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Pearl Crescent Butterfly on a Cone Flower in the Charles County Extension Garden
Photo credit: Judy Crawford
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Welcome, Gilbert (BJ) Bowling ~
Charles County's Newest Team Member!
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My name is Gilbert B.J. Bowling, and I’m excited to introduce myself as the new Nutrient Management Advisor for Charles County with the University of Maryland.
As a seventh-generation farmer, agriculture runs deep in my roots. I currently raise beef cattle alongside my father at our family’s operation, Newport Valley Farm.
Growing up immersed in farm life has given me firsthand knowledge of the challenges and rewards that come with the job, and it’s this experience that drives my commitment to supporting our local agricultural community.
In my new role, my goal is to serve as a bridge between farmers and the University of Maryland by providing practical resources, technical support, and science-based solutions to help make your operations more productive and efficient. I believe strong relationships and open communication are key to successful farm management, and I look forward to working alongside you to support sustainable practices and ensure continued success for agriculture in Charles County. Please don’t hesitate to reach out—I'm here to help.
BJ can be reached at 301-226-7514, gbowlin1@umd.edu
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The United States Congress passed a budget reconciliation bill that eliminates federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) at the end of the current federal fiscal year, September 30, 2025.
We want to thank Charles County for your partnership with SNAP-Ed over the years. Together we made tremendous impacts toward improving food security and prioritizing health and nutrition for our communities across Maryland.
Our work throughout the county ended on a high note: supporting 10 Title I Elementary Schools, countywide Pre-K 3 classrooms, countywide cafeteria staff, 6 food assistance sites, and the La Plata Farmers Market, with nutrition education and resources. Overall, this work touched nearly 2,000 individuals (FY24).
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We have been working with partners over the past couple of months to wind down SNAP-Ed-supported program efforts, and provide training and resources to support work that can continue after our departure. Our programmatic websites and content will remain active and available to aid in these efforts moving forward.
While SNAP-Ed funding and programming will end, the University of Maryland Extension remains dedicated to serving communities across the state with its broader educational and outreach mission.
The Extension office is committed to improving the health and well-being of children and adults, and will continue to seek ways to advance this vital work across the state.
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Jessica Conjour, MPH
Project Leader and Nutrition Educator
jconjour@umd.edu
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Khylah Harris
Nutrition Educator
Maryland SNAP-Ed
kvharris@umd.edu
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Chanda Banks
Program Assistant
Maryland SNAP-Ed
cerbanks@umd.edu
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Buy 4-H Meat to Fill Your Freezer!
Bonnie Boyden
4-H Program Management Specialist
bboyden@umd.edu
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Going Once, Going Twice, Sold! That is what you will hear on Saturday, September 13, at the Charles County Fair 4-H Livestock Auction. 4-H’ers will be excited to hear that word after working to raise the high quality beef, goats, sheep and swine for the consumer to purchase for their freezer.
Many of the 4-H’ers start raising their beef project as soon as the fair is over in September. The goat, sheep and swine youth project timeline is from April till September. 4-H has high standards of care for the animals that are exhibited at the shows. 4-H and the fair gives youth a good, solid motivation for practicing the best animal care and to educate themselves on how to raise a high quality animal for the consumer. This is done by youth participating in Quality Assurance classes on care, feeding techniques and animal health.
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The 4-H livestock project also teaches youth how to properly run a small business. The
4-H’er must keep business records that are audited at the end of the 4-H year. If the records are incorrect or poorly kept, they miss out on the chance to win awards and prizes. It is a simple incentive to encourage proper bookkeeping, financial responsibility, and husbandry practices in young producers.
The show ring aspect helps to build self-esteem and confidence, by working together with their animal to place at the top of the class. The confidence gained by the youth is not built through the “everyone’s a winner” mentality; it is built through hard work, earned achievements, and long hours of caring for these animals. It teaches them to handle the difficult, daunting, and sometimes-unpleasant task of producing agricultural goods for our country (and the rest of the world).
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4-H allows children to learn about these necessities and processes; it does not desensitize them to it all. If anything, it fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation for the hard work, care, and attention to detail that it takes to raise animals for sustenance. We invite you come and observe for yourself the youth and their animals in action.
Come to the Charles County Fair 4-H Auction and support the youth in this life changing project.
DATE – Saturday, September 13, 2025
TIME – 4:00 pm
PLACE – MAIN SHOW RING AT THE FAIR
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL:
Bonnie at 301-653-1285
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Camps Connect With 4-H'ers With Lifetime Skills and Friends!
The Charles County 4-H program just completed a fantastic summer camp of learn by doing in the mountains of Western MD. Youth between the ages of 8 and 18 experienced many wonderful activities and classes from canoeing to team building. At both our day and overnight camp youth learn, independence, mastering of new projects, working together as one unit and creating friendships that last a lifetime.
The camp could not happen without the outstanding group of volunteers who give freely of their time to help each youth have that once in a life time feeling of accomplishing a certain task and learning a new life skill. Day and Overnight camp both allow the youth to sign-up for 3 classes of their choice such as ceramics, archery, woodworking, and gardening to name a few that they participate in each day. Then the afternoons are spent working as a team in recreation, swimming or tribe meetings to plan the closing campfire activities. These activities and events require amazing teen leadership.
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Thank you to our teen leaders: Taylor and Nathan Carter, Dakota Graham, Megan Holcomb, Jacob Schauer-Smith, Blaine, Brylee and Brynn Boyden, Olive Swann, Ryan Cory, Cole Barrett, Landon Andrews, Olyvia Felix, LaNesia James, Christopher Burtch, Rowan Leonard, Zach Bryant, Delia and Trent Vallandingham, and Layla Everly. Graduating leaders were: Kennedy Miesowitz, Riley Herbert, Madilynne Felix, Sara Robertson, and Mia Young.
Tears filled the campfire as these ladies said their good bye’s to camp. The closing campfire is where youth learn long standing 4-H tradition that have been passed down through generations. The 4-H’ers get to showcase the different skits, stunts, and challenges they have been preparing all week for the closing. They also have a time to reflect on what camp has meant to them by presenting a serious skit. Some of the comments from the serious skits were “I can’t believe how quickly these years have passed; I am so sad to be leaving the place I love.” “4-H camp has changed my life!”
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At the campfire, the tribe leaders honor 4-H members that are selected as Honor Campers. The 2025 Overnight Camp Honor Campers were: Head – Tanner Bowling, Heart – Charlie Schaecher, Hands – Kyle Williams, Health – Chole Williams and the Spirit Award went to David King.
The statement we hear often from many of our campers each year is "I made lots of friends at camp!" When asked what they liked best about camp, the reply is “All the friends I met and all the fun I had." 4-H camp is were youth learn new life skills; meet new friends and make lasting memories. That is how we in Charles County know we have had a successful 4-H camp!
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4-H Day Camps Bring Hands-On Learning to Military Youth
in Japan and South Korea
Kelly M. Bryant, NBCT
4-H Educator
kmbryant@umd.edu
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Thanks to the 4-H Outside the Contiguous United States (ONCONUS) Grant, military-connected youth at U.S. Air Force bases in the South Pacific had the chance to explore STEM, agriculture, leadership, and animal science this summer through weeklong 4-H day camps. In late June, Charles County 4-H educator Kelly Bryant, along with Michelle Harman from Allegany and Arnelle Quashie from Anne Arundel counties, visited Yokota Air Force Base in Japan.
At the end of July, Kelly and Michelle returned to the South Pacific to visit Osan Air Force Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, bringing hands-on learning to over 100 youth, most of whom were between the ages of 8 and 12.
Photo right: Kelly, Michelle and Arnelle with the Teen Center staff at Yokota AFB.
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Throughout the two weeks, 4-H partnered with Student Age Centers (SACs), Youth Centers, and Teen Centers on each base to engage children and teens ages 5–18. The programs were designed to expose youth to new knowledge and spark curiosity in areas ranging from agriculture to aerospace.
AFB.For many youth, the camps offered eye-opening experiences. “I didn’t know sickness could spread so fast,” said one participant after a biosecurity activity. Another was surprised by agriculture lessons, sharing, “I did not know cows give milk we drink,” while others noted, “I did not know there are two different types of cows, dairy and beef.”
Photo left: A young lady at the Youth Center who completed the 3-D Flower Labeling Activity, Yokota AFB.
| Hands-on learning made STEM and agriculture concepts come alive. “I learned all the steps involved in farming,” said one camper. Another reflected on reconnecting with peers in a new setting, explaining, “I learned today a lot about the kids here because I just came from Germany where I did 4-H on my base.” | | |
STEM activities, including rocket building, were especially popular.
“I learned you need to use fins to get your rocket to fly better,” shared one youth.
Another added, “Two fins worked the best,” while others experimented with balance and design: “I angled my fins and then put some clay in the straw and some along the outside. If you put too much clay at the end, it won’t go as far.”
Photo right: Teens working on a STEM activity, Yokota AFB
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The program also helped youth build a deeper understanding of 4-H itself. One teen proudly shared, “I know now what 4-H stands for.”
“Military youth often face unique challenges due to frequent moves and deployments,” noted Bryant. “Through programs like this, we give them the chance to learn new skills, discover their spark, and feel connected no matter where they are stationed.”
By bringing agriculture, STEM, and leadership activities directly to bases overseas, the ONCONUS Grant strengthens ties between military youth and the broader 4-H community, helping them grow with confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging.
Photo above : Youth working on their "bee bots," Yokota AFB
| | Photos above: Osan AFB Youth Center and SAC. All photo credits: Kelly Bryant | | |
The Grow It Eat It Education project hosted "Vegetable Plant Problems," on July 26, at the Waldorf West Library.
While some topics included common pests and diseases of tomatoes, cucumber, eggplant, and squash, a large portion of the workshop answered participant questions and explored the demonstration table filled with specimens of garden problems, many of which unfortunately came from Master Gardener gardens.
This summer has been challenging for many gardeners because the hot humid temperatures are great conditions for pests and disease to grow.
Photo: CCMG Beth Grem explains about squash bugs, which vegetables they typically attack and how to best avoid and manage the damage. Photo credit Tina Bailem
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"The Fall Gardening Workshop," held on August 23, at the Extension office, was moved up from last year's October slot because, while it may still be summer, gardeners want to know what to do to prepare for fall gardening before it is already upon us.
This presentation included what plants can be planted in fall and ways that we can extend the growing season.
Photo right: CCMGs Kathy Jenkins and Teri White at the demonstration table with lettuce box and cool weather seeds. Photo credit: Terry Thir
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The Master Gardeners maintain an educational garden at the Clark Senior Center.
This year there are multiple varieties of annual and perennial flowers, tomatoes, potatoes (white), peppers, sweet potatoes, kohlrabi, mustard greens, Swiss chard, kale, strawberries, blueberries and beans growing in the raised garden bed, buckets or other types of planters.
They have also been assisting the Indian Head Senior Center and the Nanjemoy Senior and Community Center with their own Green Thumb Clubs and gardens at the centers. These gardeners planted tomatoes, potatoes (white and sweet), herbs, peppers, lettuce, radishes and various flowering pollinators.
Photo above: Clark Gardens by Connie Nesbary
| As of July 17, 2025, the Seeds of Hope Community Learning Garden for the Southern Maryland Food Bank has produced 148 pounds of produce that is given to the Food Bank for its meals program. | Master Gardeners participated in NatureFest, hosted at the College of Southern Maryland in La Plata, which saw over 700+ attendees. There were tables on food gardening and vermicomposting, plus kids activities such building as self-watering container, making a hairy caterpillar, and matching games. | |
Derex Thompson and Ronla Henry-Reeves helped children plant in self-watering containers.
Photo credit: Daunita Douglas
| Visit the Home & Garden Information Center’s (HGIC) webpage for more gardening information and to submit your questions. You can find more tips and tricks for taking photos here at Ask Extension. You can also follow HGIC on social media- Facebook page, YouTube channel, or Instagram (@umdhgic)HC). | |
Julia Rycyna
Home Horticulture Educator
Master Gardener Coordinator
jrycyna@umd.edu
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Soybean Aphid Populations Are Increasing ~
What You Need to Know!
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Soybean aphids have been spotted in several fields across Southern Maryland this week, with notable activity in St. Mary’s and Charles Counties. Infestations were first observed along field edges but have since been found deeper into the canopy in some locations.
As you can see from the pictures, the fields look relatively healthy from the road, and it isn’t until you enter the field that you notice the large aphid populations, which is why it is important to keep scouting your fields regularly. Aphids were clustered on the undersides of leaves, along petioles, and around new growth, with many plants showing multiple colonies. In some spots, the density was high enough that honeydew, a sticky sweet substance aphids excrete, was visible creating a sheen on leaves and causing fungus to grow.
| | The soybean aphid is a small, yellow-green insect with black cornicles protruding from the rear of its body. Winged forms are dark with clear wings, while wingless forms are pale and slow-moving. Aphids feed by piercing plant tissue and removing sap, which can stress plants, reduce photosynthetic efficiency, and in high numbers, lead to leaf curling, yellowing, and stunting. Prolonged feeding during the reproductive stages (until R6) can lower pod set, reduce seed fill, and ultimately cause measurable yield loss. In addition to direct feeding damage, soybean aphids can transmit plant viruses, although this has not been a major yield factor in Maryland. | |
Scouting and Thresholds
University research across the Midwest has established an economic threshold of 250 aphids per plant, averaged across multiple sampling points, with populations actively increasing and plants still in the <R6 stages. Scouting should involve checking 20–30 plants per field, spread across several locations, including edges and interiors. The undersides of leaves and growing points are key inspection sites, as aphids prefer sheltered feeding areas.
Natural enemies, including lady beetle adults and larvae, green lacewing larvae, minute pirate bugs, and various parasitoid wasps, play an important role in regulating aphid populations. Their activity should be noted during scouting. In some cases, robust predator populations can keep aphid numbers below threshold, especially if environmental conditions are unfavorable for aphid reproduction. Rain events can also play a key role in knocking down large aphid population levels, so this must be taken into account when making management decisions.
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Management Considerations
If thresholds are reached and plants are still younger than R6, an insecticide application may be warranted. Although you should also take into consideration the weather and the 1.3-2.5% yield loss from wheel tracks with applications made during R1-R5. Pyrethroid products have been the primary tool for soybean aphid control in the Mid-Atlantic, but resistance has been confirmed in parts of the upper Midwest.
Although Maryland populations have not shown resistance that I am aware of, it is important to rotate insecticide modes of action where possible to delay resistance development. Follow label directions closely, including restrictions on application timing and rates, and be aware of preharvest intervals.
Hot, dry conditions can favor both aphids and spider mites. If using a pyrethroid during these conditions, monitor for mite flare-ups in the weeks following treatment. Avoid unnecessary applications to preserve beneficial insects, which are critical for season-long pest suppression.
In summary, soybean aphids are present but only a few fields show damaging levels in most Southern Maryland. Continued monitoring is key, and management should be based on established thresholds to protect yield while minimizing unnecessary insecticide use.
Photo credits: Hayden Schug
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Hayden Schug
Agriculture and Food Systems Educator
hschug@umd.edu
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Feel free to contact our staff with any questions
or ideas you have to help make our community better.
Please send an email to jcrawfo4@umd.edu or visit our website.
| | University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact us at (301) 226-7500. | | | | |
