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 Maryland Department of Agriculture News
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| Celebrating Maryland Agriculture |
March 2011 |
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Secretary’s Corner
With three weeks to go in the legislative session, the agricultural community, including MDA, has been very busy with a wide variety of bills that have a direct impact on the agency and agriculture in general.
The department submitted five legislative proposals for consideration this session (HB 214 — Critical Farms, HB 293 Weights and Measures — Registration Fees, HB 209 — MALPF — Allowable Residential Uses, SB 146 — Veterinarians — Licensing, SB 322 — Veterinary Technicians). All have crossed over to the opposite house. Two of the bills, HB 214, Critical Farms Legislation, and HB 293 — Weights and Measures — Registration Fees, were heard in the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday, March 22. A bill to require the MDA to establish an on-line pesticide data reporting system is still pending in both committees. Amendments MDA offered to the house bill which would require the department to establish a public information program and survey, a more cost-effective approach to collecting pesticide data, were accepted by the House agricultural subcommittee of the Environmental Matters Committee. A bill to ban atrazine was rejected by the House Environmental Matters Committee. A Senate bill to require MDA to report on the feasibility of banning atrazine was withdrawn. Legislation to establish a livestock advisory board was also withdrawn on the House side. Bills to establish a Food Policy Council as well as a Commission on Organic and Locally Grown Foods were respectively withdrawn and given an unfavorable report. HB 831, which establishes a Invasive Plants committee within MDA, received a favorable vote within the House Environmental Matters Committee. A bill seeking to ban arsenic compounds from poultry feed was rejected in committee.
Finally, a bill to address failing septic systems appears to be on hold until next year. There is talk of establishing a task force to address this issue during the interim. I thank the farmers who participated in a meeting with Governor O’Malley a few weeks ago to share their thoughts on this issue.
As members of the ag community, we are all well aware that the estate tax is harmful to the long-term generation to generation transfer of agricultural property. Legislation (HB 721) is also pending to exempt agricultural from a state estate tax up to $5 million and a 5 percent tax rate afterwards. I testified earlier this month to show the O’Malley Administration’s support of this bill and how it will benefit the community.
We will continue to do all we can to support agriculture to ensure it remains a profitable and viable industry in Maryland. I wish you all the best this growing season.
Sincerely,
Buddy Hance
Secretary
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 Governor O’Malley Meets with Farmers
More than three dozen Maryland agricultural leaders the opportunity to speak directly with Governor Martin O’Malley to discuss their opinions on the proposed septic legislation (HB 1107) earlier this month.
During the meeting, the Governor offered to draft amendments to address concerns about timing of subdivision lot development. He also offered an amendment that would allow farmers to further subdivide the remainder of the farm for ancillary buildings, like a winery, dairy barn or processing building. A third amendment is being drafted to allow farms that are annexed by municipalities to be developed beyond the original four lots if the new zoning allows for the density and if the new development is hooked into a waste water treatment plant.
Governor O’Malley expressed his support for estate tax reform legislation that would protect the generational transfer of farmland. Secretary Hance testified on behalf of the Governor in support of the bill (HB 721) before the House Ways and Means Committee in Annapolis. The bill would make it easier for farmers to pass down farmland through generations by decreasing the estate tax burden on the owner’s death. Click here for more details. |
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 Md. Farmers Offer Spring Garden Planning Tips, Checklists
Spring is right around the corner and now is the time to plan for your gardens. Maryland farmers have initiated a homeowner education campaign, “Take it from Maryland Farmers: Backyard Actions for a Cleaner Chesapeake Bay” to help gardeners by offering tips and online resources.
The campaign highlights the importance of garden planning for stronger, healthier gardens and lawns in the upcoming growing season and a cleaner Chesapeake Bay. Additional topics include the wise use of fertilizers, trying pesticide alternatives and composting, controlling soil erosion and rainwater runoff, and conserving water. Click here to learn more.
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 Emerald Ash Borer Update
As part of a national survey for the emerald ash borer (EAB), the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has started hanging 2,600 14″ x 24″ triangular purple insect traps in ash trees statewide. Surveys, which are continuous and ongoing, are crucial to understanding the emerald ash borer’s impact in Maryland and determining the best course of action. In Prince George’s County, MDA will also be hanging about 80 new green prism traps where we expect to collect beetles as part of the national “trap trials” program.
This year, the battle to stop the spread of the emerald ash borer will include more intensive surveys in Western Maryland and on the Eastern Shore – including Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset counties for the first time. Additionally, MDA will use systemic insecticides to treat selected trees in and around the known infested area and release three biocontrol agents (beneficial wasps) at selected sites. Click here for more information.
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 Try Locally-Raised Meats Today!
From beef and pork to poultry, lamb, emu and many other meats, Maryland farmers have a wide variety of meats available for consumers who want to buy locally-raised products. MDA is promoting local meats this month through its Maryland’s Best branding program. Maryland’s Best, through its website and limited advertising, helps state producers sell their products and helps consumers locate the products.
Click hereto find a producer near you.
Photo: Steve Isaacson of Sassafras River Beef in Cecil County. With him is chef Bruce Wetterau of the Kitty Knight House in Kent County, who uses Steve’s beef products on his menu. Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg
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 Md. Participates in FOODEX JAPAN
Maryland participated in FOODEX JAPAN – the largest food and beverage tradeshow in Asia March 1-4. FOODEX has been a highly successful annual trade event since its debut in 1976 serving not only Japan’s $600 billion food market but many lucrative Asian markets. Over 73,000 trade-only visitors, which included key decision makers from restaurants, supermarkets, hypermarkets, wholesalers, grocery stores, foodservice/hospitality, fast food chains, convenience stores as well as distributors, agents and brokers, attend this annual event.
With funding from the Southern US Trade Association, MDA and the Virginia Department of Agriculture organized the participation of five companies from the southern region at this 4 day event. In 2009, Japan was the largest overseas market at $11.1 billion of US food and agricultural exports. Two Maryland companies reported over $1 million in sales from participation in FOODEX JAPAN 2010.
There was strong interest in products from our region again this year. One Maryland- based company, Allied International, reported on-site sales of over $350,000. The company, based in Glen Burnie, supplies a wide variety of pasta sauces, salad dressings and snack foods.
Although plans may change given the recent earthquake, MDA will host a delegation of Japanese retail buyers in early July and organize one-on-one meetings with potential suppliers from Maryland.
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 Motorists, Farmers Can Share the Road Safely
The spring planting season has started throughout much of Maryland. That means motorists traveling Maryland highways and rural roads may find themselves sharing the road with the large, slow-moving farm equipment from one of Maryland’s 12,800 farms.Farmers are legally allowed to operate farm equipment on public roadways and there are times when farm vehicles must operate on highways to move between farm and field. Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance encourages all motorists to be patient when traveling on roads near Maryland farms and drive with caution to ensure the safety of motorists and farmers. Click here for safety tips. |
 People Profile: Mark Powell
Mark S. Powell is Chief of Marketing and Agricultural Development for the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Trained as a journalist, he has spent the past two decades dedicated to telling the stories of farmers and enjoying every moment of it. His main focus now is passionately working with producers to ensure they are efficiently reaching markets and capitalizing on the growing consumer demand for local agricultural products.
Mark has been with MDA for eight years. Prior to serving agriculture at MDA, he was editor of the Easton, Md.-based newspapers, The Delmarva Farmer, Mid-Atlantic Grower and the New Jersey Farmer for more than 13 years, where he was an award-winning agricultural writer and columnist. There, Mark developed a love of agriculture and desire to continue working with the agriculture community and do something to directly help Maryland farmers.
Among his first tasks at MDA was working with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) to ensure the interests of the dairy industry are represented. Mark helped to organize a series of public meetings with DHMH and MDA, which resulted in the establishment of the Governor’s Dairy Industry Oversight and Advisory Council. That interaction spurred his interest and enabled Mark to become directly involved with government processes.
Mark and his team of six are responsible for programs to link farmers with markets. Those programs include: Maryland’s Best buy local promotions, Farm-to-School, the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, the Specialty Crop grants program, international marketing through the Southern U.S. Trade Association and United States Livestock Genetics Export Association. Mark also manages programs to provide Maryland farmers with risk management education and ag mediation services.
Influenced by the innovative marketing of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Jersey Fresh program, Mark capitalizes on the talents of his smart, dedicated staff and the agency’s public information office to combine media and advertising efforts and grow the Maryland’s Best branding program. He is most proud of this campaign, which looks at every possible means of ensuring consumers are aware of Maryland local products, capitalizing on the national trend to buy local produce, meats, specialty cheeses and more. The campaign drives consumers to MarylandsBest.net to find the best local food and products from farmers throughout the State.Consumers can now follow the campaign on Twitter @MDsBest.
Mark serves on the board of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and the LEAD Maryland Foundation and has served on the board of the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation. He also has represented MDA on the Maryland Soybean Board, the Young Farmers Advisory Council, the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Wine and Grape Growing, the Governor’s Dairy Advisory Council and the Maryland Ag Council.
Other career stops for Mark have included media relations for The American University in Washington, D.C. and St. Andrews College in Laurinburg, N.C. He was also a reporter for the News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C. Mark is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a Fellow in Class I of LEAD Maryland.
He is married to Tiffany H. Powell and is the father of two daughters, Rowan, 16, and Sadie, 6. In his spare time, Mark enjoys watching his daughters sing, act and play sports. He finds a lot of pleasure in reading, going to restaurants, hiking and geocaching – a sport in which participants with hand-held GPS and clues find hidden containers.
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 Featured Recipe: Corned Beef & Cabbage
Recipe courtesy of: Laria Tabul
Photo Credit: www.allrecipes.com
3 pounds corned beef brisket with spice packet
10 small red potatoes
5 carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch pieces
1 large head cabbage, cut into small wedges
1. Place corned beef in large pot or Dutch oven and cover with water. Add the spice packet that came with the corned beef. Cover pot and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer approximately 50 minutes per pound or until tender.
2. Add whole potatoes and carrots, and cook until the vegetables are almost tender. Add cabbage and cook for 15 more minutes. Remove meat and let rest 15 minutes.
3. Place vegetables in a bowl and cover. Add as much broth (cooking liquid reserved in the Dutch oven or large pot) as you want. Slice meat across the grain.
Serves: 5
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| Upcoming Events
NOTE: We regret that due to budget cuts and staffing limitations, the 2011 MDA Open House has been cancelled. |
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
Julie Oberg, Communications Director, 410-841-5888, obergja@mda.state.md.us |
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Maryland’s Best Promotes Locally Raised Meats
Support Maryland Farmers, Buy Local
Go green and buy local by serving local meat for dinner tonight. Maryland farmers have a wide variety of meats available for consumers who want to buy locally-raised products. The Maryland Department of Agriculture is promoting local meats through its Maryland’s Best branding program, which helps state producers sell their products and helps consumers locate the products. Click here for a list of farms and businesses that carry locally-produced meat products.
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