Agricultural Highlights – January 2014

JANUARY 2014

SSCC Meeting Set For January 16

The State Soil Conservation Committee will hold its next meeting on Thursday, January 16, at 2 p.m. in the House Office Building, Room 431 (Eastern Shore Delegation Room), Annapolis, Maryland. 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 Reminds Citizens Not to Use Fertilizer as a De-Icer

With winter in full gear, the Maryland Department of Agriculture reminds citizens that Maryland’s Lawn Fertilizer Law prohibits the use of fertilizer products as a de-icer on frozen surfaces. When temperatures rise and the rains return, fertilizer can easily wash into nearby storm drains and streams that empty into the Chesapeake Bay. Once in our waterways, excess fertilizer contributes to the growth of algae blooms that block sunlight from reaching Bay grasses, rob the water of oxygen and threaten underwater life.  University of Maryland recommends sand and kitty litter as possible substitutes.  For more information, visit http://extension.umd.edu/hgic and search for Fact Sheet 707, titled Melting Ice Safely.

Professional Fertilizer Applicator Certification Exam and Training Offered

Lawn care professionals seeking certification by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) to apply fertilizer to turf may register for one of the following certification classes:  January 29, February 25 and February 27, 2014 in Annapolis; January 30 and February 28, 2014 in Salisbury; and January 31 and February 27, 2014 in Centerville.  Optional training sessions are offered from 9 a.m. to 11:30 am the day of the exam. Lawn care professionals hired to apply fertilizers to turfgrass 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 which took effect October 1, 2013.  To register for MDA’s Professional Fertilizer Applicator Certification Exam, visit www.mda.maryland.gov/fertilizer. To help professionals prepare for the exam, a training manual and review questions are posted on the website.

2013 Nutrient Management Annual Report Published

The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has published its 2013 annual report for the Maryland Nutrient Management Program. The report highlights agriculture’s activities and accomplishments in helping Maryland implement its Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay. The report is available on-line at www.mda.maryland.gov. 

Taste of Maryland Agriculture Event Set for February 6

The Maryland Agriculture Council will host its annual Taste of Maryland Agriculture Dinner Thursday, February 6, 2014 at Michael’s Eighth Avenue, 7220 Grayburn Drive in Glen Burnie, Maryland. The event features a bounty of Maryland agricultural products that will be served throughout the evening and is designed to educate lawmakers about the importance of agriculture to all Maryland citizens. Inductees to the Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame will be honored during the evening along with the presentation of Maryland Agriculture Council grants.  Call Gail Yeiser at 301.405.2434 for reservation information. For more information on the Council or event, call Susan Summers at 301.865.1045. Additional information and reservation forms can be found at www.mdagcouncil.com.

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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.