These are cut sunflower plants in a greenhouse on a farm in Mechanicsville, Maryland.
I am Cai Diggs, a sophomore majoring in Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland – College Park. With a concentration in Ecological Technology Design, I plan to focus on the implementation and development of green technologies throughout my career. This can include vertical farming systems, solar panels, green roofs, and more. I am currently working as an intern for Alan Leslie at the Charles County Extension Office. Alan is an Agricultural and Food Systems Agent for Charles County, and I am thrilled to assist him and other extension agents in accomplishing their goals this summer.
Over the next ten weeks, there are many research projects that Alan and I plan to tackle. My specific responsibilities include plant and soil maintenance, however I help with a variety of tasks in Extension. For our blueberry experiment, I removed weeds and flowers from the appropriate blueberry plant varieties. For our heirloom tomato experiment, I helped remove excess stems and adjust support clips on the tomato plants. Additionally, I helped design a contraption that allows for the transportation of tomato plants across long distances. I also will be doing a good amount of research with Extension. Recently, I was tasked with reading two scientific research papers on important economic pests and methods of removing them. The first paper was titled “Population Dynamics of Eriophyid Mites and Evaluation of Different Management Practices on Timothy Grass” and the second paper was titled “Comparison of Mating Disruption and Insecticide Application for Control of Peachtree Borer and Lesser Peachtree Borer”. For these research papers, I have created a summary sheet of facts so I can later post a summarized article on these topics.
Extension will fit perfectly within my education, life, and future. As for education, I am an Environmental Science and Technology major with a concentration in Ecological Technology Design. Agricultural and environmental science are interrelated disciples, and with one, often comes the other. They both heavily deal with plants, wildlife, nutrients, vegetation, sustainability, and more. Additionally, farmers use a variety of ecological technologies to assist them with planting, harvesting, and upkeep. As for my life, I was looking to work full-time this summer. Extension is perfect because it allows me to work full-time doing something I am passionate about. As for my future, I plan to be an environmental engineer. This is an opportunity to develop professionally and delve into the agricultural aspects of environmental engineering. Overall, I am excited to see where extension takes me!
Rye and chamomile on a research farm in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
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