February 8: Southern MD Vegetable & Fruit Production Meeting
February 19: President's Day Office Closed
February 24: MG Successful Seed Starting
March 1: 4-H Volunteer Training
March 13: Field Crops & Pasture IPM Workshop
March 24: MG Composting & Grow It Eat It
March 30: Good Friday Office Closed
April 6: Online Nutrient Application Voucher Recertification
April 9: 4-H Volunteer Training
April 13: Online Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification
April 28: Maryland Day
May 5: MG Composting Demonstration
May 16: MG Composting Demonstration
May 22: 4-H Volunteer Training
May 28: Memorial Day Office closed
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January-February 2018
Congratulations to the 4-H members and volunteers who were recently honored at the Maryland State 4-H Gala at Martin's West. We are so proud of the contributions these individuals have made to the program here and across the state.
Gina Degreenia was recognized as an Honorary 4-H member for her efforts as a volunteer
This award recognizes efforts of volunteers who were not 4-H members in their childhood. Jocelyn Jarin and Derrick Trautman were recognized for their work at Ft. Meade as the recipients of the Maryland 4-H Military Partnership Award.
In the Diamond Clover Award program, Benjamin Eisinger, Amelia Sim, and Maddie Solley received the Level 5 Award and Tyler Green was awarded the Level 6 Award and presented information about his project to the audience of 600+.
Amanda Wahle, our 4-H Educator, received a grant from the Maryland 4-H Foundation to develop a new environmental education program. She also received the Dick Angus Professional Development Scholarship. College scholarships were awarded to Brittany Wilbur, Carley Gray, and David Degreenia.
Christa Stibolt, a 4-H Program Assistant, was recognized for her contributions to the State 4-H Horse Program as the Coach of the Maryland State 4-H Horse Judging team. The team came in 5th at the Eastern National 4-H Roundup in Louisville, KY in November, 2017. Our county was well represented on the State Horse teams including Carley Gray and Brooke Howard on the Communications team,and Phoebe Vacek on the Hippology team. Marina Karides was chosen as a delegate to National 4-H Congress .
We are so proud of each of you. 4-H offers so many opportunities for recognition to youth and volunteers both. Contact Amanda Wahle for more information at
awahle@umd.edu.
Karol Westelinck Dyson
Capital Area Extension Director
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Mark your calendars!
Seed Starting Indoors - Beginner & Advanced
Crofton Community Library
Saturday, February 24, 2018, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Are you new to growing with seeds? You can do it! This workshop will help you gain knowledge & confidence to jump start your spring planting of vegetables & flowers. Have you
been growing your food from seed for years? You can still learn something useful & have a fun morning with other seasoned gardeners! We'll look at what that seed packet information is really telling us , what supplies we really need to buy, what date to start seeds, when & how to transfer the seedlings safely to the outdoor garden. There's
something for everyone at this
workshop. Join in!
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Ag Census Response Will Impact Farm Policy and Industry
Dave Myers, Extension Educator
Farmers in Maryland and Delaware will have the opportunity to make a positive impact on their communities and industry by taking part in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Conducted every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service, the census, to be mailed at the end of this year, is a complete count of all U.S. farms, ranches, and those who operate them.
Census data are used by all those who serve farmers and rural communities from federal, state
and local governments to agribusinesses, trade
associations trade
associations, researchers, and many others. For example, public officials use the data when shaping farm policy, and agribusinesses factor it into their planning efforts.
"Your answers to the census impact farm programs and rural services that support your community," said Joe Bartenfelder, Maryland Secretary of Agriculture. "Good policies and services are rooted in quality data. We want all farms counted because there's strength in numbers that only the census can reveal," said Michael Scuse, Delaware Secretary of Agriculture.
This year, NASS has extensively revised the online census questionnaire at
www.agcounts.usda.gov
to make it more convenient for producers. Farmers can either mail in their completed census form or take advantage of new time-saving features by responding online. The online system calculates totals for the producer and skips sections that do not pertain to the operation.
In the 2012 census, Maryland farmers reported a total of 12,256 farms, spanning over 2 million acres, while Delaware farmers reported a total of 2,451 farms, spanning over 508 thousand acres. These numbers represented a five and four percent decrease in the number of Maryland and Delaware farms respectively from the previous census in 2007. Market value of agricultural products sold was $2.3 billion, an increase of 24 percent from the previous census for Maryland and $1.3 billion, an increase of 18 percent from the previous census for Delaware. This telling information and thousands of additional farm and ranch statistics are only available every five years, as a direct result of responses to the census.
"The census remains the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation," said Dale P. Hawks, Maryland/Delaware State Statistician for USDA's NASS Northeastern Region. "It's a critical tool that gives producers a voice and opportunity to influence decisions that will shape the future of their operations, communities, and industries."
The 2017 Census of Agriculture will collect new information including data on active service and military veteran farmers, as well as expanded questions on food marketing practices and on-farm decision-making to better capture the roles and contributions of beginning farmers, women farmers, and other involved in running the business.
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2018 Anne Arundel County 4-H Variety Show
Amanda Wahle, Extension Educator
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The Variety Show was a big hit this year! Thanks to the Anne Arundel 4-H Foundation
for
hosting this event. Everyone had a ton of fun and got to have their moment in the spotlight.
The 2018 participants were:
Dairy Leasing
- Mixed Group Song - CHAMPION GROUP ACT
Coordinator: Brooke Knauss
Brooke Knauss
Marina Karides
Elizabeth Karides
Kinder Farm Park
- Mixed Group Skit - RESERVE CHAMPION GROUP ACT
Coordinator: Adrian Velthuis
Olivia Velthuis
Aneka Velthuis
Isaac Velthuis
Jen Eisinger
Delia Fishburne
Sadie Fishburne
Felicia Fishburne
Clover Buddies
- Junior Group Skit - BLUE RIBBON
Coordinator: Susanne Johnson
Anna Johnson (Junior)
Penn Keulman (Junior)
Eric Steigler (Junior)
Caelyn Grollman (Junior)
Isaac Waesche (Clover)
Taylor Keulman (Clover)
Davey Butta (Clover)
Corwin Butta (Clover)
Thomas Mackenzie (Clover)
Hayden Wahle (Clover)
Liam Caul. (Clover)
Will Roth (Clover)
Timmy Steigler (Clover)
Kinder Farm Park
- Mixed Group Skit - PARTICIPATION ONLY
Coordinator: Adrian Velthuis
Olivia Velthuis
Aneka Velthuis
Isaac Velthuis
Jen Eisinger
Delia Fishburne
Sadie Fishburne
Felicia Fishburne
Ben Eisinger
Jake Green
Kinder Farm Park
- Junior Individual Song - CHAMPION INDIVIDUAL/DUET ACT
Keith Ivey
Trail Blazers
- Junior Individual Instrumental - RESERVE CHAMPION INDIVIDUAL/DUET ACT
Max Guethler
4-H Announcers
who volunteered to help the day of the show to introduce the acts.
Brooke Knauss, Marina Karides, and Elizabeth Karides from Dairy Leasing
Jen Eisinger, and Delia and Felicia Fishburne from Kinder Farm Park
Anna Johnson from Clover Buddies
Thank you to all the dedicated 4-H parents and volunteers -this event couldn't happen without you!
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Financial Nuggets
Financial Nuggets is a six lesson, financial educational program designed for middle school
students (grades 5-8) that provides an opportunity for youth to simulate real world, financial experiences
through
hands on
learning
activities
. Lessons and activities are designed for 45-60 minutes and are aligned with the Maryland Financial Literacy Standards.
Click here to learn more.
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Spring Frost/Freeze Dates in Maryland
Can you tell me the date of the last frost in my area?
We know spring is in the air when this question begins to be asked by homeowners who contact the HGIC consultants. While this date can fluctuate from year to year, the
following
Freeze/Frost Data provides a fairly accurate guide to help predict this very important da
te. Data is gathered at various weather stations across the state that is averaged and compiled into one list that provides the probability of a frost on various dates. The chart lists 5 dates and indicates the chance of a frost on that particular date. For example,
at the Baltimore Airport on April 26th there is still a
10% chance of a frost one year out of 10.
Click
here for more information.
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Do you have a plant question? Pests in your house? Not happy with your lawn? The University of Maryland Home and Garden Information Center can help. Visit their website:
extension.umd.edu/hgic.
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Agriculture & Natural Resources
Interested in agriculture? There are many agriculture resources available on our website.
Agriculture Newsletters
Agriculture Calendar of Events
For more information, please contact
Dave Myers, Extension Educator, AGNR.
If you are interested in agriculture for YOUTH, please contact our office and speak with a member of the 4-H staff or email
Christa Stibolt. 4-H offers plant and animal science programs for youth ages 8-18. See the
4-H website for more details.
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Did you visit the Anne Arundel County Fair this fall? Did you wonder what in the world 4-H is all about? Do you have children between 8 and 18 or know someone who does? If so, it's easy to learn more! Visit our website or email Amanda Wahle in the UMD Anne Arundel Extension Office at awahle@umd.edu. "4-H makes the best better!" |
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Healthy Eating - Stuffed Peppers
Cooking oil spray
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cups cooked brown rice
1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
4 large green peppers, washed
1 cup low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
½ cup water
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking oil spray. In a large bowl, mix onion, rice, tomatoes and beans. Set aside. Cut tops off peppers and remove seeds from inside. Pour ½ cup water in the 9x13 pan. Fill peppers with rice mixture and place in pan. Sprinkle shredded cheese on the stuffed peppers. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until peppers are tender.
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Did you know...
You can help support the operations of the Home and Garden Information Center by donating to their fund.
Click here for more information.
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Anne Arundel County Extension
97 Dairy Lane
Gambrills, MD 21054
410-222-3900
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Area Extension Director
Karol Dyson, AED
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Dave Myers, Principal Agent
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Nutrient Management
Nutrient Management Advisor
410-222-3906
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Master Gardener Program
Master Gardener Coordinator
410-222-3906
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4-H Youth Development
Amanda Wahle, Agent
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Food Supplement Nutrient Education Program
LaTasha Coleman, Agent Associate
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