Governor Martin O’Malley joined more than 900 poultry growers and industry representatives from across the Delmarva Peninsula at the 52nd Annual Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.’s Booster Banquet last month to celebrate the industry’s accomplishments and to share a vision for a prosperous and an environmentally sustainable future.  Members of Governor O’Malley’s Cabinet, Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson and  Environment Secretary Shari T. Wilson, also were in attendance.

“The leadership and accomplishments of each and every member of the poultry industry have made it the success it is today,” said Governor O’Malley.  “It is our job to work together to protect our priorities for the benefit of agriculture – to strengthen and grow our middle class families, our family owned businesses and our family farms; to expand opportunity; and to protect the health of our citizens and the environment for all to enjoy.  Together, we will see a stronger poultry industry – one that continues to be economically, environmentally and culturally sustainable for future generations.”   Click here for more information.

As of Friday, May 16, the Maryland Department of Agriculture had completed 62 percent of its gypsy moth spray operation. The suppression activities are complete in 11 counties with only land in Allegany and Garrett counties remaining.  When complete, more than 99,000 acres will have been treated to prevent the ravages of this state’s most damaging forest pest, the gypsy moth.

Credit belongs to Governor Martin O’Malley for allocating the money to run the spray program this year when it was not originally budgeted.  Because of last year’s drought conditions, the gypsy moth population is rebounding and dramatically increased funding is needed.  Governor O’Malley directed state money and worked with our Congressional delegation to obtain federal funding.

The Governor flew over Western Maryland last fall to see firsthand the defoliation that had taken place.  He understands the value of the trees to our economy, quality of life, and environment and listened to the needs of landowners all across the state who would be affected if the gypsy moth were left unchecked. County leaders made certain their cost-share contributions were available.  In addition, Governor O’Malley signed SB 920, which establishes a Task Force to Study Statewide Gypsy Moth Infestation to see if there are ways to better plan for the suppression of the invasive forest pest. Click here to read more from The Baltimore Sun.

Governor Martin O’Malley has declared May 24-30 as Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week in Maryland.  The proclamation is part of an ongoing effort by the Maryland departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources to inform residents about ways to help stop the spread of the emerald ash borer, a destructive pest that kills ash trees.

The focus of the campaign is to encourage campers, anglers, scouts, and other outdoor enthusiasts to leave firewood at home, buy it at their destination and burn it completely.  Since ash is used to make baseball bats, part of the awareness effort will be a fun summer-long campaign with the Bowie Baysox, starting with promotions at the May 24 and 28 home games.

“With the beginning of the summer vacation season upon us, we remind residents that they can do their part to help stop the spread of the emerald ash borer by leaving their firewood at home.” said Governor O’Malley.  “Ash trees are important to our environment by shading and cooling our neighborhoods in the summer, by providing buffers along our streams, and as part of our timber industry, so we need to do what we can to stop this destructive beetle in its tracks.”  Click here for for more information.

For the past 15 years, Maryland has helped prevent pesticide residues from entering the soil and local waterways and has saved valuable landfill space by recycling nearly 525,000 empty, plastic pesticide containers.  The containers collected in Maryland have yielded over 220 tons of recyclable plastic flakes.

The pesticide container recycling program is FREE and open to all agricultural producers and pesticide applicators.

“We are very pleased with the response by farmers, commercial agricultural pesticide applicators and other pesticide users to this program,” said Secretary Richardson. “It is a win-win situation for everyone, offering producers and others a free way to dispose of pesticide containers, protecting the environment from possible contamination, and providing a source of recycled material for vendors.”

MDA will hold 28 scheduled collection days June through September at seven locations throughout the state.  Click here for the schedule, or visit MDA’s Pesticide Regulation program online.

Last month, MDA got back to its roots and celebrated Earth Day with several events. Most notable, Secretary Richardson, elected officials and conservation leaders participated in an event with USDA Secretary Ed Schafer in which Maryland was awarded $2.6 million in fiscal year 2008 to protect agricultural land in Baltimore and Talbot counties through the federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program.

Additionally, Secretary Richardson and Dep. Secretary Hance presented to winning high school teams awards at Envirothon events in Harford and Baltimore County respectively. The department also displayed at Towson Garden Show and the Department of Natural Resources Green Day festival.

The biggest way MDA marked the celebration of Earth Day was on May 1 by continuing the momentum and launching the Take it From Maryland Farmers: Backyard Actions for a Cleaner Chesapeake Bay campaign.  In case you missed it, the campaign included coverage in newspapers, on TV, radio and the web. Click here to learn more.

As the weather begins to warm, homeowners are reminded that their regular spring cleaning activities can help reduce mosquito populations and make spring outdoor activities more pleasant.

Maryland’s Mosquito Control Program provides direct service to approximately 2,100 communities in 22 Maryland counties and Baltimore City.  In addition to the state program, homeowners can take action. Click here for seven simple steps to help reduce mosquito populations.

For more information about Maryland’s Mosquito Control Program, call 410-841-5870 or go to Maryland Department of Agriculture’s website.

Most of the farmers’ markets in Maryland are now open. Find out the locations and hours of each of the state’s markets in the 2008 Maryland Farmers’ Market Directory. This year, there are 83 markets with at least one in every county and Baltimore City.   Of those markets, 69 participate in the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) which provides qualified senior citizens and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program participants with checks they can use at farmers’ markets to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables and cut herbs.  Working with the Maryland departments of Health and Mental Hygiene and Aging, distribution of $500,000 in WIC FMNP checks will begin in June.

Snow Hill Oysters, farm raised by Great Eastern Shellfish in Maryland’s Chincoteague Bay, were selected as runner up in the East Coast taste competition held April 10 in Providence,  RI. Great Eastern competed against 20 growers of the native oyster Crassostrea virginica in an event sponsored by the East Coast Shellfish Growers Association.

“Oysters are critical to our economy, our environment and our State’s identity,” said Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson.  “Recognition of outstanding products such as this young company’s native oysters helps to retain Maryland’s reputation as a source of some of the best seafood available.”

In 2007, there were 35 commercial aquafarms in production in Maryland, five of which are oyster operations permitted to sell commercially.  Interest in oyster aquaculture is growing with great interest for seafood sales opportunities, species restoration, and water quality improvement.

Luke R. Howard is the current chair and organic representative of the Maryland Agricultural Commission – a 24 member advisory board to the Secretary of Agriculture.

Luke and his wife Alison own and manage 200-acre Homestead Farms Inc. in Millington, Md. They grow organic vegetables, grains and hay. Their farm currently markets its produce through a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), local restaurants, farmers markets, and processors.  Luke also works as a consultant for the organic industry and is very active in local and regional agriculture issues.

Luke describes his experience on the commission as “humbling” and “exciting” to lead a group of passionate people to keep Maryland agriculture profitable and viable moving forward. He said he is proud to have a role in developing the strategic plan, which is “a good roadmap for the future of agriculture that Governor O’Malley, Sec. Richardson and others are using effectively.” Luke enjoys helping people better understand organics and the opportunities that exist to integrate organics into Maryland agriculture.  One of his favorite sayings is “you don’t have to be a tree hugger to be an organic farmer”.

Before being self-employed, Luke worked for Nature’s Best Organic Feed, establishing about 100 dealers for organic feed throughout the United States and also worked with some other countries. Prior to that, he managed Caballo Dairy, a 3,000 cow dairy and 1,500 heifer operation in New Mexico.  He was among the core group that started Horizon Organic Dairy in Kennedyville, Maryland – a model for improving the ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay region.

Luke hails from the Howard family dairy farm in north central Pennsylvania. He is also the chairman of the Maryland Organic Certification Advisory Committee, the advisory body for organic issues within the State of Maryland.

As his second term ends in June, we take this opportunity to thank Luke for his years of service and dedication to Maryland agriculture.  In the coming months, we will introduce you to the new chair of the commission and feature other key agricultural leaders in Maryland.

Visit a farm today to purchase fresh, locally-grown strawberries and save 10% off your purchase at a participating Maryland farm.*  Click here for a complete list of participating farms and to download a coupon.  Click here to find out where you can pick your own. A listing of all strawberry farms in Maryland is available at:  www.marylandsbest.net.