February 3, 2020

Department Breaks Ground for New Salisbury Animal Health Laboratory

A rendering of the new Salisbury Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory.

SALISBURY, MD (Feb. 3, 2020) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture hosted a groundbreaking ceremony this morning at the site of its new Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory in Salisbury. A brief speaking program featured remarks from Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Joe Bartenfelder; Maryland Secretary of General Services Ellington E. Churchill, Jr.; Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse; Maryland State Veterinarian Dr. Michael Odian; and Holly Porter, executive director of Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.

“The construction of a new Salisbury Animal Health Lab has been a priority for our administration,” said Secretary Bartenfelder. “This state-of-the-art facility will be our first line of defense in preventing and controlling infectious diseases in livestock and poultry. Agriculture is critical to Maryland’s economy, and this will enhance our ability to promote animal health while securing the safety and continued success of the industry.”

“As the lead agency for state building construction, we know the importance of delivering a quality project to our client agencies, and ultimately to the people of Maryland,” said Secretary Churchill. “We will continue to work closely with the Maryland Department of Agriculture and will oversee construction progress to ensure that this new facility meets their high standards for animal health diagnostics.”

The new Salisbury Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory will replace the department’s original lab, which was built in 1953, and is in need of major renovations. At 19,178 square feet, the new lab provides larger work areas; public meetings and training facilities; two necropsy suites; a new incinerator; and a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) laboratory for advanced diagnostic work.

In addition to expanding the lab’s capacity and capabilities, the new building will be LEED Silver certified and will have hook-ups for natural gas to improve the building’s energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. Construction is expected to be completed in March 2021.

“I am happy to be here today as we celebrate a major step forward for the Animal Health Program,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Odian. “This project is the culmination of work that began with my predecessor, Dr. Michael Radebaugh, and our outstanding team at the Salisbury Animal Health Lab. This new facility will bolster our program with the resources it needs to continue striving for excellence in our diagnostic services.”

The department works closely with state and federal counterparts, as well as private and commercial veterinarians, to protect Maryland’s agriculture industry against infectious diseases like avian influenza and equine infectious anemia. Specializing in poultry disease, the new Salisbury lab will play a critical role in regional efforts to safeguard the health of millions of birds on the Delmarva peninsula.

“Delmarva’s $3.4 billion chicken community relies on the Salisbury Animal Health Lab, along with Lasher Lab in Delaware, to help us constantly monitor the health of farmers’ flocks for any sign of disease,” said Holly Porter, executive director of Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. “It’s dedicated teamwork that brings farmers, chicken companies, and these labs together to keep our food safe.”

Photos from the event are available by request and will be posted on the department’s Flickr account. For more information on the Animal Health Program, please visit the department’s website.

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January 31, 2020

MPT Series Maryland Farm & Harvest Visits Baltimore City and Caroline, Frederick, Montgomery, and Washington Counties During Season Finale

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland Public Television’s (MPT) popular original series Maryland Farm & Harvest, now in its seventh season, will feature farms and locations in Baltimore City and Caroline, Frederick, Montgomery, and Washington counties during the season finale airing on Tuesday, February 4 at 7 p.m.

Maryland Farm & Harvest takes viewers on journeys across the state, telling stories about the farms, people, and technology required to sustain and grow Maryland’s number one commercial industry – agriculture. MPT’s production team filmed episode segments at more than four dozen farms in preparation for its seventh season.

The episode opens with introductions at Baugher’s Orchard & Farm in Westminster in Carroll County. Other segments featured on this week’s episode include:

• Big Trees for the Baltimore Zoo (Baltimore City & Montgomery County): It takes a long time to grow a tree, which makes it hard if you need a big one in a hurry. Thankfully, Ruppert Nurseries in Laytonsville possesses expertise in growing and transplanting large trees. When the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore needed mature evergreen trees for a landscaping project, Chris Ruppert and his staff answered the call. Viewers follow along to see the work that goes into growing, digging up, moving, and replanting large trees.
• From Field to Grain Elevator (Frederick County): Where does corn go when it leaves the field? It is usually sent to large storage facilities called grain elevators – such as the one at Eddie Mercer Agri-Services in Frederick. Viewers visit the agricultural business and learn from Eddie Mercer how corn and soybeans are transported, dried, and stored so that the grain can be sold and used year round until the next fall’s harvest.
• Creating a New Apple Variety (Washington County): Maryland orchards grow a lot of apples, but some varieties don’t do well in the state’s warmer, humid climate. One professor at the University of Maryland has been on a decades-long quest to breed a new apple specifically for Maryland growers. After planting more than 5,000 different trees at the University of Maryland’s Western Maryland Research & Education Center in Keedysville, Chris Walsh and his team have narrowed down their choices to a handful of varieties. Viewers learn why hopes are high as the new “Antietam Blush” apple – named after the Civil War battlefield near its birthplace – hits the market.
• The Local Buy: Cider Donuts (Caroline County): Segment Host Al Spoler takes a trip to Blades Orchard in Federalsburg, where Lynda and Stephen Blades teach him and viewers about the apple varieties that go into making great apple cider. Then, Lynda treats Al to her delicious cider donuts made using apples from the family’s 60-acre farm. A recipe for cider donuts will be available at mpt.org/farm.

Maryland Farm & Harvest airs on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on MPT-HD and is rebroadcast on Thursdays at 11:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 a.m. Each show also airs on MPT2 on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Previous episodes of the series can be viewed for free on the MPT app and online at MPT’s website.

Viewers can join in on the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by using the hashtag #MDFarmHarvest.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is MPT’s co-production partner for Maryland Farm & Harvest. Major funding is provided by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board.

Additional funding is provided by: Maryland’s Best; the Maryland Agricultural Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation; MidAtlantic Farm Credit; the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program; the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation; the Rural Maryland Council; and the Maryland Soybean Board. Other support comes from: the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts; Wegmans Food Markets; the Maryland Nursery, Landscape & Greenhouse Association; the Maryland Seafood Marketing Fund; the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service; the Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.; the Maryland Farm Bureau; The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment; Mar-Del Watermelon Association; Eddie Mercer Agri-Services, Inc.; and Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission.

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Media Advisory: Department’s Salisbury Animal Health Lab Groundbreaking Ceremony

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Department of Agriculture will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Salisbury Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory on Monday, February 3 at 10 a.m. The new lab will replace the department’s original lab, which was built in 1953 and is in need of major renovations.

The ceremony will include brief remarks from Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Joe Bartenfelder; Maryland Secretary of General Services Ellington Churchill; Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse; Maryland State Veterinarian Dr. Michael Odian; and Holly Porter, Executive Director of Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. The speaking portion of the program will be followed by a ceremonial groundbreaking.

What: Salisbury Animal Health Lab Groundbreaking Ceremony

When:
Monday, February 3; 10 – 11 a.m.
Speaking program: 10 – 10:30 a.m.
Groundbreaking: 10:30 – 11 a.m.

Where:
MDA’s Mosquito Control Salisbury Office
27722 Nanticoke Road, Unit 2
Salisbury, MD

RSVP: Media interested in attending should RSVP to Megan Guilfoyle at [email protected] or 410-841-5889.

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January 29, 2020

Maryland Agriculture Secretary Appoints Dr. Michael Odian As State Veterinarian

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Secretary of Agriculture has appointed Dr. Michael Odian as the new state veterinarian. This position has remained vacant since Dr. Michael Radebaugh retired from his post less than a year ago.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Odian join the department and lead our Animal Health Program,” said Maryland Agriculture Secretary Joseph Bartenfelder. “His experience in the veterinary field and extensive knowledge of equine medicine will be a huge asset to the program and the State of Maryland.”

Dr. Odian, who has been practicing veterinary medicine for nearly 25 years, owns and operates a general equine practice focusing on sport horse medicine in Carroll County. His clients include many of the top competition horses in the state, from Grand Prix jumpers and Circuit Show hunters to World Champion Western reining horses. He also breeds, raises, and shows Percheron draft horses.

Additionally, Dr. Odian has served as a testing veterinarian for the National Steeplechase Association; a sale veterinarian for the Pennsylvania Draft Horse Sale/Keystone Draft Horse Sale; and a staff veterinarian for the Horse World Expo. He was president of the Maryland Draft Horse and Mule Association and is a current member of the Maryland Horse Industry Board, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the International Society of Equine Locomotive Pathology, and the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Odian received his Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Cornell University and earned his veterinary degree at the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada. He formerly served as the track veterinarian for the Thistledown Thoroughbred track and the Northfields Park Standardbred track in Ohio before moving to Maryland in 2003.

“I sincerely thank Dr. Nancy Jo Chapman, assistant state veterinarian, for the outstanding job she has done serving the department as acting state veterinarian during this transition period,” said Secretary Bartenfelder. “Dr. Chapman’s willingness to step up and lead the Animal Health Program during an extremely busy year is a tribute to her dedication to the department and her passion for the health of Maryland’s animals.”

The department’s Animal Health Program works to prevent and control infectious and contagious diseases in Maryland livestock and poultry with particular emphasis on those diseases that threaten public health, endanger food supplies, or threaten the economic security of the animal industries. In addition to a sizable field staff, the section has two veterinary diagnostic laboratories in Salisbury and Frederick.

For more information, please visit the department’s website. For questions, contact the department’s Animal Health Program at (410) 841- 5810 or [email protected].

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January 28, 2020

Department Accepting Applications for 2020 Industrial Hemp Pilot Program

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program is now accepting applications for the 2020 growing season. In its second year, the program allows eligible farmers to partner with institutions of higher education or the department to grow industrial hemp for research purposes.

“Industrial hemp is another opportunity for Maryland farmers to diversify their operations and one more way that we can ensure rural Maryland is open for business,” said Secretary Joseph Bartenfelder. “In its inaugural year, our industrial hemp program received a lot of participation from Maryland farmers and we are excited to see this program grow in 2020.”

Farmers interested in growing industrial hemp must partner with an institution of higher education or the Maryland Department of Agriculture to develop a research project and a plan for the use and/or destruction of the crop. Program participants will be allowed to sell their crop for profit at the end of the growing season. Maryland currently does not limit acres or number of applications for this pilot program.

In its first year, the program registered 69 sites for projects partnering with eight different institutions of higher education. In total, 1,500 acres and more than one-million square feet of greenhouse space were registered to grow hemp in 2019.

Industrial hemp and marijuana are different varieties of the same species of plant, Cannabis sativa. Marijuana is cultivated because of its production of the psychoactive plant chemical delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Industrial hemp is cultivated for fiber, seed, oil, and other purposes, and federal and state law requires that the concentration of THC must be less than 0.3% in industrial hemp. 

Program applications are available for download on the department’s website. Applicants will also be required to apply for an FBI criminal background check.

For more information, visit the program’s website or contact Turf and Seed Program Manager Jim Drews at (410) 841-5960 or [email protected].

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Maryland Horse Industry Board Announces 2020 Grant Recipients

Over $30,000 in Funding Awarded to 38 Projects

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Horse Industry Board, a program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture, has awarded $30,232 in grants to 38 organizations and equestrian operations that represent a variety of equine groups and disciplines across the state. The committee selected projects from a pool of 66 applicants.

Funding for these grants and the Maryland Horse Industry Board is provided by the Maryland Feed Fund, which collects $6 on every ton of horse feed sold in the state. Since the fund was established in 2002, the board has awarded over $500,000 in grants to nearly 350 projects.

This year’s recipients include: two equine research projects; support for numerous 4-H programs, Pony Club, and therapeutic riding programs; trail riding; equine ambulance rescue initiatives; and help for diverse equestrian disciplines, such as gaited horses, carriage driving, and pony racing.

A full list of recipients, including a synopsis of each project, is available on the Maryland Horse Industry Board’s website.

“Horses are a critical component of Maryland’s agricultural industry. The Maryland Horse Industry Board and the Feed Fund help stimulate growth and opportunity in Maryland’s equestrian community without using any government funding,” said Board Chairman Jim Steele. “This self-funded commodity marketing entity is a model of how industry groups can help themselves without relying on taxpayer dollars.”

Projects are evaluated based on their value to the industry, degree of industry promotion, size and scope of activity, financial need, potential for matching funds, benefits, and overall quality of the written presentation. Grants are capped at $3,000 in order to award funds to as many groups as possible. Eligible projects should have a completion date no later than June 30, 2020. Grant recipients are required to file a project report with the board detailing how the money was used.

The Maryland Horse Industry Board was established in 1998 to promote and develop the equine industry in Maryland. For more information about the grants program and the board visit the department’s website, or contact the executive director Ross Peddicord at (410) 841-5798 or [email protected].

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January 24, 2020

MPT Series Maryland Farm & Harvest Visits Anne Arundel, Carroll, Frederick, and Kent Counties During January 28 Episode

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland Public Television’s (MPT) popular original series Maryland Farm & Harvest, now in its seventh season, will feature farms and locations in Anne Arundel, Carroll, Frederick, and Kent counties during an episode airing on Tuesday, January 28 at 7 p.m.

Maryland Farm & Harvest takes viewers on journeys across the state, telling stories about the farms, people, and technology required to sustain and grow Maryland’s number one commercial industry – agriculture. MPT’s production team filmed episode segments at more than four dozen farms in preparation for its seventh season.

The episode opens with introductions at Baugher’s Orchard & Farm in Westminster in Carroll County. Other segments featured on this week’s episode include:

• Solar-Powered Poultry (Kent County): Pumping the water and circulating the air necessary to maintain a modern poultry house requires a lot of electricity. At Rusty Rooster Farm in Worton, farmer Jeff Pettitt is installing solar panels to offset his farm’s high energy bills. It’s a step that many poultry farmers are taking to reduce ongoing costs and environmental impact, bringing steady business to Sunrise Solar. The Chestertown-based solar company has done many agricultural installations throughout the region to help farmers reduce their electricity costs while also helping the environment.
• Making Corn Maze (Frederick County): For visitors to the fall festival at Winterbrook Farms in Thurmont, there is nothing quite like getting lost in Maryland’s largest corn maze. With many twists, turns, and dead ends, the corn maze had five miles of trails in 2019 and as many as nine miles in previous years. Beyond planting corn, designing a maze, and cutting the trails, many people do not realize how much work goes into making a corn maze. Viewers meet farmers Taylor and Brandon Huffman and follow along during their months-long maze creation process to see how it all comes together.
• The Local Buy: Peppers (Anne Arundel County): It may be cold and wet outside, but segment host Al Spoler is turning up the heat at Holiday Memories Farm in West River. Rain or shine, there is always something for first-generation farmer Gary Palmer to tend to on his 22.5-acre farm in Anne Arundel County. During this segment, he and his son-in-law Zeke Pearson harvest a variety of peppers in their hoop houses – which keep the peppers and their pickers dry despite the rain outside. Viewers see how the peppers can be used to make a sweet pepper jelly, the recipe for which will be available at mpt.org/farm.

Maryland Farm & Harvest airs on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on MPT-HD and is rebroadcast on Thursdays at 11:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 a.m. Each show also airs on MPT2 on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Previous episodes of the series can be viewed for free on the MPT app and online at MPT’s website.

Viewers can join in on the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by using the hashtag #MDFarmHarvest.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is MPT’s co-production partner for Maryland Farm & Harvest. Major funding is provided by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board.

Additional funding is provided by: Maryland’s Best; the Maryland Agricultural Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation; MidAtlantic Farm Credit; the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program; the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation; the Rural Maryland Council; and the Maryland Soybean Board. Other support comes from: the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts; Wegmans Food Markets; the Maryland Nursery, Landscape & Greenhouse Association; the Maryland Seafood Marketing Fund; the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service; the Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.; the Maryland Farm Bureau; The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment; Mar-Del Watermelon Association; Eddie Mercer Agri-Services, Inc.; and Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission.

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January 23, 2020

Cost-Share Grants for Drainage Management Practices Now Available

Sign-Up Ongoing at Local Soil Conservation Districts

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Department of Agriculture has announced five new conservation drainage management practices that are now eligible for cost-share funding of up to 87.5% through the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program. The new suite of practices will help farmers manage subsurface drainage water in areas with high water tables or artificially drained fields. Once fully implemented, these practices will reduce sediment and nutrient losses from crop fields and help Maryland meet nutrient reduction targets for the Chesapeake Bay.

“The department is committed to giving farmers the tools they need to improve water quality and protect natural resources on their farms,” said Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. “Providing these new opportunities to help farmers manage nitrates in agricultural drainage water is just another example of how Maryland agriculture is working to meet our bay cleanup goals.”

Drainage ditches are common on the Eastern Shore, where a network of ditches covers a large area of the Delmarva Peninsula. The new practices are designed to enhance the water quality benefits of water control structures by collecting and treating the water before it enters a stream or drainage ditch.

The conservation drainage practices now eligible for funding and technical assistance include:

• Saturated Buffers – A biological treatment system used to divert drainage water to a vegetated area for treatment;
• Subsurface Denitrifying Bioreactors – A buried trench filled with a carbon source, usually wood chips, and installed at the edge of a field to remove nitrates;
• Wetland Creations – A wetland constructed to treat and filter drainage water on a site that was not previously a wetland;
• Subsurface Drain – An underground pipe used to collect and convey drainage water to a buffer, wetland, or bioreactor; and
• Underground Outlet – Tubing, tile, or pipe installed to move surface water to a designated outlet.

Typically, a conservation drainage project will include the installation of a water control structure, subsurface water drainage collection system, and one of the newly cost-shared water treatment practices.. A Drainage Water Management Plan developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is required for all drainage conservation projects as a condition of the cost-share.

Interested farmers should contact their local soil conservation district to apply for conservation drainage grants and to receive free technical assistance to install a project. Applicants must be in good standing with the MACS Program and in compliance with Maryland’s nutrient management regulations. Other restrictions may apply. For more information, contact the department at 410-841-5864.

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January 21, 2020

Maryland Agricultural Highlights – January 2020

Frederick Cover Crop Workshop Set for February 5

The Catoctin & Frederick Soil Conservation Districts in conjunction with the Frederick County Farm Bureau will host a cover crop workshop on Wednesday, February 5 at the Great Frederick Fairgrounds. Participants will learn about advanced cover cropping techniques from Steve Groff, an expert in cover crop innovation and education for over 25 years. Mr. Groff will also offer insight on the rising hemp industry. Register by January 24 on Eventbrite.

Nutrient Management Training and Certification for Urban Farmers

The Maryland Department of Agriculture and University of Maryland Extension (UME) will offer training and certification workshops for urban farmers who want to become certified to write nutrient management plans for their own operations. Workshops are aimed at Intensive Small-Scale Food Production Operations and will be offered at the UME office in Baltimore City during multiple dates in March. Professional staff will be available to assist with plan writing. Seating is limited. For a registration form, click here.

State Agriculture Department Reminds Citizens Not to Use Fertilizer to Melt Ice

Now that winter is in full swing, the Maryland Department of Agriculture reminds citizens that Maryland’s Lawn Fertilizer Law prohibits the use of fertilizer products to de-ice frozen surfaces. Once temperatures rise, these products can easily wash into nearby storm drains and streams with the first rain or snow. Fertilizer contributes to the growth of algae blooms that block sunlight from reaching bay grasses, rob the water of oxygen, and threaten underwater life. The University of Maryland recommends using sand and kitty litter as possible substitutes. For more information on melting ice safely, visit UME’s website.

2019 Maryland Nutrient Management Reporting Forms Now Available Online

The Maryland Department of Agriculture has announced that 2019 Nutrient Management Annual Implementation Reporting (AIRs) forms and instructions are now available online. Farmers use the reporting forms to document how they implemented their nutrient management plans during calendar year 2019. The forms are due to the department by March 1, 2020. Most farmers will also receive printed copies of the reporting form in the mail. For more information, contact the department’s Nutrient Management Program at 410-841-5959.

Fertilizer Application Reports Due March 1 for Licensed Professional Fertilizer Applicators

Licensed individuals and businesses that fertilize turf are required to file an Annual Fertilizer Application Report with the Maryland Department of Agriculture by March 1. The report outlines total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium applied to turf by county during calendar year 2019. Reporting forms are available on the department’s website. For more information, call 410-841-5959 or contact [email protected].

Workshops to Update Nutrient Management Plans Offered 

The Maryland Department of Agriculture and UME will offer a series of workshops for certified farmers who need to update their nutrient management plans. Specialists will be available at locations across Maryland to assist farmers with updating their nutrient management plans using the nutrient management planning software, NuMan Pro 5.0. Sessions will be informal and participants will work at their own pace. The 2020 training sessions will be held February 3 in Queen Anne’s County; February 10 in Charles County; February 18 in Baltimore County; February 24 and April 6 in Frederick County; and March 2 in Washington County. Download the class schedule here. Register by contacting Paul Shipley at 301-405-2563 or [email protected].

2019 Nutrient Management Program Annual Report Published

The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Management Program has published its 2019 annual report highlighting its activities and accomplishments over the past 20 years in helping Maryland farmers protect streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay from nutrient pollution. The report is available online.

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Maryland’s Conservation Partnership is a coalition of federal, state, and local agriculture agencies dedicated to protecting and conserving natural resources and promoting Maryland agriculture. Members include the Maryland Department of Agriculture, Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts, the State Soil Conservation Committee, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Farm Service Agency and University of Maryland Extension.

January 17, 2020

MPT Series Maryland Farm & Harvest Visits Six Counties for “Maryland Made Drinks” Episode on January 21

Photo Credit: Maryland Public Television

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland Public Television’s (MPT) popular original series Maryland Farm & Harvest, now in its seventh season, will feature farms and locations in Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Washington counties during a special “Maryland Made Drinks” episode airing on Tuesday, January 21 at 7 p.m.

Maryland Farm & Harvest takes viewers on journeys across the state, telling stories about the farms, people, and technology required to sustain and grow Maryland’s number one commercial industry – agriculture. MPT’s production team filmed episode segments at more than four dozen farms in preparation for its seventh season.

The episode opens with introductions at Star Bright Farm in Baltimore County’s White Hall community. Other segments featured on this week’s beverage-themed episode include:

• Paw Paw Lemonade (Allegany County): The paw paw is a unique fruit found in the wild forests of Maryland. Its flavor is best described as a cross between a banana and a mango with a creamy texture. While paw paws are difficult to grow, this has not stopped 90-year-old farmer John Popenoe from planting a small orchard in Cumberland. His passion for paw paws connected him with Todd Helmick of Western Maryland Lemonade, who has concocted a refreshing drink using this special fruit.
• Milk: Farm-to-Bottle (Washington County and Prince George’s counties): Milk is the state of Maryland’s official beverage. At Shenandoah Jerseys in Boonsboro, farmers Jessica Stiles Hess and JR Hess know good milk comes from happy cows, so they use technology to help effectively manage their herd of approximately 100 cattle. Viewers see how robots help feed and milk the cows, and then follow along as the Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Co-Op in Landover processes and bottles milk from the Hess farm and others throughout the region.
• Creating a Vineyard (Montgomery and Carroll counties): It takes passion and science to grow grapes, and the farmers behind The Burnt Hill Project in Clarksburg have both. After founding Old Westminster Winery in New Windsor, siblings Drew Baker, Lisa Hinton, and Ashli Johnson wanted to plant a vineyard that would eventually redefine American wine. The series visits this new vineyard to see why the perfect hillside is necessary for growing grapes and how this family found one right in Montgomery County.
• The Local Buy: Kombucha Tea (Baltimore County): Segment host Al Spoler learns about kombucha, a health drink that has exploded in popularity across the country. First, Al visits Hex Ferments to see how kombucha is made, then he’s off to Star Bright Farm in White Hall, where they are growing a special herb, holy basil, for one of Hex’s kombucha recipes. A kombucha tea recipe will be available at mpt.org/farm.

Maryland Farm & Harvest airs on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on MPT-HD and is rebroadcast on Thursdays at 11:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 a.m. Each show also airs on MPT2 on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Previous episodes of the series can be viewed for free on the MPT app and online at MPT’s website.

Viewers can join in on the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by using the hashtag #MDFarmHarvest.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is MPT’s co-production partner for Maryland Farm & Harvest. Major funding is provided by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board.

Additional funding is provided by: Maryland’s Best; the Maryland Agricultural Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation; MidAtlantic Farm Credit; the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program; the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation; the Rural Maryland Council; and the Maryland Soybean Board. Other support comes from: the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts; Wegmans Food Markets; the Maryland Nursery, Landscape & Greenhouse Association; the Maryland Seafood Marketing Fund; the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service; the Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.; the Maryland Farm Bureau; The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment; Mar-Del Watermelon Association; Eddie Mercer Agri-Services, Inc.; and Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission.

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January 16, 2020

Department Moves Forward with Phosphorus Management Tool

New Funding and Initiatives Announced to Assist Farmers and Industries with Transition

Haul now, apply later. For more information, call the MDA manure hotline: 410-841-5864.

ANNAPOLIS, MD —The Maryland Department of Agriculture announced new funding and initiatives for farmers as it moves forward with the implementation of the Phosphorus Management Tool (PMT). A proposed one-year delay in implementation was voted down by the PMT Advisory Committee with support  from representatives of the agriculture industry and environmental groups.

“The PMT is a critical part of the state’s efforts to enhance and protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and we look forward to continuing that progress without delay,” said Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. “We understand the challenges facing the industry as we move forward, and will continue working closely with the PMT Advisory Committee and stakeholder groups to ensure this transition period goes as smoothly as possible.”

“Maryland agriculture is showing real, on-the-ground leadership to help meet our Bay 2025 cleanup goal, and sets an example for others on how to use science, innovation, and partnership to meet environmental commitments,” said Maryland Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles.

A study conducted by BEACON at Salisbury University suggested the affected industries may lack the resources needed to move forward with PMT as planned. In response to those concerns, the department today announced a new set of initiatives that will help bring industries up to speed. The plan includes:

• Improvements to the Manure Transport Program including shorter, more flexible applications and claim forms. The program has set up a new manure hotline (410-841-5864) for farmers interested in moving or receiving manure. Governor Hogan’s budget also includes an additional $1 million for the program from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund.
• Partnering with Integrators to more accurately track the supply and demand for manure and connect farmers who need to move manure with farmers looking to apply manure.
• Working with the Maryland Environmental Services to identify facilities that can be used as temporary storage areas for manure until it is ready to be moved to a farm or alternative use facility.
• Potential Partnership with the Maryland and Delaware Railroad Company to haul manure out of Maryland to farmers and growers who have expressed interest in using manure as fertilizer.
• Field Science Study to ensure that we are working with the best available science. MDA is working with the University of Maryland on a five-year study on the field science of PMT.
• Continuing to Identify New Alternative Uses for litter through MDA’s Animal Waste Technology Grant program and industry partnerships.
• Finding New Ways to Reduce Phosphorus Levels including a research project with University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science analyzing the use of aragonite on fields.
• Outreach to Farmers encouraging the use of manure as a fertilizer, and publicizing the new and improved Manure Transport Program.

More details on this plan are available on the department’s website. For more information on the Manure Transport Program, please visit mda.maryland.gov/manure.

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