Governor Martin O’Malley and Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance inducted Bob and Drew Stabler of Montgomery County into the Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame this month, making the farming brothers the 43rd recipients of the prestigious recognition. The induction was made before about 700 agricultural leaders and legislators from across the state during the annual “Taste of Maryland” agriculture event in Glen Burnie.

“No matter what, our support of our family farms will always remain strong,” said Governor O’Malley. “Maryland’s economy depends on Maryland agriculture. We must therefore protect the profitability of Maryland’s family farms – and farming jobs.”  For more information

Governor Martin O’Malley announced this month that Maryland farmers participating in MDA’s Cover Crop Programplanted a record 429,818 acres of  cover crops on their farms this past fall to control soil erosion, reduce nutrient runoff and protect water quality in streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay.  The 2011 cover crop planting is the largest in Maryland history and exceeds Maryland’s 2013 Chesapeake Bay milestone goal by 21 percent.”Our farmers continue to show their leadership in the Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts by planting a record number of acres of cover crops, exceeding their two-year goal by 21 percent,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “Cover crops are the workhorse of our Bay restoration efforts. I thank all farmers who planted cover crops and especially encourage those who did not participate to enroll in the program this summer.” For more information.

A Night of Maryland Champions Scheduled for March 20  

Bon Caddo, a champion timberhorse from Harford Co., is one of eight champions to be recognized.

The Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) will host a “Night of Maryland Horse Racing Champions” to recognize eight national championship racing horses in four different racing disciplines – each of which were raised, trained or owned by Marylanders. The event, which will be held at the Sports Legend Museum at Camden Yards in Baltimore on March 20 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., is designed to showcase the diversity and success of Maryland’s horse industry, the many disciplines it encompasses and the prominent place it holds on the national level. During the event, harness, Arabians, steeplechase and thoroughbred racers will be honored. The event is open to the public, however, attendees must RSVP by March 13. For more information.

To help farmers meet growing consumer demand for local meats, MDA, in partnership with the University of Maryland and Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission, will conduct a training workshop for on-farm poultry and rabbit slaughter and processing. Training will be conducted March 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the University of Maryland Extension, Community Resource Building, 30 Duke Street, Conference Room 105, in Prince Frederick. Additional training sessions are planned for late March in Annapolis and on April 27 in Western Maryland. The training fee is $20 and includes lunch and materials. Registration deadline is March 16. Download the registration form. For more information about the workshop. For more about Maryland’s  Poultry and Rabbit Program.

MHIB Recognizes All Time Winningest Pony Sire

Blue Fox, Lisa Carr

MDA announced this month that cost-share assistance is now available to dairy, beef or swine farmers who incorporate manure into their crop fields using manure injection and incorporation equipment designed to conserve the soil and reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses to the environment.   For more information.

Weights & Measures is one of the oldest functions of government.

Every day, Marylanders pay for consumer products based on a weight or measurement, like a gallon of gas or a cord of wood. The Maryland Department of Agriculture is responsible for inspecting the accuracy of weighing and measuring devices and helping ensure that consumer get what they pay for. To honor this important work, Governor Martin O’Malley has declared March 1-7 Weights and Measures Week in Maryland. This week also commemorates the 213th anniversary of the signing of the first weights and measures law in the United States on March 2, 1799. For more information.

From mid-February through March, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be collecting data from 6,300 floriculture operations in 15 states, including about 200 in Maryland, for the 2011 Commercial Floriculture Survey.  This survey is the only comprehensive annual measure of U.S. floriculture production. All commercial growers that produced and sold at least $10,000 of target floriculture crops at retail or wholesale in 2011 will be asked to provide information on production, sales of floriculture commodities and the number of agricultural workers in their operation.  For more information.

Spring is just around the corner and now is the time to plan for your gardens.  Maryland farmers are offering a homeowner education campaign, “Take it from Maryland Farmers: Backyard Actions for a Cleaner Chesapeake Bay” to help gardeners by offering wintertime planning tips and online resources. The campaign highlights the importance of garden planning during the colder winter months 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. For more information.

MDA hosted its annual Maryland Farmers’ Market Conference on Feb. 28-29 at the Comfort Inn Conference Center in Bowie to provide information on state regulations to farmers’ market stakeholders. Session topics  included: food safety, social marketing regulations, and promotional opportunities for the 2012 market season. For more information.

Carol West named Executive Director of MALPF.

Maryland Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance appointed Carol West as the Executive Director of the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) last month. Carol, who has been with MALPF since 1994, has been serving as acting director since the Foundation’s previous director Jim Conrad retired last year.

Ms. West, who was born and raised in Annapolis, joined state government in 1977. Prior to joining the staff at MALPF, she worked as a secretary first with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and then with the Anne Arundel Soil Conservation District and MDA’s Fiscal Services. In 2002 she left MDA to work with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Rural Legacy Program but returned in 2004. She attended Anne Arundel Community College and the University of Maryland. For more information.

Created by the General Assembly in 1977, MALPF purchases agricultural preservation easements that forever restrict development on prime farmland and woodland and has permanently preserved land in each of Maryland’s 23 counties, representing a public investment of over $588 million. With county and other state preservation programs, approximately 564,000 acres of farmland are protected in Maryland. This is the greatest ratio of farmland preserved to total landmass of any state.

Investigators with MDA’s Pesticide Regulation Unit were the first to discover potential violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) made by a company which has recently settled with EPA for more than $158,000 in civil penalties – one of the largest paid by a Maryland company in recent memory.

 

Serves 6

Ingredients:

3 large beets, scrubbed
2 cups orange juice
5 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon salt
2/3 cup plain yogurt

Instructions:

1. Combine the beets, orange juice, stock, onion, salt and paper in large saucepan, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until the beets are soft, about 1 hour. Remove from the heat.
2. Remove the beets and peel them under cold water. Quarter the beets, transfer them to a blender with the liquid from the saucepan, and puree thoroughly. Stir in the yogurt. Serve hot or cold.

Recipes compliments of Dishing Up Maryland by Lucie L. Snodgrass.

Maryland’s Best Promotes Locally Raised Meats
Support Maryland Farmers, Buy Local   

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. Maryland’s Best, through its website and limited advertising, helps state producers sell their products and helps consumers locate the products. Visit MarylandsBest.net to find a producer near you!