Important! Save the Date for

Please save the date for Maryland Farm Bureau's Annual Convention which will be held on

December 4-7, 2021 at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort, Spa and Marina in Cambridge, Maryland. Meetings, workshops, breakout sessions, exhibitors, networking, live action and more! Look for registration information coming soon. View the current agenda.

Important! BCFB Annual Banquet

BCFB's 97th Annual Fall Banquet will take place on November 9, 2021 at Summit Manor at the Hereford Fire Hall in Hereford, Maryland.

RSVP online by October 29th for the Annual Fall Banquet

If you prefer, you can register by phone at 410-823-1789.

New! Friday

Join us on Friday, November 5, 2021, from 7:00 - 9:00 pm for free family fun at the Baltimore County Agricultural Center located at 1114 Shawan Road, Cockeysville, MD 21030. Tailgate picnicking begins at 6:00 pm. The show begins at 7:00 pm. View the event flyer.

Ending Soon! MDFB & Nationwide

The final seminar in a series of 5 webinars will take place on Wednesday, October 27th at 7:30pm EST and will cover the topic of Succession Planning Through Family Harmony. Over the next 20 years, 70 percent of farmland will transfer to the next generation, but it is estimated only 30 percent will stay as family farms. Learn more about why and how you and your family can plan for that transition. Register for the event.

Ending Soon! Maryland Farm Bureau

An award developed to recognize a Maryland Farm Bureau woman for her contributions to agriculture and the Maryland Farm Bureau.

Do you know a fellow female Maryland Farm Bureau member that shows exceptional passion and dedication to the Agricultural Community and or the Farm Bureau? Nominate her for Agri-woman of the year!  Submissions will be accepted through October 31, 2021.

-         Farm Business and Community Activities

-         Agricultural Business and Community Activities

-         Agricultural Leadership and Community Involvement

-         Farm Bureau Involvement on their County, State and/or National Level

New! Save the Date for the 52nd Annual

Join us on Thursday, February 3, 2022 for a night of celebrating Maryland's number-one commercial industry - Agriculture! The event will be held at a new venue: Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland at Arundel Mills in Hanover, MD. For more information on tickets and sponsorships, visit the website or email Susan Summers.

New! Help Us Plan for the Future of Recreation and Parks in Baltimore County

The Department of Recreation and Parks is conducting a survey to inform the 2022 Land, Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan. Your participation and input in the planning process will help guide their priorities over the next five years. Read in more detail about the long-term plans and how to get involved on The Department of Recreation and Parks website.

New! Registration is Open for the 2022

Registration is open for the 2022 American Farm Bureau Convention, which will be held in-person Jan. 7-12, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia, with a virtual option for portions of the event available to those not attending in-person.

Calling all Baltimore County Farmers! Do you offer local food or farm activities to the public? Baltimore County Extension and the Maryland Agricultural Resource Council (MARC) would like to update the previous Baltimore County Farm Map to help consumers who are looking for farm, fresh food or on-farm family activities. If you wish to include your farm on the map, please fill out the Google Form.  If you have any questions, please contact Erika Crowl at 410-887-8090 or [email protected].  

IPM Special Alert - Fall Armyworms Due to a quick rise in Fall Armyworm activity in many Maryland landscapes, UMD Extension released a special alert to address these pests. Read the IPM Special Alert on Fall Armyworms released on August 30, 2021

Input Needed: UMD Extension's Winter Meeting Survey Your local Extension Agents are trying to plan out local winter meetings and are looking for your preference for attending. They ask that you please take a minute to complete this very short, three-question survey. Your input is greatly appreciated.

CLICK HERE FOR SURVEY

The first 50 BCFB members that place an order for their farm/company's membership sign will receive a $60 dollar rebate from

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

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is collecting data from farmers and ranchers for its annual Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). The survey looks at all aspects of U.S. agricultural production, the well-being of farm households, farm finances, chemical usage, and various farm production characteristics. The survey also collects detailed information on production practices, costs, and returns for different commodities on a rotating basis. In 2021, the survey will take a closer look at corn, rice, dairy and organic dairy production in the United States. More here. 

Maryland Department of Agriculture Highlights -

Due Today! Department Accepting Nominations for Governor's Agriculture Hall of Fame As of August 5th, the MDA is accepting nominations of farmers and farm families for the Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame, which pays tribute to those who have dedicated their lives to the state’s leading industry. Nominations are due by Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. Those selected for induction will be honored during the “Taste of Maryland Agriculture” event on Feb. 3, 2022. Any farm family that derives its income principally from farming is eligible for the award. The hall of fame, established in 1991, includes 53 farm families from 23 counties who have been honored for their high standards of conduct; personal values; contributions to their community; and performance, leadership, innovation, and achievement in agriculture. Read the full press release.

New! It's Wild Oyster Season in Maryland, Time to Savor! Maryland’s Best Seafood—Maryland Department of Agriculture’s seafood marketing program—is encouraging Marylanders to enjoy local oysters throughout the fall and winter months, when wild caught oysters are in peak season. Try them out with Chef Tony’s Fried Maryland Oyster recipe included in the press release link. Read the full press release.

New! Maryland Permanently Preserves 12 Working Farms, Nearly 1,500 Acres of Additional Farmland On October 6th, The Maryland Board of Public Works approved 12 new Maryland Agricultural Preservation Foundation (MALPF) easements at the board meeting. These easements will permanently preserve an additional 1,483 acres of prime farmland in Allegany, Baltimore, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Queen Anne’s, and Worcester counties for an investment of more than $5.3 million in state and local funding. Read the full press release.

New! MDA Accepting Proposals for 2022 Animal Waste Technology Fund On September 30th, the Maryland Department of Agriculture Animal Waste Technology Fund (AWTF) is now accepting grant proposals for FY22. The department will provide up to $750,000 for a research and evaluation project that provides updated data on the generation of animal waste in Maryland while evaluating the feasibility and direction of other projects supported by the AWTF. Academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and businesses and individuals working under the direction of an academic institution or nonprofit with relevant research experience are encouraged to apply. Read the full press release.

New! Governor Hogan Proclaims October 'Maryland Horse Month' On September 29th Governor Larry Hogan proclaimed October as Maryland Horse Month, recognizing the abundant historic, recreational, therapeutic, and economic contributions made by the state’s horse industry. Read the full press release.

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

In the October edition, you'll find:

To receive the newsletter directly, email Erika Crowl.

Visit the UMD Extension website for past newsletters.

The Baltimore County Ag Center is hosting a Farmer's Market via an outdoor market running on Friday's from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., May through November. Vendor applications are now be accepted.

The Ag Center is looking for all types of agricultural products as well as hot food vendors. It is asked that items be grown / produced within 100 miles of the AG Center and be produced by the vendor. (no re-selling)

View the application and vendor contract with additional information.

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.

Mini Grant Program

The Mini Grants Program for Community Engagement is designed to engage Maryland residents in activities that enhance communities, engage residents, and improve natural resources. Details of the program can be found on the website.

The program status is open. This program runs annually; we begin accepting applications at the start of June every year. To view the RFP, click here.

Deadline: Rolling basis. Requests for this Mini Grant Program are accepted on an on-going basis until funds are fully expended for the fiscal year. 

Sarah Everhart and Margaret Todd with the UMD Agriculture Law Education Initiative (ALEI), recently wrote an article about the Agricultural Employment Surveys being conducted by the Maryland Department of Labor. Read their article titled Prevailing Wage and Practices - Agricultural Employment Surveys. The article covers critical elements of the Ag Employment sector and includes links to the Agricultural Online Wage Library and the Agricultural Employment Practice Survey Library. Additional UMD Agriculture Law Education Initiative articles can be viewed here.

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 October 12, 2021 titled Are You Eligible for New USDA Grant for COVID Response Expenditures? can be viewed here. Earlier blogs can be accessed here on the college's website.

MPT's Maryland Farm & Harvest have released over 800 episodes in their 8th Season so far!

Check out the link below that features their season 8 promotional video via YouTube, and please like & share with all your networks!

All past episodes can be viewed at MPT’s website.