AGRICULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS – AUGUST 2010

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

SSCC Meeting Set For August 19

The State Soil Conservation Committee will hold its next meeting on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s headquarters, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis.  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.

Talbot Cooperator’s Dinner Scheduled for August 19

The Talbot Soil Conservation District will host its annual Cooperator’s Dinner Thursday, August 19, at 6:30 p.m. at the Easton Fire Hall.  At the event, Phillip and JoAnn Councell of Councell Farms will be honored as the district’s 2010 Cooperators of the Year for their hard work and dedication to protecting natural resources by installing numerous best management practices at their vegetable and grain operation. Tickets for the dinner are $15 and are available by calling the Talbot Soil Conservation District at 410-822-1577.

Delmarva Poultry Conference Set for September 1

The University of Maryland and the University of Delaware, in cooperation with Delmarva Poultry Industry will host the 2010 Delmarva Poultry Conference September 1, at the Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel in Ocean City, Maryland.  Topics covered at the one-day conference include environmental issues, CAFO inspections, market cycles, brooding, litter management, risk assessment, antibiotic use and bird health.  The registration fee is $70.  To register, contact Jennifer Timmons at the University of Maryland, 410-742-1178 or [email protected]. Applications may also be downloaded from the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s web site.

Nutrient Management Workshops Offered

The Maryland Department of Agriculture and University of Maryland Cooperative Extension will offer a one-day workshop titled, How to Write a Nutrient Management Plan, Tuesday, September 21, at the Wye Research and Education Center in Queenstown and Friday, September 24, at the Montgomery County Cooperative Extension Office in Derwood.  The course, designed for people who are new to the nutrient management plan-writing process, will teach participants how write a nutrient management plan using NuMan Pro, the nutrient management planning software program.  Participants receive six credit hours toward the Maryland Nutrient Management Program’s continuing education requirement.  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.