Hello, Harford County!
University of
Maryland Extension
Although fall marks the end of the growing
season and is harvest time for most other crops, it’s
Harford County Office
the best time to make improvements to pasture.
P.O. Box 663
Are there bare spots in your pastures? Has it been
2335 Rock Spring Road
really weedy this year? Are you considering some
Forest Hill, MD 21050
minor renovations to enhance next year’s growth?
If so, NOW is the time to act!
(410) 638-3255
Overseeding of cool season grasses, which are
M—F 8:00 a.m—4:30 p.m.
the mainstays of most Maryland pastures, is most
successfully done between mid-August and midExtension.umd.edu/harford-county
September. Seeding now allows new grasses to
facebook.com/HarfordAg
germinate and become established before winter.
If you wait too long to seed, the new grass won’t
Sara BhaduriHauck
have adequate time to develop root stores and
Ag Extension Educator
won’t provide as much ground cover to protect
sbh@umd.edu
bare soil from erosion.
It is possible to overseed in late winter so
that grasses germinate and begin developing as
soon as temperatures warm in spring. However,
fall seeding is preferred: if you can get plants
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
established now, you can ensure that bare
spots are filled in with grass rather than weeds.
Hay Evaluation
2
Most weeds germinate at lower soil
Workshop
temperatures than grasses do, so bare spots
are more likely to be filled with weeds in spring
even if you overseeded in winter.
Private Applicator
4
Whenever you choose to overseed, it’s
Pesticide Training
crucial that you restrict animals from accessing
overseeded areas. Grasses must be allowed
enough time to develop an adequate root
Does Selling the Farm
5
system. If grazed too early, delicate seedlings
Terminate an Existing
will simply be uprooted. It’s recommended to
Lease?
allow new plants to grow to a height of 8-12
inches, mow, and then allow them to grow
again before grazing.
Make Sure Your Load
7
If your pastures were especially weedy this
is Secure
year, check out your pH level with a soil test.
Fall Soil Sampling
8
Soil Conservation
District Supervisor to
be Appointed
9
The Extension Office will be
closed on September 7 in
observance of Labor Day.
Maryland soils tend to become acidic over time,
and most weeds thrive at acidic pHs. (Most
grasses thrive at pHs close to neutral.) Applying
lime according to your soil test recommendations
may help encourage grass growth and hinder the
growth of weeds next season. Since it takes
several months for lime to have its affect in the
soil, apply it in the fall so your soil will be wellamended come spring.
If you’ve been unsuccessfully battling hard-tocontrol weeds this summer and want to try an
herbicide, now is a good time for that as well.
Translocating herbicides – which move through
the plant and attack its roots – are most effective
during the fall when plants are moving nutrients
into the roots for winter storage. (During other
times of the year, plants are moving nutrients out
of the roots so it’s harder for herbicides to get
there.) Because of weed life cycles, not all weed
species are good candidates for fall chemical
control. If the weed has already flowered and is
dying, mowing is about all you can do. But weeds
that are still green and actively growing – like
horse nettle, pokeweed, and multiflora rose –
should be controlled.
Large, densely vegetated plants can be difficult
to spray. Make sure you apply the herbicide to as
much of the leaf area as possible. And don’t mow
the plant before applying herbicide. Making the
plant smaller may make it easier to spray, but it
also decreases the leaf area available to absorb
the herbicide.
Sincerely,
Pasture Site Tour and Hay Evaluation Workshop
September 16, 2015
If you have livestock, you are most likely feeding hay at least
part of the year. Do you know how to tell whether your hay is
6:30 p.m.—8:30 p.m.
high quality? If you buy hay, are you sure you’re paying a fair
Baltimore
County Ag Center
price for the quality of product? If you’ve got questions about
hay, we’ve got answers! Dr. Les Vough, University of Maryland
Cockeysville, MD
retired forage specialist, will present a program on hay quality
evaluation to help you learn the skills you need when it comes to hay. The program will also
include a tour of the newly-established rotational grazing demonstration site at the Baltimore
County Ag Center. Dave Martin, ag educator for Baltimore County Extension, will conduct a tour
and lead discussion on cool season grasses commonly used in hay production. Registration is $10
per person. A limited number of spots are available, so registration is requested by September 11.
Light refreshments will be provided. For more information or to register, contact Sara
BhaduriHauck at the Harford County Extension Office at 410-638-3255 or sbh@umd.edu. This
program is a joint effort between the Harford and Baltimore County Extension offices.
Horse Pasture and Hay Management Seminar
Join us for a full day of education on forages for horses
and learn from our experts! In morning sessions we will
discuss forage types and varieties, how forage is used in
8:30 a.m.—2:00 p.m.
Central Maryland Research the equine diet, financial benefits of efficient forage use,
and improving hay production and quality. The afternoon
and Education Center
will include hands on activities and demonstrations. Don’t
Ellicott City, MD
miss this great day of learning! Registration is $40 per
person and includes lunch and a folder of printed resources. For more details and to
register online, visit 2015pastureseminar.eventbrite.com. Registration will be open
through September 4. Questions can be directed to Jennifer Reynolds at
jenreyn@umd.edu or 301-405-1547.
September 19, 2015
Toxic Plant Seminar
Do you know what plants in your pasture pose a threat to your
livestock? What steps are you taking to reduce your animals’ risk of
eating something toxic? Veterinarian Dr. Anna Snarski and
6:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m.
Extension Educator Sara BhaduriHauck will discuss the principles of
Harford County
plant toxicity, identification of toxic plants, and tips for keeping
Extension Office
livestock safe from plant poisonings. This workshop will be geared
Forest Hill, MD
toward adults, but older youth may also participate. Information
will be relevant to producers of all livestock species, including cattle, small ruminants, horses,
and other pastured species. Light refreshments and printed resources will be provided.
Registration is $5 per person; please register by October 12. For more information or to register,
contact Sara BhaduriHauck at the Harford County Extension Office at 410-638-3255 or
sbh@umd.edu.
October 20, 2015
Toxic Plant Profile: Sorghums
By Sara BhaduriHauck, University of Maryland Extension—Harford County
Last month, our featured toxic plants were those in the
Prunus genus, which most notably includes cherries, peaches,
and plums. The toxic agent in Prunus species is hydrogen
cyanide. Hydrogen cyanide – sometimes also called prussic
acid – is also the toxic agent in sorghums. Under certain
conditions, sorghum plants can also cause nitrate poisoning.
Sorghum is a genus of plants within the grass family.
Grain sorghum is grown commercially by some farmers in
Maryland and is also sometimes used as fodder for animals.
Two other common sorghums are sudangrass and
johnsongrass. Sudangrass is most frequently planted as a
summer cover crop and sometimes harvested for forage.
Johnsongrass is invasive and considered a noxious weed
because it is extremely competitive.
While grain sorghums and sudangrass are
intentionally planted, johnsongrass may be present as a
weed. Johnsongrass is a coarse, tall-growing grass that
can reach 7-9 feet tall when mature. It generally grows in
clumps and spreads rapidly via rhizomes, although it also
propagates through seed. Leaves are rolled into the bud,
and the leaf has a prominent white midrib. The ligule is
membranous and have a tuft of hairs at the top. There
are no auricles. In our area, the seedhead usually appears
in late July. The seeds are purple and are loosely
arranged to form a purple pyramid.
weeks of storage.)
Poisoning is rarely a concern with hay, even when the
hay was made from plants containing high levels of prussic
acid, because the drying process inactivates the poison.
Accidental poisoning can be avoided by proper grazing
management. Even if you aren’t intentionally growing
sorghums, it’s a good idea to scout your pastures for invasive
johnsongrass. Livestock are most commonly poisoned when
grazing pasture that has recently been affected by drought,
frost, or recent grazing, because the immature regrowth will
be higher in prussic acid. Don’t graze animals on immature
sorghum (the recommended minimum grazing height varies
Prussic Acid Poisoning
by species) or when plants are stressed by drought. If plants
Like in plants of the Prunus species, the hydrogen have been affected by frost, wait at least a week before
cyanide in sorghums is stored in the form of non-poisonous grazing.
cyanogenic glycosides. When the leaf tissue is ruptured –
such as when chopping for forage or chewing by an animal – Nitrate Poisoning
these glycosides come in contact with enzymes in other
Sorghums can cause also nitrate poisoning in
parts of the plant and/or saliva and are broken down into ruminants. All plants contain some amount of nitrate, but
their constituent compounds: hydrogen cyanide and sugar. some species of plants – including sorghums – can
Hydrogen cyanide (prussic acid) acts as a poison by accumulate high levels of nitrate if they have been heavily
preventing red blood cells from releasing oxygen, essentially fertilized and are stressed by drought. Under normal
causing an animal to suffocate. The poison acts quickly, and conditions, plants absorb nitrogen from the soil and
animals are usually found dead.
immediately convert it into plant proteins. During times of
Cattle, sheep, goats, and other ruminants are more drought, however, some plants continue to absorb nitrogen
likely to be poisoned because bacteria in the rumen speed but don’t have enough water to keep growing. Thus, nitrates
up the process of releasing hydrogen cyanide from the accumulate.
cyanogenic glycosides. Furthermore, the acidic stomach or
Nitrates are an important part of an animal’s diet
non-ruminant animals inactivates some of the enzymes that because they are used to build proteins. Problems result
facilitate the break down process.
when the amount of nitrate consumed overwhelms the rate
Unlike plants of the Prunus species, sorghums are not at which the body can convert it. The bacterial enzymes
always toxic. Animals are able to detoxify prussic acid when present in the rumen convert nitrate into nitrite and then
it’s consumed at low enough doses, and under ideal growing convert nitrate into ammonia, which then becomes amino
conditions sorghums contain very little prussic acid. Under acids and finally proteins. When large quantities of nitrate
some conditions, however, the level of prussic acid present are consumed, the conversion of nitrate to nitrite exceeds
in plants can increase to unsafe levels. Prussic acid is found the conversion of nitrite to ammonia, and toxic level of
in higher concentrations when:
nitrite result. Nitrites alter the body’s hemoglobin such that
 Soils are high in nitrogen and low in phosphorus and it can no longer transport oxygen, and the affected animal
essentially suffocates.
potassium
If an animal has consumed a large amount of nitrate,
 Plants are immature, as prussic acid levels are higher in
onset
of symptoms is rapid and usually occur within an hour.
leaves than stems
Clinical signs difficulty breathing, muscular weakness, below
 Plants have been affected by frost
normal body temperature, loss of coordination, blue
 Drought stunts the growth of immature plants
 Plants have been chopped for forage less than three coloration of the mucous membranes, and brown
weeks prior (Silage is considered safe, even if made from discoloration of the blood. Reproductive issues, including
plants with a high prussic acid concentration, after three abortions, can occur in animals that chronically consume
Photos: Left—grain sorghum (Univ. of AZ); middle—sudangrass (J. of Nat’l Assoc. of County Ag Agents); right—Johnsongrass (AL Coop. Extension System).
lower levels of nitrates. Animals that have been poisoned
 Adding limestone can further decrease nitrate levels.
can sometimes recover if treated by a veterinarian quickly.
 Have forages chemically-analyzed for nitrate prior
Administration of methylene blue can repair the altered
to feeding.
hemoglobin, thus reversing the poisoning process.
 Dilute suspected high-nitrate feed with other feed you
Ruminants are much more commonly affected by
know to be safe.
nitrate poisoning than non-ruminants because the enzymes
 Add grain to the ration. Grain helps speed up the
involved in the conversion of nitrate to nitrite are found in
conversion of nitrite to ammonia in the gut.
the rumen but not in the stomach of non-ruminants. These
 Add high-nitrate feeds to the ration slowly. Animals
enzymes are present in the hindgut of non-ruminants, but
can adapt to higher nitrate rations as long as the gut
by the time feed reaches this area it is not retained in the
flora is given the opportunity to adapt to the change
gut for enough additional time to cause toxicity issues.
slowly.
Nitrate accumulation is also known to occur in
 Feed the high-nitrate feed in several small meals
orchardgrass, tall fescue, corn, and some broadleaf weeds. If
throughout the day, rather than as one large meal.
you’ve heavily fertilized a field and drought ensues, suspect
 The water in some farm wells is high in nitrates.
that nitrate accumulation may have occurred. There are
While it’s generally safe for mature livestock to
several management strategies for dealing with high-nitrate consume this water, keep in mind that feeding high-nitrate
forages:
feed in addition to providing water containing nitrates may
 Ensile them, as this process reduces nitrate levels. contribute to nitrate poisoning.
Wait at least 4 weeks before feeding.
Private Applicator Pesticide Training
October 14, 2015
Those seeking to purchase and/or apply restricted use pesticides
are required to obtain certification from Maryland Department of
Agriculture (MDA). Training for private applicators is offered at the
Harford County
Harford County Extension Office each year in March and October.
Extension Office
For current applicators, the recertification session will be held from
Forest Hill, MD
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. New applicators may attend the optional training
session from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and will sit for the MDA certification exam on October 21 at
9:00 a.m. Both sessions are free to attend, but advanced registration is requested. To register,
please call the Harford County Extension Office at 410-638-3255.
Late Summer Horticultural Crops Twilight Tour
Join University of Maryland researchers for a tour of their research plots
and presentations focusing on management of insect populations, corn
“BT” technology, food production safety, Asian pear variety trials, and
pumpkin variety/fungicide spray trials. The event is free to attend, but
since a light meal will be served RSVPs are appreciated by September 4.
To RSVP, contact Debby Dant at ddant@umd.edu or 410-827-8056x115.
For questions about the program, contact Mike Newell at
mnewell@umd.edu or 410-827-7388.
September 9, 2015
6:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m.
Wye Research and
Education Center
Queenstown, MD
EPA Issues New Wood Stove Rules
From “Branching Out,” University of Maryland Extension’s Woodland Stewardship Newsletter
On February 3, 2015, the US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) issued new clean-air standards for residential
wood heaters. According to the EPA, these new standards
strengthen current guidelines to make new appliances
“significantly cleaner and improve air quality in communities
where people burn wood for heat.” The updates are based on
improved heater technology and will strengthen emissions
standards for new woodstoves. Additionally, these new
standards for the first time regulate several types of
previously unregulated wood heaters, including outdoor and
indoor wood-fired boilers (commonly known as hydronic
heaters) and indoor wood-burning forced air furnaces.
The rule becomes law on May 15, 2015, but changes will
not be noticed by consumers until January 1, 2016. At that
time, many inexpensive wood stoves, those in the $300—
$500 range which had previously been popular yet did not
meet current EPA standards, will disappear from the market.
Stoves sold after the January 1, 2016 date must not emit
more than 4.5 grams an hour of particulates. That standard
will be tightened to 2.0 grams an hour on May 15, 2020.
(con’t…)
Perhaps the most noticeable change for consumers who
have been in the market for woodstoves will be the
discontinuation of “hang tags.” Previously, woodstove
models came with hang tags that allowed consumers to
identify models that met current EPA standards. With the
new standards, the EPA will issue special, voluntary hang tags
only for those models that already meet the 2020 standards.
Wood stove retailers are permitted to sell their existing
inventory until December 31, 2015. Consumers should be
aware of special discounts of the inefficient woodstoves and
boilers before that date.
It is important to understand that the rule will not affect
existing woodstoves and other wood-burning heaters
currently in use in people’s homes. Fireplaces, corn and coal
stoves are not covered by EPA regulations. The EPA did not
set standards for masonry heaters at this time, but has
requested the Masonry Heater Association to develop testing
standards so that they could be included in upcoming EPA
standards, which are slated for 2023.
These new regulations have led to heated debate
among industry leaders and legislators. The EPA has set a
May 15, 2015 date for those wishing to file suit over the new
rules; the main stove and boiler association, the HPBA, has
already filed a suit in District of Columbia district court. The
association will likely claim that the 2020 emission standards
are unattainable. On April 15, three air quality groups,
including the American Lung Association, filed a motion to
intervene in the HPBA’s suit, asserting that the standards
should be implemented as is. Several states, including
Missouri, Michigan and Virginia, have passed resolutions
barring state agencies from enforcing the new rules, although
the EPA’s directives clearly state that the standards do “not
impose any requirements on state and local governments.”
Does Selling the Farm Terminate an Existing Lease?
By Paul Goeringer, Ag Legal Specialist, Univ. of MD. Reprinted from the MD Risk Management Education Blog.
I’ve currently been taking a few calls over the
question, does your landlord’s selling the farm terminate
your existing lease? My best answer is no, but potentially it
can. The answer depends on the existence of a written
lease and the terms in that lease. The answer will also
depend on whether the buyer had notice of the tenant’s
existing lease.
You will notice I said “notice” and not knowledge of the
lease. As we will discuss, courts in the past have inferred
that a buyer had notice that a lease existed and should have
asked the tenant about the terms of that lease.
Another good starting point is knowing whether the
landlord shared the written lease with the realtor (if there is
one) and with potential buyers. But the current landlord
may not always share the written lease with the buyer,
make the buyer aware of the existence of the lease, or may
have a lease which is oral. Buying farmland with a valid
lease may lower the selling price because it may deter the
buyer’s future plans for the property.
One simple way for the landlord to terminate the lease
when selling the property is to include language when
setting the lease terms which terminate the lease when the
property is for sale. This makes it a contract term both
parties have agreed to and the term would be
enforceable. A landlord looking to sell the leased property
would want to potentially consider adding language to the
lease giving the landlord the right to quickly terminate the
lease. A tenant faced with this kind of lease may want to
require enough time to get equipment off the property or
allow for a reasonable time to harvest any growing crops.
If the lease does not include a term allowing
termination upon sale of the land, then we revert to the
common law (or court-made law on the subject). If the
buyer buys the property with notice of the existing lease
then buyer buys the property subject to the existing lease
(it’s always going to be in writing too, right?). For the buyer
to get notice of the existing lease could be simply the
landlord or the tenant filing a copy of the lease with the
county land records. This would put the buyer on notice
when doing a title search. But notice could be given by the
landlord/seller telling the buyer about the existing lease or
the buyer, when inspecting the property, could see the
property being used for agriculture and should start
questioning the landlord/seller as to the existence of any
leases on the property.
The Maryland Court of Appeals has stated the rule to
be: “Of course, a person purchasing property with
knowledge that a tenant is in possession of the property is
charged with notice as to the tenant's rights under the lease
to him” (Waters, 1922). In one case, the Court of Appeals
found that a buyer purchasing property at an auction and
had been told about an existing lease had a duty to find out
the legal status and effect of the lease (New Freedom Corp.,
1971).
One issue which could exist is when the buyer has no
notice of the existing lease. In those cases, the buyer would
be considered a bona fide purchaser who takes the property
free of the lease. This will be a fairly difficult argument for a
purchaser to make because courts can infer notice of the
lease by the buyer even if the buyer was never told about
the lease. Notice can be inferred in many cases where it is
open and obvious that the tenant is leasing the property,
such as when the tenant has livestock on the leased
property. The tenant may also have crops growing on the
farm. Both are potentially enough to put the buyer on
notice to start asking questions about a potential lease.
Need help in developing your own written agricultural
property lease?
Resources are available.
Visit
the University of Maryland Extension’s Grain Marketing
Agricultural
Leasing
page
(extension.umd.edu/
grainmarketing/lease-agreements) to find form leases, the
leasing fact sheet, summary of rental rates, and videos on
leasing issues.
Do I Have the Right to Crops When the Lease Terminates?
By Paul Goeringer, Ag Legal Specialist, Univ. of MD. Reprinted from the MD Risk Management Education Blog.
For
those
who
have
seen
my
leasing
publication Agricultural Leasing in Maryland, you should
realize I did not answer every question related to
agricultural leasing. One of those questions is how to
handle growing crops when a lease terminates.
What rights does the tenant have in the growing
crop? This question may be answered in multiple ways
depending on the type of crops being grown, language in
the lease, and other factors. The best way to resolve this
issue is simply to include in the lease language allowing a
tenant a reasonable time to harvest growing crops after
the lease terminates, or similar language allowing the
tenant time to come back on the leased property to
harvest growing crops after the lease has terminated.
If the lease does not handle this issue, then
the doctrine of emblements will typically apply and allow
for the tenant to reenter the property and harvest the
crop within a reasonable time. To qualify for the doctrine
of emblements, the tenant must lease the farmland for an
uncertain duration, or by some act that is the landlord’s
fault and without fault of the tenant. Do not worry; we
are going to discuss each of these situations here.
When the lease is for an uncertain term (both landlord
and tenant are not sure of the end date), the tenant
traditionally has the right to harvest the growing crop,
absent an agreement to the contrary. In agriculture, we
traditionally have had unwritten leases that contained no
specific termination date; these type of leases would fall
under this rule. The doctrine of emblements typically
applies to annual crops, such as corn, soybeans, wheat,
watermelons, etc. Many jurisdictions have found that
perennials, such as apples, peaches, grasses, etc., have
been found to not be included in the doctrine, although a
Maryland court has not ruled on the distinction between
perennial and annual crops.
The doctrine could apply when the termination is
caused by landlord’s fault and not the tenant’s. For
example, landlord terminates the lease because landlord
has an offer to sale the property -- this is a termination
because of the landlord and the doctrine would potentially
apply.
When the doctrine does apply, the tenant will have
a reasonable time to harvest the crops. What is a
reasonable time will depend on different factors, such as
weather, conditions, opportunity to remove the crop,
etc. This is typically a question for a jury to decide.
When a lease is for a term of years and the tenant
knows the date the lease will expire, a tenant will not be
able to harvest crops maturing after the lease expires
(Am. Jur.2d Crops § 27, 2014). For example, Christie’s
lease will terminate on December 31, and she plants a
wheat crop to be harvested in June, 6 months after the
lease has terminated. Because Christie knew the date the
lease terminated, traditional rules will not allow her to
harvest the wheat crop. But Christie should realize she
may still have the right to harvest the crop: she may have
retained a right to harvest growing crops in the lease, per
local custom, or from assurances from the landlord that
Christie would be able to harvest the crop after the
termination date.
Maryland courts in a few cases have let tenants prove the
right to growing crops by local custom. In Dorsey v. Eagle,
tenant’s lease stated he was to farm it according to “manor
regulations,” and tenant was allowed to prove that one
regulation was allowing a reasonable time to harvest crops
after the lease terminated.
In Dircks v. Brant, tenant’s lease was for 1 year with an
option for another 3 years. Before the end of the first year,
landlord sold the property and the 3 year option was not
exercised. The Court of Appeals found that this was a lease
for a certain period of time, the option was only a privilege
which could be destroyed so the doctrine of emblements did
not apply, and no local customs allowed tenant the right to
harvest the crops.
More recently, the Court of Appeals found that language
in a lease requiring the tenant to follow a certain crop
rotation was not enough to demonstrate the tenant was
entitled to harvest crops after the termination of a 3-year
crop lease (Carmine v. Bowen). The court also found there
was not enough evidence of local custom to allow the tenant
the right to harvest the growing crops.
You may read this and think the safest way to protect
yourself is to have a lease for an uncertain period of
time. While that could be true, a simpler way is to include
language in your lease allowing you a reasonable period of
time to harvest the crop after the lease terminates. For
example, your lease could include language such as “Upon
termination, Tenant agrees to yield possession of the premises
within ____ days of the date notice of termination reserving
the right to re-enter the premises solely to harvest any crops
that are the personal property of the Tenant and are growing
at the time of termination.”
The best way to protect you is always to have a written
lease that addresses growing crops at termination. Handling
this issue early on will make life easier and would not require
to rely on a court to apply the doctrine of emblements.
Photo: Edwin Remsberg
Make Sure Your Load is Secure
By S. Dee Jepsen, Kathy Henwood, and Dewey Mann—The Ohio State University Extension
Hauling cargo of different sizes and weights is common
practice in agriculture whether the load is being hauled down
the road or across the state. While hauling your tractor, tile,
or pallet of seed, the driver is responsible for making sure the
load is properly secured.
Working Load Limit of Chains. Each manufactured chain
and strap has a working load limit (WLL), which is
approximately one-third of its break strength. Break strengths
(BS) are based on the force a component can withstand
before breaking. Knowing the WLL is helpful to properly
secure the cargo. Table 1 outlines the WLL for different sizes
and grades of chain according to the Federal Department of
Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association.
Some manufacturers’ ratings may differ from the chart. Be
sure to check for WLL on each tie-down.
Proper Tie-Downs. To properly secure the cargo, it is
important to consider the number of tie-downs needed to
keep the cargo on the trailer at all times. When transporting
equipment consider the six different directions the load can
shift: forward, backward, left, right, up, and down.
How many tie-downs are needed:
One tie-down for cargo:
 Shorter than 5 feet and less than 1,100 pounds in
weight.
Two tie-downs for cargo:
 5 feet or less in length and more than1,100 pounds in
weight.
 Greater than 5 feet but less than 10 feet.
Four tie-downs (at least) for cargo:
 Weighing over 10,000 pounds
Additional tie-downs. For any cargo 10 feet or greater,
additional tiedowns are needed. Add 1 tie-down for
every 10 feet of length. For example, a 20-foot long
culvert tube would need to be secured with at least two
tie-downs but a 21-foot long culvert tube would need at
least three tie-downs.
It is recommended that the total working load limit (WLL)
of all used tie-downs must equal at least half of the cargo’s
weight. For example, if you are hauling a small tractor that
weighs 12,000 pounds, at least four tie-downs with a
combined WLL of 6,000 pounds (1,500 pounds each) will
need to be used. To find this aggregate working load limit
depends on how the chain or strap is secured.
Table 1. Work Load Limit (WLL) in Pounds (lbs)
Chain
size (in.)
Grade
30
Grade
43
Grade
70
Grade
80
Grade
100
1/4
1,300
2,600
3,150
3,500
4,300
5/16
1,900
3,900
4,700
4,500
5,700
*3/8
2,650
5,400
6,600
7,100
8,800
7/16
3,700
7,200
8,750
—
—
1/2
4,500
9,200
11,300
12,000
15,000
5/8
6,900
13,000
18,100
18,100
22,600
*3/8” is a common size chain and is used as an example in this document.
Tie-Down Methods and WLL. There are two proper
methods to tie-down loads. One method is to connect
directly to a manufactured anchored point on the trailer then
through, over, or around the cargo to another manufactured
trailer point. This is referred to as an indirect tie-down and
has the full WLL rating of the chain or strap. If you are
securing a 9,500-pound rectangular object by putting the
chain over the object (not directly tying onto the object), you
would need at least two 3/8" grade 43 chains (see table 1). If
the object had been greater than 10,000 pounds, at least
four chains would be required.
Figure 1. Indirect tie-down is shown.
The second method is a direct tie-down. This is when a
tie-down is attached from a manufactured anchor point on
the truck or trailer to an attachment point on the cargo (i.e.,
frame of vehicle or equipment). Using this method of tiedown provides half of the WLL of the chain or strap. There
is no maximum number of tie-downs when securing a load.
In addition to securing the cargo, it is recommended to
tie-down attachments of the equipment being hauled.
Examples are front-end loader buckets, backhoe
attachments, and blades on either the front or back of
equipment.
Immobilizing and Containing Cargo. Another step in
securing the load should be to immobilize and contain the
cargo. To prevent sliding or shifting of equipment or cargo,
consider using blocking, bracing, or friction mats. To
prevent cargo from rolling, place a chock or wedge slightly
under the edge of the cargo. Make sure the chock or
wedge is secured to the trailer. If the cargo has a tendency
to tip, use a brace. Material used for the chock, wedge, or
brace must be strong enough to withstand being split or
crushed by the cargo. When using wood, hardwood is
recommended, properly seasoned, and free from rot or
decay, knots, and splits. When using wood such as a
block or brace, it is recommended for the grain to run
lengthwise.
Centering Weight. It is recommended to place the
weight of the load in the center of the trailer or cargo area.
To achieve this, each tie-down should counteract another
tiedown by fastening the chains in an “X” pattern. By doing
this, the chains will pull tight against each other and keep
the load secured in the center of the trailer.
This is an excerpt from Fact Sheet AEX-598.2-11. The
entire article is available online at ohioline.osu.edu/aexfact/pdf/0598.pdf.
Save the Date: Midwinter Meeting 2016
Save the date! The Harford County Midwinter Agronomy Meeting will be held February 10,
2016 from 8:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m. at Deer Creek Overlook at the Harford County 4-H Camp.
University specialists will present the latest information on agronomic crops, and local
vendors will showcase their products and services. As in the past, attendance at this meeting
will count for private applicator pesticide recertification credit and nutrient applicator
voucher renewal credit. Look in future issues of “Ag Notes” for more details about the day’s
agenda and how to register.
February 10, 2016
8:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m.
Deer Creek Overlook
Street, MD
Fall Soil Sampling
By Patricia Hoopes, Harford County Nutrient Management Advisor
Soil samples are good for three years for Nutrient
Management Plan development. Expired soil sample
analyses must be replaced! Use your Nutrient
Management Plan (NMP) to quickly determine fields in
need of sampling. Look at the “Test Date” column on the
“Soil Test Results” page of your NMP. Highlight expired soil
sample analysis and work off this sheet for sampling.
There are times when you should re-sample a field prior
to sample expiration date. Problem fields may be
considered for resampling in an effort to find a solution.
Fields with questionable analysis results should be
resampled to provide results you feel more confident in
using to generate recommendations. Divided fields with
different crops or management automatically become
different management units and must be re-sampled
separately.
There are also times when additional soil sampling is
required. Fields with a Phosphorus Fertility Index Value
(FIV) of 150 or greater may need an additional test. If Pcontaining products will be applied to the field, a University
of Maryland Phosphorus Management Tool (UM-PMT) study
must be completed and the P application written into the
NMP prior to application. This study requires a Degree P
Saturation (DPS) or Al and Fe reported on the soil analysis
and may require a new soil analysis if that was not tested for
in the current soil analysis.
Why sample in the fall?
 The soil isn’t frozen
 If soil sample analysis results don’t look right, there is
time to question the lab or re-test.
 Fall sampling of both soil and manure allow ample
time for NMP development. You are required by law
to have your nutrient management plan prior to
applying any manure or fertilizer.
 Some growers tell me they get a discount on fertilizer
if they order early.
 Lime is usually applied in the fall and based on a new
soil sample analysis.
Some farmers are concerned about developing a NMP
too early. Are you concerned that your crop rotations may
change? Multiple recommendations can be written for a field.
At planting time you would follow the recommendations for
the crop you are planting. Are you concerned that a rental
property will be taken from you before the crop season? It is
always best to have the recommendations in hand prior to
spring planting. Lost property can be noted in an addendum
at a later date.
You are always welcome to call the office with any
questions or concerns.
Soil Sampling Q&A:
What is the correct way to take a soil sample? A sample
carefully taken will be a dependable tool to develop nutrient
recommendations. “Soil Sampling Procedures for Nutrient
Management” flyers are available at the Extension office or at
our nutrient management website at extension.umd.edu/
anmp. Sample plugs should be taken 8 inches deep. While
some labs recommend different sampling depths, we need
soil samples taken at a depth of 8 inches for University of
Maryland nutrient recommendations. Crop recommendations
have been developed using soil samples taken at an 8 inch
depth.
Can I take a soil sample after a manure
application? “Sampling after manure or fertilizer application,
especially in no-till or pasture situations, will make soil
analyses highly variable and usually result in highly inflated
soil test numbers. The rule of thumb is to wait 6
months before soil sampling. “(Source: Dr. Frank Coale,
Professor, Department of Environmental Science and
Technology, UMCP)
Are soil samples needed for pasture fields? ” Yes, soil
samples are needed. Essentially, nutrients are being applied in
the form of manure from the animals. It is not necessary to
generate a nutrient recommendation for pasture if an
operator has no intention of applying additional
nutrients.” (Source: Louise Lawrence, Office of Resource
Conservation, MD Dept. of Agriculture)
MD Ag Resource Council’s Family Farm Day
Join the Maryland Agricultural Resource Council for
their 6th annual Family Farm Day! Highlights of the day
will include farm tours, live bluegrass music, an alpaca
10:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
agility contest, bee keeping demonstrations, pony rides, Baltimore County Ag Center
a hay maze, sheep shearing demonstrations, horse
Cockeysville, MD
barrel racing, and an artisan/merchant avenue. Food
trucks will be on the premise, and local beer and wine will be for sale. Tickets are $10
per car load and $10 per kidzone armband. For more information or for questions,
visit www.marylandagriculture.org or call 410-887-8973.
September 20, 2015
MPT Announces Third Season of MD Farm & Harvest
Maryland Public Television’s popular original series Maryland Farm & Harvest has been renewed for a third season starting
in November 2015. The Emmy®-nominated series puts a human face on Maryland’s agriculture industry, telling the stories
of the people who grow the state’s food and fiber. The series chronicles the successes and the challenges that local farmers
face working in the state’s number one industry. Last season Maryland Farm & Harvest featured more than 25 farms in
counties across Maryland, from a solar-powered poultry farm in Wicomico to a popular corn maze in Prince George’s to a
local maple syrup maker in Garrett. Joanne Clendining, who earned an Emmy® from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay
Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and
Sciences for her work as the program host, will return as the
host of season 3. The series airs on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on MPT
-HD and is rebroadcast on Thursdays at 11:30 p.m. and
Sundays at 6 a.m. Each show will also re-air on MPT’s
secondary channel, MPT2, on Fridays at 6 p.m. The Maryland
Department of Agriculture is MPT’s co-production partner
for Maryland Farm & Harvest. For more information
visit mpt.org/farm. Source: Maryland Public Television.
Soil Conservation District Supervisor to be Appointed
Nominations for an appointment to the Harford Soil Conservation District Board of Supervisors are being accepted by the
Maryland State Soil Conservation Committee. The appointment will be for a five year term and will fill the term of Frank
Richardson which will expire on October 17, 2015 . A supervisor must be a resident of
the district. District boundaries are the same as county boundaries. Anyone
recommended should be able to attend monthly meetings of the Board of Supervisors
and have knowledge of and a sincere interest in proper land use and the conservation
of soil, water, and related natural resources. Any interested individual or organization
may submit a recommendation. Nomination forms are available on the MDA website
at www.mda.maryland.gov (click on Conservation, then Committees) or forms may be
picked up at the Harford Soil Conservation District office, 2205 Commerce Road, Suite
C, Forest Hill, MD 21050, (410)-838-6181x3. All nominations should be received by
September 30, 2015 and should be sent to State Soil Conservation Committee,
Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Attn: Louise Lawrence Room
306, Annapolis MD 21401.
Jeff Myers
Area Extension Director
Harford, Baltimore,
and Carroll Counties
Sara Meagher BhaduriHauck
Faculty Extension Assistant
Agriculture and
Natural Resources
sbh@umd.edu
Extension.umd.edu/Harford-county
facebook.com/HarfordAg
The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to all citizens and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color,
sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression. The
information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by University of Maryland Extension is implied.