AGLINE
Newsletter—Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne’s Counties
Volume 6, Issue 3 March 2016
Organic Production & Marketing
Workshop
P.1
Inclement Weather Policy
P.1
Calendar
P.2
Women in Agriculture SuppersCecil County
P.2
Understanding Acidified Foods
Workshop
P.3
Delmarva Whole System
Conservation From Field to Stream
P.3
Profiting from a Few Acre$
Workshop
P.3
Poultry Farm Management
Workshop
P.4
Mastering Marketing
P.4
2016 GAP Food Safety Training
Programs for Fresh Fruit and
Vegetable Growers
P.5
Annie’s Project Mid-Shore Suppers
P.5
Managing Your Dairy Through
P.6
QA County Agronomy Day
P.7
Thank You
Farm Tire Drop Off
P.8
2016 Crop Insurance Sign-up
Deadlines
P.8
CLICK BELOW FOR DAIRY INFO.
http://extension.psu.edu/animals/dairy
CLICK BELOW FOR LIVESTOCK INFO.
http://extension.psu.edu/
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
The weather closing policy for Cecil, Kent
and Queen Anne’s Extension programs is:
If county schools are closed, Extension
programs will not be conducted. If our respective County Governments are closed,
the Extension offices will be closed as well
and all UME programs will be cancelled.
Panel discussions on Marketing and Contract Opportunities and Organic Dairy, Grain, Poultry and Vegetable Production.
Breakout Sessions on the Certification Process; Cover Crops, Nutrients and Weeds; Cover
Crops that Improve Vegetable Health; Organic Research Needs; No-Till Vegetable Systems;
Use of Plant Diversification for Pest Management.
For sponsor information, to register for the workshop or to view the day’s agenda, visit
http://extension.umd.edu/queen-annes-county/agriculture-and-natural-resources/organic.
Page 2
Volume 6, Issue 3
MARCH 2016
CALENDAR
01 - Timely Ag Issues/Grain Marketing, 7:30 a.m.,
QA Extension Office, 505 Railroad Ave, Centreville, MD.
$2/person: coffee, donuts, etc.
01 - Grain Marketing Workshop, Car r oll County
Extension Office, Contact Bryan Butler, 410-386-2760,
bbutlers@umd.edu
02 - Annie’s Project Supper, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Chesapeake
College, Wye Mills, MD. Details P5
03 - Greenhouse Production Conference, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00
p.m., Chesapeake College, Wye Mills, MD. Contact
Shannon Dill at 410-822-1244 or sdill@umd.edu for more
information.
08 - Profiting from a Few Acre$ Small Farm Conference,
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Delaware State University, Dover
DE. Call 302-857-6438. Register online at
http://www.desu.edu/extension-­agnr. Details P3
10 - GAP Food Safety Training Program for Fresh Fruit
and Vegetable Producers, Lower Eastern Shore GAP
Training, Wicomico County Extension Office, 28647
Old Quantico Rd, Salisbury, MD 21801. Contact Ginny
Rosenkranz at rosnkrnz@umd.edu or 410-749-6141
ext.106. Details P5
11 - QA Farm Bureau Annual Banquet & Miss QA FB
Contest, 7:00 p.m. Cater er : Thompson Seafood, $30/
person. Call 410-490-6370.
15 - Timely Ag Issues/Grain Marketing, 7:30 a.m.,
QA Extension Office, 505 Railroad Ave, Centreville, MD.
$2/person: coffee, donuts, etc.
15 - Crop Insurance Sign-Up Deadline
16 - Annie’s Project Supper, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Chesapeake
College, Wye Mills, MD. Details P5
17 - Organic Production Meeting, Grain, Vegetables &
Livestock, 8:00-4:00 p.m., Wye Mills, MD.
Contact Jenny Rhodes, jrhodes@umd.edu. Details P1
18 - New BMPs for Accelerating Chesapeake Bay Restoration Conference, 9:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m., Chesapeake Bay
Beach Club, Stevensville, MD. Contact Nancy Nunn at
410-827-8056 x128 or nnunn@umd.edu. For more information visit https://agresearch.umd.edu/news/events/newbmps-accelerating-chesapeake-bay-restoration-conference.
24 - Women in Agriculture Supper—Agricultural Law
Issues, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Cecil County Extension
Office, Phone 410-996-5280. Details P2
24 - Western Maryland Fruit Meeting, 8:00-4:00 p.m.,
WREC, Queenstown, MD. Call 301-432-2767, ext. 301
or email sbarnes6@umd.edu
29 - Timely Ag Issues/Grain Marketing, 7:30 a.m.,
QA Extension Office, 505 Railroad Ave, Centreville, MD.
$2/person: coffee, donuts, etc.
30 - Annie’s Project Supper, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Chesapeake
College, Wye Mills, MD. Details P5
31 - Women in Agriculture Supper—How to Start a
Business, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Cecil County Extension
Office, Phone 410-996-5280. Details P2
31 - Managing Your Dairy through Financial Fluctuations
Kent Extension Office, 709 Morgnec Rd, Suite 202,
Chestertown, MD, Phone 410.778.1661 Details P6
APRIL 2016
04 - Poultry Farm Management for New & Existing Growers, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Georgetown, DE. To register
call Sheila Oscar at 410-742-1178 or email at
soscar@umd.edu. For more information call or email Jon
Moyle, jmoyle@umd.edu, 410-742-1178 or Jenny Rhodes,
jrhodes@umd.edu, 410-758-0166. Details P4
06 - Understanding Acidified Foods Workshop, 8:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m., Annapolis, MD. Call Carol Reynolds at 410841-5769 or email Carol.Reynolds@maryland.gov for
more information and to register. Details P3
12 - Timely Ag Issues/Grain Marketing, 7:30 a.m.,
Tilghman Terrace, Centreville, MD. $2/person: coffee,
donuts, etc.
20 - DPI Booster Banquet, 6:00 p.m., Wicomico Youth &
Civic Center, Salisbury, MD.
26 - Timely Ag Issues/Grain Marketing, 7:30 a.m.,
Tilghman Terrace, Centreville, MD. $2/person: coffee,
donuts, etc.
The University of Maryland Extension’s Women in Agriculture Program is dedicated to providing knowledge and resources to women involved
in agriculture. The Cecil County Extension Office is hosting four Women in Agriculture Suppers. Sessions will be held from 6:00 p.m.9:00 p.m. on March 24 and March 31. Each session costs $10. Register for as many as you wish. These suppers will begin with a hot
supper followed by presentations on:
For more information, call the Cecil County Extension Office at 410-996-5280 or visit
https://extension.umd.edu/cecil-county/agriculture/women-agriculture.
Page 3
Volume 6, Issue 3
Understanding Acidified Foods Workshop—
DELMARVA WHOLE SYSTEM CONSERVATION
A training program for small food processors
FROM FIELD TO STREAM
The Maryland Department of Agriculture
will be offering an "Understanding Acidified Foods" training with Dr. Y. Martin Lo
on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 from 8:30
a.m. to 5 p.m. The class is designed to
teach the basics of food safety requirements and regulation in the manufacture of acidified foods
in Maryland. Registration and payment due by March 30,
2016.
For more information about the class, please contact Carol
Reynolds at (410) 841-5769 or by email Carol.Reynolds@maryland.gov.
This workshop will satisfy the FDA Better Process Control School Acidified Foods requirement.
Through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and the
Delmarva Conservation Partnership, NRCS will provide new funding to
landowners in focus watersheds on the Delmarva Peninsula.
The three-year effort will bring $5 million to farmers and landowners in
the Choptank, Nanticoke and Pocomoke watersheds in Maryland and Delaware to implement 4R nutrient management enhancements. $437,000 is
available through EQIP for this project in 2016, and the application deadline is March 18th.
Funding is available to support implementation of 4R Nutrient Stewardship, including:
•
Advanced Nutrient Management
•
Wetland Restoration and other natural filters
•
Denitrification (Wood Chip) Bioreactors
•
Gypsum Soil Amendments
•
Cover Crops
Producers and landowners that are interested in these and other conservation practices should visit their USDA Service Center for more information.
Delaware State University's Profiting from a Few Acres
Conference will be held on March 8, 2016 from 9am-4:30
pm at the MLK Building on DSU's main campus. The keynote speaker for this year's event is Mr. Brian Moyer, Program Assistant, at Penn State University Cooperative extension who is a well versed small farmer in the livestock
world and marketing industry. This year's conference
will include three tracts with topics pertaining to small
farms in soil health, marketing and livestock.
Only $15 per person
Morning beverages and lunch included.
For more information or to register,
call 302-857-6438 or email
mpleasanton@desu.edu.
Online registration is available at
http://www.desu.edu/extension-agnr
The soil tract will feature talks focusing on general soil
health, urban agriculture needs/concerns, managing soils
and nutrients in high tunnels, getting started with cover
crops and roll down cover crop options. The marketing
tract will feature talks regarding innovative strategies to
build local food networks/marketing for locally grown,
building competitive marketing strategies, a panel discussion with local farmers/organizations on certifications,
post harvest handling 101, and direct marketing
skills. The animal tract will feature talks on raising specialty poultry, honey bees, Aquaponics, the DSU Mobile
Meat Processing Lab, and profiting from small scale animals in alternative markets.
Attendees will have the opportunity to gain information
regarding the Delaware Pollinator Protection Plan during
lunch and be able to visit with local agriculture agencies,
associations and businesses as well throughout the day.
Volume 6, Issue 3
Page 4
Monday, April 4, 2016
8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
University of Delaware Carvel Research & Education Center
16483 County Seat Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947
The University of Maryland Extension has created a one-day workshop for new and existing poultry farmers
on Delmarva focusing on poultry farm management. With today’s environment it is important to learn about
the many aspects of poultry farm management. The topics that will be addressed are farm management,
site management and maintenance, best management practices, mortality, manure handling, litter management, windbreaks/ vegetative environmental buffers, financial/recordkeeping, concentrated animal feeding
operation regulations, nutrient management, comprehensive nutrient management plans, inspections, and
emergency preparedness. We will also share all the information on a memory stick to take back to the farm
for future reference. Certificate of completion will be awarded to each participant.
This workshop is open to all. If you need special assistance, please register two weeks before the date. Registration cost of $20 includes continental breakfast, lunch, and materials.
For more information, call or email Jon Moyle, jmoyle@umd.edu, 410-742-1178 or Jenny Rhodes,
jrhodes@umd.edu, 410-758-0166.
Please register by Tuesday, March 29, 2016.
To register: call Sheila Oscar at 410-742-1178 or email at soscar@umd.edu.
MASTERING MARKETING
Ginger S. Myers
Marketing Specialist
University of Maryland Extension
Director, Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center
gsmyers@umd.edu
301-432-2767 x338
“Networking” and “Word of Mouth” referrals are the most effective way to reduce out of pocket costs and cultivate a clientele. The valued opinion of influential customers is the most important and cost effective promotion that a business can
develop. Surveys show that new customers recruited by existing customers are more loyal and profitable. In fact, studies
show that 85% of Likes through social media and purchases are made through referral marketing rather than from advertising. Social media is the new “Word of Mouth” marketing vehicle. But, despite the rise of social media, many recommendations still happen offline, with people sharing their experiences with friends over the phone or face-to-face.
To view the complete article on this topic and to access other articles on marketing, visit: http://extension.umd.edu/learn/
generate-more-%E2%80%9Cword-mouth%E2%80%9D-referrals.
Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center (MREDC), a one-stop-shop for the 21st century agricultural/natural resource entrepreneur, provides successful rural business innovation strategies for your farm business plan, and your production and management techniques. Learn anywhere by using the many distance learning tools delivered on MREDC in
many interactive formats that are organized in modules. These unique modules and tools are designed to help you get
information quickly and make informed decisions. Whether your business is large or small, established or just getting
launched, if it involves any aspect of agricultural or natural resource production and marketing, the Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center has the tools and information you need to help you succeed.
To learn more about the MREDC and access its tools for business success, visit https://www.extension.umd.edu/mredc.
Page 5
Volume 6, Issue 3
2016 Good Agricultural Practice (GAP)
Food Safety Training Programs for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Producers
The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) and University of Maryland Extension (UME) will be conducting a series of regional
food safety training workshops for fruit and vegetable producers. These one-day workshops, offered across Maryland, are important for
small- and large- scale producers who want to understand how to meet current FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Rule re­
quirements or are considering Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) certification. The training will provide assistance in writing and imple­
menting a GAP program for both wholesale growers and direct marketers.
Topics covered include: highlights of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Rule; Good Agricultural Practices
such as addressing pre-harvest and post-harvest water quality issues; an update on current food safety research; writing a food safety
plan; and MDA/University of Maryland programs to assist producers in implementing GAP. A portion of the training will be spent help­
ing producers write their own food safety plans. Producers are encouraged to bring their own personal laptops. Laptops will also be pro­
vided to those who cannot bring them.
Registration, Cost and Locations: Par ticipants ar e encour aged to r egister online at: https://gap16.eventbr ite.com or if you have
questions or encounter difficulties registering online, please contact the organizer for the specific location. Registration is required to
ensure adequate materials are available. Each workshop will take place from 8:30 am to 4 pm. The fee for the program will be $15 and
will cover lunch costs and materials provided to each participant. Attendees will receive a certificate of participation following the pro­
gram. The workshop dates and locations for 2016 are listed below.
March 2, 2016
- Western Maryland GAP Training, Washington County Extension Office, 7303 Shar psbur g Pike, Boonsbor o,
MD 21713. Contact Jeff Semler at jsemler@umd.edu or 301-791-1304.
March 8, 2016
- Southern Maryland GAP Training, St. Mary’s Ag. Ser vices Center . 26737 Radio Station Way, Leonar dtown,
MD 20650. Contact Ben Beale at bbeale@umd.edu or 301-475-4482.
March 10, 2016 - Lower Eastern Shore GAP Training, Wicomico County Extension Office, 28647 Old Quantico Rd, Salisbur y,
MD 21801. Contact Ginny Rosenkranz at rosnkrnz@umd.edu or 410 749-6141 ext.106.
March 15, 2016 - Central Maryland GAP Training, Car r oll County Extension Office, 700 Agr icultur e Center Dr .,
Westminster, MD 21157. Contact Bryan Butler at bbutlers@umd.edu or 410 386-2760.
MDA offers two GAP certification programs for fruit and vegetable producers.
- MDA GAP cer tification is gear ed towar d dir ect mar keter s or other pr oducer s that want to start with a basic food safe
ty program and is available to Maryland fruit and vegetable producers at no cost.
- USDA GAP/GHP and USDA Harmonized GAP pr e-harvest and post-harvest certification is provided through a cooperative
agreement with USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service and is a nationally recognized certification that meets the
requirements of many wholesale buyers. USDA specialty crop grant funding is available for cost share of the USDA
audit fees.
For more information on these certification programs, contact Deanna Baldwin with the Maryland Department of Agriculture at Dean­
na.baldwin@maryland.gov or 410-841-5769 or Justine Beaulieu with the University of Maryland at jbeauli1@umd.edu or 301-4057543.
Annie’s Project
Mid-Shore Maryland
Annie's Project Suppers incorporate the values of Annie’s Project and focus them into one night sessions. The following sessions are
being offered at Chesapeake College, Wye Mills, Maryland, from 6:00 p.m-9:00 p.m. You can register for one or all. Each session costs
$15.
March 2, 2016 - Farm Financial Planning
March 16, 2016 - Insurance and Liability on the Farm
March 30, 2016 - Agriculture Law Topics
For additional class information and registration details, visit http://www.extension.umd.edu/annies-project/class-information.
Volume 6, Issue 3
Page 6
Managing Your Dairy through Financial Fluctuations Program
University of Maryland Extension’s Dale Johnson teams up with Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit to assist dairy
producers in managing finances for today and tomorrow.
College Park- In today’s dairy market, producers must be continuously improving in order to stay in the
front of the pack and remain profitable. Understanding and managing financials become a key part of
achieving success in a dairy business. Dale Johnson, Farm Management Specialist, University of Maryland
Extension, will host seminars throughout Maryland, in conjunction with Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit, which
will assist producers in improving management through analysis of their past finances and using that information to plan for their future.
This seminar will show how to use financial records and tax statements to analyze a farm’s income and
expenses in order to identify strengths and bottlenecks in the dairy business. Using simple worksheets,
farms will learn how to calculate individual expenses on a hundred-weight and per cow basis, compare
these figures to industry averages and, in turn, identify critical areas of management.
Additionally, planning for the future of a dairy business requires understanding the financial implications
of options that may be under consideration. By learning how to assess financial projections in this seminar, farms will learn to determine the potential changes in profitability and overall cash flow that will occur by transforming the operation for the future.
Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit will also provide a lender’s perspective on the importance of financial analysis
and positioning the dairy business for a successful and viable future.
The seminars will be held from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm and lunch will be provided and is generously sponsored by Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit.
The dates and locations for Managing Your Dairy through Financial Fluctuations include:
Tuesday, March 8th: Carroll County Extension Office |700 Agriculture Center, Westminster | 410-386-2760
Tuesday, March 22nd: Harford County Extension Office | 2335 Rock Spring Rd., Forest Hill | 410-638-3255
Tuesday, March 29th: Garrett College Center for Technology and Training Center 116 Industrial Park Dr., Accident
| 301-334-6960 **Registrations will be handled by Garrett County Extension Office at the provided number**
Thursday, March 31st: Kent County Extension Office | 709 Morgnec Rd, Suite 202, Chestertown | 410-778-1661
To register for a session, please contact the designated County Extension Office.
For any additional information about the Managing Your Dairy through Financial Fluctuations program,
please contact Emily Yeiser Stepp at 301-405-1392 or by email at eyeiser@umd.edu.
The University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is committed to offering
exemplary teaching programs, conducting internationally renowned research and coordinated
outstanding extension and outreach efforts through engaging individuals, groups and communities to improve the quality of life in Maryland and beyond.
To learn more about the College, please visit agnr.umd.edu.
Page 7
Volume 6, Issue 3
Once again another successful Agronomy Day in Queen Anne’s County.
We had great presenters who provided everyone with research based education.
Thank you to everyone who participated.
2016 Sponsor List
Ag. Law Initiative – Paul Goeringer
Ag. Technology Group - Wm. Starkey & Scott Quinn
AgroLab, Inc. - Bill Rohrer
Ag Risk Management by Weller & Associates, Inc. – Samantha Steele
Allen Chorman & Son, Inc.
AgXplore – H. Grant Troop
Baker Ag-Lime – John Murdock
Bayer CropScience - J. D. Shaffer
Boyle Bros., Inc.
Crop Production Service – Jeffrey Harris
Crow Insurance Agency – Buddy Cahall
Delmarva Aerial Crop Service – Eric Paniere
Dupont Pioneer – Mike Cohey, Henry Covington, Randy Hutton,
Jonathan King and Kim Phillips
Farm Credit – Amber Bullock
Growmark FS, LLC. – Brett Schrader
Helena Chemical Company – Greg Hawn
King Crop Insurance, Inc. – Donna & Nancy King
Lee Rain – Billy Seitzer
MDA – Certainty & Nutrient Trading Program– Colin Jones
Maryland Department of Ag. – Crop Insurance – John Hall
Mid-Atlantic Seeds Nagel Crop Insurance - Chad Nagel & Mark Sultenfuss
PNC Bank – Christopher Laznovsky
Root Rain Irrigation, LLC
Southern States – Q.A. Co. Service – David Conley
Syngenta
Tidewater Seed – Billy Simmons, Chris Rhodes, Ryan Rhodes
USDA NASS – Dale P. Hawks
Valent USA - Kevin Deehan
Informational Displays
University of Maryland Extension - Queen Anne’s County
Queen Anne’s County Farm Service Agency
Queen Anne’s County Soil Conservation District
Please check out this program on …..
Public Information – QACTV www.qactv.com/ QAC TV7
NON-PROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT NO. 46
University of Maryland Extension,
Queen Anne’s County
505 Railroad Avenue
Centreville, MD 21617
The University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources programs are open to all and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual
orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation, or gender identity and expression. The Uni-
versity of Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Equal Access Programs. La Universidad de Maryland es una institución con Igualdad de Oportunidades de
Empleo y con Igualdad de Acceso a Programas.
Contact your local UME Agriculture Educator:
Cecil County ~ Doris Behnke at 410-996-5280 or dbehnke@umd.edu
Kent County ~ Nate Richards at 410-778-1661 or nrichard@umd.edu
Queen Anne’s County ~ Jennifer Rhodes at 410-758-0166 or jrhodes@umd.edu
Farm Tire Drop Off
The Maryland Farm Bureau was able
to negotiate a second year of Farm
Tire Drop-Off events across the state
as a benefit exclusively for our
members.
If you are interested in disposing of your farm tires at no
cost, contact Parker Welch at
pwelch@mdfarmbureau.com
or 443-480-4059 to join the
Maryland Farm Bureau or find
out when your county landfill is
accepting the tires.