RSVP Due Today! Power Couples Retreat Calling all business-owning couples in the agriculture industry! Strengthening your couple relationship imporoves the health of your business. Learn to use financial management and business planning tools. The event will take place on February 4-5, 2023 at the Westin Annapolis. For questions and special accommodations, please contact Ryan Salsman by January 20th at [email protected] or 240-623-6731. For more information and to register, visit the website.

New! Central Maryland Vegetable Growers Meeting This meeting is taking place at Summit Manor at Hereford Fire Hall (510 Monkton Rd. Monkton, MD 21111) on January 26th from 8-Noon. Lunch will be served after presentations. This meeting is approved for Maryland Nutrient Management continuing education credits (CEUs), Maryland Pesticide CEUs, and Pennsylvania Pesticide CEUs. Cost: $20.00 if you pre-register or $25.00 at the door. Visit the website to register, or you may call the office at 410-887-8090. 

New! Paraquat Training Anyone using Gramoxone, Firestorm, Helmquat, Parazone, and other paraquat products must complete an EPA-mandated training before application. Applicators are required to take the EPA-approved training every 3 years .

Ways to take the training:

New! Maryland Farm Bureau's

Make plans to join us in person at this year's Maryland Farm Bureau’s Day in Annapolis on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, sponsored by the MDFB Young Farmers and Women's Leadership Committees! After two years of doing this event virtually, we're excited to host it again in person. This important day of briefings and lobbying will give you the opportunity to talk to legislators to help them better understand your farming business and the many significant issues facing our industry.

 

THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS JANUARY 29 -- register now!

New! Hereford FFA Chapter Fundraiser

There are several options available for sponsoring the Hereford FFA Chapter. Sponsorships will be collected during the month of January. Donations can be mailed to the school or paid via credit card here. Information is also available via our Facebook page. Review the Give Blue Sponsorship Letter & Flyer for more details.

MD Farm Bureau Young Farmer's Committee Scholarship Opportunities

The Maryland Farm Bureau Young Farmers will be awarding two (2) recipients with a $1,250 scholarship to attend the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) FUSION Conference on March 3 – 6, 2023, in Jacksonville, Florida, in memory of Francis Moats. This conference will have great speakers, breakout sessions and evening events to bring together volunteer leaders from the Promotion & Education, Women's Leadership and Young Farmers & Ranchers programs. You’ll leave the conference with new friends, new ideas and new energy for your farm and Farm Bureau.

Scholarship recipients will be selected by a designated committee of the Maryland Farm Bureau. To apply, please fill out the application and submit it via email to Parker Welch at [email protected]. Applicants must be between the ages of 18-35 and must be a Maryland Farm Bureau member. To become a member visit, www.marylandfb.org. You can also visit this link for more information on Young Farmers Committee and to apply.

New! CCBC Horticulture Job Fair  You are invited to a Horticulture Job Fair hosted by the CCBC Sustainable Horticulture Program at the Dundalk campus on Friday, February 10, 2023. (inclement weather date: Friday February 24) The Job Fair is open to horticulture companies who want a free table or to job seekers. For more information email Martha Pindale. View the Job Fair flyer.

CCBC Sustainable Horticulture Program Want to take some horticulture classes this spring at CCBC?  See the list here: Spring Horticulture classes. All classes are in person. Spring semester runs January 30^th to May 20th (15 weeks). Scholarships available! Contact Winny Tan for more information. 443-840- 3787 [email protected]  

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 [email protected] 

Don't miss your chance! The MD Farm Bureau is raffling away a used and in good condition Ford F-150. You can enter for your chance to win now! The truck will be on display at the MDFB Annual Convention & Meeting of Delegates. Only 400 tickets will be sold. The winner will be drawn at MDFB's Day in Annapolis February 8, 2023. Click here to check out the truck and buy your tickets!

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!

Maryland Department of Agriculture Highlights -

New! MDA Reminds Farmers Annual Implementation Reports Due March 1 On January 17 the MDA reminded farmers that the deadline to submit Annual Implementation Reports (AIRs) outlining nutrient applications made in calendar year 2022 is March 1, 2023. For those who want to save time and paper, an electronic reporting option is available through Maryland OneStop. Electronic filing of AIRs offers many advantages. Users report that it is faster, easier, and more accurate than paper reporting. Users will receive a delivery confirmation when the report is submitted and status updates as data is verified. Read the full press release.

$2 Million in Additional Conservation Assistance Available for Maryland Livestock Farmer On December 21st, MDA announced that an additional $2 million in conservation assistance is now available to help livestock farmers install best management practices on their farms to manage manure more efficiently and protect water quality in local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. Farmers in the following counties may apply for this assistance: Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, and Washington. These counties have high concentrations of dairy and livestock operations in Maryland. Read the full press release.

Department Issues Request for Grant Proposals for New Healthy Soils Competitive Fund On December 2oth, the MDA announced they will accept grant applications for its new Healthy Soils Competitive Fund beginning January 3, 2023. This unique program provides financial assistance to qualifying farmers and organizations to adopt conservation practices that benefit the climate, soil, and water.Maryland farmers and organizations with innovative conservation ideas are encouraged to apply for these grants. Successful applicants will receive up to $50,000 to support 3 years of enhanced healthy soil practices. Read the full press release.

Winter Ban on Spreading Manure Began December 16 The MDA reminds farmers that the winter ban on spreading manure and other nutrient sources on cropland, including food processing residuals (FPRs) began December 16, 2022. Farmers may resume spreading on March 1, 2023, based on their nutrient management plan recommendations as long as fields are not saturated, snow-covered, or hard-frozen. Read the full press release.

Are you receiving the University of Maryland Extension's Agricultural newsletter for Baltimore County: Ag Insight?

In the January Edition, you'll find:

To receive the newsletter directly, email Erika Crowl.

Visit the UMD Extension website for past newsletters.

New 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.

The online training course is separated into four modules designed around preparing farmers for success by providing information about available USDA programs and creating the ability for participants to have a successful business plan, including - mission and goals, enterprise budgeting, risk management, and legal risk management. Read the full press release.

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.

The most recent blog from January 17, 2023 titled Looking Back at 2022: Top Legal Developments in Agricultural Law can be viewed here. Earlier blogs can be accessed here on the college's website.

Work Boots.com is an online store specializing in work footwear, apparel and equipment. With styles from industry giants like Carhartt, Dickies, Timberland Pro and Wolverine, Work Boots.com is a one-stop shop for all work wear requirements. Members of the Maryland Farm Bureau receive a 15% off discount to Work Boots.com Call (636) 680-8061 or 410-922-3426 for the promo code. More here.    

MYDEALS Mobile App for Member Savings Advantage Looking for an easy way to see your member benefits all in one place? Download the Member Savings Advantage app on your phone to receive exclusive discounts at thousands of popular restaurants and retailers. Take a look at how the MYDEALS app works. The app can be downloaded on a smartphone or tablet from the APP Store or Google Play. Members can find discounts that are in their area based on their location when using the app.  If a member already registered on the website with a user email and password that same credential can be used on the mobile app. If not, a member will need to go to “Setup Account” and enter the program ID -200655 and their Farm Bureau ID# as the Mobile Password. If Access has an email address and password on file, it will pre-populate the “Setup Account” page and the member will need to finish registration. Learn more about the Member Savings Advantage program.