MPT Series Maryland Farm & Harvest Visits Frederick, Queen Anne’s, Washington, and Wicomico Counties During Innovation-themed Episode

The Local Buy Segment at 78 Acres in Washington County. photo credit: MPT’s Maryland Farm & Harvest

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland Public Television’s (MPT) popular original series Maryland Farm & Harvest, in its sixth season, will feature farms and other locations in Frederick, Queen Anne’s, Washington, and Wicomico Counties during an innovation-themed episode airing Tuesday, December 11 at 7 p.m.

Maryland Farm & Harvest takes viewers on journeys across the state, telling stories about the farms, people, and technology required to sustain and grow Maryland’s number one industry: agriculture. During the past year, MPT’s production team has filmed episode segments at more than four dozen farms in preparation for the new season. Segments featured on the upcoming episode are:

• Tastes like…Chicken (Wicomico County): This segment takes a look at Perdue Farm’s research into how to grow the best chicken possible. This involves comparing a variety of different breeds, including slower-growing chickens that would cost more to raise, but would meet growing consumer demand. The segment begins at Perdue’s Westover Research Farm before moving to the Perdue Innovation Center in Salisbury where volunteers have a chance to taste and rate the new birds.
• Smart Irrigation (Frederick County): Hidden among Raemelton Farm’s 300-plus varieties of ornamental trees in Adamstown, special sensors help measure weather conditions and soil moisture levels. University of Maryland scientist John Lea-Cox is testing a new irrigation sensor control system on the farm as a way to reduce water use and lessen the environmental impact of farms. Steve Black, the owner of Raemelton Farm, explains that this technology is not only good for the environment, but also good for a farmer’s bottom line.
• Superior Cattle (Queen Anne’s County): Established in the 1940s, the Wye Angus Herd at the Wye Research and Education Center in Queenstown is a closed herd – meaning no new genetic material, such as outside breeding stock, has been introduced to the herd in half a century. For buyers at the annual Wye Angus Auction, this means consistently high-quality animals with well-documented pedigrees. But, the herd’s real value is in what it means for scientists. Simply put, conducting studies on a closed herd greatly improves interpretation of research results, making them more reliable by limiting the number of variables. The herd is currently being used to compare grass-fed versus grain-fed beef.
• The Local Buy: Summer Squash (Washington County): Segment host Al Spoler visits 78 Acres, a fruit and vegetable farm in Smithsburg, that despite its name is actually 100 acres in size. Farmer Matt Harsh explains the name as well as the farm’s unique style of harvesting that he believes contributes to a fresher product at the grocery store. Finally, Al gets a taste of a summer squash casserole. This recipe is available to viewers at org/farm.

Maryland Farm & Harvest airs on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on MPT-HD and is rebroadcast on Thursdays at 11:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 a.m. Each show also airs on MPT2 on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. More information about the series is available at mpt.org/farm, and viewers can join the conversation on social media at the hashtag #MDFarmHarvestFans.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is MPT’s co-production partner for Maryland Farm & Harvest. Major funding is provided by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board.

Additional funding is provided by Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit; Maryland’s Best; the Maryland Agricultural Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation; the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation; and the Maryland Soybean Board. Other support comes from the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts; Wegmans Food Markets; the Maryland Nursery, Landscape & Greenhouse Association; the Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.; the Rural Maryland Council; the Maryland Seafood Marketing Advisory Commission; the Maryland Farm Bureau, Inc.; Mar-Del Watermelon Association; and the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission.

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