AGRICULTURAL MEDIA ADVISORY — JUNE 2010

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

Education:  State Envirothon Set for June 24-25

How do you measure the height of a tree from a distance?  What are the five factors of soil formation?  How do you determine the age of a fish?  These are some of the questions teenagers will be expected to answer at the 2010 Maryland Envirothon, a rigorous two-day natural resources competition for high school students interested in learning about environmental issues and the outdoors. The event will take place June 24-25, at the William S. Schmidt Outdoor Education Center in Prince George’s County.  Teams from 19 Maryland counties and Baltimore City will compete in five areas: soils, aquatics, wildlife, forestry and environmental issues. The winning team will represent Maryland later this summer at the Canon Envirothon, North America’s largest environmental education competition.  For more information, contact Beth Horsey at 410-841-5865 or visit the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation District’s website. Envirothon is sponsored by soil conservation districts and the State Soil Conservation Committee.

SSCC Meeting Set For July 27

The State Soil Conservation Committee has announced that its next meeting will be held Tuesday, July 27, at 3 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, Solomons, Md.  The meeting is open to the public and will focus on soil conservation and water quality program implementation and policy development. It is being held in conjunction with the summer meeting of the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts.  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.

Cover Crop Info in the Mail

Farmers interested in conserving nutrients, controlling soil erosion and protecting water quality by planting cover crops on their fields this fall should check their mailboxes for important information regarding sign-up dates for the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s 2010-2011 Cover Crop Program.  According to MDA, cover crop fact sheets will arrive in farmers’ mailboxes in mid-June.  This year, approximately $15 million is available to farmers who plant cover crops on their fields.  Farmers may plant traditional cover crops at a base rate of $40/acre and receive up to $55/acre in add-on incentive payments.  Harvested cover corps pay $25/acre with a bonus payment of $10/acre if rye is used as the cover crop.  There are no enrollment caps for either program option and certain restrictions apply.  Sign-up for the 2010-2011 Winter Cover Crop Program runs June 21 through July 15, 2010 at local soil conservation districts.  For more information, contact MDA at 410-841-5864.

Nutrient Management Certification Class for Horse Operations Begins July 21
The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Management Program will offer a training and certification program for horse owners who want to become certified to develop their own nutrient management plans.  Initial training sessions will take place from 5:30-9:30 p.m. on July 21 and 22 in West Friendship.  Following the training, participants will take a specialized nutrient management certification exam and work with MDA and University of Maryland Extension agents to develop their own nutrient management plans.  For more information, contact the Maryland Department of Agriculture at 410-841-5959.

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The Maryland Agricultural Awareness Alliance, a coalition of federal, state and local agricultural agencies and commodity groups dedicated to educating Marylanders on agricultural issues.

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