As gas prices continue to increase, Maryland citizens can trust that weighing and measuring devices are accurate.  Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) is responsible for regulating anything sold by weight, measure or count – it is the job of agency inspectors to make sure you get what you pay for in Maryland.

Maryland’s weights and measures officials test many different types of weighing and measuring devices including scales, price scanning equipment, gasoline pumps, meters to measure home fuel oil deliveries and highway truck scales.  An important part of their job is to randomly check packaged goods to be sure they contain the quantity printed on the label.  Inspectors also examine consumer complaints that have ranged from common gas pump complaints to the number of blood worms in a package or the number of BBs in a box of ammunition.

The Jane Lawton Farm to School Program (SB 158), named in honor of the late Maryland  Delegate Jane Lawton of Montgomery County, and sponsored by Senator Jamie Raskin, was signed into law by Governor Martin O’Malley in May.  In addition to facilitating the procurement of local Maryland produce for school menus, the bill also creates a Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week to promote Maryland agriculture through school meal and classroom programs and interaction between students and local farmers.

Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week will be held Sept. 22-26.  The program will also provide educational materials for teachers to integrate into their lessons to help students make the connection between their lunch menus and the agricultural process.  Montgomery, Cecil, Carroll, and Anne Arundel Counties are already planning to feature local produce in their menus during Homegrown School Lunch Week, and as the program develops, more school systems will undoubtedly take part.  Click here to learn where to find Maryland-grown products.

The LEAD Maryland Foundation, Inc. (LEAD), the program devoted to developing leaders to work on agricultural and natural resources issues and in rural communities of Maryland, is accepting applications for the next class of Fellows.  Through the two-year program, the participants increase their skills, confidence and knowledge for the benefit of their industries and the communities in which they live and work.

During 2009 and 2010, the LEAD Class VI will complete a series of multi-day seminars held at locations throughout Maryland; will complete a study tour in Washington, D.C.; and the Fellows will participate in an international study tour.

The ideal class will be made up of 20-25 emerging leaders with diverse backgrounds, occupations, perspectives, and experiences in agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities.  LEAD seeks applicants who are farmers/growers/producers/foresters, or who are involved with related activities through business, government, education, or volunteer ventures. To date 114 Fellows have completed the program.

To learn more about the program or for an application, click here, or contact Susan Harrison, executive director, 410-827-8056 ext. 136, or leadmd@umd.edu. Completed applications and required references are due to the LEAD office by October 1, 2008.

Key sponsoring organizations of the program include Maryland Department of Agriculture, University of Maryland Cooperative Extension, Maryland Farm Bureau, Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board, Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, the Farm Credit System, the Maryland Agriculture Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund, and the Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment.

Gene operated Fairwood Turf Farm Inc., his family’s 1,100 acre turf farm in Bowie, for over 20 years, since his father’s death. He grew up on the farm, which originated as an Angus cattle farm. Gene’s father enjoyed growing the grass under the cows more than the cows themselves and gradually in the mid-1960s his father converted the farm, with the help of University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Agents, from pasture to cultivated turfgrass.

“It has been a privilege over the last five years to work with such an interesting and capable group of men and women on the Maryland Agriculture Commission. I am particularly proud of the Commission’s work in developing the Strategic Plan for Agriculture in Maryland. I am very grateful to the leadership of Doug Green and Luke Howard, who preceded me as Chairmen of the Ag Commission, and who shepherded the Plan in its early stages.”

“Secretary Richardson, Deputy Secretary Hance and the Strategic Plan Implementation Committee comprised of representatives of various interest groups, have given the Strategic Plan effort strong support over the last several years. We have just had a particularly rewarding Strategic Plan Review Session in Annapolis on July 1, with great implementation cooperation from our partners, including; MDA, DHMH, MALPF, Farm Credit, MARBIDCO, DNR, the University of Maryland and many more.”

Take Part in Buy Local Challenge Week July 19-27