ORONO, Maine — University of Maine Cooperative Extension dairy forage educator Jaime Garzon was recently honored with the prestigious Gerald O. Mott Award. The award recognizes Garzon’s outstanding academic achievements, contributions to research and education, and dedication to the agricultural community.
The Gerald O. Mott Award is presented annually by the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) to individuals who have made significant advancements in forage and grassland agriculture. Named after a renowned forage scientist, the award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated excellence in research, teaching and outreach in the field.
Garzon received the honor for his research on ecosystem services of overseeding aeschynomene, a warm-season legume commonly known as deer vetch, in bahiagrass pastures. His project focused on assessing the benefits in terms of nutrient cycling, forage quality and performance, nitrogen fixation, soil microbial communities, litter decomposition and nitrous oxide emissions.
Through his research and extension efforts, Garzon has provided valuable insights and practical solutions to dairy farmers, helping them improve forage quality, increase productivity and enhance the overall sustainability of their operations.
“Jaime Garzon’s dedication to dairy forage education is truly commendable,” says Hannah Carter, dean of Extension and associate provost for online and continuing education at UMaine. “His expertise and passion for the field have made a significant difference in the broader agricultural community and we’re excited about the work he has started with dairy farmers here in Maine. We are thrilled to see him receive this well-deserved recognition.”
“I am deeply honored to receive the Gerald O. Mott Award. The award is something that I wasn’t expecting,” says Garzon. “Forage and grassland agriculture play a vital role in the dairy industry, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to its advancement. I would like to express my gratitude to the Crop Science Society of America for this recognition, as well as to my colleagues, the forage community and the Agronomy Department at the University of Florida for their support.”
Since he began his role with UMaine Extension in 2022, Garzon observed a lack of recent research on legumes in Maine and initiated research projects to address this gap. He is currently conducting research at the Wolfe’s Neck Center in Freeport and at Rogers Farm in Old Town, focusing on the performance of clovers, birdsfoot trefoil and alfalfa. The study aims to determine which of these crops performs better under conventional and organic management. Garzon hopes that thorough and up-to-date research on legumes will provide valuable insights and practical recommendations for farmers to optimize their operations.
Garzon plans to develop a comprehensive Maine forage handbook within the next three years that will provide fact sheets and practical guidance on forage management.
He also intends to hold a hay contest in 2024. Aimed at promoting healthy competition through rigorous judging, including nutritive testing of hay samples, Garzon hopes to encourage the production of high-quality hay throughout Maine. Garzon’s ultimate goal is to equip farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to improve their hay production practices and ultimately enhance their overall productivity and profitability.
CSSA is an international scientific society dedicated to advancing crop science for the betterment of the world. It supports its members through resources, publications, meetings and career services, empowering them to make a positive impact on global agriculture.
For more information about the award, contact Jaime Garzon, jaime.garzon@maine.edu
About University of Maine Cooperative Extension: As a trusted resource for over 100 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaine’s land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension seeks to build thriving communities and grow the food-based economy, focusing on aspects from production and processing to nutrition, food safety and food security. Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H which offers hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement and creates a positive environment where participants are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.
About the University of Maine: The University of Maine, founded in Orono in 1865, is the state’s land grant, sea grant and space grant university, with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. UMaine is located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation. UMaine Machias is located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation. As Maine’s flagship public university, UMaine has a statewide mission of teaching, research and economic development, and community service. UMaine is the state’s public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution. It attracts students from all 50 states and 86 countries. UMaine currently enrolls 11,571 undergraduate and graduate students, and UMaine Machias enrolls 763 undergraduates. Our students have opportunities to participate in groundbreaking research with world-class scholars. UMaine offers 77 bachelor’s degrees and six undergraduate certificates, as well as more than 100 degree programs through which students can earn doctoral or master’s degrees, professional master’s degrees, and graduate certificates. UMaine Machias offers 18 associate and bachelor’s degrees, and 14 undergraduate certificates. The university promotes environmental stewardship, with substantial efforts campuswide to conserve energy, recycle and adhere to green building standards in new construction. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu and machias.edu.
–University of Maine Cooperative Extension