RESEARCH AND PROGRAMS

The Maryland State Horticultural Society uses the membership dues to provide grants for research projects that are designed to improve producer profitability and it supports several educational programs (Western Maryland Regional Fruit Meeting, WMREC Twilight Meeting, Summer Tour) for the Maryland grower.

Grants awarded in 2018

Continuation of Monitoring for Fungicide Resistance in Maryland for Small Fruit and Stone Fruit Orchards, Dr. Guido Schnabel, Professor and Extension Specialist, Clemson University.
Integrating Pruning and Water Carrier Volume for Optimized Spray Coverage and Management of Spotted Wing Drosophila in Fall Bearing Red Raspberries. Approved for the second year, Dr. Kelly Ann Hamby, Entomologist, University of Maryland. (see research report)
Adjustment to the Strawberry Advisory System (SAS) for Botrytis Control When Using Floating Row Covers. Approved for the second year, Mike Newel, UMD Extension Specialist, WyeREC.
Variety Evaluation of Several Newer Strawberry Selections Grown in the Annual Plasticulture System, Mike Newel, UMD Extension Specialist, WyeREC.
Continuation of Implementing the Strawberry Advisory System (SAS) in Maryland, Dr. Mengjun Hu, Pathologist, University of Maryland.
Mitigating Fire Blight in High Density Apple Orchards, Dr. Kari Peter, Penn State University, FREC. (see research report).
Grafting the Apple Varieties from Dr. Arthur Thompson’s Block to a New Location for Better Maintenance at WMREC, Bryan Butler, UMD Extension Educator.
Apple Orchard Maintenance for the Trellis System Trials at WMREC, Bryan Butler, UMD Extension Educator.
Travel funds for Horticultural Programing and Orchard Visits, Bryan Butler, UMD Extension Educator.
Twilight Meeting at WMREC Funds, Bryan Butler, UMD Extension Educator.
Pomology Faculty Fund, Dr. Chris Walsh, Horticulture Professor, UMD.

Grants awarded in 2017

Enhancing the Effectiveness of Fungicides in Killing Powdery Mildew, Dr. Shunyuan Xiao.
Continuation of Monitoring for Fungicide Resistance in Maryland for Small Fruit and Stone Fruit Orchards. Dr. Guido Schnabel, Professor and Extension Specialist, Clemson University.
Integrating Pruning and Water Carrier Volume for Optimized Spray Coverage and Management of Spotted Wing Drosophila in Fall Bearing Red Raspberries. Dr. Kelly Ann Hamby, University of Maryland.
Adjustment to the Strawberry Advisory System (SAS) When Using Floating Row Covers, M. Newell, WyeREC.
Mitigating Fire Blight in High Density Apple Orchards. Dr. Kari Peter, Penn State University, FREC
Travel funds for Horticultural programing and orchard visits. B. Butler.
Support of WMREC Extension meetings. B. Butler

Grants awarded in 2016

Improving Diagnosis and Control of Black Root Rot in Mid-Atlantic Perennial Strawberries. Year 2. Dr. Cassandra Swett, University of Maryland.
WMREC Tree Fruit Projects: Participation in the NC 140 project; Rootstock research on G 11, G30, G41, G202, G214, G222, G935, G969, Bud9, M9 (Nakb337), all grafted to various varieties; Re-establishing Dr. Thompson’s variety block on G11 trellised and G969 free standing trees, B. Butler, WMREC.
Continuation of Monitoring for Fungicide Resistance in Maryland for Small Fruit and Stone Fruit Orchards. Year 3. Dr. Guido Schnabel, Professor and Extension Specialist, Clemson University.
Optimizing Water Carrier Volume for Improved Spray Coverage and Management of Spotted Wing Drosophila in fall bearing red raspberries. Kelly Ann Hamby, University of Maryland.
Developing Strategies for Fall Floating Row Cover Deployment and their Effect on Spring Yields in the Plasticulture Strawberries, M. Newell, WyeREC.
Mitigating Fire Blight in high density apple orchards using various rates of Apogee compared to Actigard. Dr. Kari Peter, Penn State University, FREC

Grants awarded in 2015

Improving Diagnosis and Control of Black Root Rot in Mid-Atlantic Perennial Strawberries by Dr. Cassandra Swett, University of Maryland.
Effect of Kaolin Clay on Pesticide Residues Preliminary Study by Dr. Jane DuBois, University of Maryland.
Continuation of Monitoring for Fungicide Resistance in Maryland for Small Fruit and Stone Fruit Orchards. Dr. Guido Schnabel, Professor and Extension Specialist, Clemson University.

Grants awarded in 2014

Continuation of "Monitoring for Fungicide Resistance in Maryland for Small Fruit and Stone Fruit Orchards." Dr. Guido Schnabel, Professor and Extension Specialist, Clemson University.
Continuation of "Demonstration Plots of Alternatives to Chemical Fumigation for the Annual Strawberry Plasticulture System." Plots compare Biofence, Dazitol and Vapam along with comparing Purdue chicken pellets vs chemical fertilizer and Integrate as a soil conditioner. Mike Newell, Wye Research and Education Center, University of Maryland.
Support Tree Fruit projects at Western Maryland Research and Education Center including: 1) Evaluation of Brookville Gala and Cripp’s Pink on three rootstocks G. 41,C.G 202 and G. 935; 2) Participation in 2014 NC-140 planting; 3) Fireblight Tolerance of Fuji on 18 rootstocks; and 4. Site Preparation and Trellis construction of the 2015 planting of Fuji on G.41, G.214, G.202, G.935, G.11, G.222 and Bud 9. Bryan Butler, University of Maryland Extension.