AGLINE
Newsletter—Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne’s Counties
Farm Bill Workshop
P.1
Pesticide Storage Signs
P.1
Volume 5, Issue 3
March 2015
Kent SWCD Launches Website P.1
Calendar of Events
P.2
Small Farm Spring Workshops P.2
Farm Bureau Banquets
P.2
Crop Budgets
P.3
2015 Custom Rates Available
P.3
MD Honeybee Working Group
P.3
New Grower Training/Poultry
P.4
Bioenergy Cropping Systems
P.4
Mid Atlantic Nutrition Conf.
P.4
Sustainable Ag Tuesdays
P.5
MREDC Online Resources
P.5
Spotted Lantern Fly
P.5
Ag Marketing Newsletter
P.6
Manure Expo
P.6
KENT SOIL & WATER
CONSERVATION
DISTRICT LAUNCHES
A NEW WEBSITE!
The Kent Soil & Water
Conservation District
website went live on
January 27, 2015!
Please visit:
www.kentsoilandwaterco
nservationdistrict.org.
They can also be found
on Facebook at Kent Soil
& Water Conservation
District. Much credit
belongs to Jenny Lee, one
of KSWCD planners for
the great job she has
done with the website.
DANGER….PESTICIDE STORAGE SIGNS
Attention! All Farmers
Did you attend the Cecil County Winter Agronomy Meeting on January 21 st at
the Calvert Grange and you needed a DANGER Pesticide Storage Sign for your
chemical storage? We ran out of the signs at the meeting. If you did not get one,
please be advised that we now have some available for you to pick up. ONE sign
per family. You may pick your sign up at the Cecil County Extension office:
410-996-5280, Kent 410-778-1661, or Queen Anne’s 410-758-1066.
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CALENDAR
3 - Grain Marketing Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Tilghman
Terrace, Centreville, MD. $2/person: coffee, donuts, etc.
3 - to April 28: Sustainable Ag Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m.,
College Park, MD
4 - Last Scheduled Meeting for PPA & Nutrient Management Voucher recertification for the season, 6:009:00 p.m., Talbot Co. Ag Center, Easton. 418-822-1244.
4 - Private Pesticide Applicator Training, 1:00-3:00 p.m.,
UME Wicomico Co. Call 410-749-6141 to register
5 - New Commercial Poultry Grower Training, 8:30 a.m.3:00 p.m., Somerset Co. Extension Office. Call Sheila
Oscar at 410-742-1178 to register.
5 - Wheat Quality & Marketing Opportunities: Maximizing Profits, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Harrington Volunteer Fire
Dept., 20 Clark St., Harrington, DE. Register by Mar. 3
by calling 1-302-730-4000.
6 - Kent Co. Horticulture Lecture Series, 10-11:30 a.m.,
Kent County Public Library, Chestertown “Food Gardening For Fun For Pollinators & People.” Register: 410778-1661 or email vclrkstn@umd.edu.
10 - Farm Bill Workshop for MD producers, 9:30 a.m.3:00 p.m., HEAT Center, Aberdeen, MD. To register,
call UME Cecil Co. 410-996-5280. $10.00.
10 - Field Crops and Pasture IPM Workshop, 6:00-9:00
p.m., Anne Arundel Extension office, Gambrills, MD.
Call 410-222-3906.
11 – Private Pesticide Applicator Exam, 1:00-3:00 p.m.,
UME Wicomico Co. Call 410-749-6141 to register.
12 - Private Pesticide Applicator Training, 7-9 p.m., UME
Caroline Co., Denton. Call 410-479-4030 to register.
12 – Southern MD GAP training, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., St.
Mary’s Ag Services Ctr., Leonardtown, MD Call Ben
Beale: 301-475-4481 or beale@umd.edu.
13 - Kent Co. Horticulture Lecture Series, 10-11:30 a.m.,
Kent County Public Library, Chestertown “Straw Bale
Gardening.” Register 410-778-1661 or vclrkstn@umd.edu.
14 - Small Farm Spring Workshop Series, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.,
Swine Facility classroom, UMES.
17 - Grain Marketing Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Tilghman
Terrace, Centreville, MD. $2/person: coffee, donuts, etc.
17 - Lower Eastern Shore GAP training, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.,
Wicomico Co. Extension Office, Salisbury, MD. Call Jarrod
Miller, 410-651-1350 or jarrod@umd.edu.
18 - Annual Cooperators’ Dinner, Kent Soil & Water Conservation District, 6:00 p.m. social; dinner at 7:00 p.m.
Pre-register by MARCH 9. Call for reservation form.
18 - Central MD GAP Training, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.,
Carroll Co. Extension Office, Westminster, MD. Call Bryan
Butler, 410-386-2760 or bbutler@umd.edu.
19 - Private Pesticide Applicator Exam, 7-9 p.m., UME
Caroline Co. Denton. Call 410-479-4030 to register.
20 - Kent Co. Horticulture Lecture Series, 10-11:30 a.m.,
Kent County Public Library, Chestertown “Simply Orchids.”
Register 410-778-1661 or email vclrkstn@umd.edu.
20 - Advanced Food Safety Training for GAP certified
growers, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., MDA, Annapolis. Call Sherry
Weygant, 410-841-5769 or Shery.Weygant@maryland.gov
21 - Kent County Farm Bureau Banquet, 6:30 p.m., Kitty
Knight House, 14028 Aug.-Her. Hwy., Georgetown, MD. $26.
24 - 25 Mid Atlantic Nutrition Conference, 8:00 a.m.,
North Baltimore Plaza Hotel, Annapolis, MD
25 - Western MD GAP training, 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.,
Washington Co. Ext. Office, Boonsboro, MD. Call Leslie Hart,
301-432-4782, lhart@washco-md.net.
25 - Sustainable Bioenergy Cropping Systems, 9:00 a.m.
- 4:15 p.m., College Park, MD. Call Bahram Momen 301405-1332.
27 - Queen Anne’s Co. Farm Bureau Banquet, Ruthsburg
Community Center, Centreville, MD.
27 - Kent Co. Horticulture Lecture Series, 10-11:30 a.m.,
Kent County Public Library, Chestertown “How To Save
Seeds From Your Favorite Plants.” Register by call 410778-1661 or email vclrkstn@umd.edu.
31 - Grain Marketing Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Tilghman
Terrace, Centreville, MD. $2/person: coffee, donuts, etc.
APRIL 2015:
4 - Wye Angus Sale, Wye Research & Ed Center, 124
Wye Narrows Dr., Queenstown, MD. Contact Edward C.
Draper, Program Manager, 410-827-6016,
edraper@umd.edu; agresearch.umd.edu/wye/angus
18 - FREE household hazardous Waste drop-off, Latex
Paint recycling & Electronics Recycling Day! 8:00
a.m.- 2:00 p.m. rain or shine. Nicholson Drop-Off
Center, 23750 Larney Nick Rd., Chestertown (Kent
County). Limited to Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s and
Talbot Counties.
FARM BUREAU BANQUETS
CECIL COUNTY
Annual banquet is scheduled to be held Friday,
March 13th, Rising Sun Fire Hall.
KENT COUNTY
Annual banquet is scheduled to be held Saturday,
March 21, 2015, 6:30 p.m., Kitty Knight House,
Georgetown MD. Tickets in advance. $26. Call Kara:
410-778-4763 or 443-235-0900.
QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY
Annual Banquet is scheduled to be held on Friday,
March 27, 2015, Ruthsburg Community Center, 231
Ruthsburg Rd., Centreville, MD. Please mark your
calendars.
Small Farm Spring Workshop Series.
This year’s series comprises three workshops, beginning with a “How to Understand the Soil in Your
Field, Pasture and Garden” workshop on March 14
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Swine Facility classroom
at UMES. Participants will learn about the physical,
chemical and biological properties of soils as well as
how to maintain soil quality. A March 28 workshop,
from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. answers the question, “What
Cut Flowers Should You Grow for Your Operation?” Information about the different varieties of flower crops
and the production techniques involved with growing
and selling cut flowers will be offered. The “High
Tunnel Cool Season Crop Production” workshop is
reserved for Saturday, April 18. It begins at 10 a.m.
and concludes at 12 noon on the Pereyra Farm in
Newark, MD. Participants can expect to learn the
basics of high tunnel systems. In addition, USDA
representatives will be on hand to offer information
about financial assistance programs that can help
implement conservation practices to address natural
resource concerns. To register online, visit http://
smallfarmworkshopseries.eventbrite.com
Questions and/or to register by phone, call 410-6516070/6210 or send an email to ssallen@umes.edu or
mce@umes.edu.
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Crop Budgets
The University of Maryland Extension has updated www.extension.umd.edu/grainmarketing
site with new input data for 2015 crop budgets.
Cost of production is very important when making decisions related to your farm enterprise and grain
marketing. Enterprise budgets provide valuable information regarding individual enterprises on the farm.
This tool enables farm managers to make decisions regarding enterprises and plan for the coming production year. An enterprise budget uses farm revenue, variable cost, fixed cost and net income to provide a
clear picture of the financial health of each farm enterprise.
The 2015 Maryland enterprise budgets were developed using average yields and estimated input cost based
upon producer and farm supplier data. The figures presented are averages and vary greatly from one farm
and region to the other. It is therefore crucial to input actual farm data when completing enterprise budgets for your farm.
How to Use University Enterprise Budgets
The enterprise budgets can be used as a baseline for your operation. Make changes to these budgets to
include your production techniques, inputs and overall management. The budgets are available electronically in PDF or Excel online at www.extension.umd.edu/grainmarketing. Use this document as a start or
reference to create your crop budgets. If you have problems downloading any of these budgets contact information is located on the website.
Cost Per Acre
Corn - No Till
Corn - Conventional
2007
$362.40
$379.40
2008
$470.72
$515.34
2009
$521.49
$539.81
2010
$525.26
$530.09
2011
$568.66
$569.32
2012
$572.54
$573.21
2013
$552.86
$588.64
2014
$506.66
$545.52
2015
$589.64
$585.36
** Historical Chart is based on prices in the January - March of each year
Soybeans
$234.26
$307.12
$410.69
$405.77
$348.06
$355.69
$350.10
$364.77
$357.51
Wheat
$309.27
$390.14
$406.20
$407.26
$436.75
$433.19
$442.31
$427.35
$439.52
Wheat/Beans
$395.89
$562.34
$630.51
$640.60
$653.83
$655.56
$669.60
$662.17
$659.73
2015 Custom Rate Survey Now Available
Financial and economic considerations such as limited capital, untimely cash flow, insufficient labor, small acreage or other
reasons require farmers to hire custom service for field operations. Custom work charges are determined by demand and
supply and are negotiated between farmers and custom operators. The purpose of the publication is to provide information on
custom work charges in Maryland and to provide data to assist in decision making regarding purchasing equipment.
Custom Work Charges
A mail survey was conducted in the fall of 2014 to determine custom works charges in Maryland. Rates were collected from
77 custom operators and farmers, and summarized for the state. Participants indicated the rates they charge for various field
operations. The charges reported in this publication may serve as a guide in determining an acceptable rate for a particular job
where little other information is available. The charges can also be compared with costs and returns and may be used as a
basis for working out more equitable charges for both the custom operator and customer. These are available online at
www.extension.umd.edu/grainmarketing or contact your local Extension Office.
Maryland Honeybee Working Group
The Maryland Honeybee Working Group membership represents a statewide partnership of organizations
and individuals interested in engaging in and supporting research to address the plight of honeybees and
other pollinators in Maryland. There are two newly posted articles at the Extension IPM website:
http://extension.umd.edu/ipm
Protecting Plants and Pollinators - Part I Protecting Plants and Pollinators - Part II
Dept. of Entomology MD Honeybee Working Group: http://entomology.umd.edu/extension/
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New Grower Training
Poultry Farm Management for New & Existing Growers
The University of Maryland Extension has created a one-day workshop for new poultry farmers on
Delmarva focusing on poultry farm management and will be held Thursday, March 5, 2015. 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 to take back to the farm for future reference. Certificate of completion will be awarded to each
participant.
Registration cost of $30 includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and materials.
What:
New Grower Training
Poultry Farm Management for New & Existing Growers
When:
8:30 AM - 3:00 PM, Thursday, March 5, 2015
Where:
University of Maryland’s Somerset County Extension Office 30730 Park
Drive, Princess Anne, MD 21853
Contacts:
Jon Moyle, Poultry Specialist, 410-742-1178 x309, jmoyle@umd.edu or Jenny Rhodes, Extension
Educator, 410-758-0166 jrhodes@umd.edu
Please register by contacting: Sheila Oscar at 410-742-1178 or email her at soscar@umd.edu OR Shelia Shorter at
410-758-0166, sshorter@umd.edu.
This workshop is open to all. **If you will need special assistance, please register and let
us know two weeks before the date. See more at: http://extension.umd.edu/news/events
Sustainable Bioenergy Cropping Systems
Date:
Time:
Location:
March 25, 2015
9:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
1420 ANSC/Ag Engineering Building, Environmental Science & Technology, Dept.,
University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
Cost: Free
Purpose: Advanced energy (bioenergy) mandates and economic incentives are driving interest in growing high
yielding annual or perennial energy crops. While using our best land to grow advanced energy crops may not be a logical choice, the question is how can the economic benefits of growing plants for energy and bio-based products be
balanced by the environmental concerns? This program is part of several multi-state workshops in Maryland,
Michigan, and Ohio to educate professionals including extension educators, conservation district staff, NRCS staff,
Graduate students, Farm Bureau members and Farm leaders to equip them with science-based knowledge, teaching
materials, and assessment tools. If you plan to attend contact Bahram Momen (301 405 1332, bmomen@umd.edu).
For direction and parking permit contact Mrs. Tina Scites (301 405 1198, tscites@umd.ed) before making your trip.
Annual Mid-Atlantic Nutrition Conference
Toxic compounds in feed, weeds, and pasture grasses will be the subject of the Equine Session at this year’s 13th
Annual Mid-Atlantic Nutrition Conference to be held on March 24 & 25, 2015, 8:00 a.m., North Baltimore Plaza
Hotel, in Timonium, MD. This is a great opportunity for horse farm operators, feed industry representatives, veterinarians, and academics to learn more about the hidden dangers lurking in horse pastures and horse feed. The day
kicks off with a veterinary toxicologist discussing the characteristics of toxic plants, their effects on horses, and symptoms horse owners should look for. Next, participants will hear several veterinarians discussing real life case studies
of toxicities in horses. Participants will also learn how to control toxic plants and weeds on the farm. After a warm
lunch, participants will get an update on non-structural carbohydrates in pasture and how their overconsumption
might lead to metabolic disease in horses. Lastly, the day concludes with a discussion of toxic compounds that may be
found in horse feed and the disorders that they may cause. This is a must attend event for anyone serious about managing horses for optimal health.
Online registration and program information is available at www.manc.umd.edu. Reserve your hotel room
by February 28th to receive the reduced nightly rate of $107 plus tax.
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Sustainable Agriculture Tuesdays 2015
At the Institute of Applied Agriculture
6:00 p.m., Jull Hall 1123, College Park, MD
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March 3: Introduction to Permaculture
Lincoln Smith, Forested
Michael Carmichael, Arboretum and Botanical Garden, University of Maryland
March 10: Saving the Chesapeake Bay: The Role of the Maryland Grazers Network
Rob Schnabel, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Maryland Grazers Network
March 24: Crossroads Community Food Network: Connecting the Dots in our Local Food System
Christie Balch, Crossroads Community Food Network
March 31: Fermentation in the Local Food Movement
Meaghan Carpenter, HEX Ferments
April 7: Aquaponics
Mchezaji “Che” Axum, Muirkirk Farm, Center for Urban Agriculture & Gardening Education, University of the
District of Columbia
April 21: The “How” and “Why” of Organic: Certification, Labels, and Standards
Betsy Rakola, National Organic Program, USDA
April 28: Certified Humane Labeling
Emily Thomas, Humane Farm Animal Care
Sustainable Agriculture Tuesdays are part of the campus-wide Sustainable Tuesdays lecture series, co-sponsored by the
Institute of Applied Agriculture, the School of Architecture, and the Office of Sustainability
The Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center (MREDC)
announces the addition of three online resources
1. Food Processing-Cottage Food Industry-Business Law and Labeling & Packaging. A “cottage food product” is a
non-hazardous food that is sold at a farmer’s market or public event. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) must adopt specified regulations to carry out Cottage Law. Get all the resources and facts about the
law, labeling and packaging at this new resource on MREDC.
https://www.extension.umd.edu/mredc/specialty-modules/cottage-food-business-law-md
Two enterprises trending in Maryland and beyond are honey bee enterprises and hops production. Varying
circumstances make for great growth potential of these enterprises in Maryland!
2. Honey Bee Enterprise Resource https://www.extension.umd.edu/mredc/specialty-modules/honey-bee-enterprise
3. Hop Production Resource Page https://www.extension.umd.edu/mredc/specialty-modules/hop-production
Enjoy and please share these new resources from the Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center!
Ginger S. Myers, Director, Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center University of Maryland Extension
Marketing Specialist Western Maryland Research and Education Center, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD
21756 301-432-2767 Fax- 301-432-4089
SPOTTED LANTERN FLY
New invasive pest, potentially destructive to grapes and fruit, detected in Pennsylvania
By Grzegorz Krawczyk, Extension Tree Fruit Entomologist; Email: gxk13@psu.edu
On November 3, 2014 the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced
the discovery of a new invasive insect species, spotted lanternfly, Lycorna delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae).
This new species of fulgorid hopper (i.e., planthoppers), also known under the
name of spot clothing wax cicada, is native to China and South-East Asia where
it has one generation per season. Both nymphs and adults are known to feed on
wood (sap feeding) of multiple tree species including fruit trees and grapes.
NON-PROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT NO. 157
CHESTERTOWN, MD
University of Maryland Extension
Kent County
709 Morgnec Road, Ste. 202
Chestertown, MD 21620
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 University 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 ~ Contact 410-778-1661
Queen Anne’s County ~ Jennifer Rhodes at 410-758-0166 or jrhodes@umd.edu
AG MARKETING NEWSLETTER
The Winter 2015 issue of the “Ag Marketing Newsletter” has been posted on the web at:
http://extension.umd.edu/news/newsletters/ag-marketing-newsletter-winter-2015
Topics in this issue include: Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program Grant Writing Workshop,
Networking, Create Easy Ways for Customers to Share Word-of-Mouth, Is Your Written Business Plan a
Useless Document? Updated Guide to USDA Program by SARE, Annual Farmers Market Conference
Registration.
The newsletter is now available to be viewed on Issuu© a user friendly platform for reading online,
especially on tablets. As always, this publication is available in a downloadable PDF. If you have questions
or comments about this publication or have clients or colleagues that would value receiving it as well, please
contact Ginger Myers at gsmyers@umd.edu.
SAVE THE DATE!
North American Manure Expo
July 14, 2015 -Tour Day, July 15, 2015 - Expo Day
Chambersburg, PA
Details in upcoming Agline issues.
ATTENTION KENT COUNTY AGLINE RECIPIENTS!!!!
Kent County is planning to transition distribution of this newsletter to email. We have email addresses for many of you. We ask that everyone who has an email address and is receiving this newsletter
via regular mail please contact the Kent office at 410-778-1661 or email Verna at vclrkstn@umd.edu
and give her your email address; for those who do not have an email address, we will send via USPS.