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 Maryland Department of Agriculture News
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Secretary’s
Corner 
Drought Disaster Designation
This week we learned that USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack approved Governor O’Malley’s request for a Secretarial Disaster Designation for Maryland following severe drought and excessive heat which have decimated Maryland crops.
The disaster designation means that farmers in affected Maryland communities will be able to apply for low-interest emergency loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency. Farmers can borrow up to 100 percent of actual production or physical losses, not to exceed a total amount of $500,000.
Affected Maryland communities include the counties of: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester and the City of Baltimore.
State Fair
On a lighter note, we were pleased to have Lt. Governor Anthony Brown join us this year for the combined Governor’s Ag Day and Volunteer Day luncheon at the State Fair. Either he or Governor O’Malley have attended the luncheon each year they have been in office and we appreciate their support!
We encourage you to take in the Maryland State Fair, which runs through Labor Day weekend. Come visit MDA’s many exhibits and learn more about the many services we provide.
Swine Flu Prevention
I would also like to thank MDA’s Animal Health staff for their response and proactive approach to preventing swine flu in Maryland through their extensive swine influenza inspection and testing protocols.
Record Cover Crops
I want to thank our 1,860 farmers who signed up a record 607,000 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 – three banner years in a row!
Conservation Innovation Grants
I am pleased to announce that last week, MDA received two Conservation Innovation Grants from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service: $623,175 to establish a Certainty Program to reward farmers who exceed water quality goals through the adoption and maintenance of conservation practices; and $500,000 to expand Maryland’s nutrient trading market to include the urban sector. More information.
Mosquito Control
As we get ready to spent time outdoors for the Labor Day holiday weekend, it’s important to remember to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Click here for tips and click here for tips to rid your community of mosquito breeding sites. More informaiton about MDA’s mosquito control activities is available on our website.
Farmers Markets
This month we celebrated National Farmers Market Week. Maryland now boasts a total of 150 farmers markets in every county and Baltimore City. Our agricultural bounty is in full swing and there is plenty of delicious local Maryland produce, meats, cheeses, wine and now even local beer to enjoy with family and friends.
Farm to School
Next month, we will be celebrating our 5th annual Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week with a kick off event in Dorchester County.
During the special week (Sept. 17-21), students will have an opportunity to get a taste of fresh Maryland grown and/or Maryland produced food in their lunches each day. Many schools will continue to incorporate local foods in school meals throughout the year. Maryland farmers grown and produce a wide variety of food, including fruits, vegetables, bread, cheeses and meats for lunches and snacks that are available from farmers markets, grocery stores, and community supported agriculture (CSA) farms.
Providing students with local food for lunches and snacks as well as associated lessons helps to educate them about where their food comes from, how it is produced, and the benefits of a healthy diet. At the same time, when you buy local products, you are helping to keep farmers in business and the land is open and green. Buying locally-grown food is good for you and good for Maryland!
Ag Energy Efficiency Grants
A new program is now available to provide grants to farms and businesses in the agriculture sector to cover up to 75% of the cost of the energy efficiency upgrades. The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings program. Under this program, $1 million will be available to farms/business in Maryland’s agriculture sector to help plan, implement, and complete the upgrades. This investment will help our farms and farm businesses save money and energy, while helping the State reach its goal of reducing overall energy consumption by 15% by 2015. For more information and to download an application form, click here. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 28, 2012.
Ice Cream Trail
Since we launched the Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail earlier this summer, I have been “trailblazing” to visit each of the seven participating farm creameries. It’s been quite a treat to see the diversity of farm ice cream parlors and the creative flavors presented at each stop. You still have time to complete the passport and return it to MDA by Sept. 7.
Enjoy the remaining weeks of summer!
Sincerely,
Buddy Hance
Secretary
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Lt. Governor Announces Record Cover Crop Enrollment Sign up represents 170 percent of WIP Goal
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| Lt. Governor Brown announces record cover crop enrollment. |
Cover crops, one of the most cost-effective means of helping to restore the Chesapeake Bay, are planted in the fall after the autumn harvest to help farmers control soil erosion and reduce the amount of nutrients washing into the Bay over the winter. Once established, cover crops recycle unused plant nutrients remaining in the soil from the previous summer crop, protect fields against wind and water erosion, and help improve the soil for the next year’s crop. Maryland’s Cover Crop Program provides farmers with grants to plant cover crops on their fields immediately following the summer crop harvest.
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| USDA Secretary Signs Maryland Disaster Designation s
Federal Funding Follows Request from Gov. O’Malley, MD Delegation
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Drought damage to the corn crop. ©Edwin Remsberg/ www.remsberg.com
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On Aug. 29, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a Secretarial Disaster Designation for Maryland following severe drought and excessive heat which have decimated Maryland crops.
Click here for a copy of the Governor’s letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture requesting the federal assistance.
“Thanks to Secretary Vilsack, other leaders in the Obama Administration, and all of our federal partners in Maryland’s Congressional delegation, we are now able to provide Maryland’s farmers with some relief during the drought,” said Governor O’Malley. “Our farmers continue to be a vital part of Maryland’s heritage and together, we can support our rural economies, improve our quality of life, and secure the future of Maryland agriculture and our environment for generations to come. We will continue to work with the Maryland Department of Agriculture and our federal delegation to help our farmers get through this drought.”
Affected Maryland communities include the counties of: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester and the City of Baltimore.
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MDA Highlights Agency Consumer Services at Maryland State Fair
MDA does more than just work with farmers to ensure sound farmland management practices. It helps ensure the wise use of fertilizers and pesticides, monitors the accuracy of weights and measures, controls mosquito populations, and protects the health of humans and animals…and much more. MDA is highlighting many of the services it provides to improve the quality of life during the 131st Maryland State Fair in Timonium, which runs through Sept. 3. Along with exhibits, MDA is offering several kid-friendly activities, from making your own slime to face painting. For more information.
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World’s Largest Crab Feast Cools Off with Refreshing Locally Grown Watermelon
Season Peaks with Sweet, MAR-DELicious Summer Celebration
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Deputy Secretary Mary Ellen Setting (center) with Mar-Del Watermelon Queen Terra Tatman (left) and National Watermelon Queen Katelyn Kelley
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Visitors to the world’s largest crab feast, hosted by the Rotary Club of Annapolis at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis this month, cooled off with free bites of refreshing, local watermelons. The promotion encouraged consumers to purchase sweet, locally grown watermelons, the original summertime treat. The watermelon give-away also highlighted the economic and nutritional value of watermelons. |
According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Maryland and Delaware farmers together harvested 163.4 million pounds of watermelons with a farm gate value of $18.6 million from 4,800 acres in 2010.
MDA Deputy Secretary Mary Ellen Setting, several MAR-DELicious watermelon farmers, and the national and several state Watermelon Queens were on hand to hand out fresh, cool watermelon slices, along with fun giveaways including recipes. For more information. |
New Grant Program Helps Maryland Agriculture Implement Energy Efficiency Projects
 The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) launched a new program to help Maryland’s agriculture sector implement energy efficiency projects. Through the Kathleen A.P. Mathias Agriculture Energy Efficiency Program, MEA will distribute grants ranging from $25,000 to $200,000 to assist with the costs of installing eligible energy efficiency technologies. The measures must enable a minimum 15 percent energy savings in the buildings or areas where they are installed. MEA will showcase these projects as case studies within the agriculture sector. MEA will award at least $600,000 in grants funded through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings program in autumn 2012, and anticipates granting 10-15 awards for this one-time program.
Application deadline is September 28, 2012. Projects must be completed by April 1, 2013 and invoiced by May 1, 2013. This program is named after the late Kathleen Arlee “Kathy” Petry Mathias of Ocean City, an inexhaustible advocate for Maryland’s Eastern Shore and its farming community. For more information.
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MD Farmers Can Now Accept FMNP Checks from D.C.
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(From left) Bernadine Prince, executive director of FRESHFARM Markets & president of the Board of Directors of the Farmers Market Coalition, joins Deputy Secretary Mary Ellen Setting at the kick off event.
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MDA entered into an historic reciprocal partnership this month that allows farmers in the Maryland Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) to accept FMNP checks from authorized markets in Washington, D.C. FMNP program. Meanwhile, farmers in the Washington, D.C. Farmers Markets program can now accept FMNP checks from authorized farmers markets in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. It is thought that this is the first such reciprocal program of its kind in the nation. MDA and D.C.FMNP provided joint training sessions and outreach to the farmers and market managers, and all sides seem to be pleased to be able to accept checks in both jurisdictions, particularly since some of the markets are just blocks away from the state line. A kick off event held this month in Silver Spring highlighted the program and included the USDA Food Safety Truck and a cooking demonstration geared towards healthy eating on a budget.
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| New Members Appointed to Agricultural Commission
Advisory Board Provides Recommendations and Input on State Agriculture Issues
Governor Martin O’Malley has appointed five new members to the Maryland Agricultural Commission, an advisory body comprised of representatives from different commodity groups who provide the Agriculture Secretary with information and recommendations on policies and issues facing the agriculture industry. Members serve three-year terms and are eligible to serve two consecutive terms. New members represent the equine industry, the poultry industry, ag services (at-large), the horticulture industry, and the Maryland Farm Bureau. For more information. |
MDA Celebrated National Farmers Market Week
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Farmers who accept FMNP and WIC show their signs.
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MDA celebrated National Farmers Market Week (Aug. 5 – 11) by encouraging Marylanders to buy local and reminding people that they can find a nearby farmers market on the Maryland’s Best website. More than 150 markets across the state are registered with Maryland’s Best — 121 of which now participate in the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, Children and Seniors. This program helps more Marylanders purchase fresh local produce at their local farmers market.
This year MDA has also partnered with the Department of Human Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help markets acquire wireless technology so that they can accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. For more information about Farmer’s Markets in your area, visit www.marylandsbest.net or call 410-841-5770.
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Horse Board Recognizes a Year of Touch of Class Award Recipients
The Maryland Horse Industry Board, a program within MDA, has recently produced a brochure, honoring its first year of Touch of Class Award recipients. The Board created the monthly awards program in September 2011 to honor Maryland horses, individuals, teams, organizations or events that demonstrate national or international excellence.
It is named after the Maryland-bred mare, Touch of Class, who won two Olympic show jumping gold medals and currently holds the Olympic record for number of clean jumping rounds in an Olympic competition. During its first year, the Board has bestowed the award on 24 people and 12 horses from 12 different Maryland counties who are involved in a dozen horse disciplines. See the brochure.
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Workshops and Seminars Offered
Several workshops and seminars are coming up that may be helpful to certain agricultural professionals.
Horse Pasture Management Seminar Set for Sept. 8: University of Maryland Extension will host this seminar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Ellicott City. Licensed boarding stable operators receive a discounted rate. Register by August 31. For more information, contact Jennifer Reynolds at jenreyn@umd.edu or 301.405.1547.
Practical Experiences in Nutrient Management Workshop Set for Sept. 13: MDA and University of Maryland Extension will offer this one day course at the University of Maryland’s Western Maryland Research and Education Center in Keedysville. Register by Sept. 6 by calling 410.841.5959 or visiting www.mda.maryland.gov. (Scroll down the Quick Links to Nutrient Management and click on Nutrient Management Training Classes for a registration form.)
Nutrient Management Plan Writing Workshops Offered during September: MDA and University of Maryland Extension will offer two, one-day workshops titled, “How to Write a Nutrient Management Plan” on Friday, Sept. 21, at the Montgomery County Cooperative Extension Office in Derwood and Tuesday, Sept. 25, at the Wye Research and Education Center in Queenstown. The course is designed for people who are new to the nutrient management plan-writing process. To register, call 410.841.5959 or visit www.mda.maryland.gov . (Scroll down the Quick Links to Nutrient Management and click on Nutrient Management Training Classes for a registration form.)
For more information on all of these events,
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Inside MDA: Will Jones and Corey Thomas Recognized as Employees of the Quarter
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| (From left) Secretary Hance, Will Jones, Corey Thomas and Deputy Secretary Mary Ellen Setting |
Corey Thomas and Will Jones of MDA’s Central Services unit were recognized as MDA’s Employees of the Quarter this month. Corey and Will were recognized for diligently and effectively working together to eliminate many problems in the building while responding to ongoing maintenance chores as they pop up — and, of course, for doing it all with their characteristic good humor and ready smiles. They make a great team and are always helpful and fun to have around.
Congratulations and thank you, Corey and Will!
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Recipe of the Month:
Early Fall Corn Chowder
In Maryland, local corn and bell peppers are available until late September or whenever we have the first frost. This chowder uses the best of summer’s local vegetables but it has fall’s colors.Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of butter
1 small onion, peeled and diced
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1 small orange or red bell pepper, finely diced
1 large carrot, peeled and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
6 cups of chicken or vegetable stock
4 medium potatoes, preferably local Yukon Gold, peeled and diced
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 cups of local bicolor corn kernels
1 cup of half-and-half
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Directions:
Melt the butter in large stockpot over low heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute for about 3 minutes, until soft. Add the bell pepper, carrot, and thyme and saute for 5 minutes longer. Add the stock, potatoes, salt and pepper and turn up the heat to medium. Cook for 25 minutes.Puree 2 cups of the corn with the half-and-half in a blender or food processor. Pour the corn puree into the soup, along with the remaining whole kernels. Reduce the heat and simmer for 4 minutes. Top the soup with the parsley and serve immediately.
Serves 6
Recipe courtesy of Dishing Up Maryland by Lucie L. Snodgrass
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