{"id":1785,"date":"2010-01-26T13:15:04","date_gmt":"2010-01-26T13:15:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=1785"},"modified":"2012-10-03T13:16:05","modified_gmt":"2012-10-03T13:16:05","slug":"january-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/mda-newsletter\/2010\/01\/26\/january-2010\/","title":{"rendered":"January 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>\nJanuary 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
Land Preservation Lawsuit<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Md. Dairy Farmers Aid<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MANTS Survey Results<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MDA Energy Efficiency<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rockfish Celebration<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Green Resolutions<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Join a CSA Today<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MAFO\/CAFO Reminder<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
People Profile<\/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

\"Earl<\/p>\n

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Happy New Year!
\nIn 2009, Maryland farmers, businesses, and MDA together with our local, state federal and private partners accomplished a remarkable amount despite the economic downturn.\u00a0 Never has the phrase, “doing more with less” been more applicable. Some examples are:
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Preserved 8,332 acres of prime farmland using the fully-funded MALPF<\/a> program, for a total of 2,079 properties on 283,000 acres.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Promoted and saw increased sales of locally-grown farm products in groceries, restaurants, schools, hospitals, farmers’ markets and other outlets.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Continued to expand, adapt and use the cover crop<\/a>, CREP<\/a>, farm energy audit programs.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Used a record $18 million in cost-share grants (MACS)<\/a> to install 2,300 conservation projects on farms, which will prevent an estimated 1.3 million pounds of nitrogen and 145,000 pounds of phosphorus from entering waterways each year.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Secured funding<\/a>, loan relief and increased payments for struggling dairy farmers.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Successfully reduced the gypsy moth population and held the emerald ash borer at bay.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Secured $23 million in additional funding to help farmers with conservation practices.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Became more transparent and highlighted many conservation successes through Governor O’Malley’s BayStat <\/a>accountability program.<\/p>\n

These accomplishments reflect many of the priorities outlined by stakeholders in the Statewide Plan for Agriculture and Resource Management.\u00a0 That action plan is nearly completed and the Maryland Agriculture Commission<\/a> is hosting the second Governor’s Agricultural Forum on February 19 to chart a course for agriculture for the next 10-15 years.\u00a0 We ask for your input.\u00a0 A survey<\/a> is available for online which will help us identify the most important issues facing farmers and other stakeholders in advance of the event.\u00a0 It will just take about 10 minutes of your time.<\/p>\n

January 13 marked the start of the 2010 Session of the General Assembly.\u00a0 While the budget will be first and foremost on everyone’s minds, MDA has presented a number of bills to strengthen our programs or address new issues for the benefit of Maryland agriculture, consumers and the environment.\u00a0 Our bills are posted on MDA’s website<\/a> for your reference.\u00a0\u00a0 We look forward to working with you to help further advance Maryland agriculture for a smart, green and growing future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Buddy Hance, <\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

MDA Secretary<\/div>\n

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Quick Links<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
More About MDA <\/span><\/a><\/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
Join Our Mailing List!<\/span><\/strong><\/a>
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\nJoin the Maryland Green Registry<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n		\n\n\n\n
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\"GovernorTake the Ag Forum Survey
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The 2010 Governor’s Agricultural Forum will be held in February and we need your help.\u00a0 Please take a few minutes to complete the survey<\/a> about the challenges and opportunities\u00a0 that you feel agriculture will be facing in the next 15 years. This survey will serve as a baseline for the Forum as we develop a new strategic plan for agriculture. The 2006 Statewide Plan for Agriculture has been completed and implemented, click here <\/a>to learn more.<\/div>\n

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\n\"Farm
\nMaryland Wins Land Preservation Lawsuit <\/strong><\/strong><\/span>
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In an important victory, the Court of Appeals of Maryland decided in favor of the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation<\/a>.
\n<\/span>The case could have undermined the intent of the State land
\npreservation program and devalued the $500 million public investment in
\nthe preservation of productive Maryland farmland.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, et al v. Herschell B. Claggett, Sr. (Case No. 142), the Court ruled on Dec. 22<\/a>
\nthat a landowner cannot construct a “dwelling house for the use only of
\nthat landowner or the landowner’s child” under the terms of the land
\npreservation easement and then immediately transfer the dwelling to a
\nthird party.\u00a0 This, the court found, would undermine the program’s
\npurpose by facilitating potential real estate speculation on preserved
\nland intended for family farming use.<\/p>\n

The Court of Appeals of Maryland reversed a decision of the Court of
\nSpecials Appeal that could have allowed thousands of lots to be
\ndeveloped throughout the State on farmland that is permanently
\npreserved by MALPF from residential development. Click here<\/a> for more details.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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\n\"two Md. Dairy Farmers to Receive Aid <\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Maryland’s struggling dairy farmers stand to receive as much as $2.475 million in emergency aid provided in the 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill through the new Dairy Emergency Loss Assistance Payment program (DELAP)<\/a>.\u00a0 Governor Martin O’Malley, along with Northeast dairy state leaders, actively supported the inclusion of the emergency funds in the bill to assist dairy farmers trying to stay afloat during the longest stretch of extremely low prices on record.<\/p>\n

According to the USDA, milk prices declined substantially through early-to-mid-2009. On average, the price U.S. dairy producers received for milk marketed in the summer of 2009 was about half of what it cost them to produce milk. Dairy is Maryland’s third largest agricultural industry, with farm receipts of $194 million in 2008 and about 250,000 acres of farmland. Since 2007, the State has lost more than 100 dairy farms, with just over 500 operations now. Click here<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\n\"nursery Md. Horticulture Data Released
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The results of the most comprehensive survey of the Maryland horticulture industry to date reveal an industry with nearly $2 billion in gross receipts occupying 20,900 acres, including 19 million square feet of greenhouse space, and employing more than 18,500 people with wages totaling $451 million.\u00a0 Supporting the movement toward “buying locally,” the survey also indicated a shift toward the purchase of plants from Maryland nurseries rather than importation of plant material from other states and countries. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The statistical profile and economic survey, which queried 1,140 licensed nursery operations for 2007 business information with a 72 percent response rate, was officially released on January 6 at the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show in Baltimore.\u00a0 The last industry survey was conducted in 2003.\u00a0Find out more.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\n\"MDA MDA Gets Greener
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MDA is becoming greener at its Annapolis headquarters. As part of Governor O’Malley’s EmPOWER Maryland<\/a> initiative and goal to reduce power consumption by 15 percent by the year 2015, the agency began an energy efficiency performance agreement<\/a> with Johnson Controls last September that will save more than $4.36 million over 14 years. The project for the Wayne A. Cawley, Jr. headquarters building includes lighting retrofit upgrades, water conservation retrofits, building envelope improvements, renewable technology, HVAC upgrades, direct digital controls, facility maintenance services, and measurement and verification services.<\/p>\n

Already, we are seeing results.\u00a0 As an example, last year during the months of November and December, MDA’s electric bill was $52,000 and $54,000 respectively compared to $28,000 and $26,000 during the same months this year.<\/p>\n

In addition, recycling of bottles and cans began last year (paper has been recycled for\u00a0 years) to help reduce our waste going to landfills. In 2009, staff and visitors recycled 128 pounds of aluminum cans. These cans are collected separately by staff and sold. The funds help the agency’s Family Support Committee do its work.<\/p>\n

We enjoyed our rain gardens along Harry S Truman Parkway in full bloom this summer. They help rainwater runoff infiltrate the soil instead of going directly into the storm drains that lead to Broad Creek and the South River.<\/p>\n

These and many other smart, green and growing<\/a> activities are included in MDA’s application to join the State’s Green Registry<\/a> to show that we are leading by example.\u00a0 After joining the Green Registry, MDA plans to invite farmers who have taken part in the EnSave on-farm energy audits<\/a> to apply.\u00a0 In this way, the public will have another way to see that farmers are helping to protect the environment and operate their businesses sustainably.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\n\"Rockfish Celebrate, Enjoy Maryland Rockfish!
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Enjoy delicious Maryland rockfish and join the celebration of Maryland’s official state fish – the striped bass, commonly known as rockfish! The Maryland Rockfish Celebration is taking place at over 30 restaurants and retail markets statewide through February. Restaurants, grocery stores and seafood markets will be offering specials on this delectable fish during the celebration.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Winter is prime time for the delicious Chesapeake Bay rockfish. Look for the special purple, green and silver Maryland Rockfish Celebration buttons and table tents at your favorite restaurant or retail market. The Maryland Rockfish Celebration is sponsored by Maryland commercial fishermen, seafood processors and the Maryland Department of Agriculture.<\/p>\n

As part of the Rockfish Celebration, the 3rd Annual Junior Chef Rockfish Cook-Off will be held during the 2010 East Coast Commercial Fisherman’s and Aquaculture Trade Exposition on Jan. 30 in Ocean City.\u00a0 Click here<\/a> for recipes and a list of participating restaurant and retailers.<\/p>\n

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\n\"two Green New Year Resolutions
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This New Year, why not make your resolutions green? Here are a few ideas for how you can go green in 2010:<\/p>\n