Agricultural Highlights – July 2013

SSCC Meeting Set For July 17 

The State Soil Conservation Committee will meet Wednesday, July 17, at the Holiday Inn Solomons. 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.

New MDA Record Keeping Guides Available for Poultry Growers

The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has developed a record keeping and resource guide to assist poultry growers in complying with Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) permit requirements and the MDA Nutrient Management Program. The guide includes examples of the types of records poultry growers are required to keep along with information on best management practices, public access, biosecurity, new regulations concerning the temporary stockpiling of manure, and land application setbacks. For a copy of the guide, contact Anthony Riggi at 410-677-0802, ext. 6 or go to www.mda.maryland.gov and click on Nutrient Management in the quick links menu.

New Homeowner Fact Sheet on Responsible Lawn Care Practices Now Available

The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) in cooperation with University of Maryland Extension has produced a helpful fact sheet on ways homeowners can fertilize their lawns responsibly. The fact sheet includes information on how to read a fertilizer label, how to calculate a lawn’s square footage, fertilizer timing rates and fertilizer application limits spelled out in Maryland’s new lawn fertilizer law along with best management practices that homeowners can employ to promote healthy lawns. With summer now in full swing, MDA reminds homeowners to mow the grass high to shade out weeds and conserve moisture. For a copy of the fact sheet, contact the University of Maryland’s Home and Garden Information Center at 1-800-342-2507 or download a copy at www.mda.maryland.gov/fertilizer.

Fall Soil Nitrate Testing Workshop Offered July 26

University of Maryland Extension (UME) will offer a training workshop for farmers and nutrient management consultants on fall soil nitrate testing (FSNT) Friday, July 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the University of Maryland Wye Research and Education Center in Queenstown. New regulations allow fall nitrogen application on wheat and barley intended for grain harvest only when nitrogen insufficiency is indicated by the FSNT. Certified nutrient management consultants or certified farmers will receive two hours of MDA nutrient management continuing education credits. To register, contact Paul Shipley at [email protected] or 301-405-2563.

Space Still Available for August 2 Nutrient Management Certification Exam

The Maryland Department of Agriculture reports that space is still available for the Nutrient Management Certification Exam scheduled for Friday, August 2, in Annapolis, Salisbury, and McHenry. Individuals who provide nutrient recommendations, professionals who provide technical assistance or are engaged in the development of waste management systems, nursery personnel, and farmers interested in developing nutrient management plans for other farmers are encouraged to take the exam. The cost is $50; however, government employees and farmers who have previously taken the exam are exempt from the certification fee. The application deadline is July 26. To register, call MDA at 410-841-5959 or visit www.mda.maryland.gov. Click on Nutrient Management and follow the links to “training classes.”

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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.