AGRICULTURAL MEDIA ADVISORY – NOVEMBER 2009

A Monthly Update on Agricultural Issues and Events Taking Place Throughout Maryland

Next SSCC Meeting Scheduled for November 1

The State Soil Conservation Committee will hold its next meeting on Thursday, November 19, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. at the Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center in Beltsville, Maryland.  The meeting is open to the public and will focus on soil conservation and water quality programs. Established in 1938, the State Soil Conservation Committee coordinates the activities of Maryland’s 24 soil conservation districts, while advising the Secretary of Agriculture on matters relating to soil and water conservation.  For more information, contact Louise Lawrence, executive secretary, 410-841-5863.
Nutrient Management Education Course to be Held December 15
The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the University of Maryland will offer a free
one-day continuing education course on how to use the latest version of the Revised Universal Soil
Loss Equation (RUSLE2) to estimate soil losses.  The course will take place Tuesday, December 15, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the University of Maryland College Park.  Participants receive six Maryland Nutrient Management Program continuing education credits.  Contact MDA’s Mike Webster at 410-841-5959 or [email protected].

Marylanders Encouraged to Buy Local Products this Holiday Season
The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) is encouraging Maryland families to consider purchasing local products when planning holiday meals by visiting www.marylandsbest.net.  The website, which is an extension of the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Marketing Department, lists nearly 40 farms throughout the state that sell farm-fresh turkeys, local cheeses, wines, and other Maryland products to serve during the holidays.

Maryland Agriculture Dinner Set For February 4, 2010
The Maryland Agriculture Council, Inc. will hold its annual Maryland Agriculture Dinner on Thursday, February 4, 2010, at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie.  The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner and presentation of the Maryland Agriculture Hall of Fame inductees.  Reservations are $85 before January 10, 2010 and $100 per person thereafter.  Attendees are encouraged to reserve early to guarantee inclusion in the program sponsor list.  Reservation forms are available at www.mdagcouncil.com.  For more information, contact Gail Yeiser, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland, at 301-405-2434 or [email protected].