Maryland Agricultural Highlights – September 2014

SEPTEMBER 2014

State Soil Conservation Committee Meeting Set For September 18, 2014

The State Soil Conservation Committee (SSCC) has announced that its next meeting will be held Thursday, September 18, 2014 at its headquarters, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis. The meeting is open to the public and will focus on soil conservation and water quality program implementation and policy development. Established in 1938, the SSCC coordinates the activities of Maryland’s 24 soil conservation districts, while advising the Secretary of Agriculture on matters relating to soil and water conservation. For more information, contact Louise Lawrence, Executive Secretary, 410-841-5863.

Cover Crop Welcome Flyers in the Mail

The Maryland Department of Agriculture advises farmers who signed up to plant cover crops this fall to be on the lookout for a Welcome! flyer that includes helpful information on planting dates, seeding rates and payment options available through the 2014-2015 Cover Crop Program. Early planting incentive payments ranging from $5 to $20/acre are available to farmers who plant their fields by October 1 or October 15. Information is also available online at www.mda.maryland.gov. Click on the Conservation tab at the top menu bar, then click on Conservation Grants on the left menu bar and scroll down to the Cover Crop Program. 

LEAD Maryland Fellowship Applications Due October 1
The LEAD Maryland Foundation is seeking applicants for its next class of LEAD Fellows. Applications are due October 1, 2014 and are available at https://extension.umd.edu/lead-maryland or www.leadmaryland.org. Fellows participate in a series of multi-day seminars held throughout Maryland and Washington, DC during 2015 and 2016. They also complete a travel-study tour and a class project. The LEAD Maryland Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying and developing leadership for Maryland’s agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. For more information, please contact the LEAD office at 410-827-8056 or leadmd@umd.edu. 

Last Chance to Sign Up for CREP

This year’s sign-up for Maryland’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) ends September 30, 2014. CREP pays top dollar to landowners who agree to take environmentally sensitive cropland out of production for 10 to 15 years and plant streamside buffers, establish wetlands, protect highly erodible lands or create wildlife habitat while providing steady, dependable land rental income. Farmers should contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency or soil conservation district office before the enrollment deadline.

Homeowners Advised to Follow Label Instructions when Applying Lawn Fertilizer

The Maryland Department of Agriculture reminds homeowners that fall is the best time to fertilize cool season grasses based on soil test results.  When applying fertilizer, it is important to read and follow all label instructions.  Doing so will benefit both lawns and the Chesapeake Bay. To further protect the Bay from nutrient runoff, do not apply fertilizer near streams or if heavy rain is predicted.  For more tips and information on Maryland’s 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. 

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