{"id":1777,"date":"2010-05-26T13:10:17","date_gmt":"2010-05-26T13:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=1777"},"modified":"2012-10-03T13:11:19","modified_gmt":"2012-10-03T13:11:19","slug":"may-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/mda-newsletter\/2010\/05\/26\/may-2010\/","title":{"rendered":"May 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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\u00a0 Celebrating Maryland\u00a0Agriculture<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nMay 2010\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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In This Issue<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New Buy Local Law<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cover Crop Incentives<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Call for “Local” Recipes<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Asian Tiger Mosquito<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Register Backyard Flocks<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Burn it Where You Buy It<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Spring Fertilizer Tips<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pesticide Container Recycling<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Termite Control Tips<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
People Profile- Warren Bontoyan<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Featured Recipe<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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\u00a0Secretary’s Corner<\/div>\n

\"MDA<\/p>\n

Lookin at Lucky was the big winner of the 135th running of The Preakness Stakes last weekend.\u00a0 The Preakness is the best known of Maryland’s equine events and reminds us that as a state we are very fortunate to have a strong horse industry involving recreational, competitive, racing, and breeding activities.\u00a0 Maryland has more horses per square mile than any other state. Some 29,000 jobs and more than 200,000 acres of undeveloped land associated with the equine sector depend upon the stability and growth of the industry.\u00a0 Governor Martin O’Malley is committed to keeping the horse industry strong in Maryland through slots, legislation, policy and collaboration with all parts of the horse industry to see that these jobs and the equine-related working farms stay in place.<\/p>\n

At the Preakness, Governor O’Malley\u00a0 toured the bustling stable area where one starts to get an idea of how many jobs are dependent on the strength of horse racing in the state. With 40 percent of Maryland’s horses involved in racing, it is easy to start to understand how many jobs the other 60 percent of horses can generate. Grooms, exercise riders, veterinarians, riding instructors, farriers, saddleries, event concessions, feed suppliers, farmers who grow hay, laborers on training farms and many others depend on the horse industry for their livelihood.<\/p>\n

The first of the slot facilities is slated to open later this year, which will start to send money back into the breeding and racing sectors as well as the racetrack buildings, helping employment opportunities throughout Maryland.\u00a0 These funds should help to keep all of Maryland’s racetracks open for business for their real intended purpose, the great sport of live horse racing.<\/p>\n

To further support the horse industry we are taking up the recommendations from the 2009 Horse Forum, which was held last August to develop an action plan for the future of the industry.\u00a0 In fact, with the support of the horse industry, the General Assembly passed and Governor O’Malley signed into law measures that increased the funding for the promotion of the industry through activities of the Maryland Horse industry Board.\u00a0 In addition, we are conducting the first equine census in eight years so that we get a full and updated accounting of the size and value of the equine industry.\u00a0 We hope all horse owners will fill out the census and return it as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

On a different front, Springtime brings out the insects from mosquitoes and gypsymoths to emerald ash borer among many. We are fortunate to have had extremely low gypsy moth populations this year, requiring very small spray acreage.\u00a0\u00a0 Mosquitoes on the other hand may be very populous this year if the rain continues.<\/p>\n

Other MDA staff are busy this time of year preventing the spread of the emerald ash borer (EAB). May 23-29 is Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week. EAB week marks the start of summer camping and is a perfect time to remind people not to take firewood with them on vacation. Instead, they should buy firewood where they will burn it.\u00a0 By leaving firewood at home, the emerald ash borer can’t spread any distance and can’t harm ash trees in our forests and neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

Here at MDA, we are very fortunate to have the best staff around. I was very pleased to recognize three outstanding employees for their contributions to the agency. They were nominated by their peers and their supervisors. Carol Council<\/span>, an Administrator with the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation received an award for her leadership. Examples would include her pro-active public outreach explaining the program; impact on policy issues such as natural gas drilling rights in Garrett County; and for mentoring interns to encourage their interest in land preservation and public service.<\/p>\n

Jason Keppler<\/span>, a Programmer and Analyst with the Resource Conservation Office received an innovation award for his work to establish dynamic data-based projects that track and report agricultural best management practices and farm conservation planning that are part of the BayStat (www.baystat.maryland.gov) program and the new Conservation Tracker.<\/p>\n

Diana Mullenix, front office manager at the Frederick Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory,\u00a0 received a customer service award.\u00a0 Diana is a key to the lab’s mission of diagnosing and assisting in the control and eradication of animal and zoonotic diseases through her recordkeeping, management and interaction with everyone from producers, veterinarians, government colleagues, and everyone who has interacted with the lab for 25 years.<\/p>\n

Thank you to these three individuals for their outstanding contributions to MDA. Together as an agency and an industry, we are serving Marylanders and making the state a better place each and every day.<\/p>\n

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

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Quick Links<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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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
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\n\"Buy Governor Signs Buy Local Bill into Law<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
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Governor Martin O’Malley signed into law 12 agriculture-related bills as the culmination of a positive legislative session for the farm community.\u00a0 The bills signed on May 4 define the terms “locally grown” and “local” for agricultural product sales, reduce the regulatory burden for farmers selling at farmers markets, reform Maryland winery laws, authorize a nutrient credit trading program, and provide more opportunities for landowners to preserve their farmland.\u00a0\u00a0 Click here<\/a> for more information.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\n\"Maryland MDA, NRCS Team Up to Offer Farmers Better Cover Crop Incentives
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MDA and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) have teamed up to offer Maryland farmers more choices and better incentives to plant cover crops in their fields this fall.\u00a0 This year, MDA will provide farmers with approximately $15 million to plant cover crops.\u00a0 NRCS has made an additional $3 million available to farmers who plant traditional or harvested cover crops this fall.\u00a0 This year, farmers can choose from several cover crop planting options.
\nSpecial incentives are available to farmers who plant rye.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Farmers should contact their local soil conservation district office right away to enroll in the NRCS Cover Crop Program, which is now open for sign-up.\u00a0 The enrollment dates for the MDA program are June 21-July 15, 2010. Click here<\/a> for more details.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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\n\"Washington Call for “Local” Recipes<\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nGovernor Martin O’Malley invites teams to submit original recipes using local ingredients for Maryland’s annual “Buy Local Cook Out,” to be held at Government House in Annapolis on Thursday, July 15.\u00a0 The cook out is the signature kick-off event for the statewide Buy Local Challenge Week (July 17-25), when all Marylanders are encouraged to eat at least one local product each day of the week. Entries are due June 1.<\/span><\/span><\/span>Submissions must be by teams made up of a chef and one or more farmer, waterman, or producer. If selected, teams will have the opportunity to provide, prepare, and share the dish at the Governor’s Cook Out.<\/p>\n

Recipes that represent Maryland’s Best bounty will be chosen in each of the following categories:
\n\u00b0 Appetizer\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00b0 Main dish
\n\u00b0 Side dish or salad\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00b0 Dessert
\n\u00b0 Beverage\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00b0 Table decorations (centerpieces)<\/p>\n

Click her<\/a>e for complete rules of entry and additional information.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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\n\"two Asian Tiger Mosquito: Summer Pest Extraordinaire<\/strong><\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/span>
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The tiger mosquito is the most problematic pest species in many urban and suburban areas. Its habits and habitat are a bit different than our native mosquitoes:<\/div>\n