{"id":1769,"date":"2010-09-26T13:04:32","date_gmt":"2010-09-26T13:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=1769"},"modified":"2012-10-03T13:05:50","modified_gmt":"2012-10-03T13:05:50","slug":"september-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/mda-newsletter\/2010\/09\/26\/september-2010\/","title":{"rendered":"September 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n
\"two<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
 <\/p>\n

\"Smart,Maryland Department of Agriculture\u00a0News<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0 Celebrating Maryland\u00a0Agriculture<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nSeptember 2010\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
In This Issue<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Record Cover Crops<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gov. Poultry Roundtable<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chesapeake Bay TMDL WIP<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
State Fair Highlights<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stink Bug Alert<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MD Eggs Not Part of Recall<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Farm to School Week<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ag Conservation Grants<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Got Bed Bugs?<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
People Profile: Momoh Conteh<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Featured Recipe: Apple Cake<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
 <\/p>\n
\u00a0Secretary’s Corner<\/div>\n

\"MDA
\nWhat a year so far. An historic snow storm was followed by a drought.\u00a0 Buy local campaigns are taking off in stores, restaurants, institutions and schools across the state.\u00a0 Corn crops withered while farmers signed up for a record 502,000 acres of cover crops<\/a> to plant this fall to take up any nutrients that the corn couldn’t use.\u00a0 Insect pests such as bed bugs<\/a> and brown marmorated stink bugs<\/a> are wreaking havoc on residents and farmers.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, there is great support growing for farmers in some corners while lawsuits against farmers are emerging in others.\u00a0 Working together with farmers and other interested parties, Governor Martin O’Malley and I are seeking solutions to these challenges and building on the opportunities and are working hard to let our non-farming neighbors know what good stewards of the land farmers are.\u00a0 Our farms and farmland are some of this state’s greatest assets. We are doing what we can, even in these difficult times, to strengthen agriculture and move it toward a smart, green and growing future.<\/p>\n

As this newsletter is published, USDA is assessing crop damage as requested by Governor O’Malley in August.\u00a0 If there is 30 percent or more crop loss, USDA Secretary Vilsack will issue a Secretarial Disaster Designation to help farmers recover from those losses.\u00a0 I have no doubt that some areas will exceed that threshold.\u00a0\u00a0 To make up for these losses, to take up an nutrients left behind, to prevent soil erosion this fall, and to add organic matter to the soil in the spring farmers have signed up for and MDA has approved a record number or cover crops<\/a> to be planted this fall.\u00a0 Governor O’Malley made this announcement in August along with over $600,000 in federal grant funding to use geospacial imagery to assess the effectiveness and use of cover crops<\/a>. Locally made and grown foods were provided by Shore Gourmet<\/a>, a new enterprise in Talbot County that is marketing local products.<\/p>\n

A day later, Governor O’Malley met with poultry companies and farmers<\/a> to understand their greatest concerns and to see what innovations are on the horizon with which the state could help or pursue.\u00a0 He expressed concern about the lawsuit facing the Hudson family and offered that if one university can sue a farmer pro bono, there ought to be another to defend them free of charge.\u00a0 We are pursuing this idea along with the use of Agri-recycle pellets on state owned land in place of any commercial fertilizer being used; a new technology that would wash phosphorus from poultry litter; and new technologies for chicken houses.<\/p>\n

I ask that everyone pay attention to\u00a0 the new EPA total maximum daily load (TMDL) watershed implementation plans (WIPs)<\/a>.\u00a0 These are the plans that will implement the “pollution diet” laid out by EPA.\u00a0 Everyone resident in Maryland has a stake in this.\u00a0 New actions will need to be taken to meet this Bay restoration plan.<\/p>\n

On another note, we are pleased to say that Maryland is not impacted by the nationwide egg recall<\/a>.\u00a0 MDA’s Food Quality Assurance staff are often the unsung heroes of situations like these. It seems that good news does not draw the attention that bad news does.\u00a0 Our staff, as well as our egg producers, work hard to make sure that the product reaching your table is wholesome and meets all the regulatory standards. Maryland has an outstanding record of food safety, thanks to the hard work of MDA staff, our food processors and our farmers.<\/p>\n

Don’t forget. With fall comes apples, pumpkins and lots of opportunity for family fun on a growing number of agri-tourism farms<\/a>.\u00a0 Enjoy the beautiful weather and support our farmers.\u00a0 With a strong agricultural industry, we keep land open and productive, provide a local food supply, keep jobs in Maryland, and preserve the environment for the benefit of future generations of Marylanders.<\/p>\n

Thank you,
\nBuddy Hance<\/a>
\nSecretary<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n
Quick Links<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
More About MDA <\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

BayStat <\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Sign Up for Governor O’Malley’s E-Newsletter<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
Join Our Mailing List!<\/strong><\/a>
\n\u00a0<\/span>
\nJoin the Maryland Green Registry<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n		\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\"Gov. Governor Announces Record Cover Crop Enrollment <\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nMaryland farmers have enrolled a record number of cover crops this year announced Governor Martin O’Malley, joined by MDA Secretary Buddy Hance on Aug. 19.\u00a0 Maryland has approved a record 502,323 acres<\/a> of winter grains in the Cover Crop Program, which was requested by a record 1,688 farmers. This represents 155 percent of the 2-year Bay milestone for cover crops.\u00a0 Click here<\/a> for more details.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Agricultural leaders, local farmers and local elected officials
\ngathered for the event, which was held at a farm in Cordova (Talbot County).\u00a0 The announcements were followed by
\nlocally-grown and made refreshments from producers associated with Shore
\nGourmet.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Gov. Gov. Meets with Poultry Growers, Company Reps
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nGovernor Martin O’Malley, joined by Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance, met with over 20 chicken growers and poultry company representatives at a family poultry farm in Berlin, Md., on Aug. 20, for an open roundtable discussion about the issues facing the industry and ways to address them.\u00a0 <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Key among the points of discussion was environmental regulation, the need for certainty and equity in the rules in order to conduct profitable businesses, and the desire to pursue and test new technologies to move the industry forward.\u00a0 Click here<\/a> to read more.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"\" Maryland Seeks Public Input on Proposal to Reduce Pollution to Meet EPA Water Quality Requirements<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nThe State of Maryland is currently seeking public comment and input on a draft Watershed Implementation Plan<\/a> that Includes 75 options to reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to meet EPA Total Maximum Daily Load requirements.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Plan identifies 75 strategy options to reduce nitrogen, phosphorous, and sediments from the wastewater, urban runoff, septics, agriculture and air pollution sectors. Maryland estimates that these strategies will provide a total reduction of 9.48 million pounds of nitrogen, more than is needed to meet Maryland’s 70 percent reduction goal by 2017. The State deliberately outlined options that cumulatively exceed the 70-percent reduction needed so that it can refine the proposal after collecting public comment from September 24 through November 8.\u00a0 Click here<\/a> for more details.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gov. Presents Smart, Green & Growing Awards<\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\n

During the 129th Maryland State Fair traditional Ag Day festivities in Timonium, Governor Martin O’Malley celebrated farming and volunteerism as the foundations of our State and the keys to a sustainable and civil future for all Marylanders.<\/p>\n

During the Ag Day luncheon, he presented the 2010 Smart Green and Growing Soil Conservation District of the Year Award to the Cecil Soil Conservation District and the Smart Green and Growing Soil Conservation Cooperator of the Year to W. Frank “Barney” Barnes, a Kent County farmer. The awards recognize superior level of service to the community, agricultural industry and dedication to soil and water conservation activities.<\/p>\n

Following the luncheon Governor O’Malley joined Dep. Sec. Mary Ellen Setting and fair officials for the traditional “Secretary’s tour” of the fairgrounds to see the various state agency and agricultural displays, livestock, 4-H home arts and farm competition entries, and livestock. Click here<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Brown Stink Bugs: Homeowner Nuisance, Agricultural Menace
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nThe brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys<\/span>), a native of Asia, is emerging as a major nuisance to homeowners and a devastating pest to orchardists and potentially to soybean growers in Maryland. Residents across Maryland are reporting large numbers of the insect in and around their homes and gardens and are seeking relief. <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) recommends contacting the University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC)<\/a> to learn more about the stink bug and ways to exclude them from buildings before contacting a licensed pest control company.\u00a0 Farmers will want to work with their University of Maryland Extension agents<\/a> and crop advisors to devise strategies to control the stink bug and limit impact on other beneficial insects. The stink bug does not bite or sting and can’t harm humans or homes. Click here<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Eggs\" Eggs for Sale in Md. are Not Part of Recall<\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\n

The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and local health departments, is working to ensure eggs that are part of the nationwide recall are not being sold in Maryland<\/a>.\u00a0 Consumers should check the codes on cartons of eggs in the shell to verify they are not from plants involved in the nationwide recall of shell eggs implicated in outbreaks of Salmonella enteritidis.\u00a0 None of the plants in the recall are registered to pack eggs for sale in Maryland and to date, MDA inspectors have not found eggs from the affected plants in Maryland.<\/p>\n

Consumers who have questions about whether the eggs they are purchasing are involved in the recall may call the MDA Food Quality Assurance Program<\/a> at 410-841-5769. Click here<\/a> for more information about Maryland’s Egg Inspection and Egg Quality Assurance Programs. Food safety information and details about the current recall are available at www.fda.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Farmer Maurice Jones leads a corn husking activity session for Harford County elementary school students.<\/caption>\n
\"Farmer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Maryland Bringing Farms to Schools with Fresh Local Produce in Meals<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Dr. Janey Thornton<\/a> joined Secretary Hance, farmers, and state, local, and school officials to kick off the 3rd annual Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week<\/a> on Sept. 10 with special classroom educational activities and locally-grown lunch with Edgewood Elementary School students in Harford County. To draw attention to the connection between healthy food and the local farms that grow it, Governor Martin O’Malley officially designated September 13-17, 2010, as Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week.<\/div>\n
More information about Maryland’s Farm to School program, including
\neducational materials, menus, places to find local products, brief video soundbook with photos and interviews<\/a>, plus much more for parents, teachers, and food service staff, visit: www.marylandfarmtoschool.org<\/a>.\u00a0 For information on the school meals programs, visit: www.eatsmartmaryland.org<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Aerial Md. Awarded Grants for Agricultural Conservation Innovation<\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nThe Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) is implementing a statewide remote sensing adaptive management tool<\/a> that will routinely measure winter cover crop<\/a> productivity and nutrient uptake. This project, funded through a $600,000 federal grant<\/a>, will provide valuable information to help make management of the winter cover crop program<\/a> more effective in protecting water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. This tool uses remote sensing to look at fields planted with cover
\ncrops to determine how efficient they are at taking up nutrients.\u00a0Farmers will also receive reports on their fields so they can better
\nmanage the cover crop.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

MDA received two additional USDA Conservation Innovation Grants totaling $364,700<\/a> that\u00a0 build on previous funding to develop a nutrient trading program<\/a> in Maryland and use that new technology to assess and inventory farm conservation practices.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The object at the lower left of the photo is a screw-in foot of a chair. At the base is an adult bed bug, nymphs, and two blood spots. Photo: Gary Alpert, Harvard University, Bugwood.org<\/caption>\n
\"Adult<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Got Bed Bugs?\u00a0 Use Licensed Companies & Registered Pesticides for Pest Control<\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nThe Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA)<\/a> and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA<\/a>) are alerting consumers about the increase of individuals or companies who offer to control bed bugs with unrealistic promises of effectiveness or low cost. Because bed bug infestations are so difficult to control, there have been situations in which pesticides not intended for indoor residential applications have been improperly used or applied at greater rates than the label allows.<\/p>\n

While controlling bed bugs is challenging, consumers should never use, or allow anyone else to use, a pesticide indoors that is intended for outdoor use, as indicated on the label. Using the wrong pesticide or using it incorrectly to treat for bed bugs can make you, your family, and your pets sick. It can also make your home unsafe to live in – and may not solve the bed bug problem. Click here<\/a> for precautions to take before hiring any pest control services.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Momoh People Profile: Momoh Conteh<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nA relatively new face on the MDA scene is Momoh Conteh, the agency’s director of the Human Resources for the past 20 months.\u00a0 Prior to joining MDA, he most recently served as the deputy labor commissioner for the City of Baltimore and the assistant director of human resources for the Housing Authority of Baltimore City.\u00a0 His experience with the personnel profession in the United States began in 1999 when he served as a personnel officer with the Maryland Department of General Services. <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Momoh describes his great passion for the human resource profession as the outgrowth of his love and caring for people in general.\u00a0 He finds the Department of Agriculture to be a special place in that regard.\u00a0 He characterizes MDA as a big family.\u00a0 He feels the agency is very family friendly and a good employer.\u00a0 You can see that he says through the longevity of employment with MDA, the friendliness of the people, the quality of their work, and the strong leadership.<\/p>\n

In the Human Resource Office he leads recruitment and examination, employer\/employee relations, classification and compensation, staff development and training. Day-to-day, Momoh enjoys managing any multitude of issues that may arise and each day is different. His priority is to cross train his small staff so that more than one person can handle classifications or recruitment as an example.\u00a0 “In a small agency like MDA, you have to be flexible and be able to do many different things,” Conteh says.\u00a0 “We are in a time when we have to do more with less and need to be generalists so that we can best serve the agency needs.”<\/p>\n

A Baltimore resident, Momoh is the proud father of three girls.\u00a0 His two older daughters are at college; one is studying international relations and Chinese at American University in Washington, D.C., while the other is studying media arts and animation at the Art Institute of York in Pennsylvania.\u00a0 He enjoys spending free time with his six-year old daughter, traveling and being involved in politics.\u00a0 He is an avid reader who especially likes political autobiographies. He most recently read “Mandela The Authorized Biography” by Anthony Sampson.<\/p>\n

Momoh came to the United States in 1984 from the Republic of Sierra Leone, West Africa, to further his education.\u00a0 He holds a Masters of Administrative Science from the Johns Hopkins University, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Baltimore, and an Associate of Arts in Banking and Finance from the Community College of Baltimore.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Fresh Featured Recipe: Apple Cake
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nCourtesy of the <\/span>Maryland Apple Promotion Board<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Ingredients:<\/span>
\n4 cups chopped apples
\n1 1\/2 cups sugar
\n2 cups flour
\n2 tsp. cinnamon
\n1 1\/2 tsp. baking powder
\n1 tsp. baking soda
\n1 tsp. salt
\n2 eggs, slightly beaten
\n2 tsp. vanilla
\n1\/2 cup vegetable oil
\n1 cup chopped nuts<\/p>\n

Combine apples and sugar; let stand 1\/2 hour. Stir together dry ingredients. Add eggs, oil and vanilla to apple mixture. Stir. Add nuts and dry ingredients. Bake in greased 13 x 9 x 2 pan for 1 hour at 350 degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upcoming Events<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n