Maryland Agricultural Highlights – August 2014

AUGUST 2014

Farmers Urged to Sign Up for CREP by September 30

Farmers who are interested in earning extra farm income by taking environmentally-sensitive cropland out of production and installing a range of conservation practices to protect water quality should sign up for Maryland’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) before the September 30, 2014 enrollment deadline. CREP can help farmers establish buffers next to waterways, establish wetlands, protect highly erodible lands, create wildlife habitat, install stream protection practices and meet Maryland’s nutrient management requirements.For more information, farmers should contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency or soil conservation district office. Information is also available at www.mda.maryland.gov.

Professional Fertilizer Applicator Certification Exam and Training Offered

Lawn care professionals who want to become certified by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) to apply fertilizer to turf may register for one of two upcoming certification classes to be held on August 6 or August 19, 2014 in Annapolis. Optional training sessions are offered before the exam.  Lawn care professionals hired to apply fertilizers to turfgrass are required by law to be certified by MDA’s Nutrient Management Program or work under the direct supervision of an individual who is certified. The requirement is a major component of Maryland’s Lawn Fertilizer Law. To register for MDA’s Professional Fertilizer Applicator Certification Exam, visit www.mda.maryland.gov/fertilizer or call MDA at 410.841.5959.

Continuing Education Classes Offered

The Maryland Department of Agriculture will offer continuing education training for certified professional fertilizer applicators on August 7 and September 3 at its headquarters building, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway in Annapolis. The training is only offered to individuals who are currently certified to apply fertilizer to turfgrass. The class satisfies the two-hour continuing education requirement for recertification. To register, visit: www.mda.maryland.gov/fertilizer.

Homeowners Urged to Use Responsible Lawn Care Practices during Summer Months

With summer in full swing, the Maryland Department of Agriculture urges homeowners to allow established lawns to go dormant during hot, dry weather. Applying fertilizer to force a lawn to turn green during its dormancy period can damage the grass and contribute to nutrient pollution in streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Dormant lawns will green up when cooler temperatures arrive and rainfall increases. To help shade grass and conserve moisture, raise the mower’s cutting height by ½ to 1 inch during periods of hot dry weather and leave grass clippings on the lawn as a source of free fertilizer.  For more tips and information on Maryland’s new Lawn Fertilizer Law, call the University of Maryland’s Home and Garden Information Center at 1.800.342.2507 or visit: www.mda.maryland.gov/fertilizer.

 ###

 The Maryland Agricultural Awareness Alliance, a coalition of federal, state and local agricultural  agencies and commodity groups dedicated to educating Marylanders on agricultural issues.