MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS – APRIL 2011

SSCC Meeting Set For April 21
The State Soil Conservation Committee will hold its next meeting on Thursday, April 21, 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.

University of Maryland Open House and Ag Day Breakfast Set for April 30
The University of Maryland’s Open House and Ag Day event will take place Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its College Park campus with agricultural activities and events taking place in the Animal Sciences Building, Plant Sciences Building, campus farm, barns and courtyards.   For a complete schedule of events visit: www.marylandday.umd.edu.  In addition, the Alumni Chapter of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) will host a free “Make Your Own Omelet” breakfast in collaboration with the Maryland Egg Council starting at 8:30 a.m. for AGNR alumni and friends. To register, contact Gail P. Yeiser at [email protected] or 301-405-2434.

Eastern Shore Envirothon Competition Scheduled for May 3
High school students from Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s Somerset and Talbot counties will compete for the title of regional champion at the Eastern Shore Regional Envirothon Competition scheduled for Tuesday, May 3, at Martinak State Park in Caroline County.  Students participating in the Envirothon have been studying the state’s natural resources throughout the school year.  They have learned from the experts how to identify and categorize living resources, perform soil surveys, estimate wood yield from trees, and solve other complex natural resource issues.  Teams are tested in five areas: soils, aquatics, wildlife, forestry and a special environmental issue that changes from year to year.  This year’s environmental issue is estuaries. Teams compete by applying their knowledge and problem-solving skills in these areas. The team with the highest cumulative total wins the regional competition and advances to the Maryland Envirothon scheduled for later this spring.  The winner of the Maryland Envirothon will represent the state this summer at the 2011 Canon Envirothon where more than 300 of the brightest teenagers from the United States and Canada will compete for $40,000 in scholarships and prizes.  Envirothon is sponsored by soil conservation districts and the State Soil Conservation Committee.  For more information, contact Karen Miller, Kent Soil Conservation District, 410-410-758-5150, ext. 3.

Fundamentals of Nutrient Management Training Course Set for June 20 and 21
A two-day Fundamentals of Nutrient Management Pre-Certification Training Class will be held Monday and Tuesday, June 20 and 21, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the lower level conference rooms at the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) headquarters, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis.  The course provides participants with an overview of areas covered by the Maryland Nutrient Management Certification Exam scheduled for August 5, 2011.  Topics covered include state nutrient management regulations, nutrient management principles, basic soil science, and soil fertility recommendations.  Call MDA at 410-841-5959 for a registration form or more information.

###

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