Maryland Department of Agriculture News

As farmers well know, Mother Nature can throw us a few unexpected curveballs. This summer has been no exception with farmers experiencing drought and abnormally dry conditions throughout much of our state, to our most recent earthquake followed by Hurricane Irene.

We’re in the process of compiling damage assessment information from our more than 12,000 family farms to see how they fared from our most recent storm. It appears that the majority of damage was sustained by the corn crop in Southern Maryland and the Lower Eastern Shore.  We continue to do all we can to support farmers, to keep farming profitable, and to ensure farmers have the resources they need to continue to provide consumers with a safe, healthy and abundant food supply.

I want to thank our more than 1,700 farmers who signed up a record 550,000 acres of cover crops this year! This is another great demonstration of farmers’ commitment to environmental stewardship by voluntarily taking strong conservation actions on their farms to diversify their operations and protect the Chesapeake Bay.

I also commend our Soil Conservation Districts around the state for their leadership and hard work in getting this job done – two banner years in a row! A big thank you to Dawn Bradley, who manages the cover crop program for MDA, for her stellar efforts in growing this program.

Our most recent weather events serve as a reminder for farmers to consider crop insurance as an important risk management tool.  If you have not already, I encourage you to contact your local agent for more details about how crop insurance may benefit your operation.

Farmers who experienced hurricane damage, are reminded to stay in close contact with their crop insurance agent. A written notice of crop loss must be given to your crop insurance agent: within 72 hours of discovering the damage or loss; 15 days before harvesting begins; within 15 days after harvesting is complete but not later than October 20 for corn insured as tonnage for silage; and December 10 for grain corn and soybeans.

We hope that everyone is safe and recovering quickly from the weekend’s hurricane. In the aftermath and clean up of fallen trees and branches, please be aware the

Maryland EAB Quarantine

prohibits the movement of ash wood or hardwood firewood from Maryland’s Western Shore to the Eastern Shore (i.e. across the Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River), or out of state unless it is chipped to less than 1″ in diameter in two dimensions.

As the hurricane clean up continues, we will keep you posted about its affects on Maryland agriculture as more information becomes available.

In the meantime, we encourage you to take in the Maryland State Fair, which celebrates Agriculture Day on Sept. 1. Come visit MDA’s many exhibits and learn more about the many services we provide.

See you there!

Sincerely,

 Buddy Hance

Secretary

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack (right) leads discussion.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack met with about two dozen Maryland producers and economic development specialists in an open forum to explore ways federal, state and local officials can work together to improve economic conditions and create jobs. The meeting was part of a series of Rural Roundtables that USDA is holding across the country on behalf of the White House Rural Council. For more information.

From left: Hannah Patterson, Susan Connelly, Ravi Nolan, Seanniece Bamiro

People Profile: Summer Interns
MDA was pleased to host four summer interns and further their education and understanding of the agriculture industry.

Seanniece Bamiro, a junior at University of Maryland Baltimore County majoring in Political Science, interned with MDA’s Government Relations Office, where she was able to learn how different policies and legislation affect agriculture. She is an active member of the Black Student Union, where she mentors incoming freshmen, and a member of the Theta chapter of Alpha Nu Omega, Inc., a Christian Fraternity and Sorority. She is also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS).

Susan Connelly, a junior at Towson University majoring in Mass Communications with a focus on Public Relations, interned with Agricultural Marketing. Her duties included drafting press releases, doing data base work for the agency’s website, shooting podcast interviews and organizing events, such as MDA’s National Dairy Month Celebration. She is an active member of the Towson Public Relations Association and was excited to gain real work experience during her internship.

Ravi Nolan, a freshman at Tarleton State University in Texas, plans on majoring in pre-veterinary medicine animal science. He interned with MDA’s Animal Health Section, assisting with onsite farm inspections as well as lab work. He expressed excitement about his internship, which will help him in the future.

Hannah Patterson, a junior at Auburn University, majoring in Agricultural Communications, interned in the Communications Office. Her primary duties included coordinating the 2011 Buy Local Cookbook and assisting with the Buy Local Cookout and campaign. She is a public relations officer for Tiger Habitat, Auburn’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and serves as secretary for the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow club. She is also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Hannah has been involved with 4-H her whole life and became a 4-H All Star this summer. Her internship gave her first-hand experience in agricultural communications.

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients well and keep cold for at least 1 hour to let flavors combine

Slice the ciabatta into 1-inch slices and place on a sheet tray. Drizzle with olive oil and a light dusting of salt. Bake for 7 minutes in the oven at 350° F.

Assembly:

Place watermelon mix on top of warm crusty ciabatta slices. Top with feta cheese. Drizzle with pomegranate reduction and extra virgin olive oil. Garnish with fresh mint, preferably out of your own garden!