Celebrating Maryland Agriculture Week

Published in the March 25, 2017, issue of Lancaster Farming

We just celebrated the 44^th National Agriculture Day (March 21), which recognizes the contributions of agriculture to American society and thanks our farmers for providing us with life’s necessities – food, fiber, clothing and shelter. To coincide with this national celebration, Governor Larry Hogan declared March 19-25 as “Maryland Agriculture Week.”

There are 2.1 million farms in the United States, a country with nearly 319 million people. Agriculture products remain the nation’s top export. Each American farmer today feeds more than 155 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.

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. Our vibrant agricultural industry is a critical component of our state’s economy, and our farmers go above and beyond to provide fresh, quality food that is accessible, affordable, and safe for our citizens. That’s a lot to celebrate during Ag Week!

Frederick Douglass High School New Ag Program

I spent National Ag Day with Mayor Catherine Pugh and Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford and students at Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore City, where the department has been working with the school leaders, Maryland Nursery Landscape and Greenhouse Association, Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation and other industry and community leaders to bring hands-on agricultural experiences to the students. The school has created a Garden Club and developed an Urban Agriculture class with 24 students involved this inaugural year.

Thanks to the many partnerships and generous support of the industry, two new hoop houses were erected last fall. The Lt. Governor and I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the hoop houses during a statewide kick-off event for Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week at the school last September.

On National Ag Day, we helped students transplant begonias into larger pots. These are the first plants to be grown in the school’s new hoop houses, and will give each student in the school an opportunity to take home a flower on Mother’s Day weekend that was grown by Frederick Douglass students.

Hopefully in the future, we can start a FFA chapter at the school. Next year, we hope the school will be able to grow plants in the hoop houses and hold a plant sale to raise money for the school’s agriculture program.

Ag Literacy Campaign

Next month, I will join Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Dr. Craig Beyrouty, University of Maryland Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, to visit third grade classrooms at Beltsville Academy Elementary School. We will be reading the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation 2017 Ag Literacy Campaign book “Hatching Chicks in Room 6” by Caroline Arnold. This book teaches children about the life cycle of a chicken, incubating eggs, watching them hatch, and raising the chicks until they are old enough to return to the chicken coop.

This is the seventh year for Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation’s annual Ag Literacy Program. This Ag in the Classroom program seeks to instill the importance of agriculture in student’s daily lives.

You can be a Literacy Volunteer and set up a time to visit in a nearby school and read to students in grades K-3. Following the reading of the book, volunteers conduct an activity with the students and share their experiences in agriculture.  The book is then left in the classroom or media center with a book plate indicating the donor.

Lesson plans and ideas for many activities can be found at www.maefonline.com. To order hardback copies of the book for $10 each, or for more information, visit maefonline.com, or contact Jeanne Mueller 410-848-4745 or jmueller@maefonline.com.

2017 Ag Census

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service just launched the 2017 Census of Agriculture in conjunction with National Ag Day. This data is so important on a number of levels, and there is strength in numbers.

As a farmer, I encourage you to participate in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. It is our voice, our future, and our opportunity to shape American agriculture – its policies, services, and assistance programs – for years to come.

If you are new to farming or did not receive a Census of Agriculture form in 2012, there is still time to sign up to receive the 2017 Census of Agriculture report form by visiting www.agcensus.usda.gov and clicking on the ‘Make Sure You Are Counted’ button through June.

Spring Means Farmers’ Markets

Spring also means farmers markets will be opening up across the state. Farmers’ markets provide an important source of income for farmers.  They also serve as integral links between urban, suburban and rural communities. By talking one-on-one with farmers, consumers can learn about fresh produce including preparation and storage tips. Consumers also develop a bond of trust in the integrity and accountability of our growers.

In preparation for the season, the department will hold its annual farmers’ market conference with nearly 100 participants on April 10. This conference provides participants an opportunity to network and connect with experts on farmers’ market issues in Maryland and nationally. It will also introduce market managers to prospective farmers and vendors. We look forward to a great season!