Agricultural Highlights for September 2013

SSCC Meeting Set For September 19
The State Soil Conservation Committee will meet Thursday, Sept. 19, at 9:30 a.m. 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 program implementation and policy development. 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.

MDA Offers New Exam for Lawn Care Professionals in Talbot, Wicomico and Washington Counties
The Maryland Department of Agriculture and University of Maryland Extension will offer certification exams for lawn care professionals on the Eastern Shore and in Western Maryland who want to become certified to apply fertilizer to turf. The sessions will be held Sept. 18, in Easton; Sept. 26 in Salisbury; and Oct. 1 in Boonsboro. Optional training sessions are offered before the exam. Beginning Oct. 1, lawn care professionals hired to apply fertilizers to lawns must be certified by MDA’s Nutrient Management Program or work under the direct supervision of an individual who is certified. The requirement is a major component of Maryland’s new Lawn Fertilizer Law. To register for MDA’s Professional Fertilizer Applicator Certification Exam, visit www.mda.maryland.gov/fertilizer or call MDA at 410.841.5959.

Homeowners Advised to Buy Certified Grass Seed
The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) reminds homeowners that fall is a good time to reseed bare spots in lawns and aerate the soil to reduce compaction. Lawn care professionals can provide this service or do-it-yourselfers can rent an aerator from a lawn and garden supplier. When reseeding lawns, always ask for seed that has been certified by MDA to ensure germination and purity. For more tips and information on Maryland’s new Lawn Fertilizer Law, call the University of Maryland’s Home and Garden Information Center at 1.800.342.2507 or visit www.mda.maryland.gov/fertilizer.

Farmer Training and Certification Course Offered for Small Scale Food Operations
The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) and University of Maryland Extension (UME) will offer a training course for small-scale food production operators who want to become certified to write nutrient management plans for their own operations. The course will be held at the Roland Park Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in north Baltimore on Oct. 21 and 28; and Nov. 4 and 18. Register by Oct. 1 by calling MDA at 410.841.5959 or visiting www.mda.maryland.gov. Scroll down the Quick Links to Nutrient Management and click on Nutrient Management Training Classes for a registration form.

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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.