Farm Notes September 2012 PESTICIDE APPLICATOR RECERTIFICATION In This Issue …….. Pesticide Applicator Recertification ................................. 1 Become A MD Certified Private Pesticide Applicator ..... 1 WMREC Fruit & Vegetable Twilight Meeting ................ 2 2012 Producer Grant Program .......................................... 2 Farmers In The Kitchen .................................................... 3 Grants To Help Farmers/Ranchers Adapt To Drought ..... 3 Technology Tuesdays Webinar Series .............................. 4 The Woods In Your Backyard Book ................................ 6 What Other Care Does Your Horse Need? ....................... 7 Dairy Herd Performance Tools Online ............................. 7 Dairy Management Site .................................................... 8 Don’t Rush Winter Wheat Establishment ......................... 8 Fall Fertilization of Forage Crops..................................... 8 Farm To Table Marketing................................................. 9 Get Ready For Corn Silage Harvest ............................... 10 Grain Storage & Maintenance Saves Quality ................. 11 More Heat-Less Firewood .............................................. 11 New App For Income Over Feed Costs .......................... 12 Plan Your Strategy For Cereal Grain Health Now.......... 13 Show Me The Money Strategies For Dairy Farms ......... 14 Maryland Crop Insurance News ..................................... 15 MEA Announces Energy Efficiency Program ................ 15 Dates To Remember ....................................................... 16 Brochures If your Maryland Pesticide License will expire on December 31, 2012 it is time to attend recertification training. To facilitate RECERTIFICATION your Carroll County Extension office will have two separate RECERTIFICATION opportunities for you to attend - Rooms K, A, and B. They will be November 20, 2012, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, and February 12, 2013, 10am – Noon. Preregistration one week in advance is required. Call (410-386-2760) in early to reserve your space as seating is limited and goes quickly. Be sure to bring your Pesticide License Number with you. A third opportunity for Pesticide Recertification is being offered on December 6, 2012, 8:30am-3:30pm at the Northern Maryland Field Crops Day at Friendly Farms, Upperco, Maryland. More information on this meeting will follow in future issues of Farm Notes. BECOME A MARYLAND CERTIFIED PRIVATE PESTICIDE APPLICATOR If you have allowed your Private Pesticide Applicator Certification to expire or are a new applicant, then you are invited to attend the Private Pesticide Applicator Certification Training and Examination. It’s a three step process: Step 1: Register for the training by calling 410-386-2760 at least one week before training date. Stop by the Carroll County Extension Office (or any University of Maryland Extension office) to pick up a copy of the new Maryland Pesticide Applicator Core Manual. Read the manual and go over the review questions at the end of each chapter and practice exam. 1 Step 2: Private Applicator Certification Training will be conducted at the Carroll County Extension Office (Room B) from 6:00 pm -- 8:00 pm on October 9, 2012. Step 3: Private Pesticide Applicator Exam will be given at the Carroll County Extension Office (Library) from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm on October 16, 2012. OR Step 2: Private Applicator Certification Training will be conducted at the Carroll County Extension Office (Room K, A, and B) from 10:00 am – Noon on March 5, 2013. Step 3: Private Pesticide Applicator Exam will be given at the Carroll County Extension Office (Rooms K, A, and B) from 10:00 am – Noon on March 12, 2013. WMREC FRUIT AND VEGETABLE TWILIGHT MEETING When: September 27, 2012 5:00pm – 7:30pm Where: Western Maryland Research and Education Center (WMREC) 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756 What: An educational meeting intended to provide producers the opportunity to get a first-hand look at the University of Maryland’s research facility near Keedysville, MD. Please see the attached flyer for more information and registration. Source: Bryan Butler, UME Agent, Northern Maryland Cluster 2012 VALUE ADDED PRODUCER GRANT PROGRAM USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service has announced the 2012 Value Added Producer Grant Program (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-08-15/pdf/2012-20082.pdf) and http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_VAPG.html. The primary objective of this grant program is to help Independent Producers of agricultural commodities, Agriculture Producer Groups, Farmer and Rancher Cooperatives, and Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Business Ventures enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of biobased value-added agricultural products. Proposals can be up to $300,000 (requires 1:1 match) and are due October 15, 2012. More information can be found at the above URL and the Delaware Maryland Office: USDA Rural Development State Office, 1221 College Park Drive, Suite 200, Dover, DE 19904, (302) 857–3580/TDD (302) 857–3585. In 2011, nine Maryland awards were made for more than $1.2 million and included dairies, vineyards and wineries, and a livestock operation. Source: Andy Lazur, Assistant Director, Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Leader, University of Maryland Extension, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources 2 FARMERS IN THE KITCHEN - CONNECTING MEAT PRODUCERS WITH PROFESSIONAL CHEFS When: October 18, 2012, 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM Where: The Universities at Shady Grove, 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Building 2, Room 1012 and the Bon Appetite Management Kitchen, Rockville, Maryland 20850 Registration - $20 per person or $15 for more than one person per farm If you’re raising meat on your farm and are interested in selling to restaurant or institutional chefs, then plan to attend this half-day seminar. For more information (agenda and registration) visit: http://www.agmarketing.umd.edu/Documents/Brochure_Meats_Farm_To_Table(2).pdf Source: Ginger S. Myers, Marketing Specialist, University of Maryland Extension, Director, Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center NRCS ANNOUNCING GRANTS TO HELP FARMERS, RANCHERS ADAPT TO DROUGHT The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently announced the availability of up to $5 million in grants to evaluate and demonstrate agricultural practices that help farmers and ranchers adapt to drought. NRCS is taking applications for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to help producers build resiliency into their production systems so they can adapt to climatic extremes, such as the historic drought impacting the nation. NRCS is offering the grants to partnering entities to evaluate innovative, field-based conservation technologies and approaches. These technologies and/or approaches should lead to improvements such as enhancing the water-holding capacity in soils and installing drought-tolerant grazing systems, which will help farms and ranches become more resilient to drought. Grant applications are due Oct. 15, 2012. Private individuals, Tribes, local and state governments and nongovernmental organizations can apply. Funds will be awarded through a competitive grants process for projects lasting for one to three years. Apply electronically at www.grants.gov/ or contact the NRCS National CIG office at (703) 235-8065. NRCS is especially interested in projects that demonstrate: • • • • • • • • Cropping or grazing systems that increase resiliency to drought through improved soil health; Increases in available soil water holding capacity by enhancing organic matter with reduced tillage, cover crops and organic amendments; Improvements in water use efficiency for agricultural production; Coordination with NRCS Plant Material Centers in using drought resistant plants and practices; Recommendations for appropriate nutrient management following an extended drought; Analysis on a regional basis of how agricultural production and conservation systems faired during drought conditions; Agricultural approaches that flourished in low-precipitation areas; Traditional/historical production practices that have proven effective in dealing with drought; 3 • • • Alternative feeding systems for confined animal operations that incorporate novel drought-tolerant feedstocks; Alternative housing or cooling systems for improved energy efficiency and better climate control in confined animal operations; and Technologies that reduce water use in confined animal operations. View the complete Announcement of Program Funding at www.grants.gov or http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cig/. For more information about NRCS conservation programs online, visit: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov, or visit your local USDA Service Center. Source: USDA TECHNOLOGY TUESDAYS WEBINAR SERIES About the Series: Technology Tuesdays is a series of free online workshops available to anyone with a computer and an internet connection. Designed for dairy producers, their employees and advisers, the focus of this year’s Technology Tuesdays webinar series is “Dairy Systems Planning and Building.” All sessions are held 8:30-10:00 a.m. (EDT/EST.) The dairy system consists of all the physical bricks and mortar items on the dairy. The animal housing and milking system are a big part of this as are manure handling and storage, feed handling and storage, transition and special cows, and youngstock. While each of these individual components has unique design considerations, they must all be integrated into a complete system. The design of this system will affect the overall efficiency of the dairy and, therefore, the bottom line of the business. Time spent to properly plan is time well invested in the business. Series Schedule: September 11, 2012: Getting a Dairy System Plan in Place Dairy system planning needs to start at the 10,000 foot level where the design of the individual pieces isn’t as important as the integration of the pieces into a total system designed to meet the individual needs and management style of the operation. That is where “Bubble Planning” comes in to play. After you have an idea of what you are looking for in the system, you can move on to site selection and planning the individual bricks and mortar pieces of the puzzle. The total area needed to site the dairy, group types and sizes to be housed, and how regulations such as storm water control, CAO/CAFO, odors, etc. are also important to your plan. Presented by Dan McFarland and John Tyson, Penn State Extension engineers. October 9, 2012: What Housing Type(s) Suit Your Needs? There are many housing types from freestalls and tie stalls to bedded packs that all can be used for housing various groups and numbers. The integration of housing type and style with milking and animal handling is critical in developing an efficient dairy system plan. Topics will include freestall, tie stall and bedded pack characteristics, grouping strategies, matching parlor size, animal handling, and special needs animals. Presented by: Dan McFarland and John Tyson, Penn State Extension engineers. November 20, 2012: What Manure System Meets Your Needs? The development of a manure handling, treatment, and storage strategy is a critical part of the dairy system. Often, decisions about the manure handling system also affect the housing type of the dairy. Topics will include bedding type, methods for manure removal and storage, possible treatment systems, and possible CAO/CAFO issues. Program led by Dr. Robert Graves, professor emeritus, Penn State Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and Heather Smeltz, PE, Natural Resource Conservation Service agricultural engineer. December 11, 2012: Milking Center Layout and Components The milking center is often the focal point of the dairy operation. Animal traffic and handling will influence labor efficiency and overall milking time. Topics include animal and worker traffic, animal sorting, treatment and 4 handling; parlor stall/type options; ventilation; and how to incorporate other areas for equipment, offices and employees. Presented by Dan McFarland and John Tyson, Penn State Extension engineers. January 8, 2013: Youngstock Housing Needs A good youngstock raising program is essential to the continued success of any dairy operation. The system must compliment the individual dairy’s needs and management style. Topics include determining system size, group sizes, calf and heifer housing alternatives, animal treatment and management needs, designing a total system and evaluating usefulness of existing facilities. Presented by Dr. Jud Heinrichs, professor Penn State Department of Animal Science; Dan McFarland and John Tyson, Penn State Extension Engineers. January 22, 2013: Using the “Team Design Approach” Two heads are better than one, and when it comes to designing a dairy system it takes even more. Using a team when planning your dairy lets you get the best ideas from all your advisors at once. Learn how to put a team together and who should be on that team. Also learn what some of those members, like the lender, want to see during the planning process. Program led by Rob Goodling, Extension associate, Penn State Department of Animal Science, and Tim Beck, extension educator. February 12, 2013: Compost Bedded Pack Barns Learn what it takes to design and manage a successful compost bedded pack for milking cows. Topics will include area requirements, the need for aeration, and managing the composting process. Presented by Dr. Jeffrey Bewley and Dr. Joseph Taraba from the University of Kentucky. February 26, 2013: Transition Cow Housing and Management Transitioning cows from the dry period into and through early lactation has a huge effect on the overall production and health of the entire herd. Topics include why transition is needed, housing options, proper sizing of the facilities, and justifying the expense to your lender. Presented by Dr. Robert VanSaun, Penn State Extension veterinarian, and John Tyson, Penn State Extension engineer. March 12, 2013: Animal Welfare and the Dairy Industry Animal welfare continues to be a hot topic in not just the dairy industry but in animal agriculture in general. We will discuss the importance of third party evaluations and the relationship between the score, cow comfort, and production. Other topics will include the health care needs of the herd and lameness cause and effect. Presented by Dan McFarland and John Tyson, Penn State Extension engineers, along with the Penn State Extension veterinarians. March 26, 2013: Feed Storage and Handling System Design Feed is a large expense for the dairy operation. The storage and handling of that feed is critical to getting the most production out of that feed. Discussion will include designing and managing the feed system and fitting it into the overall dairy system, storage types, shrink, biosecurity and safety. Presenters will be announced. April 9, 2013: The Use of Existing Buildings Do existing facilities fit into your dairy systems plan? What types of upgrades would be needed to make the facilities productive and how do you evaluate management and construction costs and benefits of remodeling? These are all questions that must be answered before taking on a remodeling project. Program led by Dan McFarland and John Tyson, Penn State Extension engineers. May 14, 2013: Building Structures that Last The building of new dairy facilities is a huge investment that will hopefully be part of the operation for many years to come. So what does it take to make that investment last? Discussion will include proper building loads, building material types and installation methods and suggestions. Impact of building construction and type on future modifications to accept changing management needs will also be considered. Program led by Dan McFarland and John Tyson, Penn State Extension engineers. 5 Webinar Access Information: You will need a computer with high-speed internet connection and speakers in order to see and hear the presentations. Registration: Registration is free of charge. Advance registration is required. Your advance registration must be completed no later than noon the day preceding the first session that you wish to attend. Upon registering, you will receive information about accessing the training site. You need only register for the series once to attend as many sessions as you wish. You may register by phone at 888-373-7232. Recordings: Unable to attend one of our webinars? You may return to this website at your leisure to view a recording of the session after it is held. Archived recordings can be viewed, below. SmartStart Credits: This webinar series qualifies for SmartStart credits from AgChoice Farm Credit, as follows: • • • • • Participate in 2-4 webinars - 1 SmartStart credit Participate in 5-6 webinars - 2 SmartStart credits Participate in 7-8 webinars - 3 SmartStart credits Participate in 9-10 webinars - 4 SmartStart credits Participate in 11-12 webinars - 5 SmartStart credits Contact: For more information, call the Penn State Extension Dairy Team Office at 888-373-7232 or contact Dan McFarland at dfm6@psu.edu or John Tyson at jtt107@psu.edu Archived Webinars - Recordings and Materials from Past Sessions Source: Penn State Extension Dairy Team THE WOODS IN YOUR BACKYARD: LEARNING TO CREATE AND ENHANCE NATURAL AREAS AROUND YOUR HOME (NRAES-184) The Woods in Your Backyard: Learning to Create and Enhance Natural Areas around Your Home, NRAES-184, promotes the stewardship of small parcels of land for the personal enjoyment of the owners and improved environmental quality for society. This book is geared towards owners of 1-10 acres of land that is forested or has un-mowed natural areas and to owners interested in turning mowed lawn area into a forest. The book is available from Plant and Life Sciences Publishing (PALS), formerly NRAES. You can purchase The Woods in Your Backyard with a credit card on the secure Web site, palspublishing.cals.cornell.edu. The cost is $24.00 plus $6.00 for shipping and handling. New York residents add 8% sales tax ($2.40) or provide a tax-exempt certificate. Quantity discounts are available. For more information or other payment options, call PALS (formerly NRAES) at 607-255-7654, email palspublishing@cornell.edu, or visit the Web site. Please do not include your credit card information in an email. For more information, visit palspublishing.cals.cornell.edu. Scroll down the home page for a link to the books description and ordering information. Source: PALS 6 BUT WHAT OTHER CARE DOES YOUR HORSE NEED? You feed, groom, and exercise your horse every day. But what other care does your horse need? Learn about the routine care your horse requires – including veterinary, farrier, and dental care – straight from local professionals. Class speakers will include Dr. Anna Snarski, large animal veterinarian; Chris Diehl, AFA Certified Journeyman Farrier; and Paul Drake, equine dentist. Class will meet from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Harford County Extension Office in Forest Hill, MD on September 11, 18, and 25. (This is a three-session class; plan to attend all sessions.) Registration is $15 per person. Deadline is September 7, but register early as space is limited. To register, call 410-638-3255 or e-mail sbh@umd.edu. Source: Sara Meagher BhaduriHauck, Faculty Extension Assistant, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland Extension DAIRY HERD PERFORMANCE TOOLS AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR FARMERS Dairy farmers have the opportunity to compare the health and production performance of their herd with other herds around the country as the result of a recent research project from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Approximately 200 organic and 100 size-matched conventional dairy farms across the U.S. were recruited to participate in a recent study examining the impact of organic management on animal health and well-being. Dr. Pamela Ruegg, UW Dairy Science professor and Extension milk quality specialist, and her research team visited each farm to collect herd health records, milk samples, body condition scores, disease treatments, usage of veterinarians, livestock housing, feed, and routine milking procedures. Researchers selected indicators of animal health, such as somatic cell counts, and identified the management practices of the participating farms that were most closely associated with better herd health. The project team created individualized benchmark reports for each farm based on their scores. These reports collectively became the database for a new suite of interactive herd performance tools available online to all dairy farmers. The online tools compare: somatic cell counts, milk production, percentages of milk fat and protein, clinical mastitis in the herd and culling rates. Any dairy farmer can use these tools and select a variety of management practices, herd characteristics and other farm criteria of which to compare his or her herd. Farmers have the option of storing their herd’s information into the system. As more and more farmers do so, the database will dynamically grow from the original 300 dairy farms—continuously providing the most up-to-date results. Creating a forum for dairy farmers to compare the performance of their herd to other herds is empowering since herd health can influence overall farm income. The peer benchmarking approach helps farmers identify areas of strength and weakness on their individual farms and set performance goals for their herd, such as improved diagnosis of future health-related problems and increased milk production. The herd performance tools are featured on the UW Milk Quality website. UW Milk Quality is an online collaboration between Dr. Pamela Ruegg and Dr. Doug Reinemann, professor and director of the UW Milking Research and Instruction Lab, geared toward helping dairy producers best manage herd health and milking systems. Hyperlink: http://milkquality.wisc.edu Source: Media Contact, Nikki Lennart, 608.265.9746, nmlennart@wisc.edu 7 DAIRY MANAGEMENT Dairy Management site is designed to support dairy farming decision-making focusing on model-based scientific research. The ultimate goal is to provide user-friendly computerized decision support systems to help dairy farms improve their economic performance. Dr. Victor Cabrera focuses on model-based decision support in dairy cattle and in dairy farm production systems. Dr. Cabrera's primary interest is to improve cost-efficiency and profitability along with environmental stewardship in dairy farms by using simulation techniques, artificial intelligence, and expert systems. Dr. Cabrera's research and Extension programs involve interdisciplinary and participatory approaches towards the creation of user-friendly decision support systems. As an Extension Specialist, Dr. Cabrera works in close relationships with county-based Extension faculty, dairy producers, consultants, and related industry. http://dairymgt.uwex.edu/index.php Source: Victor E. Cabrera, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Extension Specialist Dairy Management, University of Wisconsin Extension DON’T RUSH WINTER WHEAT ESTABLISHMENT A reminder not to get too anxious when it comes to establishing small grain stands. As our growing season for corn and soybeans begins to wind down, focusing on establishing another crop of winter small grains begins. Producers should be reminded not to get too anxious when it comes to establishment timing of small grain stands. I usually get a few calls each year asking what the “fly-free date” is for our county. For decades, farmers were advised to plant after that date to avoid trouble with the Hessian fly. The flies of the fall brood appear in late September and live for only about one week. They lay their eggs on the leaves of young wheat plants. The fly-free date typically occurs after peak emergence of the Hessian fly. If the flies emerge and die off before the new wheat plants are up the crop cannot be infested. Another management option would be to select Hessian fly resistant varieties of small grains. However, other pest management benefits are also associated with planting wheat after the fly-free date. Several viral and fungal diseases are much more prevalent in wheat that is planted prior to the fly-free date. Ohio State has indicated long-term average yields are highest for wheat planted during a 10-day period following the fly-free date. Of course, it’s usually not the case that you’ll be able to get all of your crop in the ground within a few days…mother nature, equipment failure, or a long list of other things can throw a monkey wrench into your plans! But, it is important to be as timely as possible to insure that seedlings have sufficient time and warm weather to develop a strong root system and multiple tillers. Once 10 days have passed beyond the fly-free date, yield potential tends to decline at least one bushel for each additional day of delay. Click here for a list of the fly-free date for your county. Source: Dwane Miller, County Extension Director, Schuylkill County, PNST FALL FERTILIZATION OF FORAGE CROPS In the late summer and fall, K especially becomes a nutrient of agronomic concern. The principal nutrients of concern for legume forages are P and K. An alfalfa crop, for example, removes approximately 15 lb P2O5 and 50 lb K2O per ton of hay equivalent yield and at a typical yield of 5 ton/acre, it 8 will remove/require a total of 75 lbs P2O5 and 250 lbs K2O /acre, respectively. This removal is built into the soil test recommendations. However, if yields are higher than anticipated when the soil test was run, even if the recommended nutrients have been applied earlier in the year, additional maintenance applications of P and K may need to be made to replace the higher removal. Fall is an excellent time to make this adjustment. In the late summer and fall, K especially becomes a nutrient of agronomic concern. Potassium in the plant is largely found in the sap serving as a regulator of numerous metabolic processes. A major benefit of sufficient K in the soil is winter hardiness provided it is available in time for uptake by the crop before dormancy occurs. Thus, if soil test levels are in the low optimum or below optimum range, K should be applied in the fall because this should help to improve winter survival for the long term benefit of the stand. Legumes are not generally considered to be a good place for manure application mainly because the N in the manure is wasted on legumes so this reduces the economic return to the manure application. Also, there are concerns with stand injury and the possibility of increased weed pressure. However, if it is necessary to apply manure to legume fields, fall is the best time to do it. This is a way to supply the additional P and K that might be required, there is less chance of stimulating weeds, and there is good cover in these fields in the fall, over the winter and early spring to minimize nutrient losses to the environment. Usually we give priority to older stands for manure application because they typically are more depleted in nutrients and if there are some negative effects from the manure application, there will be less long term impact on a stand that will soon be rotated compared to a new seeding. We want to make sure that we replace the removal of K if needed, but not overdo it because alfalfa is a luxury consumer of K. This means that if there is extra K available because soils are already high in K or unnecessary K applications are made, the crop will take it up whether it needs it or not. This can result in unnecessary fertilizer expense, high K levels in the forage, and less K available for future uptake. If the field has not been soil tested recently, this would be an excellent time to take a sample. Sampling now will indicate whether soil K levels have been depleted to the point where a fall fertilizer application is necessary. On the other hand, regardless of higher yield, if the soil reserves are still adequate the soil test can help reduce the cost of an unnecessary fertilizer application. Source: Doug Beegle, Soil Fertility Specialist, PNST Extension FARM-TO-TABLE MARKETING TRAINING COMING FOR MARYLAND’S FARM-RAISED MEAT PRODUCERS The University of Maryland Extension’s Agricultural Marketing Program is pleased to announce it has received grant funding from the Northeast Center for Risk Management (NECRME) for a new project to assist farm-raised meat producers in Maryland. The “Managing Risks in the Farm to Table Marketing Model for Small Farm Meat Producers in Maryland” project will provide participants— producers, Extension Educators, and any other Agricultural Service Providers attending— a total overview of the farm-to-table marketing model from birth to sales. Although many producers also raise poultry, these sales require an entirely different set of regulations and outlets and will not be included in this project. Through a series of workshops and one-on-one consultations, Maryland’s farm-raised meat producers will have an opportunity to expand their knowledge and tools for making informed decisions about their product development— production and processing, select the best marketing venues for their products, drastically shorten the learning curve on strategies for farm-to-table sales, and how to avoid regulatory and food safety compliance problems that may be costly and perhaps even detrimental to the farm’s operations. Planned workshops include: 9 Working with Chefs and Institutional Sales— training with Susan Callahan, Chef Instructor and Lecturer, University of Maryland Eastern Shore at The Universities at Shady Grove, Rockville, Maryland. Working with a USDA Processor— tour and training at Smucker’s Meats, LLC, Mount Joy, PA. Workshop—Diversified Marketing and Pricing Strategies for Farm-Raised Meats. Individualized Marketing Plans- One-on-one consultation with producers to develop at customized marketing plan for their operation. The project team includes farmers already successfully engaged in marketing their meats, coordinators for groups such as the MD Grazers’ Network and Future Harvest, professionals including a USDA processor and a teaching chef. Ginger Myers, gsmyers@umd.edu, is the project coordinator for “Managing Risks in the Farm to Table Marketing Model for Small Farm Meat Producers in Maryland” and Michael Heller, mheller@cbf.org, is the assistant coordinator. Training sessions will begin this fall. If you would like to receive announcements concerning dates, registrations, and participation in this training, please send your contact information to Susan Barnes at sbarnes6@umd.edu Source: Ginger S. Myers, Western Maryland Research & Education Center GET READY FOR CORN SILAGE HARVEST Early reports note that many hybrids are at drier whole plant moistures than anticipated by producers. All across PA corn silage harvest has been going on for the past 2 weeks in some locations. In many of these early harvest areas the 2012 drought was the reason for early harvest but now crop maturity is driving the harvest of the well-developed crop. Early reports from producers and consultants are noting that many hybrids are at drier whole plant moistures than anticipated by producers. This can lead to many challenges at filling and feed out. Be certain to check your hybrids quickly to be certain that moisture levels are not going to create problems for you at a later date. Depending on storage structure type, corn silage is harvested when whole plant dry matter reaches 30 to 35%. Optimum dry matter content for bunker silos is 33 to 35%; ag bags – 33 to 37%, conventional upright silos – 35 to 38% and oxygen-limiting silos – 40 to 45% dry matter. Proper moisture at harvest is critical and there is a wide variation in the actual moisture of the crop based simply on the milk layer. The most accurate measurement of whole plant moisture is to conduct moisture testing. Begin by taking a few plants from selected fields at dent stage. Run these plants through some type of chopper or lawn mower and thoroughly mix together. Use a Koster tester or a microwave to determine whole plant moisture. This moisture can then be used to predict harvest date. The expected dry down rate for corn silage is 0.5 to 0.6% per day. For example, if your crop moisture levels test at 70% and your target harvest moisture is 65% you need an additional dry down of 5%. Dividing by the dry down rate of 0.5 to 0.6% per day indicates that you can expect to be harvesting in 8 to 10 days. Be sure to test the actual moisture content again at and during harvest. When moisture drops below 60% the rate of dry down increases beyond 0.5%/day and the crop will become too dry for optimum fermentation. Source: Paul Craig, Agriculture Extension Educator, PNST 10 GRAIN STORAGE PREPARATION AND MAINTENANCE SAVES QUALITY Starting out with a clean grain bin free of old, insect-infested grain is essential to getting a good start. Grain harvest is not too far away and with current prices steps to protect grain from insect infestation and preserve grain quality pay off faster than ever. Starting out with a clean grain bin free of old, insect-infested grain is essential to getting a good start, particularly if no other protection will be applied to the grain. Sweeping down the walls of the bin and getting old grain out of the cracks and crevices is essential to prevent problems later. Malathion, Storcide II ™, Tempo Ultra SC ™, Suspend SC ™, Contain ™ and several pyrethrin products can be used to apply a surface treatment to the inside of the bin and provide a residual. Note that on the label for Storcide II there are restrictions on the application method. Chloropicrin is no longer labeled to fumigate underneath false floors and in air ducts. Phostoxin (aluminum phosphide) is the only product that can be used for this purpose. Once the bin has been properly cleaned, it is important to put clean, insect-free new grain in the bin. The first step to accomplish this is to make sure your equipment has been cleaned out before you begin harvesting. Otherwise, you could bring in insects that have been living inside of your combine. Make sure the combine is adjusted to minimize breakage of grain. Whole grain is more difficult for molds and insects to infest and also makes aeration of the bin more efficient. If possible, grain should be run through a cleaner before placement in the bin. Sanitation and surface treatment should be sufficient to control insects for a six to nine month period. If you are not able to clean out the bin or don’t fumigate under floor areas, or if you think the storage period may be longer, application of a residual insecticide to the grain as it goes into storage will help keep insects controlled. Actellic 5E is labeled for this use on corn and sorghum whereas Storcide II is labeled for barley, oats, sorghum, and wheat. Application of methoprene (Diacon II) is also an option and this hormone mimic will prevent larvae from becoming adults, stopping the life cycle. A dust formulation of malathion (check the label) may possibly still be available for treating grain. If you do not treat the whole bin this way you can treat the last load going in with a protectant or mix in a Bt product into the top four to six inches of grain in the bin to control Indian meal moth. During winter months, the cool temperatures keep insect activity in check but as spring approaches and grain temperatures rise above 40–50°, insects can become active and reproduce. If insect populations do develop in your bin, in most cases, your only option is to fumigate. Aluminum or magnesium phosphide is labeled for grain fumigation. You must be a certified applicator to use these products. Remember, fumigation only kills insects that are present and does not provide long—term residual protection. Grain storage insecticide labels have been changing frequently over the last several years. As always, check to make sure you are following the instructions on the product label. Source: John Rowehl, York County Extension, jer2@psu.edu and John Tooker, PSU Entomology Extension Specialist MORE HEAT - LESS FIREWOOD September 20, 2012: Garrett College, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. October 4, 2012: Western Maryland Research and Education Center, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. 11 Are you someone who heats with wood or pellets or is considering heating with wood or pellets? Perhaps you are interested in an inside stove or an outdoor wood boiler. If so, consider attending one of the More Heat Less Firewood sessions in Western Maryland. Firewood is one of the most economical forms of renewable energy available today and the advances made in wood burning technology have dramatically improved efficiency and reduced emissions. The use of wood pellets is increasing as well but many people are unsure how it differs from firewood. Our goal is to educate people who use wood to save money, time, and lessen the environmental impact of wood use through the use of best practices. See attached flyer for more information. Source: Jonathan S. Kays, Extension Specialist Natural Resources , University of Maryland Extension NEW MOBILE APP FOR INCOME OVER FEED COSTS New technologies, such as smartphones and tablets, allow new opportunities to access almost any type of information and data with the simple tap of an app. Penn State’s Extension Dairy Team has developed a mobile app titled DairyCents that offers two features: calculate income over feed costs (IOFC) and feed price comparisons with the Penn State Feed Price List or other users across the country. Funding was provided in part by the USDA-Risk Management Agency. The goal of developing the app was to provide useful information to the user while keeping it very simple. Income over feed cost is determined by taking milk income per cow minus feed cost per cow and addresses only the lactating animals. It is a simple calculation but for most producers requires a lot of inputs because of all the different feeds fed and grouping strategies. The question arose: if using readily available market information to simplify the calculation would it result in a number that was realistic to the more in-depth calculation? Penn State has a very extensive database of feed prices and IOFC for the University dairy herd over multiple years. Starting with market data from 2001, monthly prices for alfalfa hay, milk, corn grain and 48% soybean meal were used to determine feed cost per cow per day on diets developed by Virginia Ishler for cows averaging 65, 75, and 85 pounds of production. The information was graphed over the multiple years and compared to the Penn State dairy’s IOFC. The results showed that trends and interpretations were identical using the simplified version compared to the more in-depth calculation. If a producer wanted to get a sense of what was happening with the markets and how it was affecting IOFC, this app would show similar trends to the more detailed calculation. However, this approach should not replace a farm’s own IOFC as ultimately that is the best measure to determine if feed costs are in line with the herd’s performance. Using the mobile app DairyCents is as easy as entering a zip code, selecting a milk production level, and date and the app will calculate IOFC. The display will show feed cost/cwt, feed cost/cow, gross milk price, milk margin/cwt milk and IOFC/cow/day. Historic data can also be graphed for IOFC, feed cost and milk price starting from January 2012 on either a per cow or per cwt basis. The second feature of DairyCents is allowing the user to compare their purchased feed price to the Penn State Feed Price List and to other users in the database who have purchased the same feed. This section of the app allows the user to track over time how prices of select ingredients are trending. Each month the database will be populated with prices from the Penn State Feed Price List. As more users populate the database with their prices, eventually the user can compare their price paid to not only Pennsylvania but to other users across the country. The inputs are very simple: enter zip code, feed selection, unit, price per unit, number of units 12 purchased and date. Feed Prices can be tracked over time and it can also be graphed against the feed price list and other users. DairyCents is available for free through the app store on iTunes. More information about the app and the calculations can be found at extension.psu.edu/dairycents. Source: Penn State Extension Dairy Team PLAN YOUR STRATEGY FOR CEREAL GRAIN HEALTH NOW Take actions now that will enhance your small grain crop’s health this fall and into the next year. As you start making decisions for your winter small grains, take actions now that will enhance your crop’s health this fall and into the next year. First, be sure to ask your dealer about lines with genetic resistance to some of our important diseases. Several of the breeding companies have offerings that include some level of resistance against powdery mildew, scab, and others. This should be your first consideration in the fight against small grain diseases. Second, take care that the seed you select is clean, undamaged, certified seed. If you choose to use stored seed, avoid seed lots that have not been thoroughly cleaned and those from fields with a history of glume blotch or scab. Low test weights, discoloration and poor germination rates are also causes for concern. Thirdly, give some thought to fungicidal treatments for your seed. These treatments do a good job against pathogens that can be carried over on or in seed like the bunts and smuts, glume blotch and scab. Treatments are also effective at reducing stand and yield loss from seed rots and early season diseases like those caused by Fusarium, Pythium and Rhizoctonia. This can be especially important if planting is delayed and the seed bed is cool and wet. Fungicidal treatments will not provide control of bacterial diseases or viruses. Seed treatment will also not protect your wheat and barley from the head scab that occurs in the spring, it only provides protection for the damping off that may occur at germination as the result of planting some scabby seed. There are a few new products available or on the horizon in terms of seed fungicides. Vibrance (sedaxane) from Syngenta recently received a label for seed treatment use on cereals and is being included in a CruiserMaxx Vibrance Cereals formulation for Rhizoctonia root rot. It looks like this product will replace CruiserMaxx Cereals while Vibrance Extreme will replace Dividend Extreme. From BASF, Acquire is now included with the purchase of Charter F2, which together are purported to control Pythium as well as the bunts and scab. Stamina is another broad spectrum fungicide from BASF that may be included with Charter F2. Meanwhile, Bayer has announced a new fungicide, EverGol Energy (penflufen), for the control of Rhizoctonia, common bunt and smuts. This is slated to be available for the 2013 growing season. It is best to select multiple seed treatments to provide activity against the range of pathogens and added protection from insects. While there is not independent efficacy data yet for some of the new chemistries and formulations, you can find some recent information at Ohio State’s website to help you make your choice. Source: Alyssa Collins, Research Associate, Southeast Ag Research and Extension Center, PNST 13 SHOW ME THE MONEY: STRATEGIES FOR DAIRY FARM PROFITABILITY Penn State research shares strategies used by Pennsylvania's most profitable dairies. Phone Conference Call Series This second installment of the “Show Me The Money” conference call series will focus on specific herd, crop, and business management strategies that can improve dairy farm profitability. The format of the phone calls will be short presentations by Extension specialists and other agribusiness professionals followed by opportunity for questions and discussions. Calls are open to anyone in the dairy industry. Series Schedule: All times are Eastern. September 4, 2012, noon to 1 p.m. AND September 6, 2012; 7 to 8 p.m.: How Much is Your Pregnancy Rate Costing You? Dairy operations are always looking for ways to increase their reproductive performance, but do you know how much it costs if you don’t? Presented by Robert Goodling, Extension associate, Department of Animal Science. The same session will be offered both dates. September 18, 2012, noon to 1 p.m.: Alternative Forages: Are They Profitable? Weather conditions, grain prices, and dwindling forage inventories have many re-evaluating their cropping strategies. Can alternative forages help dairy profitability? Presented by Dr. Greg Roth, professor of agronomy, Penn State Department of Ecosystem Science and Management and Extension grain crops specialist. October 2, 2012, noon to 1 p.m.: Dairy Operations: The Next Generation Transitioning a dairy operation to a new owner or family member can be challenging and stressful. Don’t wait to plan your estate! Find out how to begin planning now to help ease the transition process. Presented by Gary Heim, agricultural law and estate planning attorney, Persun & Heim, P.C. October 16, 2012; noon to 1 p.m.: Risk Management Options for Every Size Farm No matter what the size of the dairy operation, there are risk management options available. Presented by Alan Zepp, risk management program coordinator, Center for Dairy Excellence. November 6, 2012; noon to 1 p.m. AND November 8, 2012; 7 to 8 p.m.: Make Your Team Meetings Count! On-farm team meetings for dairy operations can get stale and seem like treading water rather than improving profits. Whether you are a team member, leader, or dairy owner, join us in a discussion on how to better use data, farm records and key information to “make your team meeting count!” Presented by Dr. Lisa Holden, associate professor of Penn State Department of Animal Science and Rebecca White, Extension research associate. The same session is offered both times. Registration: No fee to participate, but advance registration is required. Upon registering, participants will receive a toll-free phone number to dial into to participate in the call. Register no later than 5 days prior to each call to receive printed materials that will be discussed during the calls. Last-minute registrations will be accepted, but printed materials will only be available to those who register in advance. To register, call toll-free 888-373-7232 . 14 SmartStart Credits: This program is eligible for 1 SmartStart credit from AgChoice Farm Credit. Must attend 3-5 calls to receive credit. Recordings: Audio recordings of past sessions are presented, below, along with materials utilized during each call. Contact: For more information, contact Dr. Lisa Holden, toll-free, at 888-373-7232 or lholden@psu.edu Sponsor: This program is funded through USDA Dairy Profitability Special Grant #2009-34437-19958 Archived Presentations - Recordings of previous presentations and additional resources. Source: Penn State Extension Dairy Team MARYLAND CROP INSURANCE NEWS We’ve made a page for the crop insurance news – please “Like” this page if you are interested in reading articles, learning more, etc… https://www.facebook.com/MDCropInsurance Source: Dr. Lori Lynch, llynch@arec.umd.edu MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES THE KATHLEEN A.P. MATHIAS AGRICULTURE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM Targeted farm program will provide financial assistance to minimize the costs associated with energy efficiency upgrades to farms/businesses in the agriculture sector. The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) announced the Kathleen A. P. MathiasAgriculture Energy Efficiency Program. The program will provide grants to farms/businesses in the agriculture sector to cover up to 75% of the cost of energy efficiency upgrades. Named after the late Kathleen A. P. Mathias, one of the Eastern Shore’s leading advocates and the wife of Maryland State Senator James N. Mathias, the new program is funded through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Buildings program. Under this program, $1 million will be available to farms/businesses in Maryland’s agriculture sector to help plan, implement, and complete the upgrades. Through the Mathias Agriculture Energy Efficiency program, MEA will distribute grants ranging from $25,000 to $200,000 to ease the costs of installing eligible energy efficiency technologies. Farms and businesses in the agriculture sector may apply. Examples include Dairy, Orchard, Poultry/Egg, Greenhouse, Vegetable, Animal, Vineyard, Grain Dryer, Processor, Sawmill, and Aquaculture. The measures must enable a minimum 15% energy savings in the buildings or areas where they are installed. All awards will be after any other incentives have been applied. Of this final amount, MEA will grant up to 75% of the project cost. For more information about this initiative, please visit: http://energy.maryland.gov/Business/mathiasag/index.html Source: Mark S. Powell, Chief, Marketing and Agribusiness Development, Maryland Department of Agriculture 15 DATES TO REMEMBER September 8 2012 Horse Pasture Management Seminar-9 to 3 pm, UMD Equine Rotational Grazing Demo Site, 4241 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, MD, Contact: jenreyn@umd.edu September 27 WMREC Fruit & Vegetable Twilight Meeting-5 to 7:30 pm, Western MD Research & Education Center, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD, Contact: 301-791-1304 or jsemler@umd.edu October 7 26th Annual Horsemen’s Party-2 to 5 pm, Ten Oaks Ballroom, 5000 Signal Bell Lane, Clarksville, MD, Contact: The Maryland 4-H Center at 301-314-9070 October 9 Private Pesticide Applicator Certification Training -6 to 8 pm, Carroll County Extension Office, 700 Agriculture Center, Westminster, Call to register at 410-386-2760 October 16 Private Pesticide Applicator Certification Exam-6 to 8 pm, Carroll County Extension Office, 700 Agriculture Center, Westminster, Call to register at 410-386-2760 November 20 Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification-6 to 8 pm, Carroll County Extension Office, 700 Agriculture Center, Westminster, Call to register at 410-386-2760 December 6 Northern Maryland Field Crops Day- 8:30am-3:30pm, Friendly Farms, Upperco, Maryland, More info to be announced. February 12 Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification-10 to Noon, Carroll County Extension Office, 700 Agriculture Center, Westminster, Call to register at 410-386-2760 March 5 Private Pesticide Applicator Certification Training-10 to Noon, Carroll County Extension Office, 700 Agriculture Center, Westminster, Call to register at 410-386-2760 March 12 Private Pesticide Applicator Certification Exam-10 to Noon, Carroll County Extension Office, 700 Agriculture Center, Westminster, Call to register at 410-386-2760 Visit our web site at http://carroll.umd.edu For more event listings visit http://www.agnr.umd.edu/AGNRCalendar/ Yours for better farming from your Carroll County Agriculture Extension Educators, Michael R. Bell Extension Agent Agriculture & Natural Resources mbell@umd.edu Bryan R. Butler, Sr. Extension Agent Commercial Horticulture/ Mid-MD Tree Fruit bbutlers@umd.edu Steve Allgeier Extension Educator Home Horticulture/ Master Gardener Coordinator hortman@umd.edu If you would like to be removed from our mailing list, please call: 410-386-2760 or 1-888-326-9645. If you have a disability that requires special assistance for your participation in a program please contact the Carroll County Extension Office at 410-386-2760, Fax: 410-876-0132, two weeks prior to the program. The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by University of Maryland Extension is implied. 16 Please join us for an afternoon of great food and company, and both live and silent auctions. Proceeds benefit the Sallie Robertson Memorial 4-H Endowment Fund. Sunday, October 7, 2012 2:00-5:00 pm Ten Oaks Ballroom 5000 Signal Bell Lane Clarksville, MD ~- We will be honoring the -- - --- -- ---------------- I would like to request: 2012 Maryland 4-H Horse Program --- tickets at $30.00/ ea for adults Volunteers of the Year --- tickets at $20.00/ ea for youth (add $10 per ticket after Sept. 20) (13 & under, add $10 per ticket after Sept. 20) Russ & Susan Snyder Name(s) of guests: & Address: _ _ The 2012 Maryland 4-H Horse Program Youth Development Award Winner Kristen Wilson $30 Adults - $20 Youth Add $10 per ticket Phone number: E-mail: _ _ Check one: (13 and under) after September -- I have enclosed a check for a total of $ (Make checks payable to Maryland 4-H Foundation.) __ I would like to pay via credit card. 20th (Please provide information below.) For more information, or if you have any questions, The Maryland Circle one: please 4-H Center contact: at (301) 314-9070 Please return ticket requests by September 20, 2012 to: Maryland Horsemen's Party 8020 Greenmead Dr, College Park, MD 20740 VISA AMERICAN EXPRESS Name on card: MASTERCARD DISCOVER Card Number: Card Expiration _ _ Date: Security Code: Billing Address (if different from above) _ _ UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION Solutions ill YOllr community More Heat - Less Firewood September 20, 2012: Garrett College, 7:00 - 9:00 p. m. October 4, 2012: Western Maryland Research and Education Center, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Are you someone who heats with wood or pellets or is considering heating with wood or pellets? Perhaps you are interested in an inside stove or an outdoor wood boiler. If so, consider attending one of the More Heat - Less Firewood sessions in Western Maryland. Firewood is one ofthe most economical forms of renewable energy available today and the advances made in wood burning technology have dramatically improved efficiency and reduced emissions. The use of wood pellets is increa ing as well but many people are unsure how it differs from firewood. Our goal is to educate people who use wood to save money, time, and lessen the environmental impact of wood use through the use of best practices. Below are some of the topics to be covered, but bring your questions and they will be answered! • Advances in wood energy technology (stove, pellet, and boiler) • • How to buy and install a new wood stove or boiler Buying and storing firewood and pellet • How to properly season (dry) firewood • Increasing the efficiency of wood burning units • • Wood stove audit checklist Outdoor wood boiler research, best practices for sizing, underground waterline insulation, & firewood moisture. • Improvements in wood boiler technology with EPA Phase 2 boilers. Speakers: Jonathan Kays, University of Maryland Extension, Natural Resources Extension Specialist Derrick Bender, University of Maryland Extension, Community Resource & Economic Development Educator Wood stove and/or wood boiler dealer Registration: Cost $5 per person. Make checks payable to University oj Maryland. If you are interested in attending the Garret County program at Garrett College (Continuing Education Bid. Rm. 107) in McHenry Maryland call 301-334-6960 or email SusanCoddington(susanp@umd.edu)nolaterthanMondaySeptemberI7.Mail checks to: Wood Energy, University of Maryland Garrett County, 1916 Maryland highway, Suite A, Mt. Lake Park, MD 21550. If you are interested in attending the Washington County program at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center in Keedysville, MD, call 301-432-2767 x315 or email Pam Thomas (pthomas@umd.edu) no later than Monday October 1. Mail checks to: Wood Energy, University of Maryland, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756. Name Address City, State, Zip Land line phone Cell phone E-mail address # of people attending I Amount Included 1 $ *If you have a disability that requires special assistance for your participation in a program please contact Susan Coddington (301-334-6960) for the Garrett County training and Pam Thomas (301-432-2767) for the Washington County meeting, at least two weeks prior to the program. 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. . Updates from University of Maryland Extension specialists and USDA researchers - Bryan Butler, Galen Dively, Kate Everts, Jerry Brust, Chris Walsh and from USDA Kim Lewers and Starker Wright · The latest on the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug affecting Fruit and Vegetables 6:00 p.m. - 7:JO p.m. · Update on disease and insect control in vegetable crops Western Maryland Research & Education Center 18330 I{e~ville ~~~~~~ Road, KedYsville~D ~~~ ~ • Tour of ongoing projects including: 21756 ~~~~~~~ -Maryland pumpkin spray trials Sandwiches and refreshments This educational meeting is intended will be provided. Registration is to provide producers the opportunity not required, but wiD help us to plan for handouts and to get a first hand look at several of refreshments. the ongoing projects at the Please RSVP to 301-791-1304 University of Maryland's research or jsemler@umd.edu facility near Keedysville, MD. UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND ~ College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Equal opportunity Maryland Agricultural employer -Apple seedling evaluations -Bt sweet corn varieties Questions? Contact Bryan Butler at bbutlers@umd.edu University of Maryland Extension· -New NC 140 cg rootstock Trial planting with Cripp's Pink and Brookfield Gala on G.202 root stock budded directly from tissue culture, G.202, G.935, and G.41 rootstocks all budded from stool bed plants Experiment Station and equal access pragrams or 888-326-9645 ~Jl~ ~ -High tunnel with new strawberry varieties, And more ... If you need special assistance to participate in this program, please contact the University of Maryland Extension Washington County office at 301-791-1304 by September 13, 2012. UNIVERSITY Everyone is invited to participate in the upcoming short course series, Beginning a Successful Small Farm, Part II to be held five Wednesday evenings and one Thursda~ evening, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. from September 51 to October loth. All of the classes will be held at the University of Maryland Extension, Frederick County office, located at 330 Montevue Lane, Frederick, MD. Attending Part I of this series is not a prerequisite for attending Part II. s:: o .~ "C ~.; 0 ~ ·c o:l Q. ~ e!l ~ ~ • 0 .ol Z o ~ .~ !: .•..• 0 <1.l E !;:Q.]\.o o . •.... ~ ct~",-Q. OF MARYLAND EXTENSION Solutions in your community ~:::J o Z This small farm short course is part of the program that has been nationally recognized for its innovation and effectiveness and its educational materials which are currently being used in 38 other states. This program has received three national, three national-finalist, and four regional-finalist awards for its innovative teaching materials and educational achievement over the past six years from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents making it the most outstanding small farm program in the country. Beginning a Successful Small Farm Short Course, Part II This short course series is being presented by University of Maryland Extension and is designed to provide the basic knowledge needed by new farmers as they begin the process of starting their new farming operation, or are just trying to improve their farming skills. Follow-up surveys of previous short course participants have shown that these small farm series have helped participants be more knowledgeable about their farming operations and to have a better understanding offarming as a small business. To register for this course, please either complete the registration form included in this pamphlet and return it promptly to my office, or call 301-600-3576 or email smarouli@umd.edu. Registration is $15.00 for this entire course. Checks should be made payable to Frederick County EAC. --r;£~ Terry E. Poole Principal Agent Emeritus University of Maryland Extension Frederick County Office t:: o .u:i t:: Q) .•...• X ~ -e t:: N ..:::!Q)o >-.t::r-(Ij •.....• I-< ~ 01''' (Ij......lN ~Q)Cl 4-;;:l"" o ;> ~ Q) ...-, .•...• ...:.::~ ""->- University of Maryland Extension Frederick County Office .~ c o VJ 0 .....• I-< Q) "" «: .:::0 t:: ~rrl~ rrl I-< Q) 13 I-< September 5 - October 10, 2012 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m, Beginning a Successful Small Farm, Part II September 5 - October 10,2012 Registration Form Registration is $15.00 for this entire course. Checks should be made payable to Frederick County EAC. To register please call 301-600-3576 or email smarouli@umd.edu or return this form to: Terry E. Poole University of Maryland Extension 330 Montevue Lane Frederick, MD 21702 Space is limited, so register as soon as possible. Name: ------------------------- Address: ------------------------ Ci~: _ State/Zip: _ Telephone: _ Email: ------------------------- 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. Basics of Farming, Part II Short Course September 5 - Pest Management The instructor will provide an overview of the methods of controlling pests, common symptoms, an understanding of pesticides, pesticide safety, selecting a pesticide, and more. September 12 - Ag Smorgasbord The instructor will discuss a variety of topics including season extension to maintain quality, correct harvesting and storing of produce and seeds, inventorying forage, and considerations when developing a farm lease. There will also be a presentation on snakes common to this area. September 19 - Developing a Farm Business A business plan is a key guidepost to farm profitability. The instructor will provide some simple recommendations, which include a workbook and CD, on how to prepare a useable and effective business plan. September 26 - Farm Financial Management The instructor will provide an overview of the "real life" process of developing a farm financial plan that will involve the class in putting together a sample farm balance sheet and cash flow sheet. Upcoming Programs Nutrient Applicator Voucher Training & Recertification November 14,2012 - 10:00 a.m. - Noon or I :00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. There is no fee for this program. Nutrient Management Farmer Training Cert. Become certified to write your own NM plan Oct. 16 - Nov. 6,2012 (7 classes) 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Fee is $20.00 Private Pesticide Applicator Training & Recertification November 7, 2012,10:00 a.m. - Noon - Training I :00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Recertification Nov. 14th 10:00 a.m. - Exam There is no fee for this program. All classes will be held at 330 Montevue Lane, Frederick, MD. October 4 - Grass-Based Livestock Systems The instructor will focus on the development of livestock operations that rely primarily on pasture as animal feed. Fencing and watering systems will be included in the discussion. October 10 - Basics of Feeding Livestock The instructor will provide a look at the available sources and types of animal feed that are currently in the marketplace. Class participants willleam feed analysis, basic ration balancing, and some "dos" and "don'ts" of feeding livestock. If you would like to remain on our mailing list, please call- 301-600-3576 or email smarouli@umd.edu