective plating, immunoassays, and/orbiochemical confirmation techniques. From small ruminantsand captured wild birds, respectively, 2880 and 440 fecalsamples were collected for pathogen detection. Campylobacterspp. were found in 5% and 8.2% of the fecal samples fromsmall ruminants and wild birds, respectively. C. jejuni wasisolated from 86% and 97% of corresponding positivesamples. Salmonella spp. were found in only 0.9% of fecesfrom small ruminants and 0.2% of wild birds. However, thepathogens were not detected in any water samples. Althoughwild birds seem to be more attracted to the feeding areas insome pastures with open water tubs and grain pans inautumn, there was no significant difference in pathogenprevalence between the control and treatment animal groupswhen analyzed by season or location. Pathogens isolatedduring this study were preserved for further characterizationand evaluation.

B. Hagens*, J. G. Schwarz, Department of Agriculture Food and ResourceSciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853; N.C. Whitley, North Carolina A&T State University, Cooperative ExtensionProgram, Greensboro, NC 27420; M. Wilson, Center forConservation Biology,College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187; J. Luchansky,USDA/ARS/ERRC Microbial Food Safety Research Unit, Wyndmoor, PA19038; and S. Wildeus, C.Kim, M. Ettinger, and S. Pao, Agricultural ResearchStation, Box 9061, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806.

understand that our world is in goodhands. Join us in celebrating theskillfulness . . . the originality . . . theINGENUITY of our young scientistswith this issue of the agriculturemagazine of the UMES AgriculturalExperiment Station.

Suzanne Waters StreetEditor-in-ChiefAgriculture Communications Specialist

to identify potential factorsaffecting the use of IPM practicesamong minority farmers onDelaware’s and Maryland’sEastern Shore. A survey of 70minority farmers was conducted incollaboration with the University ofMaryland Eastern Shore andDelaware State UniversityExtension offices in the fall of 2010.An econometric analysis (Tobit model) revealed that socio-economic factors such as gender, age, race, educational level,and farming experience impact the adoption of IPM practiceswhereas factors such as land tenure and farm location werenot statistically significant; thus, did not affect the adoptionof IPM practices among minority farmers. The implication ofthis study is that to be successful, Extension educators shouldfirst target minority farmers who are most likely open to newtechnology, new ideas, and/or agricultural practices. Theseinclude female, younger, and most experienced minorityfarmers. This study was presented at the 2010 ARD meetingsin Atlanta, GA.

K. Brown*, and S. L. Tubene, Department of Agriculture, Food and ResourceSciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853.

Determinants of the Adoption ofIntegrated Pest ManagementPrograms among Delaware andMaryland Minority Farmers

While mostestablished farmersrely on integrated pestmanagement (IPM)and related farmservices delivered byExtension services atland-grant universitiesto make informeddecisions and improve

the viability of their farms, minority farmers use theirpersonal relations and networks to access agriculturalinformation. Nevertheless, targeted federal programs such asOutreach for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers,the Northeast Integrated Pest Management Center, and theSustainable Agricultural Research and Education (SARE)program have provided needed technical assistance tominority farmers. Working in conjunction with Dr. StephanTubene in the Department of Agriculture, Food and ResourceSciences, undergraduate student Kimble Brown, Jr., is seeking

Traditionally, minority farmershave not fully participated instate and federal agriculturalprograms for several reasons,including lack of information,lack of interest, programirrelevancy, and lack ofresources.

Wild-birds are potential sourcesof enteric disease infections infarm animals.

Rainfall stimulated runoffwater is an avenue forcontamination of waterbodies and fresh produce bypathogenic microorganisms.

Ken Ballard, IPM WorkingGroup Member, on his farmin Princess Anne, MD. Photoby Dr. Stephan Tubene.

composted poultry litter. Two rainfall-simulation events wereconducted four days apart with manure-amended soilcontained in stainless-steel boxes. Rainfall was delivered atapproximately 7 cm h-1 for 40 minutes. Runoff water wascollected from soil boxes and analyzed for the presence ofSalmonella and E. coli. Initial concentrations of E. coli andSalmonella in dairy slurry were 6.61 and 4.60 log10 CFU/g,respectively, whereas initial concentrations in liquid swinemanure were 5.08 and 4.08 log10 CFU/ml, respectively.Salmonella and E. coli were both detected in runoff water fromdairy slurry, and liquid swine manure-amended soil duringthe first rainfall simulation at concentrations ofapproximately 2.0-3.2 log10 CFU/ml and 4.0-4.3 log10CFU/ml, respectively. Salmonellawas not detected in runoffwater from the second rainfall simulation, but E. coli wasdetected from dairy slurry, and liquid swine manure-amended soil at concentrations of approximately 2.6 log10CFU/ml. Although pathogens were not detected in thecomposted or non-composted poultry litter initially, E. coliwas detected in runoff water from composted poultry litter-amended soil during both rainfall simulation events at lowconcentrations, indicating the occurrence of microorganismre-growth in a finished compost. Pathogen levels were higherin runoff water immediately after manure was applied to soil,indicating that over time, soil retention can occur for some ofthe pathogen population. This study suggests that manuretypes and initial concentrations of pathogens in the manuresource can affect the quantity of pathogens that may becarried in runoff water. Brett Smith’s study was supervisedby Drs. Hashem, Allen, Marsh and Corrie Cotton at UMES,by Dr. P. Millner at the USDA-ARS in Beltsville, Maryland;and Drs. Kleinman and Bryant at the USDA-ARS, UniversityPark, PA.

B. D. Smith*, F. M. Hashem, A. L. Allen, C. P. Cotton, L. E. Marsh, and L. Kibet,University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princes Anne, MD 21853; P. Millner,USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705; P. Kleinman, and R. Bryant, USDA-ARS,University Park, PA 16802.

INGENUITYMAGAZINE - WINTER 2012 | 5

Integrating Specialty Crops inOrganic Culture on Delmarva

Typically, gingerdevelops tomaturityover an extended growingperiod but can potentially

be mass produced in shorter seasons through disease-free,actively growing transplants derived from micropropagation.The objective of graduate student Luke Lee’s study,conducted under the supervision of Drs. Lurline Marsh andBessie Green, was to examine the relationship between thesizes of bud explants derived from incubated stock rhizomesand microbial contamination. Three treatments of ginger budexplants, 1-2 mm, 3-4 mm, and 5-6 mm, with four replicationseach were cultured and contamination rates documented.The study was done nine times and buds were randomlyselected and their length and width measured. They were


Research Briefs

Ginger (Zingiber officinaleRosc) is an important spiceand a medicinal crop that isgrown for its rhizomes.

Head Start: Jump Start on a HealthyLifestyle Program/Pilot Study

This study,conducted bygraduate studentMelinda Schwarzand supervised byDr. VirginieZoumenou, aims topromote healthful

nutrition and physical activity behaviors in preschoolchildren at a Head Start (HS) center in Somerset County onMaryland’s Lower Eastern Shore through interactiveeducational programming. HS teachers received training onthe Eagle Book Series Curriculum that includes nutritionlessons, food safety, games, and gardening activities. The HScafeteria staff was also trained on how to prepare andintroduce fresh fruit and vegetables into the daily menus.

Plate waste methodology was used at mealtime to measurethe children’s fruit and vegetable preferences andconsumption. In collaboration with HS teachers, preschoolchildren completed pre and post surveys. The results showedthat the nutrition lessons through stories were effective inemphasizing healthy food choices and food origin. Inaddition, food demonstration sessions helped to encouragethe tasting of new fruits and vegetables. The fresh fruits andvegetables served during mealtime were positively receivedby staff and students. The consumption of new foodsincreased over time as they gained acceptance. Survey resultsalso showed that the preschool children’s drink choices andfood portion size choices improved, especially among girlsand younger preschoolers. These results indicate thatintroducing fresh fruit and vegetables that are associated withgardening activities into HS menus may help to improvepreschool children’s food preferences and choices.

M.A. Schwarz*, and V. Zoumenou, University of Maryland Extension,University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853.

In an effort to reduce the everincreasing childhood obesityproblem, the Head Start Jump Start Pilot Program was tested as a means to introduce nutrition experiential learning into preschool daily activities.

Trace Elements Runoff Losses fromSubsurface-applied Poultry Litter onCoastal Plain Soils

The application ofpoultry (Gallusgallus domesticus)litter to agriculturalsoils mayexacerbate losses oftrace elements in

runoff water, an emerging concern to water quality. Traceelements (arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, manganese,mercury, selenium, and zinc) were evaluated in surface runofffrom an agricultural soil with and without poultry litterapplication. Litter from a commercial operation was appliedby three methods – broadcast application, subsurfaceplacement using a new technology called the “Subsurfer,”and broadcast application followed by disking – to no-tillsoils with a long history of receiving litter. Soil monolithlysimeters (61 x 61 x 61cm) were extracted from each of thetreatments and subjected to rainfall simulation (1 hr, 61 mmh-1) 15 and 42 days after litter application. Cadmium, Cu,Mn, and Pb were not detected in runoff water, presumablydue to low concentration in the applied litter. Broadcastingpoultry litter significantly increased concentrations (mg L-1)and loads (g ha-1) of As and Zn in runoff during the firstrainfall event relative to other application methods. Notably,incorporating litter, either by disking after broadcasting or bysubsurface placement, lowered As and Zn in runoff relativeto background levels. By the second rainfall event, however,

there were no significant differences in As and Zn betweentreatments. Hg and Se were detected in runoff, probablyderived from edaphic sources as they were not detected inthe litter nor did they differ significantly between treatments.Results point to poultry litter as a temporary source of traceelements to runoff that is readily controlled by adjustingapplication methods. The study was conducted by graduatestudent Leonard Kibet and supervised by Drs. Allen, May,and Hashem in the Department of Agriculture, Food andResource Sciences at UMES; Drs. Church and Kleinman,USDA-ARS, Pasture Systems and Watershed ManagementResearch Unit, University Park, PA; Dr. Feyereisen, USDA-ARS, Soil & Water Management Research Unit, St. Paul, MN;and Dr. Way, USDA-ARS, National Soil Dynamics Laboratory,Auburn, AL.

L. C. Kibet*, A. L. Allen, F. Hashem, Department of Agriculture, Food andResource Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD21853; C. Church, P. J. . Kleinman, L. S. Saporito, USDA-ARS, Pasture Systemsand Watershed Management Research Unit, University Park, PA 16802; G. W.Feyereisen , USDA-ARS, Soil & Water Management Research Unit, St. Paul,MN 55108; and T. R. Way, USDA-ARS, National Soil Dynamics Laboratory,Auburn, AL 36832.

The production of approximately570 million chickens annually onthe Delmarva Peninsula is aprimary source of poultry litter used to fertilize farmlandsupporting crop production.

surface sterilized using 1% alconox and20% bleach and then triple rinsed with steriledistilled water. The bud explants were excisedfor each treatment and cultured on modifiedMurashige and Skoog medium supplementedwith 0.5 mg/L IAA, 0.1 mg/L BAP, 8 g/L agar

and 30 g/L sucrose. They were grown in vitro under a 16/8hour day/night, photoperiod at 250 C. There was nodifference in contamination between the different sizes ofbuds explants. However, contamination differed significantlyacross repeated trials of the incubated stock rhizomes. Thisstudy suggests that the size of the ginger bud explants cannotbe used as a factor when determining selection of explants toregenerate plants. This project is supported by the EvansAllen funded project, Integrating Specialty Crops in OrganicCulture on Delmarva.

L. Lee *, L. Marsh, and B. Green, Department of Agriculture, Food andResource Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD21853.


Drs. Allen (left) and Kleinman are pictured with the UMES Subsurfer.

Bangladesh is a major producer of shrimpand fish and an exporter of those products tothe U.S. In an effort to assist the industry inBangladesh with developing practices to guidethe production and handling of seafoodproducts, UMES and the Joint Institute forFood Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN)organized a 10-day train the trainer event fornine scientists from as many Bangladeshigovernment agencies and industryorganizations.

The scientists spent three of the 10 days inthe UMES Center for Food Science andTechnology, where Dr. Tom Rippen, Universityof Maryland Extension seafood technologyspecialist, Dr. Salina Parveen, UMES associateprofessor in food microbiology, and Dr.Michael Jahncke, director of the Virginia TechSeafood Extension Center provided theAdvanced Good Aquaculture Practices(GAqPs) training. The scientists plan toestablish a core training team in their country.

The trip, which also included a two-dayvisit to the Center for Environmental Scienceat Horn Point in Cambridge, Md., wasorganized by JIFSAN in College Park.

Food Science Trains, Aids Bangladesh Team

(Top) Lab instruction by Dr. Salina Parveen(Middle) Class in session.(Below) Group with Tom Rippen (center, white shirt)and Michael Jahncke (far left, back).

Linkage Spotlight


UMES agricultural experiment station researcherscontinue to work to provide enhanced knowledge andtechnology to improve the viability and sustainability ofagriculture and food systems; to enhance the quality ofnatural resources and the environment; and to servecommunities, families, and consumers. Several UMESscientists have worked collaboratively to secure funding in ahighly competitive environment. Consequently, in an arenawhere only the strong survive, USDA’s National Institute ofFood and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded the University ofMaryland Eastern Shore, in partnership with CornellUniversity and three other institutions, a $4.9 million grant tofund a project aimed at creating sustainable educationopportunities in STEM fields for professional educatorsinterested in bioenergy and bio-based products.

Dr. Corinne Rutzke of Cornell University is partneringwith Drs. Madhumi Mitra and Abhijit Nagchaudhuri ofUMES as well as with researchers from Delaware StateUniversity, the Pace Law School, and Ohio State University.UMES will take the lead for research and education outreachin biodiesel from vegetable oils and algae. Throughout thecourse of the study, information will be shared to helpeducators prepare students for the various career optionsavailable in the bioenergy and bio-based products field.

Mitra is serving as one of the co-investigators on thegrant as well as the lead researcher at UMES. UMES willreceive $462,906 in addition to stipends for professionaleducators. A tenured associate professor of biology andenvironmental sciences and a graduate faculty member of thesystem-wide Marine-Estuarine-Environmental SciencesProgram (MEES), Mitra is well versed in her fields of study.In addition to teaching, she performs as biology andchemistry education coordinator.

Mitra earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in botany atNorth Carolina State University and Master of Science andBachelor of Science degrees in botany in Calcutta, India. AtUMES her research is centered on marine algae, submergedaquatic vegetation, and environmentally-conscious precisionagriculture.

Nagchaudhuri is serving as co-investigator at UMES. Heis professor of engineering and aviation sciences and agraduate faculty member in agriculture, MEES, and computerscience. He earned a doctoral degree in mechanicalengineering at Duke University and a Master of Sciencedegree in the same field at Tulane University. He earned aBachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree in India. Hisresearch interests are robotics, control systems, precisionagriculture, remote sensing, and renewable energy.

The project is funded for five years through NIFA’sAgriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). AFRI’ssustainable bioenergy challenge area funds grants targetingthe development of regional systems for the sustainableproduction of bioenergy and bio-based products thatcontribute significantly to reducing dependence on foreignoil; have net positive social, environmental and ruraleconomic impacts; and are compatible with existingagricultural systems.

Raising the Bar,UMES Wins CompetitiveFunding


10 | UNIVERSITY ofMARYLAND EASTERN SHORE INGENUITYMAGAZINE - WINTER 2012| 11

UMES Researcher Earns Journal’s Best Article AwardDr. Arthur L. Allen is co-author of “Dynamics of Phosphorus Transfers from Heavily

Manured Coastal Plain Soils to Drainage,” which has been identified as one of the Journal ofSoil and Water Conservation’s most cited articles to date. It is also the source of Allen’s mostrecent award acknowledging that the paper is the journal’s Best Research Paper for Impact andQuality for 2011.

Allen’s research is largely centered on reducing soluble phosphorus losses to drainageditches while using synthetic gypsum and on a technology that involves applying dry poultrylitter beneath surface soil in order to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus in run-off into nearbywaterways that eventually pollute the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. He workscollaboratively with USDA-ARS scientists located on the Penn State University campus, Drs.Peter Kleinman, Brian Needelman, Andrew Sharpley, Peter Vadas, Lou Saporito, GordonFolmar and Ray Bryant.

Employed with the university since January 1996, Allen is an associate professor in theDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences. Administratively, he

serves as director of the university-wideGeospatial InformationTechnologies Center and asassociate research director for theUMES Agricultural ExperimentStation. The bulk of his time,however, is reserved for researchand research-related activities thatassist and encourage graduatestudents to value the importance ofprofessional development,publishing in refereed journals, andmaking presentations at professionalconferences. He has personallywritten and co-written more than 40published journal articles and twobook chapters.

As a researcher, Allen has attracted competitive funds to support his innovative research.Since 2007, he has been responsible for bringing or helping to bring some $4.3 million in grantsto the university. Most recently, he received a $2 million grant award (which included a $1million match from Constellation Energy, Inc. in Baltimore) from the Natural ResourceConservation Service. He has developed unique partnerships with USDA-ARS units at threelocations (Penn State University, Auburn University, and University of Arkansas’ Small FarmResearch Unit at Booneville, Arkansas) and an 1862 land-grant university, the University ofMaryland, College Park.


The University of Maryland Eastern Shore has a rich andworthy history, having been founded as the DelawareConference Academy on September 13, 1886. From its inceptionto present day, the university has been a beacon for many and asource of help for that many more. Thousands of students fromevery walk of life have studied within its hallowed halls andhave since gone out into the world to lead successful lives. Itsmission, one that grew out of a strong land-grant foundation, isnoble and relevant to a world that embraces diversity andglobalism. Its academic programs speak to local, and regional,and national needs.

When one considers the role of the School of Agriculturaland Natural Sciences in sustaining the university and leadingchange, it is fitting to note one of the school’s most significanthistorical changes. In 1919, less than 35 years after the founding,the state of Maryland assumed control of the academy, whichhad become known by then as Princess Anne Academy. Thename was changed to the Eastern Shore Branch of the MarylandAgricultural College, officially tying the school to the wellestablished Maryland Agricultural College in College Park, Md.Perhaps the acquisition further endorsed the program (PhysicalScience, Agriculture, and Dairying) that the academy wasoffering as early as 1913.

Indeed, the land-grant mission provided direction for the

Human Ecology This past year marked the 75th Anniversary of the

Department of Human Ecology as a 4-year undergraduatedegree-granting program. Although it can be argued thatthe Department of Home Economics began in 1925 duringthe time when the institution was known as Princess AnneAcademy, it was not until 1936 that four-year courses wereintroduced in agriculture, agricultural education, homeeconomics, home economics education, mechanic arts, andmechanic arts education.

The Department of Home Economics began offeringits first undergraduate degrees with just two faculty andseven students. Initially, two degree programs wereoffered: a Bachelor of Science degree in home economicseducation and a Bachelor of Science degree in generalhome economics. In 1980, the result of an academicreorganization, the department was re-named theDepartment of Human Ecology.

Over the last 75 years, things have changeddramatically. In 2011, the UMES Department of HumanEcology was the only Family and Consumer ScienceTeacher Education program in the state of Maryland. Thedepartment boasts a 100% employment rate for studentswho have graduated from the teacher education program.The 2009-2010 class of Dietetic Interns had a 100% passrate for the National Dietetic Registration Exam. Inaddition, the department offers a study abroad program,providing students with the opportunity to study in Paris,London, and eventually South Africa and Milan.

Over the last 10 years, the department has beenresponsible for bringing more than $3 million in grants tothe university; and that initial class comprising two facultyand seven students has since grown. Today, theDepartment of Human Ecology comprises 10 faculty, sixstaff, and 205 students, and it now offers an undergraduatedegree in human ecology with options in the followingareas: Child Development, Dietetics, Nutrition, Family andConsumer Sciences, Family and Consumer SciencesEducation, and Fashion Merchandising. Affiliated withthe department is the Child and Family DevelopmentCenter (CFDC), which is licensed for 102 children ages 6weeks through school age. The center provides qualityearly child care for the university and the local community.In addition, it serves as a demonstration site forundergraduate students in the Child Development andFamily and Consumer Science program options within theDepartment of Human Ecology.

school that was established on a shoestring budget for a peoplewho were not permitted at the time to attend majorityinstitutions. The agricultural and natural sciences provided astrong foundation, as it were, from which a strong and viableinstitution of higher learning evolved.

By 1930, maybe earlier, under the leadership of PrincipalThomas Henry Kiah and Robert Alexander Grigsby as vice-principal, a director of agriculture was appointed and two-yeardegrees were offered in agriculture and home economics. Oneyear later a “demonstration farm” emerges on the campus, and ahead of the Department of Home Economics was appointedshortly afterward.

Records show, that in 1934 eight degrees were awarded in


The Role of theSchool ofAgricultural andNatural Sciencesin Sustaining theUniversity andLeading ChangeBy Dr. Mortimer H. Neufville

agriculture and three in home economics. By the 1936-1937academic year, one degree program had been added to thecurriculum, Mechanic Arts. In addition, the college graduatedits first four-year college class. In 1946, another degree programwas added to the curriculum, the Arts and Sciences program.

Under the leadership of Dr. John Taylor Williams, evenmore structure was provided to help facilitate the advancementof the institution. Divisions were organized and leaders wereappointed. The Division of Arts and Sciences and the Divisionof Agriculture and Home Economics hosted the degreeprograms offered.

Enrollment at the school had grown from the initial 9students in 1886 to 125 students in 1913 and continued to dipand grow over the years. In 1939, 152 students were enrolled.The war years, however, impacted enrollment so that in 1944enrollment was down to 54 students. By 1946, it was back up to165 students.

Nearly 100 years beyond its founding, schools as opposedto divisions were established during a reorganization that wasinstituted by then president Dr. William P. Hytche and his vicepresident for academic affairs, Dr. Edward V. Ellis. Additionalresources resulted for the schools of Agricultural Sciences, Arts& Sciences, and Professional Studies, and more emphasis wasplaced on student recruitment, academic excellence, andresearch. In the fall of 1986, some 243 students were enrolled inthe School of Agricultural Sciences alone. Today, nearly 900students are enrolled.

Now known as the School of Agricultural and NaturalSciences, the school hosts forward-looking students whoconduct important research and dynamic faculty and seasonedresearchers who guide them. Over the last 10 years, researcherswithin the school have been responsible for attracting some $63million in grants and sponsored research funds. Award-winningresearch addressing real world concerns like global warming,the energy crisis, food safety, childhood obesity, and more isroutinely conducted as UMES works in tandem with otheruniversities and federal and state agencies to effect change andto add to the body of scientific knowledge. As a comprehensiveuniversity, UMES offers 33 undergraduate degree programs and19 graduate degree programs to some 4,500 students. And, ofcourse, agricultural courses have changed with the times. UMESno longer offers dairying, for example. Instead it offers food andagricultural sciences, animal and poultry sciences, agribusiness,and more.

As time goes on, our world will continue to evolve . . . andso will our university and our 1890 land-grant mission to fosterknowledge and celebrate discovery. UMES is proud of its 1890land-grant mission as we celebrate the journey of 125 years.

Dr. Mortimer Neufville provided strong leadershipfor the newly established School of AgriculturalSciences following the reorganization of theuniversity during the 80’s until 1996. His vision,knowledge, and tireless service helped position theuniversity nationally and internationally as a bonafide research university worthy of attractingfunding from foundations and U.S. governmentagencies to reach out to developing nations andhelp improve their agricultural productivity. Priorto returning to the university in 2011 to serve asinterim president, he served as executive vicepresident of the National Association of StateUniversities and Land-Grant Colleges.


Five years worth of research aimed atimproving the safety and qualitycharacteristics of seafood is whatdistinguishes Dr. Salina Parveen, a memberof the Agricultural Experiment Station atthe University of Maryland Eastern Shore(UMES).

Parveen, as associate professor in theUMES Food Science and Technology Ph.D.Program and in her role as principalinvestigator, has been awarded more than$1.2 million in external funding throughthe USDA National Institute of Food andAgriculture’s Capacity Building Grants

Program and the National Research Initiative to carry out her purposes. She has worked intandem with Dr. Jurgen Schwarz, UMES; Tom Rippen, Maryland Sea Grant; Dr. Mark Tamplin,University of Tasmania, Australia; Dr. Angelo DePaola and John Bowers, Food and DrugAdministration (FDA); Dr. Martin Wiedman, Cornell University; Drs. Michael Jahncke and DanKauffman, Virginia Tech; Kathy Brohawn, Maryland Department of Environment; and Dr. JohnLuchansky, USDA-ARS (Agriculture Research Service). Her study involving the prevalence,growth, survival, and control of Listeria momocytogenes in blue crab meat have yielded resultsindicating that raw live crabs and associated surfaces are potentially important sources of L.monocytogenes contamination in blue crab meat and in crab processing plants.

Findings have been shared with the Chesapeake Bay Seafood Industries Association and theMaryland Department of Agriculture Seafood Marketing Program as part of a Maryland crabmeatindustry continuous improvement program that provides biweekly reports customized for eachcrab processing plant. During the study, participating plants were assisted with Listeria controlstrategies, including sanitation protocols and cross-contamination prevention.

The group also investigated the effect of storage temperature on the growth and survival ofhuman foodborne pathogenic Vibrio bacteria in oysters. The results of the project fills data gaps ininternational risk assessment for these pathogens in oysters and will be used by the Food andAgriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the FDA, andorganizations in other countries to develop more accurate risk management practices. Moreover,

the FDA is planning to use the research findings in designing andimplementing a Vibrio control plan.

Seafood safety researchers at UMES have trained nineinternational scientists, one postdoctoral associate, one laboratorytechnician, 13 undergraduates and 11 graduates (four M.S. andseven Ph.D.) and has generated more than 35 invited presentations,peer reviewed journal articles, and abstracts.

UMESResearcher TargetsSeafoodSafety

Five years worth of research aimedat improving the safety and qualitycharacteristics of seafood

(Top left) Dr. Parveen, doctoral student Meshack Mudoh, laboratorytechnician Chanelle White and Master of Science Student RobertKorir are discussing the presence of Vibrio bacteria in oysters.

(Left) Dr. Salina Parveen and doctoral student Meshack Mudoh areusing Real Time PCR assay for detecting pathogenic Vibrio inoysters.


Hashem Awarded2010 Project ofExcellence Award

Research Associate Fawzy Hashem received a nod from theNational Institute of Food and Agriculture National Water Program forhis contribution in a study that examines E. coli and Salmonella in runoffwater on the Eastern Shore. He led the UMES research team during theproject, which consisted of Brett Smith, laboratory research technician;Dr. Arthur Allen, associate research director and associate professor;Corrie Cotton, research assistant professor; Dr. Lurline Marsh, professor;and Leonard Kibet, research graduate assistant. Dr. Pat Millner, researchmicrobiologist and soil scientist from USDA-ARS in Beltsville, Md., andDrs. Ray Bryant, research leader and soil scientist, and Peter Kleinman,soil scientist, from State College in Pennsylvania also collaborated onthe project.

Hashem’s award-winning presentation to the National WaterProgram was titled "Microbial Transport in Run Off from Soils Amendedwith Different Manure," and is a part of a larger UMES study titled“Pathogen Testing Metrics for GAPs in Delmarva Leafy Greens/FreshProduce and Poultry Litter Compost.”

"The success of the National Water Program is built upon the hardwork and dedication of water professionals like you who have gone togreat lengths to promote improvements in water resource management.Thank you for your considerable contribution,” said Michael O'Neill,national program leader, USDA-NIFA Water Resources Program.

Hashem has been a member of the UMES Agricultural ResearchStation team since 2000. His research interests are centered onenvironmental microbiology, microbial source tracking, biologicalcontrol, bioremediation, phytoremediation, plant-microbe interactions,environmental pollution, and food safety. He has to his credit numeroushonors, awards, and recognitions, to include a 2006 first place award foroutstanding achievement in environmental stewardship and bio-security, given at the 14th Biennial Research Symposium of theAssociation of Research Directors, Inc..

Throughout his career in research, he has made several discoveries:1) Rhizobium fredii, a soybean-nodulating bacteria, can also effectivelynodulate alfalfa; and 2) the bacterial viruses of the fastest-growingsoybean-nodulating bacteria, Sinorhizobiurn fredii. He holds membershipin the American Honor Society of Agriculture, the American Society ofAgronomy, the Soil Science Society of America, the Crop Science Societyof America, the American Society for Microbiology, the InternationalAssociation of Food Protection, and the European Society ofMicrobiology and has authored or co-authored a host of scientificarticles.

The mission of the National Water Program is to create anddisseminate knowledge that ensures a safe and reliable source of waterof the appropriate quality to meet the needs of food and fiberproduction; human health, use, and economic growth; and themaintenance and protection of natural environmental systems.Knowledge created through funded projects like Hashem’s is shared atthe community and watershed scales via education and outreachactivities.



Using gypsum curtains to reduce the amount of solublephosphorus and other harmful elements that reach theChesapeake Bay is a novel idea that has drawn the interest ofthe administrators of the Natural Resource ConservationService’s Conservation Innovation Grants Program. A $2million grant is a testament as to just how much interest thereis for this research.

As principal investigator, Dr. Arthur Allen regularlytests the effectiveness of the curtain as a barrier comprised offlue gas desulfurization flyash (FGD) gypsum, a by-productof coal-fired power generation that will be used to precipitatesoluble phosphorus (P) and thereby reduce P concentrationsin groundwater before it enters drainage ditches.

In the sandy soils on the flat landscapes of the EasternShore, downward leaching and the lateral flow of water

Grant Funds Curtain Project

containing high concentrations of soluble P derived fromlegacy P sources is the dominant pathway of P movementfrom field to drainage ditches. Gypsum curtains have beeninstalled by excavating trenches (curtains 1 ft wide by 5 ftdeep) that are parallel to drainage ditches or tile drains andbackfilled with FGD gypsum.

The solubility of gypsum supports a high concentrationof calcium in a solution that reacts with soluble P to form aninsoluble calcium phosphate precipitate. After the curtainslose their effectiveness, they can be excavated and removedfrom the watershed or left buried in an insoluble particulateform. Allen’s work is in concert with a unique partnership heinitiated in 1999 with the USDA-ARS unit located on thecampus of Penn State University. This is the first CIG grantever awarded to an 1890 institution.

INGENUITYMAGAZINE - WINTER 2012 |21

ResearchGRADUATE / UNDERGRADUATE

UMES StudentResearchers WinARD Awards

Several University of Maryland Eastern Shore(UMES) researchers are recipients of awards won at the16th Biennial Research Symposium of the Association ofResearch Directors (ARD) held in Atlanta, Ga. XavierHenry and Mark Gooden were recognized among some700 faculty, staff, researchers and students representingthe 1890 Land-Grant Universities (17) and Tuskegee.

Guided by the theme, “1890 Research: SustainableSolutions for Current and Emerging Issues,” more than300 undergraduate and graduate students competed forrecognition in an oral competition as well as in a postercompetition. Faculty presentations were non-competitive.

Xavier Henry, professional pilot via the UMESAviation Sciences program and graduate studentspecializing in food and agricultural science, won firstplace ahead of 26 other competitors in the graduatestudent oral presentation competition. A part of theSustainable Plant and Animal Production Systemscategory, his research is titled “Using Variable RateSeeding to Maximize Corn Yield and Profit on a Fieldwith Management Zones.”

Mark Gooden, doctoral student in the Food Scienceand Technology Ph.D. Program, placed third in thegraduate poster presentation competition in the area ofSustainable Plant and Animal Production Systems aswell. His research is titled “Effect of Garlic and PapayaSeed on Fecal Egg Counts in Sheep and Goats.” Goodenreturned to UMES to earn a doctorate degree afterearning a Master of Science degree in poultry science in1996. Prior to returning to the university, he taught in anagricultural college in Jamaica.

Having as its motto “Progress through Researchand Service,” the ARD brings together theadministrators of the 1890 Research Programs toconduct regional research projects and initiatives and tocollectively promote the training of young researchersas well as the research goals of their institutions in away that benefits their states, their regions, and theirnation.

Both members of the UMES AgriculturalExperiment Station (AES), Henry and Gooden work,along with other researchers, to provide enhancedknowledge and technology to improve the viability andsustainability of agriculture and food systems; enhancethe quality of natural resources and the environment;and serve communities, families, and consumers.


Dr.AnugrahShaw,professor andtextiletechnologist inthe Departmentof HumanEcology, isinternationally-known for herextensiveresearch inprotectiveclothing forpesticideapplicators.

Spanningmore than two decades, her studies are the basis of acomprehensive database that includes data for more than 130fabrics that were evaluated at UMES. She has tirelessly worked tohelp establish the standardization of test methods, thedevelopment of performance specifications, and studies related tothe development and evaluation of personal protectiveequipment for hot climates. For her research, she was presentedthe Excellence in Multistate Research Award during the 16thBiennial Research Symposium.

Dr. Anugrah Shaw providesone-on-one instruction.

Xavier Henry (center) and colleague M. Umair Afridi (right) tests aremote sensing camera that's attached to a kite line as Dr. AbhijitNagchaudhuri (left) looks on.

• USDA/1890 Program Liaison Lisa C. Purnell isresponsible for recruiting five national scholars to theUSDA/1890 National Scholars Program during academicyear 2010-2011. One of the national scholars is enrolled atUMES, three at Delaware State University, and one at


• Dr. Fawzy M. Hashem is a collaborator representing theUniversity of Maryland Eastern Shore on a $9.7 milliongrant project, “Developing Scientifically-Based ConsensusFood Safety Metrics for Leafy Greens and Tomatoes,” ledby the University of Maryland College Park. Othercollaborators represent the University of California,Davis; Cornell University; the University of Delaware; theUniversity of Florida; Ohio State University; RutgersUniversity; the FDA; the USDA-ARS; the WesternGrowers Association of Newport Beach, Calif.; and theUnited Fresh Produce Association of Washington, D.C.The purpose of the study is to address the continuingoutbreaks of foodborne disease associated with fresh andfresh-cut produce, which are considered as potentialvehicles for pathogenic microorganisms. It’s long-termgoals are to provide scientific and technologicalknowledge and data needed by the produce industry andgovernment agencies to develop/modify and ultimatelyvalidate scientifically supportable and consensus producesafety metrics that are applicable in a variety of growingregions and countries, to provide scientific andtechnological knowledge to develop other consensusmetrics important to enhancing produce safety, and toidentify improved approaches and techniques that allowthe attainment of the metrics to be verified simply andcost effectively.

Virginia State University. Over a three-yearstint at UMES, Purnell has recruited andpersonally mentored 9 students, 3 of whomhave graduated. While the USDA//1890National Scholars Program aims tostrengthen the long-term partnershipbetween the USDA and the 1890 Land-Grant Universities and offers careeropportunities to USDA/1890 NationalScholars, it most closely identifies with themission of the land-grants to increase thenumber of students studying agriculture,food, natural resource sciences, and otherrelated disciplines.

• The Mid-Atlantic Region EducationalInstitution and Federal LaboratoryPartnership Award recognizes the efforts offederal science and technology employeesand educational institutions in the regionwho have collaboratively accomplishedoutstanding work in the process oftransferring a technology. For collaborativework with two Agricultural ResearchService laboratories and five otheruniversities throughout the Mid-Atlanticstates, Dr. Arthur Allen and hiscollaborators have been awarded theEducational Institutional and FederalLaboratory Partnership Award. Thepurpose of the study is to quantify theeffects of the subsurface application ofmanure and poultry litter on crop response,nutrient losses, and odor emissions inminimum tillage crop production systemsand transferring that technology to farmersthroughout the Mid-Atlantic states.

• Dr. Enrique Escobar, assistant professor forsmall ruminant production andmanagement, is the recipient of a 2011Capacity Building Grant for his researchconcerning the management of unwantedvegetation using small ruminants (sheepand goats) in tree farms and recreationalareas on Delmarva.

POINTS OF PRIDE


INGENUITYMAGAZINE - WINTER 2012

Food Science and Technology CenterThe UMES Food Science and Technology Center is a state-

of-the-art facility. The 37,250 square foot facility containslaboratories for the quantification and identification ofpathogenic and spoilage microorganisms; research in foodpreparation and handling, product testing, and productdevelopment/enhancement; food composition analysis andresearch in food safety, food quality, and product shelf life;process development and research in food handling andpackaging; and isolation and characterization of microorganismsat the genetic level. Other amenities include frozen storage,refrigerated handling and storage, an animal room for growingchickens, lecture and demonstration rooms, offices andconference spaces, a library, and a computer laboratory.

The Center houses the Ph.D. program in Food Science and

Technology and the UMES/ARS Center of Excellence FoodSafety Program. Research, education, and extension programsfocus on the safety and quality of foods, including formulatingnew or modified foods that meet the needs of consumers andindustry, developing innovative processing methods, andpredicting existing or potential conditions that compromise foodsafety. Special emphasis is placed on poultry, seafood, produce,and small farm animals. Some teaching and research programsfocus on food defense, a critical national priority. Such programsrelate to agricultural sustainability, food safety, and protectingbiodiversity. At the Center, faculty teach future scientists, trainand work collaboratively with the food industry and faculty atother universities, and provide educational programs with alliedstate and federal agencies.

• Daniel Kuennen, director of the UMES RuralDevelopment Center and special assistant to the presidentfor university outreach & community engagement, wasawarded a 2011 Capacity Building Grant for the purposeof further developing the family FARMS (Farmers’ Accessto Regional Markets) model of training and developingsustainable, profitable organic greenhouse vegetableproduction networks on the Eastern Shore.

• Dr. Lurline Marsh, professor in the Department ofAgriculture, Food and Natural Resources, is the recipientof a 2011 Capacity Building Grant aimed at positivelyimpacting the declining number of graduate students inthe food and agricultural sciences.

• Sociology major Ray Lockamy won first place in thewritten essay contest at the MANRRS 26th Annual CareerFair and Training Conference in Overland Park, Kansas.MANNRS is a non-profit, national organization thatprovides its student members (junior high school throughdoctoral programs) with support to become productive

citizens by encouraging leadership developmentactivities, educational opportunities, job readinesstraining, and by facilitating internship placement andpermanent employment, with special emphasis onagriculture, natural resources, and related sciences. TheUMES MANNRS Chapter is open to all UMES students.

• Luke Lee and Miriam Dorman, both general agriculturemajors studying plant and soil science, received theMaryland Greenhouse Growers Association scholarship.They competed with students from various universities inthe state of Maryland. UMES received two out of thethree scholarships given.

• Miriam Dorman won second place in the Research PosterCompetition at the 2011 American Society forHorticultural Science Annual Conference in Waikola,Hawaii. Her poster was entitled “Azospirillum andVesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Use in OrnamentalCrop Production.”

This magazine is a publication of theAgricultural Experiment Station.

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