Volume 3 Issue 1
Spring 2012
Central Maryland Poultry Producers Group Launched
A team of farmers: Tom Reynolds, Tom Albright, and Steve
Weber, with assistance from University of Maryland Extension Marketing Specialist, Ginger Myers have formed a
poultry processing and producers’ group that provides access to renting a sanitary and convenient processing facility where members can process their small flocks of meat
birds at a very competitive rate. The group is also purchasing chicks in large quantity and will receive healthy chicks
at a considerable savings over mail-order birds. Other
member benefits include educational seminars, field days,
and possible group purchases of equipment and feeds.
Members in this new group are required to complete the
Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Poultry Processing
License training and receive a license from the State before processing birds with this group. However, group
members will receive assistance with writing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Hygiene Practices (GHP),
and their Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points
(HACCP) plans along with advice on housing, production,
and bio-security issues. The group’s first meeting was held
in late April with a tour of Tom Reynold’s processing facility
and a presentation about the goals of the new group. Their
next scheduled event is a field day at Tom Albright’s farm.
Details of that event will appear in another article in this
newsletter.
For additional information about the field day or the Central
Maryland Poultry Producers Group, visit the website at
www.cmdppg.com or contact Ginger Myers, University of
Maryland Extension, gsmyers@umd.edu, 301-432-2767,
ext. 338.
This new community development and economic development initiative is sponsored by the University of Maryland
Extension’s Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center with funding provided by Northeast SARE Partnership grant.
Maryland Grazers’ Network Field Day—June 15, 2012
Our next field trip, “Selecting Cows for Grazing Systems,”
will be interesting and useful – examining both a dairy
and a beef herd with a grazing livestock specialist. We’ll
learn the specific traits to look for in animals you are selecting for success in a grass-based system. The timing,
location, and a brief description are below.
“Selecting Cows for Grazing Systems”
Date: June 15, 2012
Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Location: 2148 Rohrersville Road, Knoxville, Md. 21758
Meet at Myron Martin’s farm at 9:55a.m. Myron’s home
phone is 301 432-2974. Around noon we will make a
short drive over to Doug Price’s farm, 6119 Mondell
Road, Sharpsburg, MD.
Lunch – Bring a lunch and we’ll take a few minutes
at Doug’s farm to eat and chat, before looking at the
animals and pastures.
RSVP: contact Michael Heller at MHeller@cbf.org
Trip Description: Join us as we take a pasture walk
continued on page 4 …
Page 2
Volume 3 Issue 1
Niche Meats & Poultry Directory Updated
The “Maryland Niche Meats and Poultry
Producers’ Directory,” a publication developed jointly by niche meats and poultry producers and the Ag Marketing Program of the University of Maryland Extension, is now in its third edition. Since
first compiled in 2009, the directory has
increased by 38 producers.
The directory helps buyers, consumers,
market masters, other producers, or anyone looking for the freshest, best quality farm-raised meats connect with Maryland’s niche meats and poultry producers. It has been organized by product
for ease of aggregating suppliers. Many
producers offer multiple products. This
latest version is available on-line at
www.agmarketing.umd.edu.
This directory does not replace other
listings or directories, but supplements
them as a varietal sourcing list.
Mention, visual representation or referred reference of product, service, or
organization in this publication does not
imply endorsement by the author or any
of the partners. Exclusion does not imply a negative evaluation.
GUIDELINES FOR SELLING EGGS AT FARMERS MARKETS/
ROADSIDE STANDS
Maryland Department of Agriculture, Food Quality Assurance Program
1) All producer/packers of shell eggs must register with
the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA)
annually. As part of the registration, producers must
provide documentation that their chickens originated
from a National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) tested hatchery. Producers may hatch their own chicks
from hens that originated from a NPIP tested hatchery.
2) Cartons of eggs are required to be labeled with a
grade, a size, a safe handling statement, the packer or
distributor name and address, lot number (this number
should be a method of identifying the flock - if you only
have one flock A Lot 1" would be acceptable), registration number of the packer, quantity or net weight of
eggs, and the identity of the product as eggs. Specific
lettering heights and wording for labeling requirements
can be obtained from the Egg Inspection Section,
MDA. Many office supply stores can make an inexpensive stamp with this information.
3) Reuse of cartons is strongly discouraged as it can result in contamination of the eggs. The use of dirty cartons is prohibited. Clean cartons that are reused must
have only the correct information legible. All other
markings must be obliterated.
5) Eggs must be held at 45EF or below ambient temperature. The use of ice to achieve this is prohibited. Freezer packs or mechanical refrigeration may be used unless specifically prohibited by the local health department. Eggs should never be held under conditions that
cause them to sweat or be in direct contact with water
as they may become contaminated. Display eggs that
are not held at 45EF or below must be clearly labeled
as A “Display Only - Not for Consumption.”
6) Producer/Packers registered with the Maryland Department of Agriculture are no longer required to obtain a
4) All eggs must meet the standards for the grade and
license from the Department of Health and Mental Hysize for which they are labeled. Grade AA and Grade A
giene to sell their own eggs.
are the only two consumer grades permitted to be sold
in Maryland. The sale of cracked and dirty eggs
(producers should contact MDA for information on
Contact, Food Quality Assurance Program: 410-841-5769
proper washing to prevent contamination) is restricted or e-mail baldwidl@mda.state.md.us
by law.
The BARN
Spring 2012
Volume 3 Issue 1
On-Farm Small Flock Field
Day and Educational Seminar
Sponsored by Central Maryland Poultry Producers Group &
Future Harvest CASA
Small flock poultry producers are invited to attend an
evening field day and educational seminar hosted by Tom
Albright, Albright Farms, 15630 Old York Road, Monkton, MD 21111-2204, (410) 329-3269 on Wednesday,
June 27, 2012 beginning at 6:00 PM. Albright Farms are
local growers of free-range beef, chicken, turkey, and
many plant varieties in Baltimore County, MD. Tom
Albright also handles chick orders and sourcing for the
newly formed Central Maryland Poultry Producers Group
(CMPPG).
Page 3
On The Web
Get Your Market
Listed Today
The following list came through the Farmers
Market Coalition Listserv – it lists places to get
your farm and/or farmers market listed online.
Thanks to Cheryl DeBerry, Farmers Market
Coalition Board Member and Natural Resources
Business Specialist with the Garrett County
Economic Development Office for sharing this list.
Our program:
1. Membership information about joining the Central
Maryland Poultry Producers Group.
Local-Farmers-Markets:
http://www.local-farmers-markets.com/
2. Presentations concerning varieties and growth rates
on different types of meat birds.
Eat Well Guide:
http://www.eatwellguide.org/
3. Tour of the farm’s poultry production system featuring
Tom’s own movable coop designs.
Farmers Market:
http://farmersmarket.com/
6:00 p.m.
Lite dinner will be provided by Albright Farms
Registration is required. Please RSVP your
reservation to Tom Albright at 410-329-3269 or email
to albrightfarmsinc@aol.com
Farmers Markets Online:
http://farmersmarketonline.com/
6:35 p.m.
Evening program begins
Local Harvest:
http://www.localharvest.org/
Meeting is open to the public. A short meeting of CMPPG
will be held prior to the start of the evening program. Don’t
miss this opportunity to learn more about CMPPG and to
visit a profitable and sustainable poultry production and
marketing farm. Talk with the farmer and learn what
makes him successful.
My Fresh Local:
http://www.myfreshlocal.com/
For additional information about the field day or about
CMPPG, visit the website at www.cmdppg.com
Find Farmers’ Markets:
http://www.findfarmersmarkets.com/
Real Time Farms:
http://www.realtimefarms.com/
USDA Farmers’ Market Search:
http://search.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/
Direct link to update (do it before May 18th):
http://www.usdadirectoryupdate.com/
The Inside Quote
"If you don't believe in your product, or if you're not consistent and regular in the way you promote it, the odds of
succeeding go way down. The primary function of the marketing plan is to ensure that you have the resources and
the wherewithal to do what it takes to make your product
work." — Jay Levinson Spring 2012
Market Maker:
(18 states thus far, and has a lot more to offer
than just Farmers’ Market listings)
http://national.marketmaker.uiuc.edu/
The BARN
Page 4
Volume 3 Issue 1
Maryland Grazers’
Network Field Day
June 15, 2012
Upcoming Dates!
June 6, 2012:
Food For Profit
... Continued from page 1
guided by PASA Agricultural Science Advisor, Susan Beal,
DVM, to explore what's happening on the land and with
the stock. Susan gave a dynamite presentation at this
year's Future Harvest conference, which led to the request
from several farmers for Susan to join us at one of our
events. Susan’s presence will help us better evaluate animals first hand. Here are some topics we will cover:
► Selecting cattle that will work on grass - be they dairy
or beef animals.
► Examine a mixed dairy herd and a group of Angus
based beef animals.
► Coach participants through an evaluation of the stock.
► Learn how to recognize key body proportions and
characteristics that relate to meat and milk qualities,
including tenderness and butterfat.
► Talk about what can work for each farm, consolidating
ideas and illustrating opportunities for change.
► You will get to feel, first hand, the flat bones that are
an indicator of meat tenderness.
Susan is a "natural" veterinarian in every sense of the
word, and has worked closely with some of the leading
grass-based farmers, dairymen, and breeders in the country. This trip is a guaranteed great learning opportunity!
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Washington County Agricultural Education Center, 7303
Sharpsburg Pike (building door #4), Boonsboro, MD 21713
$40.00 per person (includes materials and lunch) Prepayment and registration are required. Please register at:
http://www.cvent.com/d/zcq155 or call 877-489-1398
June 15, 2012:
Maryland Grazers’ Network Field Day
(For more details see page 1)
June 27, 2012:
On-Farm Small Flock Field Day and
Educational Seminar
Albright Farms, 15630 Old York Road, Monkton, MD 21111
(For more details see page 3)
July 11, 2012:
2012 Maryland State Horticultural Society
(MSHS) Summer Tour
Time: 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Fee: $15.00 (includes lunch and beverages)
Description: Journey farms & farm markets in Adams
County, Pennsylvania. Car pooling from Adams County
Nursery to Three Springs Fruit Farm, Hollabaugh Fruit
Farm Market, National Apple Museum, and back to Adam
County Nursery.
Registration & Information:
www.grapesandfruit.umd.edu/calendar.htm
The BARN
University of Maryland Extension - Western Maryland Research & Education Center
18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756
301-432-2767 x338 or x301, E-mail: gsmyers@umd.edu or sbarnes6@umd.edu
Editor: Ginger S. Myers
Regional Marketing Specialist, University of Maryland Extension
Director, Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center
The BARN is published quarterly featuring the programs and resources of the
University of Maryland Extension’s (B)usiness Development, (A)g Marketing,
and (R)ural and Community Economic Development (N)etwork.
For more information visit:
Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center
http://www.mredc.umd.edu/
To Subscribe:
Ag Marketing Program
http://AgMarketing.umd.edu
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Western Maryland Research & Education Center
http://wmrec.umd.edu
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http://www.extension.umd.edu/
University of Maryland Extension programs are open to all citizens
without regard to race, color, gender, disability, religion, age,
sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or national origin.
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Comments and suggestions regarding The Barn are always welcome. References
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Spring 2012