Personnel

State Specialists:

Gerald Brust, IPM Vegetable Specialist-Entomology and Horticulture

I am located at the Lower Eastern Shore Research and Education Center in Salisbury. My background is in agroecosystem management with an emphasis on biological IPM. I received a Masters Degree from Ohio State University, where I studied no-till systems and their effect on predator/prey relationships. For my Ph.D at North Carolina State University, I looked at below-ground predators in peanut systems. After graduation I was a Vegetable IPM Specialist at Purdue University, where I worked primarily with cucurbits. Prior to coming to Maryland, I worked for five years as director of research for a private crop consulting company in south Florida. I focus on developing economic and practical solutions that work within the growers’ production practices and use reduced risk inputs. I would like to develop similar programs for managing vegetable crop pests and fertility problems in Maryland, and I’m looking for input from growers for project ideas. Are there specific pest or production problems you would like to see addressed? Hopefully I can do something to make it more efficient and cost-effective for you to produce your crop. Any ideas can be sent to me at jbrust@umd.edu.

Kate Everts, Plant Pathology Vegetable Specialist

I am a Professor and Extension Vegetable Plant Pathologist with the University of Maryland and the University of Delaware. I conduct epidemiological research on fungal plant pathogens as well as local mission-oriented research on management of vegetable diseases. Vegetable farming practices are changing in response to increasing population pressure, which reduces land availability. Also, new environmental regulations such as FQPA and the phase-out of methyl bromide, have reduced fungicide management options. My vegetable disease management program conducts experiments on biofungicides, reduced-risk fungicides and cultural practices that minimize disease. In collaboration with Dr. Xin-Gen Zhou, who has conducted fundamental research on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum, the cause of Fusarium wilt of watermelon, I have developed alternative management programs for soilborne and foliar diseases of watermelon using cover crops and reduced risk fungicides. We are particularly interested in cultural or chemical tactics that enhance the ability of vegetable plants to resist disease. We also disseminate weather-based disease forecasting information for watermelon and muskmelons http://www.agnr.umd.edu//users/vegdisease/vegdisease.htm during May to August.

Agricultural Extension Educators:

Laura Hunsberger
Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources & County Extension Director. Somerset and Wicomico Cos.

Is the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Agriculture Educator for Worcester County. Her local responsibilities include fruits, vegetables, small farms and organic agriculture for the tri-county area. Her graduate degree was obtained at the University of Massachusetts where she studied weed management on cranberry bogs. Since working for the University, she has focused her research on organic production of edamame and organic weed management. Her other focus is on the promotion of local agriculture and eating in season.

Benjamin Beale
Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources & Co-County Extension Director. St. Mary’s Co. Vegetable production: disease, weed and insect control

Bryan Butler
Senior Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources & County Extension Director. Carroll Co. Vegetables and High tunnel expert

David Martin
Senior Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources & County Extension Director. Baltimore Co. General Vegetable production

R. David Myers
Senior Agent & Area Extension Educator, Agriculture & Natural Resources & County Extension Director. Anne Arundel Co. Grapes, fruit trees, weed control in vegetables, no-till vegetables

James Lewis
Senior Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources & County Extension Director. Caroline Co. Vegetable production practices

Home and Garden: Residents of Maryland can call toll-free to speak to a horticulture consultant: Home and Garden Hotline: 800-342-2507

Jon Traunfeld

Jon trains Master Gardeners and community groups in vegetable garden culture and IPM. He conducts research and demonstration projects in compost utilization, organic pest management, and container vegetable production. Jon is also the Director of the Home and Garden Information Center and State Coordinator for the Maryland Master Gardener Program.
Home and Garden Information center: www.hgic.umd.edu

Master Gardener’s: www.mastergardener.umd.edu

David Clement
Senior Agent, Plant Pathologist, Home and Garden Center

For more information, contact Dr. Gerald Brust

Last updated: 10/5/2009