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HPAI IN DAIRY HERDS—WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in dairy herds in multiple states, including a single case in a human in Texas. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has assessed the public risk as low. Find out what's being done in Maryland.
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FARMER TRAINING & CERTIFICATION
Do you want to become certified to write your farm's nutrient management plan? Register now for our October 3, 2024 Farmer Training and Certification (FTC) class for operators of nurseries, greenhouses, or controlled environments. This training program will assist you in writing a nutrient management plan for your operation that meets Maryland's nutrient management requirements.
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This Maryland Farm & Harvest clip highlights Earth Day Weekend at the Reed Center, an intentionally designed 150-acre food forest in Middletown, Maryland. By the end of the weekend, 500 volunteers will have planted 5,000 trees. It’s all a part of founder Ben Friton’s plan to reconnect people to nature and show them a different approach to agriculture, replicating naturally occurring forests.
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FUNDAMENTALS OF NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT TRAINING
This two-day training, offered June 17-18 in Annapolis, provides an overview of knowledge areas covered by the Maryland Nutrient Management Certification Exam. Topics include state nutrient management regulations, nutrient management principles, basic soil science, and soil fertility recommendations. Register by mail for this training by Monday, June 3, 2024.
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APPLY NOW FOR EQIP FUNDING
Maryland farmers and forestry producers seeking conservation funding through the federal Environmental Quality Incentives Program should act soon. Although the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service accepts EQIP applications year-round, Maryland producers should apply by May 17, 2024, for funding consideration in the current funding cycle.
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May 11 – Master Gardeners Plant Sale - Queen Anne's County
May 16 – Pasture Walk at New Roots Farm, Anne Arundel County
May 18 – Produce Safety Rule Grower Training, Princess Anne
May 18 – Gardening for Pollinators with Color and Plant Swap, Cecil County
May 20 – Poultry Farm Management for New, Existing & Potential Growers, Snow Hill
May 30 – Eat, Drink and be Maryland, Clarksville
June 3 – Cover Crop Killdown and Reporting Deadline
June 24 – Pasture Walk at Plow and Stars Farm, Poolesville, MD
August 2 – Nutrient Management Certification Exam
August 8 – 2024 Maryland Horse Forum, McDonogh School, Owings Mills, MD
Available Anytime – On-Demand Continuing Education Webinars for Turfgrass Pros
Available Anytime – Nutrient Management Learn and Earn CEUs
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NEW FACES
Sarah A. Butcher is MDA's new nutrient management specialist for the Turfgrass Program. She has eight years of experience as a natural resource planner at the Maryland Department of the Environment and a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). Sarah will assist lawn care professionals in complying with Maryland's Lawn Fertilizer Law for a healthier Chesapeake Bay.
Patrick Felch has joined the MACS Program as a Program Specialist, where he will assist in reviewing and approving cost-share applications. Patrick was previously employed at the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, where he helped with Mississippi’s Water Quality Standards Program. Before that, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Namibia. Welcome, Patrick!
ANNUAL REPORTS —
Read the St. Mary's Soil Conservation District's 2023 Annual Report.
Read the Prince George's Soil Conservation District 2023 Annual Report.
WANT TO WORK FOR MDA?
Check out the latest job openings throughout the department on our website.
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COMING SOON!
MDA's 2024-2025 Cover Crop Sign-up.
Look for details in the next edition of Conservation Buzz.
Please contact your local soil conservation district for additional information on MDA conservation programs.
Photo credits: Edwin Remsberg Photographs, Maryland Farm & Harvest, and Shutterstock
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