Maryland's 2009 lease law revision led to increased interest in private aquaculture using both traditional bottom leases as well as contained gear water-column leases. Interest in water-column leases utilizing containerized production equipment resulted in a need for research-based information on the variety of equipment available to provide growers with unbiased information on input costs and oyster performance. While many equipment options are available, there is a lack of empirical data useful for current and prospective aquaculture business operators to use for business decisions. The demonstration farm objectives are to provide commercially relevant data to growers, and to foster collaboration and communication among industry members and researchers to best support this industry.
The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's (UMCES) Horn Point Laboratory Oyster Hatchery (HPL), in cooperation with University of Maryland Extension (UME), with funding support from Maryland Sea Grant, began a demonstration oyster farm in 2016 to evaluate oyster aquaculture production equipment and management strategies.
The farm supports the industry through scientific data collection and Extension education programs. These are derived from needs assessment, organized specifically for identified audiences and evaluated to ensure that they meet the needs of the stakeholders engaged in Maryland's oyster aquaculture industry.
Since initiating the Demonstration Farm in 2016, individual consultations, public workshops and interaction with constituents at outreach events have led to new growers entering the industry and utilizing gear and management practices learned from the programs. Experienced growers have used information gleaned from this Demonstration Farm to alter their management practices or gear use in their commercial operation.
Here we present the methods used to operate this Demonstration Farm from both the applied research and Extension program perspectives, and discuss the connection between these two areas. We integrate results of known behavioral changes that have occurred, due at least partially to information learned at this Demonstration Farm, as well as results of evaluations of those engaging with Extension professionals at the Demonstration Farm projects and programs.