Maryland Agricultural Highlights – December 2011

SSCC Meeting Set For December 15
The State Soil Conservation Committee will hold its next meeting on Thursday, December 15, 2011 at the Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis. The meeting is open to the public and will focus on soil conservation and water quality programs. Established in 1938, the State Soil Conservation Committee 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.

Nutrient Management Farmer Training and Certification Workshops Offered
The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) and University of Maryland Extension (UME) will offer three workshops this winter for farmers throughout the state who want to become certified to write and update nutrient management plans for their own operations. The workshops consist of about 11 hours of classroom lecture and practice in writing plans and are designed for crop operations that use manure and fertilizer. A two-day workshop will be offered in Queen Anne’s County on January 24 and February 6, 2012. A second two-day workshop is scheduled for February 21 and March 6, 2012 in Washington County.  The third workshop will take place over the course of four Wednesday evenings beginning February 1 in Montgomery County. To register, call 410-841-5959 or click here for a registration form. Farmers may also register by contacting their local Extension office or visiting http://anmp.umd.edu/FTC/FTC.html.

Choose and Cut Christmas Tree Directory Available
The Maryland Christmas Tree Association has published a directory of Choose & Cut Farms listing dozens of locations across Maryland where families can harvest their own Christmas trees.  View the directory by visiting www.marylandchristmastrees.org or MDA’s web site.

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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.