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 Maryland Department of Agriculture News
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| Celebrating Maryland Agriculture |
January 2009 |
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Secretary’s Corner
Happy New Year to one and all. This year holds great promise and challenge for agriculture. But this seems to be the case every year. It is what keeps us going. Be it weather, policy or politics, commodity prices, input costs, or consumer interests, we in agriculture adapt to the changes.
With the legislative session beginning this week there will certainly be a lot to watch. MDA has a number of bills that update and clarify elements of certain programs. Governor O’Malley this week announced a series of bills that serve to further the Smart, Green and Growing initiatives. These bills: strengthen local government Comprehensive Plans to protect community investment in the plans;
Modernize the State’s Planning Visions to address current challenges and expand them to include priorities such as economic development, housing, and public participation;
Collect good information on how Maryland is growing to inform local, regional and state planning through Smart Growth Measures or Markers; Reauthorize, green, and enhance the Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program; and
Broaden public revenue sources that can be used for Tax Increment Financing for Transit Oriented Development.
Provide regulatory authority to establish Aquaculture Enterprise Zones while revising shellfish leasing terms, streamlining the process for aquaculture businesses to flourish in Maryland. In a separate effort, the Dairy Oversight and Advisory Council released its annual report. Recommendations address the issues of milk hauling, milk processor regulations, and the need for more Extension research and education support to the industry. Thank you. I wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year,
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 MDA Energy Efficiency Project to Save State $4.36 Million
As part of Governor O’Malley’s EmPOWER Maryland initiative, the Board of Public Works approved an energy efficiency performance contract that will save the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) more than $4.36 million over 14 years. All project costs will be funded through guaranteed energy-related savings as MDA’s headquarters building implements the O’Malley Administration’s goal to reduce power consumption by 15% by the year 2015.
The project for the Wayne A. Cawley, Jr. headquarters building includes lighting retrofit upgrades, water conservation retrofits, building envelope improvements, renewable technology, HVAC upgrades, direct digital controls, facility maintenance services, and measurement and verification services.
The MDA project will provide approximately 31% in utility cost reduction. Additionally, the project will have significant environmental impact by reducing greenhouse gases including 2.98 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is equivalent to the amount of CO2 emitted by powering 120 homes, within the life of the contract. Johnson Controls guarantees the savings and backs the guarantee up with a bond. Click here for more details.
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New Forest Pest Manager Named
Robert L. “Bob” Tatman is the new program manager for the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Forest Pest Management program. Tatman has worked for MDA for 31 years, most recently leading the Gypsy Moth program.
As program manager, Tatman is responsible for overseeing programs and services that minimize losses to Maryland’s valuable forest and landscape trees in rural and urban areas that may be caused by plant diseases and insect pests. The program, in partnership with local jurisdictions and the federal government, uses an integrated pest management approach to forest health management. Tatman oversees a staff of approximately 15 year-round employees plus six part-time employees in the spring months.
Tatman began his career as an entomologist in the mid 1970s working on gypsy moth research in Fair Hill, Maryland. He began working at MDA in April 1977 as a regional entomologist covering the northeast region out of the agency’s Forest Hill field office for the Forest Pest Management program. Three years ago, he took over statewide gypsy moth responsibilities and in early December was promoted to lead the entire Forest Pest Management program. Click here to learn more.
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 New Dog Joins Bee Inspection Team
Honeybee colony disease and sniffing dogs are nothing new to MDA’s Apiary Inspection Program. The program dates back to the late 1970s through the present with three dogs being retired from service. The program was revived through the training abilities of Major Anderson and the Maryland Department of Corrections, Hagerstown, K-9 unit. Klinker, a female, black Labrador retriever, and William Troup, MDA bee inspector, last month completed an intensive 10-week training program along with an elite group of six dogs and K-9 handlers. During this professional training, Klinker became certified to detect American Foul Brood (AFB) – a fatally contagious disease that infects honeybee colonies. She will be a great asset to MDA’s program as she recently identified an AFB-positive colony that a previous human inspection missed.
Troup will continue to inspect honeybee colonies with Klinker throughout the fall and winter months to reduce the incidence of American Foul Brood in Maryland bee colonies. The dog is utilized in winter when people can’t and the dog is safe from distracting stings. Klinker’s disease detection capabilities will greatly enhance the number of bee colonies that Troup will inspect. An average human inspector can inspect 45 colonies a day. The dog can inspect 100 colonies in 45 minutes! MDA’s goal remains to keep the incidences of AFB to one-tenth of 1% among Maryland’s 9,215 honeybee colonies.
Klinker and her trained sniffing ability will certainly guarantee healthier bee colonies in Maryland. Without healthy and large populated bee colonies, much of the pollination of Maryland agricultural crops would not be possible. Without this pollination, the quality and quantity of the foods on our table that we take for granted, would not be available. Early detection of the disease by Klinker and Troup will save Maryland beekeepers substantial monetary loss from eradication of diseased bees and destruction of infected equipment.
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 Join the Rockfish Celebration
Enjoy delicious Maryland rockfish and join the celebration of Maryland’s official state fish – the striped bass, commonly known as rockfish! The Maryland Rockfish Celebration is taking place at over 30 restaurants and retail markets statewide through February. Restaurants, grocery stores and seafood markets will be offering specials on this delectable fish during the celebration.
Winter is prime time for the delicious Chesapeake Bay rockfish. Look for the special purple, green and silver Maryland Rockfish Celebration buttons and table tents at your favorite restaurant or retail market. The Maryland Rockfish Celebration is sponsored by Maryland commercial fishermen, seafood processors and the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
As part of the Rockfish Celebration, the 2nd Annual Junior Chefs Rockfish Cook-Off will be held during the 2009 East Coast Commercial Fisherman’s and Aquaculture Trade Exposition on Jan. 24 in Ocean City. Click here for recipes and a list of participating restaurant and retailers.
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 MDA Memorial Dedicated to Cy Lesser
Dozens of Cy Lesser’s friends, family and colleagues gathered on December 19, to dedicate a memorial and to honor his life and his 31 year public service career with MDA. Cy was a true leader, full of humor, guidance and appreciation for everyone and all things around him. All Marylanders owe Cy a debt of gratitude, as his life’s work was dedicated to the prevention of infectious diseases and improving the quality of life in the outdoors
A number of his friends and colleagues came together to design and install the 15 by 30 foot garden at MDA’s Salisbury Office. The plant selections they made were deliberate. Because Cy’s life was cut so short, MDA donors selected the centerpiece of the memorial garden to be a 15-year old Chestnut Oak, which is the longest lived native woody plant species in the Northeast United States, as a contrasting and lasting tribute. Other plants include: lobelia (a blue flower), goldenrod, and tickseed (yellow flowers) to represent the colors of the University of Delaware, Cy’s alma mater and two native grasses were planted to mimic the flora of the Eastern Shore salt marshes which Cy favored. MDA is honored to set aside this piece of ground to honor Cy. Staff, family, and friends are welcomed and encouraged to use the garden.
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Final Animal Feeding Operation Permit, Regs Issued
The Maryland Department of the Environment announced that on Jan. 2, a notice of “final determination” for a general permit and the notice of final action on regulations related to discharges from animal feeding operations (AFO) were published in the Maryland Register. The permit and regulations, for the first time, require discharge permits for large poultry operations and will ensure that Maryland’s 200 largest poultry producers are implementing controls necessary to properly manage poultry litter and minimize nutrient runoff into the Chesapeake Bay.
The regulations took effect on Jan. 12. The general permit will be final as of Jan. 21. Click here for more information.
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 Sign Up for a CSA Farm Share Today!
Community supported agriculture (CSA) farms are another way for farmers to boost their profitability and for residents to buy fresh, locally-grown food. MDA encourages citizens to join a CSA to support local farmers while receiving delicious, healthy, fresh produce all summer long.
CSA members pay an upfront subscription fee to farmers in return for a share of the season’s harvest, which is usually provided weekly. For convenience, many CSAs deliver to central locations for pick up closer to subscriber’s home or work on a certain day of the week. Still others have special rates if the subscriber helps with the harvest on the farm.
It may seem early, but CSA memberships typically fill up quickly. Click here for a list of Maryland’s CSA farms that have signed up with the department’s Maryland’s Best program.
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 People Profile: James B. Steele
A Thoroughbred owner and breeder for over 30 years, Jim Steele has managed the multi-breed stallion station Shamrock Farm in Carroll County since 1977. Currently chair of the Maryland Horse Industry Board, a commodity board for the industry located at the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), he has served on the Board since 2004. Jim also chaired the Maryland Agricultural Commission. “It’s been great to be on a Board that can help to showcase the horse industry,” Jim said. He is most proud of the Board for completing the 2002 Maryland Equine Census, which raised awareness about the economic impact and scope of the horse industry in Maryland.
Jim recognizes that while sometimes there is a disconnect between the horse industry and traditional agriculture, horses are an important part of agriculture. “I enjoyed my time with the Maryland Agricultural Commission because it broadened my view of agriculture and brought me back to my roots, where I was raised on a family farm in Kentucky showing sheep, cattle and growing crops.”
Jim is now involved with production agriculture, though he raises race horses with the goal of producing athletes as opposed to traditional crops. He experiences the same types of issues as traditional agriculture (feed shortages, nutrient management and erosion control) and feels it is important for traditional agriculture and the horse industry to recognize that they are part of the same Maryland Agriculture.
Maryland is rich with horse history. The first jockey club was established in Maryland. George Washington raced horses here. We have the Maryland Million – the state version of the Breeders’ Cup World Championship. Jousting is Maryland’s official state sport and the state has a long-time tradition of fox chasing.
“One of my top priorities for the Board is to create a horse park in Maryland. Currently horse groups must go out of state to have meetings and various events because there is not a venue large enough While recent economic woes have impeded the creation of a horse park, it will be a win-win for Maryland and the horse industry.”
Jim is the current president of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and a committee member of the American Farm Bureau Equine Advisory Committee. His involvement with agriculture does not stop at the stable. Jim is a past director of the Maryland Farm Bureau, a former chairman of the Maryland Agricultural Commission and the Carroll County Agricultural Commission, past president of the Carroll County Farm Bureau, a former member of the Committee to Review Agricultural Land Preservation, and a former member of the Governor’s special commission to study slots and gaming in Maryland. In the mid-90s, he served on the Governor’s special commission that recommended that the state and MDA formally recognize horses, as well as other nontraditional forms of farming, such as turf farms and nurseries, as part of Maryland agriculture.
Jim is from Lexington, Kentucky, where his family still farms. He and his wife Christie have five sons.
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 Featured Recipe: Rockfish with Lemon and Caper Dressing
MARYLAND ROCKFISH
4 fillets, 6-8 ounces each, about 1 inch thick
extra virgin olive oil
DRESSING
2 medium lemons (or 1 tablespoons lemon juice)
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon capers, drained
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper SEASONINGS
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh dill
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Prepare the dressing: Cut a ½ -inch slice off both ends of each lemon. Cut each lemon in half lengthwise. Lightly brush or spray the cut sides of the lemons with 1 teaspoon of the oil. In a non-stick skillet, sauté the lemons on high heat until nicely browned, 4 to 6 minutes, turning once. Remove the lemons from the pan and cool. Squeeze the lemons through a sieve into a small bowl. Discard the rinds and seeds. You should have about 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Add the capers, then whisk in the 3 tablespoons oil to form a dressing. Whisk in the rest of the dressing ingredients.
In a small bowl, mix the seasonings together. Generously brush or spray the rockfish on both sides with remaining oil and seasonings. Place fillets, skin side down on clean, slightly oiled pan. Bake at 450˚F until the rockfish just begins to flake when you poke it with the tip of a knife about 10 minutes. Whisk the dressing one last time. Serve the fish with the dressing poured over the top. Serves four.
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We invite your feedback.
Thank you for reading our latest publication. We are always looking for ways to improve how we serve our constituents. Please send your comments, suggestions and ideas to mdanews@mda.state.md.us or call 410-841-5881.
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Contact Info
Sue duPont, Communications Director, 410-841-5889, dupontsk@mda.state.md.us
Julie Oberg, Public Information Officer, 410-841-5888, obergja@mda.state.md.us |
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