7303 Sharpsburg Pike
Boonsboro, Maryland 21713
TEL 301-791-1304
FAX 301-791-1048
Winter 2012
Tri-State Hay and Pasture Conference
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Pleasant Valley Community Center
975 Joni Miller Road, Oakland, MD 21550
8:30 - Registration & Refreshments
12:15 Lunch
8:55 - Welcome
Willie Lantz, Sr. Agent, University of Maryland
Extension—Garrett County
1:00 Greetings from the Maryland-Delaware
Forage Council
Les Vough, President
9:00 - Management Effects Baleage Fermentation
and Nutritional Quality
Ed Rayburn, Extension specialist - Forage
Agronomist, West Virginia University
1:10 Yield and Economics of No-till Planted
Summer and Fall Annual Forages
Ed Rayburn
10:00 Hay Preservatives: What Do We Know
About Them Today And What’s Their Future?
Jeff Harman, General Manager, Green World Ag
LLC, Dover, PA
10:45 When a Hay Bale Isn’t a Hay Bale Changing the Pricing Paradigm
Dr. Richard W. Taylor, Extension Agronomist,
University of Delaware
11:30 Hay Moisture Meters: Unmasked and
Demystified
Dr. James Glancey, Professor, Mechanical
Engineering, University of Delaware
2:10 Nutrient Recommendations for Cool Season
Grasses
Dr. Lester Vough—Forage Crops Extension Specialist
Emeritus, University of Maryland
2:40 Weed Control (Via Video)
Dr. Ron Ritter - Weed Control Extension Specialist
Emeritus, University of MD
3:00 Pesticide Safety and Storage
Willie Lantz
3:30 Adjourn
For more information or to register contact, Jeff
Semler at (301) 791-1304.
Agronomy Day
This year’s Agronomy Day will be held on March 7 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Washington
County Agricultural Education Center. Crop updates, disease and weed concerns, cover crops, current TMDL
concerns and other related topics will be discussed. Private pesticide applicator recertification and nutrient
applicator voucher continuing education credits are available. Lunch will be served at no charge, however
you MUST pre-register by calling (301) 791-1304 no later than March 1.
Local Governments ● U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating
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.
Page 2
Winter 2012
Washington County Ag News
Future Harvest - 14th Annual Conference
Farming for Profit and Stewardship Conference
January 18-19, 2013
National Conference Center, Lansdowne VA
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: “What is the Future of Small-Scale Farming?”
David Kline, Larksong Farm
Amish organic farmer, author & publisher of Farming Magazine
The National Conference Center (NCC) in Lansdowne, Virginia, is a beautiful 110-acre setting for
distraction free meetings, just four miles from historic Leesburg, Virginia. Conference Activities are all
conveniently located in the light-filled West Building. Registration includes chef-prepared meals in the NCC
dining hall and coffee and snacks breaks through the day.
Registration forms, daily schedules, general sessions,
descriptions and lodging information is available online at
www.futureharvestcasa.org
Write Your Own Nutrient Management Plan
This Farmer Training and
Certification course provides an
opportunity for farmers to learn
how to write nutrient management
plans for their own operations. As
a producer, you have first hand
knowledge of your crops, animals
and equipment. Who better to write
your nutrient management plan
than you? This course will teach
you how to do it!
Participants will receive:
A comprehensive training binder
– that will be used during the
class, and will serve as a reference
during the exam. This will also be
a valuable resource when you write
future plans for your operation.
Certification– producers who pass
the exam will be certified by MDA
to write their own nutrient
management plans.
Voucher training credits– this
class will fulfill the nutrient
applicator voucher training
requirements.
A discount– on the purchase price
of NuManPro, Maryland’s nutrient
management planning software.
Registration Information:
Space is limited and applications
are accepted on a first-come basis;
therefore, register early. Paid
registrations must be received 10
days before the first class.
Class Information:
University of Maryland Extension
Washington County Office
7303 Sharpsburg Pike
Boonsboro, MD 21713
February 19
Learning how to write your own
plan
February28
Exam & Plan Writing
9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Cost is $40, which includes lunch
the first day.
For more information or to
register, please call:
(410) 841-5959.
Washington County Ag News
Winter 2012
Page 3
Annie’s Project Returns to Washington County
Returning to Washington County for a forth year, is Annie’s Project. Annie’s project is designed to
empower women to manage information systems used in critical decision making processes and to build local
networks throughout the state. The target audience is women in agriculture with a passion for business and
involvement. The program will cover five areas of Risk Management: Production, Market, Financial, Legal,
and Human Resources. Classes will be held every Wednesday from January 23 - March 27, from 10:00 a.m.
- 2:00 p.m. (2 of the above dates have been reserved for snow/make-up days). For more information or to
register call the Washington County Extension office at (301) 791-1304.
Dairy Breeding and Genetics
Today we hear all kinds of competing theories about dairy cattle genetics from genomics to crossbreeding
to bull breeding to elaborate synchronization schemes. I would like to invite you to an evening of discussion
on this topic: “Should I cross breed or not?” “What about using a bull?” There will be no judgment or
condemnation just unbiased information and discussion. The session will be held February 28, 2013 from
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at the Extension Office. Space is limited with pre-registration required.
Please call (301) 791-1304 to register.
Poultry 101
Hundreds of folks across the four-state region raise chickens, ducks, turkeys and a few guineas. This is your
opportunity to get your questions answered and reinforce much of the knowledge you already possess. We will
discuss rearing, feeding, management and housing, as well as hatching your own eggs and bio-security. This
two-session course will be held January 31 & February 14, 2013, from 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at the Extension
Office. Space is limited, pre-registration is required and a $5 fee will be collected at the door.
Attendance at both sessions is strongly encouraged. Please call (301) 791-1304 to register.
2013 Sheep & Goat Webinar Series
Held consecutive Tuesday evenings in January and February 2013. Starting time is 7:30 p.m. EST. One
hour webinar and one hour question and info exchange. Webinar limited to the first 100 who log on. Please
plan to log on 5-10 minutes prior to start time.
https://connect.moo.umd.edu/sschoen
January 22 - Part 1: Principles of genetics
January 29 - Part 2: Methods of genetic improvement: crossbreeding
February 5 - Part 3: Methods of genetic improvement: selection
February 12 - Part 4: On-farm performance evaluation
February 19 - Part 5: Advanced genetic improvement If you plan to participate in any of the webinars, please subscribe to the webinar listserv. If your e-mail address
was on the webinar e-mail reflector list, it has been automatically added to the new listserv To subscribe to the
webinar listserv, send an e-mail to listserv@listserv.umd.edu. In the body of the message, write: subscribe
sheepgoatwebinars.
Page 4
Winter 2012
Washington County Ag News
Soil Fertility and Health
The terms soil health and soil quality are becoming increasingly familiar worldwide. Doran and Parkin
(1994) defined soil quality as “the capacity of a soil to function, within ecosystem and land use boundaries, to
sustain productivity, maintain environmental quality, and promote plant and animal health.” In general, soil
health and soil quality are considered synonymous and can be used interchangeably. The inherent soil quality
is defined as “the aspects of soil quality relating to a soil’s natural composition and properties influenced by
the factors and processes of soil formation, in the absence of human impacts.”
Attend a two part series on Soil Health Tuesday, March 19 & 26 at the UME Washington County Office from
7 – 9 p.m. Cost is $10 and preregistration is required by March 15. Call 301 -791-1304 to register.
Mid-Atlantic Small Flock Poultry Expo
Saturday, February 2, 2013
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
UME - Carroll County
The expo will feature educational seminars on poultry nutrition, disease prevention and control, chicken
breeds, egg and meat production basics, housing, pasturing, feeding and watering systems, regulations and
ordinances, organic production, litter and mortality composting, breeding and egg incubation, turkey
production, brooding chicks, poultry in diversified livestock operations, exotics, egg grading and handling,
marketing and economics, urban poultry, and protecting your flock. Vendors will be available with live poultry
and poultry related items. A poultry processing demonstration will be conducted. Producers and Extension
specialists will be available for technical questions about production practices. 4-H will conduct activities and
competitions. Door prizes will be awarded. Lunch and snacks will be available for purchase.
For more information call (410) 386-2760 or visit the web site http://carroll.umd.edu/ag/poultry.cfm
Farm Transition and Estate Planning Workshop:
Managing the Risk of Transferring the Business
Have you begun to transition your farm to the next generation and plan the transfer of your estate? Estate
planning is often pushed aside until it is too late. However, the process of creating a plan for transfer of
property from one generation to another is a critical step to avoid estate tax liability, maintain family unity and
ease anxiety after the death of a family member. Estate tax laws have been changing and may change again
this year, land values may be higher than the basis, and family needs may have been altered so thinking
through the best options has become crucial for many farmers. To get you started, the Center for Agricultural
and Natural Resource Policy in cooperation with the University of Maryland Extension and the Risk
Management Agency is conducting a Farm Transition and Estate Planning Workshop.
This three session workshop will help farm families understand and begin to complete a succession and estate
plan for their farms. The sessions will be conducted on Tuesdays, February 26, March 5, and 12 from 9:30
am-12:30 pm. via connect session at the Washington County Extension Office
Each week the entire family will participate and be assigned homework to help them set goals and begin to
organize their materials to prepare them to meet with a lawyer and other professionals that will help them
complete their succession & estate plan. Two topics will be presented each week. Registration fee is $25.
For more information or to register, please contact Jeff Semler at (301) 791-1304.
Washington County Ag News
Winter 2012
Page 5
Maryland Dairy Convention is “Using Technology to Improve Dairy Profits.”
Is there an app for that? Dino Giacomazzi of Giocamazzi Dairy in Hanford, Calif., will answer that
question, sharing the latest dairy apps to keep local farmers on the cutting edge of technology during the
Maryland Dairy Convention. The event is set for Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Frederick Fairgrounds.
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., and the program kicks off at 9:30 a.m. In addition to the keynote address, John
Smucker of Smuckers Energy will discuss opportunities to save on electric costs, while Chad Dechow of Penn
State University will provide dairy farmers with insight into sire and cow genomic evaluations. The
University of Maryland's Kasey Moyes will lead a session on automated, or robotic, milking systems. Each
presentation includes perspectives from local producers using these technologies on the ground.
The afternoon features an optional tour of the automated milking system at South Mountain Creamery/Sowers
Dairy in nearby Middletown.
Also during the day are the Maryland Dairy of Distinction and scholarship awards and a program for youth
that includes the junior dairyman contest and special presentation by Giacomazzi.
As always, the evening Maryland Dairy Shrine banquet will shine a special spotlight on stars of the industry.
The evening program kicks off with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the awards program recognizing
shrine inductees, scholars, silent auction results and junior dairyman contest awards.
All Maryland dairy farmers, as well as dairy farmers from surrounding states, industry supporters and dairy
youth are invited to attend the event presented by the Maryland Dairy Industry Association and the Maryland
Dairy Shrine. For more information on the convention keynote speaker, visit http://dinogiacomazzi.com.
Sponsorship and exhibit opportunities are available, and items are needed for the silent auction.
For more information, visit www.marylanddairyindustry.org, e-mail secretary@marylanddairyindustry.org or
call 301-349-0750.
Western Maryland Buyer Grower Expo
Tuesday, February 5, 2013, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Washington County Agricultural Education Center, Multi Purpose Building
7303 Sharpsburg Pike
Boonsboro, MD 21713
You should attend this event if you are:
 A regional grower, producer, or processor interested in finding new markets for your products
 A buyer from a grocery store, restaurant, hospital, school, or other venue looking to purchase Maryland grown or
produced products
 A service provider or someone interested in the local food movement (suchasacountyextensionagent,food
writer,etc.)
The types of local products that buyers will typically find at this meeting are:
 Fruits and vegetables
 Meats (such as beef, poultry and bison)
 Cheeses (both cow’s and goat’s milk)
 Specialty products (including locally made ice cream, soups, flour, wine and more)
Registration Deadline January 21, 2013 To register go to www.marylandsbest.net
Contact Stone Slade at 410-841-5779 or stone.slade@maryland.gov
Hosted by the Maryland Department of Agriculture and The Western Maryland Counties Garrett, Allegany,
Washington and Frederick
Ag Calendar
Washington County Ag News is published
periodically by University of Maryland Extension.
Dec. 24 - Jan. 1
UME Office Closed - Holiday Break
Jan. 17:
Hay & Pasture Conference
Oakland, MD 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Jan 18 & 19:
Future Harvest Conference
Lansdowne VA
Jeff Semler
Extension Educator,
Agricultural & Natural Resources
jsemler@umd.edu
Amy Simmons
Administrative Assistant
simmons@umd.edu
Jan. 21:
UME Office Closed - MLK Day
Jan. 23:
Annie’s Project Begins
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Extension Office
Jan. 31 & Feb. 14:
Feb 5:
Western Maryland Buyer Grower Expo
Wash. Co. Agricultural Education Center
Feb. 21:
Visit us on the web at:
www.washington.umd.edu
Poultry 101
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Extension Office
Dairy Breeding & Genetics
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Extension Office
Feb. 19 & 28:
Write your Own Nutrient Management Plan
9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Extension Office
March 7:
Agronomy Day
9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ag Center
University of Maryland Extension
Washington County Office
7303 Sharpsburg Pike
Boonsboro, Maryland 21713
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300