The umes extension program is focused on 4 strategic areas: 1) agriculture and food, with a focus on food security, 2) natural resou rces and environmental resilience, 3) human health and development,…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded $4,074,554 to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) on October 1, 2025, under the Extension Services at 1890 Colleges and Tuskegee University program (CFDA 10.512), a formula grant supporting agricultural and forestry extension activities at eligible 1890 land-grant institutions.

UMES delivers extension programming across Maryland organized around four strategic areas: agriculture and food with focus on food security, natural resources and environmental resilience, human health and development, and products to market. Within agricultural production and plant and animal health, UMES provides targeted outreach in livestock management (sheep, goats, poultry, and honeybees) and horticultural programming for specialty crop growers including fruits and vegetables, emphasizing locally relevant scientific practices that enhance productivity, ecosystem stewardship, and economic opportunity for small- and large-scale and urban farmers and gardeners. Food, nutrition, health and wellness programming advances neighborhood well-being through integrated education in nutrition and physical health, equipping individuals and families with knowledge and tools to make healthier food choices, engage in regular physical activity, and reduce risk factors for chronic disease. The extension program addresses the needs of all Marylanders and directs resources toward four critical operational issues: supporting rural prosperity, placing the American farmer at the center of efforts, and delivering outcomes aligned with USDA-NIFA priorities and key strategic areas identified by ECOP and AgInnovation.

The award runs through September 30, 2030, with place of performance in Maryland.

The umes extension program is focused on 4 strategic areas: 1) agriculture and food, with a focus on food security, 2) natural resou rces and environmental resilience, 3) human health and development, and 4) products to market. Umes strives to educate the next generation workforce in the food, agricultural and related sciences. Umes' extension programs address the needs of all marylanders. To f ulfill maryland's extension goals, umes has identified four critical issues as operational drivers to deliver outcomes within the strategic priority areas. These issues are focused on supporting rural prosperity and placing the american farmer first, and at the center of all efforts. These issues are directly linked to the key strategic areas identified by ecop and aginnovation, and address USDA-nifa priorities. The issues will be the focus of umes' 2026-2030 plan of work and will be used to direct resources under the umes 1890 extension program. The four critical issues are as follows: a) agricultural production, plant and animal health: umes extension will support the productivity and resilience of maryland's varied agricultural systems through targeted outreach in animal and crop agriculture. Livestock programming will focus on managing sheep, goats, poultry, and honeybees. Horticultural outreach will focus on specialty crop growers including fruits and vegetables. Across all initiatives, emphasis will be placed on locally relevant, scientific practices that enhance productivity, ecosystem stewardship, and economic opportunity for small- and large-scale, and urban farmers, and gardeners. B) food, nutrition, health and wellness: programming will focus on advancing neighborhood well-being through integrated education in nutrition, and physical health. Family and consumer sciences programming will focus on equipping individuals and families with the knowledge and tools to make healthier food choices, engage in regular physical activity, and reduce risk factors for chronic diseases. C) natural resources and ecosystem health: programming will be focused on promoting ecosystem stewardship through activities centered around air and water interactions, nutrient cycling, and ecological longevity. Other efforts will be focused on emerging issues likely to impinge on agriculture including contaminants such as PFAS. Efforts will also address extension education on disease vectors including mosquitoes and ticks. D) 4-h youth, family, and economic development: programming will be focused on strengthening youth development, family support, and rural economic vitality. The 4-h stem and youth development program will promote scientific literacy, agricultural awareness, and college and career readiness through initiatives such as agventure, hands-on stem activities, leadership training, and strategic linkages with other relevant, such as the maryland world food prize youth INS titute. Economic development specialists will support agricultural entrepreneurship through agribusiness training, promotion of and training about value-added initiatives such as agritourism, and provision of agricultural law education tailored to small operations. Financial literacy and heirs' property outreach will empower families to build generational wealth and secure land tenure, while promoting money management skills in youth. Small farm outreach programs will offer education to improve farmer profitability, increase knowledge of specialty crops, and enhance skills in direct marketing and farm business management. These programs will foster selfreliance, youth empowerment, and long-term economic development across maryland. In parallel, agricultural communications will enhance the reach and effectiveness of extension messaging, using traditional and innovative strategies to improve public understanding, knowledge and engagement with a view to strengthen connections between science, agriculture and residents across maryland.