This Month! BCFB Policy Meeting

This year's Policy Meeting will be held on Monday, August 21st at 6:00 at the Ag Center on Shawan Road. Registration is now open, and you can register using the link below. Your input is important and valued as the BCFB discusses issues of importance. Our county-wide decisions on regulatory and legislative policy will then be forward to MFB, for inclusion.

This Week and Next Month! Fair Volunteers Needed

Hereford Fair needs help with the following:

BCFB at the Maryland State Fair needs help with the following:

Please email Santana Mays if you are able to help.

New! BCFB Scholarship

Shelby is studying Business Administration with a minor in Finance at San Diego State University. Her immediate goals are to continue to pay for her college tuition 100% herself through a combination of scholarships, student loans, and part-time work. She has been actively interviewing for Junior year internships at large banking centers and currently has a 6-month internship at a private equity firm in San Diego. She is undecided as to what specific direction within finance will be her future career.

Sophia graduated from high school in June and will be attending Virginia Tech in the fall. She plans to get her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and work to provide sustainable solutions for the increasing number of problems that the earth’s ecosystem is facing in today’s society. She plans to fight climate change by tackling problems within industries such as forestry, mining, manufacturing, and agriculture. She aims to make these industries better for everyone by developing ways to make them more sustainable and more cost efficient.

On July 10th, the BCFB Ambassador and Young Ambassador contest winners were announced: Scarlett Heffner is this year's BCFB Ambassador. Charley Rose Narango is this year's BCFB Young Ambassador. Scarlett will will represent agriculture and Farm Bureau for one year (December 2023 – December 2024) and make selected appearances at events throughout 2024. Read more about the Ambassador Program.

Congratulations to you both! We are grateful for your passion and commitment to BCFB!

New! Thinkport, an Educational Resource from MPT

Thinkport (the educational arm of Maryland Public Television) in conjunction with MAEF, just developed 14 self-paced lessons and lesson starters in this new MDFH collection. Thinkport will be promoting this new resource collection in newsletters, professional development sessions, and other target marketing efforts this fall. All of this information is gathered directly from the television series. To learn more about Thinkport, visit the website.

On July 19th, the MD Agriculture Council announced that their 2023-2024 Educational Grants are now available for distribution. The MD Ag Council began awarding educational grants to organizations in 2001, for the purpose of expanding its mission to promote Maryland agriculture. Hundreds of applications have been received through the years with creative and unique programs being executed on a local level. Applications are due September 30, 2023. Apply for a grant.

MDA held a much anticipated Nutrient Management plan writing summit on Monday, July 17 at Anne Arundel Community College to present the overview of the re-imagined and improved nutrient management program. Following a June 1st announcement by MDA of changes to the way plans are written as well as listening sessions held throughout the State in the weeks following, MDA and the University of Maryland (UMD) have made the joint decision to reevaluate and reframe how the program is managed. Farmer and industry input contributed greatly to this decision. Read more

New! MDA Opens Nominations for Newly Formed Nutrient Management Task Force On July 31st, MDA began accepting nominations for farmers and industry professionals interested in participating in the new 30-member Farmer Taskforce being formed to provide guidance to the department and the University of Maryland on updates to the Nutrient Management plan writing program. The formation of this new group was announced on July 17 during the Nutrient Management Summit held in Annapolis. Read more

New! MD Horse Industry Board Accepting 2024 Grant Applications On July 31st, MDA announced they will begin accepting grant applications for the 2024 grant year. The goals of the grant program are to promote the Maryland equine industry by increasing public awareness and participation, advancing education and training, supporting and promoting equestrian events, programs, and activities, and preserving access and use of public lands for riding. The deadline to apply is October 6. Read more

New! MDA Now Accepting Applications for Urban Agriculture Water and Power Grants On July 27th, MDA announced a new grant program that helps urban farms and community gardens purchase and install equipment to access water and electricity needed to sustain and grow their operations. Read more

MDA Seeks Input on Priorities for Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program On July 13th, MDA announced that they have received $3.8 million through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program to assist in strengthening Maryland’s food supply chain between farmers and consumers by investing in infrastructure. The Maryland initiative will begin distributing funds in 2024. Read more

Montgomery College - Germantown Campus has released their Fall 2023 course flyer. Classes start August 28! View the flyer.

The Sustainable Horticulture Program at CCBC has a great lineup of Fall classes! View the Fall semester flier . There are scholarships available for some fall classes. Two classes are being offered at the CCBC Catonsville for the 1^st time. The Basic Horticulture Technician Certificate, a fully funded Certificate is available again for Fall 2023. BHTC more information

Email Winny Tan in the CCBC Sustainable Horticulture office: wtan@ccbcmd.edu with questions or for help with registration. Her office number is 443-840-3787.

American Landscape Institute (ALI) Applications are now being accepted for the ALI Program. ALI is a unique “Earn and Learn” scholarship program for high school graduates to take college horticulture classes at CCBC while working for a landscape or nursery company.  Students work 4 days per week for a landscape or nursery company, and attend classes at CCBC every Friday. Students graduate debt free with a Certificate in Landscape Installation, Maintenance, and Design. High school seniors or graduates can apply via the ALI website. Contact Martha Pindale 410-688-5115 martha@americanlandscapeinstitute.com

LEAD Maryland Foundation, Inc. (LEAD) is accepting applications for its next cohort of Fellowship Program participants, LEAD Class XIII. This class participates in 2024-25. Completed applications are due by the end of the day October 1, 2023. For more details, visit the website. To register for virtual information sessions being held on July 13th, August 8th, and September 6th, use this link.

On March 24th, MARBIDCO announced a grant funding opportunity to encourage Maryland’s agricultural producers to engage in value-added activities and pursue financial support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Value-Added Producer Grants Program (USDA-VAPG). The USDA-VAPG is a highly competitive nationwide grant program with approximately $31 million available for distribution in 2023. Read more

New! Baltimore County Extension's 'Ag Insight'

In the August Edition, you'll find:

To receive the newsletter directly, email Erika Crowl.

Visit the UMD Extension website for past newsletters.

In addition to a brand new Facebook Page, BCFB has just launched its Instagram account! Add BCFB to your regular scroll, and effortlessly keep up to date on all things Farm Bureau!

Online Training Available to Assist Growers Better Understand Risk Management Tools

This summer, the University of Maryland (UMD) is partnering with the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) and USDA to create a four-module online training course Maryland Farming Success. This course will allow traditionally underserved and socially disadvantaged audiences to logically develop a plan focused on financial skills, risk management tools, and legal topics regarding their farm operations, and understand additional existing assistance available from USDA, including Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs and Risk Management Agency programs.

Would you like to have your nursery featured on Maryland's Best's website? Maryland’s Best is a program managed by the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Marketing and Agribusiness Development section. Our mission is to link Maryland farmers with consumers through this Web site, promotions and advertising. Register here to be featured on the website at no cost. Learn more about Maryland's Best.

Sizing and Pricing:

Double sided

18" x 24" $145

3' x 4' $380

Single sided

18" x 24" $105

3' x 4' $320

Double sided

18" x 24" $135

3' x 4' $350

Single sided

18" x 24" $95

3' x 4' $ 290

To claim your $60 rebate, provide proof of purchase to the BCFB via email.

Questions? Please contact BCFB at 410-823-1789 or email

410-620-9180 www.adartsignsinc.com

New Blog! Maryland Risk Management Education Blog

The College of Agriculture & Natural Resources' Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics has a blog that is focused on issues related to agricultural policy, crop insurance, and agricultural law.

A recent blog from July 11, 2023 titled Update: USDA Accepting Applications for Farm Borrowers Who Experienced Discrimination can be viewed here. Earlier blogs can be accessed here on the college's website.

In order to help Baltimore County farmers and landowners meet Maryland's nutrient management requirement, the Baltimore County Soil Conservation District has developed a limited cost-share assistance program. The district will pay 50%, up to a $200 maximum per plan, for the cost of a nutrient management plan written by a private nutrient management consultant. There is a $10,000 cap on this program. The program will end December 31, 2023, or when the $10,000 cap is reached, whichever occurs first. View the cost-share claim application form. View the private plan writer list.

On March 6th, the MDA expanded its spotted lanternfly quarantine to include the following counties: Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Washington and Wicomico, as well as Baltimore City. This quarantine is effective immediately, and restricts the movement of regulated articles that might contain the spotted lanternfly in any of its life stages, including egg masses, nymphs, and adults. A map of the new quarantine zone is available.