Growing Maryland Agriculture

Published May 28, 2016, in Lancaster Farming

Secretary Joe Bartenfelder

National Agriculture Leaders

In Maryland we are growing – growing crops, growing our industry, and growing national agricultural leaders. Did you know that here in Maryland, we currently have at least seven people who are leading, or serving on the boards of the premier agricultural organizations in the country?

• Chip Bowling, president, National Corn Growers Association
• Lee McDaniel, president, National Association of Soil Conservation Districts
• Chip Council, 1^st vice president, U.S. Grains Council
• Jason Scott, 1^st vice president, U.S. Wheat Growers
• Eric Spates, board member, National Association of Wheat Growers
• Dennis Howard, chief of the department’s Pesticide Regulation section, is the president of the Association of American Pesticide Control Officials.
• Julie Oberg, communications director for the department, is president of the Communications Officers of State Departments of Agriculture.

I commend each of them and thank them for their leadership and service to ensure that agriculture remains a strong and viable industry.

Mid-Atlantic Ag Leadership

Governor Larry Hogan recognizes the importance of protecting the environment and the Chesapeake Bay, our precious natural resources. Under his leadership, the agriculture industry has continued to use the latest science and do its part to help restore the Bay. Maryland is recognized as a model by our mid-Atlantic neighbors for our efforts to prevent runoff from farms.

For the second year in a row, Maryland hosted agriculture secretaries and commissioners from five Mid-Atlantic states for an Earth Day meeting in Annapolis. We were pleased to host Ed Kee (Delaware Secretary of Agriculture), Sandy Adams (Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services), Russell Redding (Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture) and Jerry Ours (West Virginia Department of Agriculture Poultry and Environmental Specialist).

During their visits, we discussed mutual interests and goals, including the financial health of agriculture in each state, nutrient management, water quality goals and the Chesapeake Bay, manure transport, the Food Safety Modernization Act, Zika virus, high path avian influenza, and international trade issues.

Weather Impacting Crops

Farmers live and breathe by the weather, and this is the coldest, wettest spring I can remember. Planting activities are behind schedule due to high moisture concentration and low soil temperatures. Those who planted early are seeing crops essentially rotting in their fields.

Strawberry plants were beautiful in March as they blossomed and formed fruits with the warmer temperatures. We thought we may have a record crop. As the freezing temperatures started, we covered the plants to protect them and lost some but we carried on, as farmers do. The blossoms picked up in April, then the rain set in and would not let up. Everything stayed wet. My daughter and I recently walked down every row on our farm, and from 12,000 plants, we barely filled one bowl.

I know many farmers across our state have faced similar losses, and we all pray that our farms will be able to recover from these losses. Many tree fruit farmers thought their crops were decimated, but some trees have recovered and overall losses will not be as dire as we anticipated. As we enter small grain harvest season, Vomitoxin is a concern among wheat and barley growers. I encourage any farmer who is having a loss of grain quality to contact their crop insurance agent immediately.

It looks like warmer, sunny days are now in the forecast. Just in time to celebrate the unofficial start of the summer fun season this Memorial Day.

Summer Fun on the Farm

What better way is there to enjoy summer than with friends and family on one of Maryland’s 12,200 farms?  There are several different ways you can visit a farm or enjoy new agricultural experiences.

Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail

Last week, we kicked off the 2016 Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail at our newest creamery – Woodborne Creamery at Rock Hill Orchard, owned and operated by John and Mary Fendrick. It is the first dairy to open in Montgomery County in 60 years. Visiting one of Maryland’s on-farm creameries is a great way to celebrate National Dairy Month this June. The Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail promotes our dairy farmers and encourages Marylanders to visit a working farm. The trail is made up of nine dairy farms across the state that produce and sell ice cream directly to consumer on the farm. If you are traveling around Maryland this summer, considering visiting at least one stop on the trail.

Pick up an Ice Cream Trail Passport at any of the creameries (or www.marylandsbest.net).

Celebrating Maryland Agriculture

Summer is truly a great time for Maryland agriculture. It is our chance to shine with fresh produce available at more than 140 farmers’ markets statewide, pick-your-own opportunities at farms all over Maryland, and more than 50 agricultural fairs and shows to visit. Plus we have 70 licensed wineries, seven wine trails, and now seven on-farm breweries offering libations made from local agricultural products. We encourage the public to visit a farm or farmers’ market or attend a fair or show, or visit an agritourism farm, not only because they’re fun but also to see where their food comes from and to learn the importance of agriculture in Maryland. Learn more at www.marylandsbest.net

Hope to see you out on a farm in the coming months.