During my internship with mentors
Kurt and Veronica, we explored various farming methods at the Wye Research
Education Farm, including cover crop studies, Integrated Pest Management (IPM),
crop rotation, no till and tillage methods, as well as pesticides, herbicides,
fungicide, and fertilizer treatments, along with climate control practices. As
much of our work focuses on improving soil health, enhancing management
practices, and addressing climate-related challenges. The data and research we
gather are shared with farmers and growers to help them overcome issues with
crops, weeds, pests, and environmental challenges, offering guidance on how to
manage these problems for a more successful yield.
Monday, I helped Jadon and Veronica
at the Wye. Me and Jadon flame-weeded soybean plots 10 & 20 organic plots.
After that, we measured the watermelon vine lengths and check the stand count
of watermelons in each plot. Then, I went with Veronica to help her with her
tomato trial, counting thrips, which there really wasn't much at all, which is
disappointing because the trial is to see how the pesticide does with
controlling the thrips on the tomato plants, but there is barely any thrips to
do anything right now. We also checked out the insect traps around the Wye farm
to see what has been caught. In the afternoon, I finished week 7 blog and then
watched the discussion activity for the week 8 weekly Zoom meeting. Attended
the intern's weekly Zoom connection meeting.
Tuesday, I helped Jadon at the Wye.
We rated soybean trials, we are seeing if the herbicides sprayed is doing what
it's supposed to and seeing what new weeds have come up. Then, we turned
watermelon vines because it is easier to get close to the watermelon plants
when spraying them when the vines are turned and not spread all around and in
the aisle. I helped Jadon prepare pesticide bottles for the next day, as he had
to spray an off-site soybean field.
Wednesday, I worked on some
computer work in the morning at the Wye. Then I went with Veronica to Salisbury
Research Center and rated black plastic to see how the bio degradable black
plastic is holding up throughout the planting season and then at the end of the
season, going to see how the black plastic breaks down in the soil. There are different
brands of the plastic but all bio degradable and some were thin to thick
plastic. We also hoed green carpet weeds out of the aisles in her pepper trial.
Thursday, I went with Veronica to
the Beltsville Research Center to help her with her tomato trial. Took shade
cloths off to spray calcium on some plots of the tomatoes and I strung tomatoes
and then we put everything back where they belong.
Friday, I helped Veronica at the
Wye. We strung tomatoes. The tomatoes have some pests on them that are leaving
spots on the leaves and fruit and we discovered it is garden flea hopper bugs,
we are seeing nymphs and grownups. We looked at them under the microscope.
Then, we looked for beneficial pests for the twilight tour next week for
Veronica's talk.
Turning watermelon vines to clear up the alley
ways when spraying.
Biodegradable black plastic. After hoeing the green carpet weeds out of the alley ways
.
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Scouting sweet corn, looking for beneficial pests for Veronica's talk at the Twilight Tour. |
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