Summer 1991 // Volume 29 // Number 2 // Research in Brief // 2RIB5
 |  |
 |
Horticulture Extension Trends in an Urban State
Abstract
The University of Maryland's Department of Horticulture conducted a survey to assess the impact departmental Extension programs have had in the state and which program areas were expected to change in the next five years.
Like many states, Maryland is rapidly changing from a rural, agricultural economy to an urban, diversified, and high technology economy. Many of the farmers in rural areas are investigating horticultural production systems as a way to survive the urbanization pressures. This is in keeping with trends observed in the USDA agricultural survey over the last 40 years.1 Lawrence showed that in the counties adjacent to expanding urban areas, horticultural specialty crops and large scale agronomic farms expanded or remained constant, while other agricultural pursuits declined.
The University of Maryland's Department of Horticulture conducted a survey to assess the impact departmental Extension programs have had in the state and which program areas were expected to change in the next five years. The survey was sent to the 32 county and regional agents who have worked with departmental specialists during the last four years and 84% responded.
Home horticulture will be the number one program area for 26% of the agents well into 1993. Agents predict that the demand for home horticulture programs will increase in 91% of Maryland's counties. Table 1 shows areas of increase and decrease by different program areas. Greatest increases are expected in direct marketing of vegetables, landscape maintenance and contracting, production of cut flowers, small fruits, and small acreage vegetable production. The greatest decline will be in vegetable processing and large scale vegetable production.
Footnote
1. Henry W. Lawrence, "Changes in Agricultural Production in Metropolitan Areas," Professional Geographer, XL (May 1988), 159- 75.
Table 1. Horticulture program changes during the next five years.
| Program area | Anticipated change | |
|---|---|---|
| Increase | Decrease | |
| Net increase | ||
| Direct marketing | 93% | 4% |
| Landscape maintenance | 85 | 0 |
| Landscape contracting | 81 | 0 |
| Home horticulture | 78 | 0 |
| Small fruit production | 78 | 11 |
| Field cut flowers | 74 | 4 |
| Nursery production (<100 acres) | 74 | 4 |
| Vegetable production (<50 acres) | 74 | 15 |
| Landscape design | 74 | 0 |
| Tree fruit production (<50 acres) | 63 | 19 |
| Greenhouse production | 52 | 7 |
| Nursery production (100+ acres) | 29 | 11 |
| Net decrease | ||
| Vegetable processing | 26% | 48% |
| Vegetable production (50+ acres) | 26 | 37 |
| Tree fruit production (50+ acres) | 7 | 19 |