The theme of Moving Maryland Forward continues to frame the O'Malley/Brown Administration decisions on our shared priorities.  Marylanders will see a vigorous focus on innovation for a new economy and job creation as we move into the new year. Agriculture is an important part of these initiatives as farmers diversify their businesses and use new technologies for on-farm conservation among other efforts to strengthen rural communities and keep farmland open and productive.  "By coming together, we will move Maryland forward through this national economic downturn and emerge very strongly with new industries and jobs.  We thank everyone who participated in the five forums over the last few weeks to shape strategies for our second term."

The State budget will have an impact on all state agencies as Governor O'Malley this week will present a balanced budget with no new taxes.  The Maryland Department of Agriculture is not exempt from cuts.  The General Assembly will consider and approve the budget.  Bills of interest to the agricultural and rural interests to be considered by the legislature are posted on the MDA website as a Hot Topic.

2010 MACS Annual Report Show Strong On-Farm Conservation and Progress toward 2011 Bay Goals
 

Farmers signed up to plant about 506,000 acres and the soil conservation districts have certified that a record 395,000 acres are in the ground. This is exciting news and once again shows farmers' willingness to use the conservation programs offered and fit them into their operations. The Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost Share Program (MACS) Fiscal Year 2010 annual report shows that Maryland farmers received $17.6 million in grants to install 1,800 capital and special projects on their farms. These projects represent an out-of-pocket investment of approximately $950,000 by Maryland farmers, who will also shoulder maintenance and upkeep expenses of the best management practices (BMPs) for years to come. Collectively, the projects will prevent an estimated 1.3 million pounds of nitrogen and 89,000 pounds of phosphorus from entering Maryland waterways each year. Cover crops were responsible for the bulk of the nitrogen savings (1.2 million pounds) and nearly half of the phosphorous savings (41,362 pounds).

 

Since 1984, farmers have spent over $14 million of their own money to match nearly $100 million in state and federal funds to install nearly 19,000 water quality BMPs or more than two BMPs per day, every day, for 26 years. Installation of agricultural BMPs on farmland will account for 67 percent of 2.5 million pounds of nitrogen of Maryland's recent 2011 Chesapeake Bay milestones. These accomplishments go a long way toward achieving the 2011 Bay Milestones. The annual report has a summary status of the agricultural sector's progress toward the goal.

Maryland farmers will notice a few changes when they receive  their 2010 Nutrient Management Annual Implementation Reporting Forms (AIR) in the mail over the next several days.  The AIRs are due to MDA by March 1. Click here for more details.

MDA announced it is developing a new tool to protect sensitive crops at one of the largest private trade shows serving the horticulture industry on Jan. 6. Now in its fourth decade, the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) is the premier, private green industry marketplace.The department is developing a Sensitive Crop Locator  online database to assist pesticide applicators in identifying locations where sensitive crops are grown in order to take extra precautions for preventing the potential exposure of these crops to spray drift from neighboring fields. Pesticide applicators will have access to maps and aerial photographs through a voluntary statewide database, developed with specialty crop funding. This information will be available online to search, identify and locate sensitive crops adjacent to areas where applicators intend to spray pesticides. Click here for more information about Maryland's horticulture industry.  Click here for the latest national report outlining an increased diversification in horticulture.

Craig Nielsen was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler for his more than 30 years of service to the Department.

MDA presented its Team of the Quarter Award to the Maryland State Fair Team, which included: Lois Capshaw, Dwight Dotterer, Janet Crutchley, Derrick Howe, Karen Fedor, Rona Flagle, Shelly Hicks, Florence Jordan, Bettie McCaffrey, Kathy Myers, Julie Oberg, Barbara Rater (MD NASS), and Gail Yeiser (UMD).

Ross Peddicord, a life-long horseman and 11th generation Marylander, is taking the reins as the new executive director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board. 


Dr. Roger Olson died on Jan. 8. He served as the Maryland Chief of Animal Health/ State Veterinarian from 1994 until his retirement in 2002. At the time of his passing, he was an active member of the Maryland Agricultural Commission representing the veterinary industry.

Purple Fever: MDA took on a spirit challenge issued by the Anne Arundel County Executive and decorated the cow statues in front of its headquarters building as a cheerleader and football player in honor of the Ravens going to the NFL playoffs.

The Maryland Dairy Industry Oversight and Advisory Council has six proposed recommendations to Governor Martin O'Malley this year in its 2010 report that would be beneficial to the goal of retaining and encouraging a healthy dairy industry. They are to: 

• Make preserving the State's dairy industry a priority with the Maryland Congressional delegation.
• Fully fund the Maryland Dairy Farmer Emergency Trust Fund as soon as fiscally possible.
• Establish uniform gross weight limit rules for raw milk haulers on state and federal highways
• Not allow the sale of raw milk in the State of Maryland.
• Develop protocols for the humane treatment of cows.
• Ensure that any new regulations are reasonable, equitable, achievable, and based on sound science.  

A mainstay in MDA's Turf and Seed Section is Dale Morris. For 32 years, he's seen that Maryland seed and sod is some of the best available anywhere.  "Dale walks miles and miles all across Maryland farms during his field inspections of turfgrass and crop seed for certification," said Turf and Seed Section Program Manager Lois Capshaw.  The hours and miles spent walking the fields are Dale's favorite time, along with meeting with the farmers he serves.  "I am very fortunate to work with very good people - the seed growers, sod growers, seed conditioners and his co-workers," said Morris.  "We provide an important service to these businesses.  We are a third party reference. If we say it's ok, the grower has assurance in the marketplace. They want us to be there, to provide our services."

While he walks the fields of grain and sod from Oakland in the west to Girdletree in the east, he's looking for contamination or the presence of other crop varieties, disease and weeds. If he certifies that it's ok, the growers will harvest. He samples the seed after conditioning to make sure it meets Maryland's tough standards. Over the years, Dale has seen the seed industry consolidate. There used to be "mom and pop" businesses all over the place, now there are just five or six seed conditioners handling all of the Maryland-grown seed.

Dale's job as an agronomist is quite predictable and cyclical. This time of year, he is in the office doing paperwork. In March and April Dale starts looking at sod.  Late April and May bring the inspection of foundation seed where he is more particular than ever, sometimes spending several days in one field. Foundation seed is the purest seed and the basis for much of the seed stock used in Maryland. May through mid June is when small grain inspection is done. In the summer, most of his time is spent collecting small grain samples and tagging seed. This is followed by sod inspection in September and November. Soybean inspections happen in October. He annually inspects some 20,000 to 25,000 acres of seed and sod.

Dale is a true University of Maryland alumnus and Terps fan; he always knows when the games are and what the scores are, says Capshaw.  After graduating with an agronomy degree, Dale worked for USDA out of Philadelphia as a commodity grader for a year before learning of a job in the Turf and Seed Section when it was in College Park. A Prince George's County native now living in Howard County with his wife Tracy, a daughter Shelby (12th grade) and a son Cody (8th grade), he enjoys coaching basketball and baseball.