Maryland Public Television’s series Maryland Farm & Harvest will highlight farms and locations in Washington, Harford and Baltimore counties during an episode centered on corn.
The show will premiere at 7 p.m. Feb. 17 on Maryland Public Television and online at mpt.org/livestream, according to a community announcement. Viewers can also watch the episode live or on demand via the PBS app and MPT’s online video player.
In its 13th season, Maryland Farm & Harvest explores the agriculture industry across the state. The series showcases farms, people and technologies that contribute to Maryland’s agriculture.
Researchers at WMREC in Keedysville use a drone to apply experimental solutions as part of research into tar spot treatment and mitigation.
What to expect in this episode
Tuesday’s episode features stories from several locations:
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Zahradka Family Farm in Baltimore County: George Zahradka, the third-generation farmer, manages the family farm in Essex with his wife and daughter. The farm produces a variety of animals and crops, with sweet corn as its main attraction. The Zahradkas plant small corn patches regularly to ensure a steady supply for their customers.
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Tar spot research in Harford and Washington counties: Clear Meadow Farm in White Hall has been managed by the Rose family since the 1940s. They are currently facing a challenge from tar spot, a disease affecting corn crops. Tar spot, native to South America, was first identified in the U.S. in 2015 and appeared in Maryland in 2022. It has become a significant issue for corn growers. Researchers from the University of Maryland Extension’s Western Maryland Research & Education Center in Keedysville are working to find solutions and prevent the spread of the disease.
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The Local Buy at Broom’s Bloom Dairy in Harford County: Al Spoler visits Broom’s Bloom Dairy in Bel Air, where ice cream is made from cow to cone. Sisters Emmy and Belle Dallam returned to their family dairy farm after college and expanded the business. The segment includes a look at their new processing facility and the creation of sweet corn ice cream, made with local corn from Hopkins Produce in Havre de Grace.
Series background and viewer engagement
Since its debut in 2013, Maryland Farm & Harvest has attracted more than 19 million viewers, according to the announcement. The series has visited more than 500 farms and agriculture-related locations across Maryland, including every county and Baltimore City.
Encore broadcasts air on MPT at 11 p.m. Thursdays and 6 a.m. Sundays. Episodes also are shown on MPT2/Create at 7:30 p.m. Fridays.
Past episodes are available on the PBS app and MPT’s online video player, with segments also accessible on the series’ YouTube channel at youtube.com/@MarylandFarmHarvest.
Viewers can engage with the series on social media: @MarylandFarmHarvest on Facebook and @mdfarmtv on Instagram.
This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@usatodayco.com with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: How Washington County researchers are tackling corn threats on MPT
