Maryland Celebrates National Agriculture Week; 10 Ways You Can Get Involved With Maryland Agriculture

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Did you know that most of life’s necessities – food, fiber, clothing and shelter – start with agriculture? National Agriculture Week (March 15-21) recognizes and celebrates the contributions of agriculture to American society. In recognition of Maryland agriculture as one of the state’s most important industries, Governor Larry Hogan has declared “Maryland Agriculture Week,” which coincides with the national celebration. From the mountains of Western Maryland with its dairy farms and hay to Central Maryland with its greenhouse and livestock industries to the Eastern Shore’s acres of corn and poultry – Maryland truly grows something for everyone.

“Maryland’s agriculture industry is vital to the long-term health of the state’s economy, environment and quality of life,” said Governor Hogan. “Maryland farmers are doing everything they can to balance protecting our Bay with building strong, durable businesses. And we’re going to do everything we can to keep Maryland’s agricultural industry strong, diverse and sustainable.”

There are 2.1 million farms in the United States, a country with nearly 319 million people. Agriculture products remain the nations’ top export. Each American farmer today feeds more than 144 people – a dramatic increase from 25 people in the 1960s. American agriculture is doing more – and doing it better. As the world population soars, there is an even greater demand for the food and fiber produced in the United States.

“Agriculture Week is a great time to recognize the hard work of our farm families and the important role they play in providing a safe and abundant food supply and protecting the environment,” said Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder.

In Maryland, one-third of the land mass – over 2 million acres – is farmland. In 2013, the top commodity sectors were poultry (broilers), greenhouse and nursery, corn, and dairy. In addition, Maryland farmers produced 33 million pounds of apples, 673 million eggs, 3.9 million tons of peaches, and 68 million pounds of watermelons just to name a few of the many products that are grown here. For more interesting facts about Maryland agriculture, see the AgBrief.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture shares 10 suggestions to help citizens recognize National and Maryland Agriculture Week:

1. Watch Maryland Farm and Harvest on Maryland Public Television or online at mpt.org/farm. The hit series, now in production for a third season, puts a human face on farming by showcasing personal stories about farmers, their work with the land and resources, production of food and fiber for our society, challenges, hopes and dreams, and their future.

2. “Take It from Maryland Farmers: Backyard Actions for a Cleaner Chesapeake Bay” is an education campaign that provides homeowners with information and tips from farmers that they can use to do their part to help improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The initiative offers a series of fact sheets that can be helpful. Some to consider are:

• Backyard Actions for a Cleaner Chesapeake Bay
• Fact Sheet 1: Try Pesticide Alternatives
• Fact Sheet 2: Use Fertilizers Wisely
• Fact Sheet 3: Control Soil Erosion
• Fact Sheet 4: Try Composting
• Fact Sheet 5: Conserve Water

3. Plan your garden and repair lawns with certified seeds. Spring is almost here and now is the time to plan for your gardens and lawns. Be sure to get a soil test before fertilizing and check out the University of Maryland Extension’s Grow it Eat it website.

4. Visit a winery. Touring a winery or a vineyard in the countryside, tasting some of Maryland’s fine wines, and enjoying the company of friends are wonderful ways to spend a springtime day. Maryland has six wine trails and 56 wineries that offer more than 400 different wines.

5. Ride a horse. Sixty percent of the horses in Maryland are used for recreational purposes while 40 percent are for racing. Visit one of 35 Horse Discovery Centers or find a place to ride near you in MDA’s guide to licensed horse stables. If you’d rather watch an equine, rather than ride one, take in one of the 50 events held in Maryland each year.

6. Visit a creamery. Maryland has eight dairy farms that offer fresh, delicious on-farm ice cream. Together, they make up the Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail.

7. Meet a Maryland Farmer. If you can’t get to a real farm, you can visit many farms online by viewing the Maryland’s Best YouTube channel. Take a tour without leaving your living room.

8. Read a book about Maryland Agriculture. The Maryland Agriculture Education Foundation launched the Ag Literacy Campaign, now in its fifth year, for people to visit elementary school classrooms across the state, read a selected book and talk to students about the importance of agriculture in their lives. The selected book for 2015 is “Amazing! Maryland Agriculture.” Learn more about the 2015 Ag Literacy Campaign.

9. Follow Maryland Agriculture (MdAgDept) on social media. MDA is on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Instagram. You can also connect with Maryland’s Best Agriculture on Facebook and Twitter and YouTube.

10. As products become in season, serve a meal with local food or pack a local lunch for your children. Ask your grocer for local products or visit MarylandsBest.net to find out where you can buy local products near you. Maryland farmers grow and produce a wide variety of food including fruits, vegetables, bread, cheeses and meats for lunches and snacks that are available from farmers’ markets, grocery stores, and community supported agriculture farms (CSAs). Find out what’s in season.

For more in depth information about Maryland agriculture see the 2013 Maryland Statistical Bulletin, compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Find fun facts about agriculture and more information about National Ag Day.

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