| In This Issue | | Gov. Cuts Christmas Tree | | Ag in Annapolis | | MALPF Court Victory | | Pine Trees and Christmas | | Pesticide Container Recycling | | Inside MDA | | Resolve to Go Green | | People Profile-Ed Payne | | Featured Recipe- Beef Stew | Secretary's Corner  The Agriculture in Maryland Summary for 2009 is now available from the Maryland Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. It details some interesting farm information. Did you know that farm receipts declined more than $200 million from 2008 to 2009? Farmers are feeling the pinch like everyone else. Poultry, while still the leading sector, declined more than $150 million alone in income to family farmers. The dairy industry, having suffered one of its worst years on record due to poor milk prices and high feed costs, dropped from third to fifth place in the ranking of farm receipts. Meanwhile, strong grain productioin pushed corn and soybeans into third and fourth place respectively, though receipts were still down. The nursery and greenhouse sector remained second with a relatively small decline of $2 million. MDA, together with farmers, is working hard to help reverse this trend and regain stronger profitability. This is especially important in a difficult economy. Industry leaders convened at the Governor's Agricultural Forum in February which resulted in a Statewide Plan for Agriculture to chart a course for the industry over the next 15 years. Participants identified a wide range of issues and strategies to move agriculture forward. The Governor's Intergovernmental Commission for Agriculture is helping to provide tools for local communities and officials to understand the current state of agriculture, to find solutions to challenges, and to expand opportunity for the sector. Resources range from labor, environment and farmland preservation to energy, wildlife management and food security. I'd like to thank our Governor's Policy Fellow, Matt Schmidt, and Government Relations manager, Joanna Kille, for their hard work on both the Statewide Plan and the GICA tool kit. The draft GICA document is available on the MDA website and should be finalized very soon. Both of these efforts will direct MDA priorities in the coming years. For those farmers wishing to sell directly to restaurants, grocers, institutions and other outlets, be sure to sign up for the Buyer-Grower meeting on January 25 in Annapolis. Last year, over 300 buyers attended the event to try to find sources of Maryland products. Additionally, be sure to sign up to be on the Maryland's Best website. This is quickly becoming a first point of contact for consumers and buyer seeking local products. Advertising which is coordinated through the MDA Marketing Office drives consumers to www.MarylandsBest.net. Farmers attending the Ag Forum expressed concern for agriculture's presence during the General Assembly. A number of issues are outlined in this newsletter, but many more will likely be put forward as legislation. The Maryland Farm Bureau's Hotline publication is a good source of information about bills of concern to agriculture and action needed for its positions. In addition, MDA posts bills of interest to agriculture reguarly after session starts. Finally, I ask that you stay tuned to the TMDL/Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) process. Maryland Department of Agriculture staff members are working literally day and night to see that what is included in the TMDL Watershed Implementation Plan and submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for agricultural nutrient and erosion reductions are equitable and manageable for farmers and meet the targets given to the State. The WIP also includes aggressive elements for stormwater, wastewater treatment, and septic reductions. The agricultural segment of WIP reflects progress that Maryland farmers have made to date in nutrient reduction and prevention of soil erosion. Our agricultural sector is well positioned to meet nutrient reductions outlined in the plan because of its accomplishments, engagement, continuous adoption of new science and technologies as available, and commitment to restoring a healthy Bay. Some of the elements in the WIP will require farmers to do things differently and we are working hard to make sure that the technical and financial assistance is there to help farmers meet the targets. If science shows that farmers can apply fewer nutrients and still meet the crop needs then input costs will be lower and profits potentially greater. In addition, the Maryland WIP acknowledges the technical improvements needed in EPA's Chesapeake Bay computer models. The Maryland Department of Agriculture is prepared to work with EPA to make the model a more accurate tool for identifying true nutrient loads that may be coming from farm land and assure proper nutrient reduction credits for current and newly evolving BMP's. I want to thank the agricultural community for its involvement in the process to date. We need continued representation as we move into Phase II where we will be developing goals on a much more local scale. These representatives need to be prepared to advise the best available technologies to address agricultural pollution issues in their respective regions. I know that when we pull together we can do this and in the end it will make us even better farmers. It is a new page in agriculture's long and successful story. Thank you,
Buddy Hance
Secretary |  First Family Selects A Local Christmas Tree
Governor Martin O'Malley, First Lady Katie O'Malley and their children kicked off their family holiday festivities by visiting Pine Valley Farms, a 100-acre Carroll County family farm, and cutting their own fresh, local Christmas tree.
Click here for more details. This year anyone buying a tree from a member of the Maryland Christmas Tree Association can win a trip City of Riga, Latvia, to draw attention to the 500th anniversary of the first decorated tree in Latvia and Maryland Christmas tree farms Maryland boasts more than 200 tree farms statewide with nearly 3,000 acres in active production. Last year, Maryland Christmas tree growers harvested 77,800 trees in 2007 valued at $2.4 million. Tree planting, shearing and mowing can take up to 65 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. Click here for more fun facts. Click here to find a tree farm near you. Photo: Governor O'Malley carries First Family Christmas Tree with assistance from son William. | |  A Look Ahead: Ag in Annapolis
The 2011 General Assembly session brings a lot of new faces to Annapolis because of the 2010 state elections. It will also bring challenges as the budget situation continues to be at the forefront of everyone's mind. While the Maryland Department of Agriculture has put forward only a few departmental bills for the Governor's consideration, the Department expects to be busy dealing with a wide range of legislation supported by different groups because of the State's Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). Those bills could range from issues addressing nutrient management plans, urban fertilizer to the P-site index. Other bills MDA expects to see deal with direct shipping of wines, legislation to address invasive plant issues and possibly legislation related to farmland preservation. MDA will also be spending time educating and getting to know the new members of the House and Senate. MDA has a briefing scheduled for Tuesday, January 18 before the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee and will be part of any briefings that the Executive Branch provides on the WIP. For more information, please contact Joanna Kille at killejw@mda.state.md.us or 410-841-5886.
MALPF Wins Preliminary Victory in Court
The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) won an important victory in the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland against a landowner who violated the terms of his preservation easement by subdividing and selling a parcel of preserved farmland. In the case of Paul F. Stitzel v. State of Maryland, Judge Meredith affirmed (Case No. 1017) an earlier decision by the Circuit Court of Washington County (case #21-C-06-25292DJ) that held that Mr. Stitzel's conveyance of the parcel was null and void. On Jan. 8, 2002, Stitzel accepted $570,230 in state farmland preservation funds and agreed to never develop or subdivide 264 acres of agricultural land. On Sept. 9, 2005, Stitzel sold 15.91 acres of the protected land with an existing home for $370,000 to a third party who was unaware of the easement. Judge Meredith upheld the Circuit Court decision that ordered Stitzel to payback the purchaser of the property the entire purchase price plus all legal and other fees incurred during the case. Stitzel has appealed the case to the state Court of Appeals. MALPF purchases development rights when landowners voluntarily agree to sell legally binding easements on prime, productive farmland to permanently protect land with the richest soils from development and subdivision. MALPF's victory in this case is important because it legally reinforces the stated purpose of the program, public financial investment and the legal agreements that landowners sign to forever protect their farmland. Since 1977, MALPF has permanently preserved nearly 285,000 acres of prime farmland for farming with a public investment of nearly $600 million. Together with local governments, nearly 550,000 acres of farmland are protected.  Pine Trees in Maryland: What You Need to Know
MDA is working with Maryland Christmas Tree Growers this holiday season to prevent the spread of the pine shoot beetle. Currently nine Maryland counties are under quarantines for an imported pest of pine trees that could hurt production and trade of pine products in areas where it is introduced. The quarantines restrict the movement of cut pine Christmas trees and other pine products out of quarantined areas. MDA has developed informational signs and tags for growers in the nine quarantined counties to put on their pine trees where they may be seen before customers select their tree. There is no restriction on the movement of other types of Christmas trees, such as spruce and fir. The goal is to help growers and customers learn how to help prevent the spread of the pine shoot beetle to other areas of Maryland or other states through unintentional illegal movement of natural pine Christmas trees and holiday products. Click here for more information on the pine shoot beetle quarantine in Maryland. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call 410-841-5920. On a separate note: stink bugs could be nestled in Christmas trees. Be sure to shake trees outside to remove insects and other debris before bringing them in.  Pesticide Container Recycling
MDA collected 20 tons of empty pesticide containers for recycling in 2010. The free program encourages proper disposal to help protect the Chesapeake Bay preventing pesticide residues from entering the soil and local waterways and has saved valuable landfill space by recycling more than 657,000 empty pesticide containers MDA offers empty pesticide container recycling programs for farmers, golf courses, government agencies and commercial applicators. This program is paid for through special fund revenues collected from licensing and certification fees and through pesticide product registration fees. For the past 17 years, MDA's Pesticide Regulation Program has operated an empty pesticide plastic container inspection and collection program open to the public. The containers are collected, chipped, processed and remanufactured into new pesticide containers. Click here for more details.  Inside MDA
Congratulations to Turf & Seed's Kim MacFarland and Kadawedduwa Kumara for passing the Association of Official Seed Analysts' certification exam in germination testing. The day-long exam was administered in Richmond, VA, and consists of written and practical components. Kim and Kumara are now certified germination analysts! Photo: MDA cow statue is ready for the holidays!  Looking for a New Year's Resolution? Go Green!
Start the year off right by incorporating eco-friendly practices into your holiday celebrations! Some simple ways to having a healthy and green winter include: - recycle or reuse your tree instead of sending it to the land fill after the holidays,
- consider using non-toxic de-icing substances, and
- save fire place ashes for your compost.
And if you go out to eat, you can still go green – according to the National Restaurant Association, the hottest trends for 2011 will include local and hyper-local sourcing, healthy children's meals, sustainable seafood, and locally-produced wine and beer. For other great ways to go green, click here.  People Profile: Ed Payne
Frostburg, Md., native and outdoor enthusiast now living in Laurel, Ed Payne started his MDA employment with the Weights and Measures Section in 1983 after two years of service at the State Highway Administration. Working to assure fairness in the marketplace for almost 30 years at MDA is not what he might have imagined he'd be doing while he was studying wildlife management at Garrett College and the University of Maryland after high school. "I've liked the work and the people and it's all been interesting," Payne says of his MDA employment. Starting as an entry level Agricultural Technician I, Ed spent his first eight years as a general inspector in Montgomery and Prince George's counties testing the accuracy of equipment to ensure that consumers get what they pay for at the gas pump, in the grocery store and in other businesses where products are sold by weight or measure. In 1991, Ed shifted jobs and started inspecting heavy capacity, industrial scales in Central Maryland such as vehicle scales used a weigh stations and by the State Police and floor scales used by freight, moving or storage companies. By 1995, he was supervising the Weights and Measure's industrial scale inspection program. At that time, there were five inspectors in the program; today there are just two. In 2009, Payne moved from the field in to the MDA headquarters office to take on a new challenge – managing the National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP). Maryland's NTEP program is one of just three or four in the nation that are authorized to evaluate and approve all weighing and measuring devices used in commerce in the United States and Canada. Unlike his previous jobs, running the NTEP program can involve a great deal of travel and evaluating wider variety of equipment. One week he could be travelling overseas to test equipment that a foreign company wants to use or sell in the United States but is too unwieldy to ship to MDA offices. The next week he could be in the office testing the function and accuracy of a new computer program that will control a particular scale. Throughout his tenure at MDA, Ed has gained the respect of his co-workers and the businesses he regulates by being tough but fair. "The equipment has to be right," he says in no uncertain terms. Consumers and businesses alike count on this kind of commitment to regulatory accuracy so that the marketplace operates fairly to all. In their spare time, Ed and Gloria, his partner of 18 years, raise Akita dogs, spend time at their home in Western Maryland near New Germany State Park, and ponder their next trip to the Pacific Northwest, one of their favorite places. Ed likes hunt, fish, hike and generally enjoy the outdoors; perfect pastimes for someone who once studied wildlife management and who has excelled at an unrelated but rewarding career.  Featured Recipe: Fall Beef Stew with Roasted Vegetables
Courtesy of Lucie Snodgrass, author of Dishing Up Maryland. Photo credit: Taste of Home. 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, plus 1/4 cup for thickening (optional) 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 1/2 pounds stewing beef (chuck, short plate, and foreshank cuts work well), cut into 1-inch chunks 1/4 cup olive oil 1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped 4 cups beef broth 1 cup dry Maryland red wine 1 medium onion, peeled and studded with 2 whole cloves 1 bay leaf 4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks 2 medium turnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks 6 carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks 4 celery stalks, cut into 1-inch chunks 1) Mix together the 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and the pepper. Dredge the beef chunks in the flour mixture and set aside. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over low heat, add the chopped onion, and saute until translucent. Increase the heat to high and add the meat, searing for about 4 minutes, until browned on all sides. 2) Add the beef broth, 3 cups of water, the wine, the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, the studded onion, and the bay leaf to the pot and cover. Bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat and simmer for 2 1/2 hours. 3) Add the potatoes, sweet potato, turnips, carrots, and celery to the pot. Simmer for 30 minutes longer, until the vegetables are tender. Remove the studded onion and the bay leaf. 4) If you desire a thicker stew, combine the 1/4 cup flour and 1 cup of hot broth in a small bowl, mixing until smooth. Add back to the stew pot and simmer for about 1 minute, stirring until thickened. Serves 8 | |
Upcoming Events
- Explore the Features of RUSLE2, Dec. 15 (University of Maryland)
- Ammonia Emissions from Poultry Operations Web cast, Dec. 17 (on-line)
- Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, Jan. 5-7 (Baltimore)
- Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Training, Jan. 8 (Annapolis, MDA)
- Maryland Turfgrass Conference, Jan. 12-13 (College Park)
- Future Harvest Annual Conference, Jan. 14-15 (Reisterstown)
- 15th Annual Maryland Horse World Expo, Jan. 20 – 23 (Timonium)
- Maryland Buyer-Grower Event, Jan. 25 (Annapolis)
- Farmer Training and Certification for Crop Operations Using Manure and Fertilizer, Jan. 25 (University of MD)
- East Coast Commercial Fisherman's and Aquaculture Trade Exposition, Jan. 28-30 (Ocean City)
- Maryland Agriculture Council's "2011 Taste of Maryland", Feb. 3 (Glen Burnie)
- American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Conference, Feb. 5-7 (Orlando, FL)
- MD and PA Farm Bureau Young Farmers Joint Leadership Conference, Feb. 18-20 (Hershey, PA)
We invite your feedback. Thank you for reading our latest publication. We are always looking for ways to improve how we serve our constituents. Please send your comments, suggestions and ideas to mdanews@mda.state.md.us or call 410-841-5881. Contact Info
Sue duPont, Communications Director, 410-841-5889, dupontsk@mda.state.md.us
Julie Oberg, Public Information Officer, 410-841-5888, obergja@mda.state.md.us |
Maryland Department of Agriculture News
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