Hello, Harford County!
University of
Maryland Extension
Harford County Office
P.O. Box 663
2335 Rock Spring Road
Forest Hill, MD 21050
(410) 638-3255
M—F 8:00 a.m—4:30 p.m.
harford.umd.edu
facebook.com/HarfordAg
Sara BhaduriHauck
Ag Extension Educator
sbh@umd.edu
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
New USDA Microloan
Program
2
New Colt on Campus
3
Guide to Seed
Treatment
Stewardship
4
Dairy Princess
Candidates Sought
5
New Phosphorus
Management Tool
6
Maryland Gourd
Festival
7
Clover Tea
7
It seems that nowadays there is a “day” for
everything: February 21 is National Tortilla
Chip Day, July 16 is International Juggling
Day, and June 9 is Donald Duck Day. And, of
course, there are many others! With all these
“days” it’s easy for National Agriculture
Day—which was celebrated on March 19
this year—to be overlooked.
Rest assured, though, that Ag Day did not
go overlooked in Harford County. With the
help of contacts set up by our Farm
Bureau, I was able to schedule a visit with
each fourth grade class at Meadowvale
Elementary School in Havre de Grace. My
purpose was to bring National Ag Day to
those students in the form of a fun and
interactive science lesson about soils.
In our hour together, I shared with the
students five soil samples that I had
taken from different places around my
house: pasture, garden, woods, stream,
and a fallow area. Those who work the
land can probably conjure up an image
of what each of these soils might look
like. But a ten year old with no
experience outside of the dirt of his or
her own backyard doesn’t even know
there are different types of soil!
When I asked the students to share
observations about the first sample I
showed them, they said things like, “it
looks like normal dirt.” But by the end
of the lesson I heard comments like
“this soil is more sandy” and “that soil
has more organic matter.”
The activity we completed involved
adding water to a soil sample, shaking it,
and allowing the soil to settle. The soil
particles will settle in layers with the sand
at the bottom, the silt in the middle, and
the clay on the top. The students then
could measure each
layer and create a pie
chart showing the
relative percentages of
each component in
each sample. Some of
the students were so
enthralled with the
activity
that
they National Ag Day
promised to try it with was March 19. How
soil
from
their did you celebrate?
backyards when they got home!
At the end of the day, I left the school
physically exhausted (apparently I am not
cut out to be an elementary school
teacher!) but entirely fulfilled. I know that
others in the county also visited schools,
and some may have celebrated Ag Day in
other ways. I hope those folks found Ag Day
to be just as satisfying as I did!
You might think it’s hokey for agriculture to
have a “day.” And maybe it is. But it’s a
reason for the rest of the country to take
notice of what we’re doing in agriculture,
which allows us the opportunity to share
our stories with an audience who is
listening.
Now that Ag Day 2013 has just passed,
there’s plenty of time to plan for Ag Day
2014. Ag Day efforts on the national level
are coordinated by the Agriculture Council
of America; for those interested in
organizing activities on the local level, ACA
provides a myriad of resources on their
website. Check out www.agday.org for
event ideas, planning tips, promotional
materials, media kit, and a variety of
teaching resources.
Wishing you a safe and successful spring
season!
Sincerely,
Fruit and Vegetable Headline News
News—
—Early Edition Available
Fruit and Vegetable Headline News is published by University of
Maryland Extension bi-weekly during the growing season. Check
out this season’s early edition! Articles include:
Virus Infections in the 2012-2013 Strawberry Crop
Early Strawberry Monitoring Can Pay Off Season Long
Vegetable Fungicide Update for 2013
Pruning Season
GMO Corn: To Stack, or Not to Stack. That is the Question!
Contact the Harford County Extension Office to obtain a copy.
Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations
University of Maryland Extension’s guidebook of recommendations for
commercial vegetable production is now available! This publication
includes information about general production, soil and nutrient
management, irrigation management, pesticide safety, pest
management, insect resistance and control, records, and additional
resources for the great variety of vegetable crops grown in Maryland.
This is a thorough and detailed resource for growers but is not
intended for use by home gardeners. Access the publication online at
mdvegetables.umd.edu/files/EB-236_2013RecGuide.pdf
or
visit
http://extension.udel.edu/ag/vegetable-fruit-resources/commercialvegetable-production-recommendations/ for the same publication in
a more interactive format.
USDA Finalizes New Microloan Program
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recently announced a new microloan program
designed to help small and family operations, beginning, and socially disadvantaged farmers secure
loans under $35,000. Funds can be used to pay for initial start-up expenses such as hoop houses,
irrigation, livestock, land, and delivery vehicles and annual expenses such as seed, utilities, land rents,
and marketing. Funds may also be used to construct buildings or make farm improvements. The new
microloan program is aimed at bolstering the progress of producers through their start-up years by
providing needed resources and helping to increase equity so that farmers may eventually graduate to
commercial credit and expand their operations. The microloan program will also provide a less
burdensome, more simplified application process in comparison to traditional farm loans. The interest
rate for microloans changes monthly but is currently at 1.25 percent. USDA’s microloans are being
administered through the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Harford County producers interested in applying
for a microloan should contact the Harford FSA office at 410-838-3950 .
Rock Star Status for New Colt on Campus
By Sara Gavin, Communications Coordinator for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
If you’ve been by the
Campus Farm in the last
couple of weeks, you may
have noticed a crowd
clamoring for a glimpse
of the newest member of
the
Terrapin
family
frolicking outside the
horse
barn:
a
thoroughbred colt born
in the early morning hours of March 8 as
students and faculty watched on in wonder.
“It was the most exhausting but rewarding
experience,” says junior animal science major
Steven Moirano. “It was just incredible.”
Students like Moirano enrolled in an equine
reproduction course were on “foal watch” for
several days and nights prior to the colt’s arrival,
sleeping inside the barn or the farm’s small office
building. “All of a sudden it was happening and
within 15 minutes the foal was out on the
ground,” says senior animal science major Kristen
Brady, who witnessed the foal stand and take his
first steps within 30 minutes of his birth. “People
don’t realize how much more productive a foal is
than a baby being born. You can literally watch
him learn everything within the first couple of
hours.”
Since the colt’s arrival, crowds have been queued
outside the horse paddock, fascinated by the
“little” guy, who weighed in at 153 pounds at just
four days old. Even construction workers are
flocking to the farm fences to watch the colt
gallop like he’s already training for the Kentucky
Derby.
This marks the first time in three decades a foal
has been born on the university’s Campus Farm.
The practice was somewhat common before
roughly the mid-80s, when the Campus Farm had
more acreage. However, Dr. Amy Burk,
coordinator of the equine studies program in the
Department of Animal and Avian Sciences
(ANSC), has been working for the past several
years to bring foals back to campus.
“Not only is this going to make our Equine
Studies Program better but it’s going to make
people more aware of the horse-breeding
industry – in particular Thoroughbreds – which to
me is the most rewarding part of working with
horses,” says Burk.
Animal science students have been involved with
the entire process of preparing the horses to foal
and bringing them to campus. In order to
overcome space constraints on the Campus
Farm, two pregnant mares were kept on a
demonstration farm in Clarksville, Md. where
research is being conducted on the effects of
rotational grazing on pasture management. The
mares were transported to campus about a
month before the first – named Cassie – was due
to give birth. (Pictured below: Cassie and her colt)
“They moved here beautifully,” says Brady, who
assisted Dr. Burk with the plan for relocating the
mares from Clarksville. “A ton of things could
have gone wrong with moving them and
introducing them to new horses and they
handled it all with grace.”
The yet-to-be-named Thoroughbred colt was
born at 6:48 on the morning of the first big Spring
Open House for high school students admitted to
UMD for the upcoming fall semester. Many of the
UMD animal science students acted like nervous
parents, anticipating how the foal – and his
mother – would react to the lines of people
streaming by to sneak a peek.
eventually invite the campus community to vote
for their favorite. He’ll soon have a friend to frolic
with too as another mare, named Amazin’, is due
to give birth April 7 on campus, setting up round
two of “foal watch.”
The young chestnut brown colt will remain on “The horse barn is just filled with so many people
campus throughout the fall semester so that with joy and excitement so it’s really lightened
students can continue to work with him. Faculty, everybody’s spirits and put a smile on people’s
staff and students within ANSC are compiling a faces,” says Burk.
list of suggested names for him and will
US Eventing Association Seeks Communications Assistant
The United States Eventing Association is seeking a
communications assistant to be primarily responsible for assisting
with the promotion and marketing of the USEA and its programs
and coordination and fulfilling contracts with USEA sponsors. The
position will involve some travel to provide on-grounds support for
the American Eventing Championships and media coverage for
some Gold Cup competitions. In addition, the successful candidate
will have the ability to assist with updating and maintaining the
USEA website. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree,
be well organized, deadline-oriented, and creative with excellent
written and verbal skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs is required. Knowledge of the sport is
an advantage. Please send cover letter, resume, and writing samples to: USEA, Inc., Old Waterford
Road NW, Leesburg Virginia 20176, or e-mail to hr@useventing.com.
Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship Available
The Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship is now available online at:
seed-treatment-guide.com
This publication is the product of industry-wide collaboration between seed companies, seed treatment
providers, and universities and draws from data collected worldwide. Jointly produced by the American
Seed Trade Association and CropLife America, its purpose is to provide farmers and seed companies
with critical information and up-to-date guidelines for managing
treated seeds effectively to minimize the risk of exposure to
non-target organisms. As seed treatment technology advances,
more resources are developed and the needs of the seed and
crop production value chain evolve, the guide will be updates to
ensure the latest in seed treatment management information
for seed companies and growers. The guide has been endorsed
by the National Corn Growers Association, American Farm
Bureau Foundation, and the American Soybean Association.
MD Nursery and Landscape Association Scholarships
The Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) will be awarding two
$2,500 scholarships for college students enrolled in an ornamental horticulture or
landscape program. Applicants must be Maryland residents but need not attend a
Maryland institution; be current college juniors, seniors, or graduate students; and
have a minimum GPA of 2.7 with a minimum of 3.0 within the major classes.
Applications are due May 1. To obtain an application, visit www.mnlaonline.org or
call the MNLA office at 410-823-8684.
The MNLA website also includes scholarship information for awards offered by the Maryland
Agricultural Education Foundation, Maryland Greenhouse Growers’ Association, and the Southern
Nursery Association. Visit www.mnlaonline.org for more details!
MAEF Sponsoring Calendar Contest for Students
The Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation (MAEF) invites
students in grades kindergarten through 12 to submit an
illustration for their 2013-2014 sixteen-month calendar. Contest
rules and registration form can be found online at
www.maefonline.com
under
the
Elementary
Programs link; scroll down to Calendar Poster Contest
for more information and forms. The deadline is April
30. Cash prizes will be awarded to 18 winners.
Maryland Dairy Princess Candidates and Maids Sought
The Maryland Dairy Princess Association is seeking candidates for the 2013 Maryland Dairy Princess.
Dairy princesses visit fairs, schools, grocery stores and more promoting milk, dairy products, and the
dairy industry. Candidates must maintain residency in Maryland (may attend an out-of-state college);
own at least one dairy animal in a 4-H or FFA project and/or be enrolled for at least two years in a
dairy-related project, OR be a daughter of a dairy farmer, dairy farm manager, or employee in a dairyrelated industry or be employed herself as one of the above; be 16 years old or turn 16 during 2013
but not reach her 22nd birthday by December 31. Candidates may not hold a county Farm Bureau or
dairy breed queen/princess title that would cross over for more than three months. The dairy
princess will be expected to attend a dairy princess seminar July 10-12 in Pennsylvania. The
association is also seeking dairy maids; ladies between the ages of 13-16 are eligible. Dairy princesses
are chosen to represent their county or region, and each county or regional princess goes forward to
compete in the Maryland Dairy Princess Contest July 16-17 in Frederick. Interested candidates may
contact Laurie Savage at 301-349-0750 or LaurieZSavage@aol.com by April 24.
The New Univ. of Maryland Phosphorus Management Tool
By Nicole Fiorellino, PhD Student
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland
Nutrient management regulations have been
changing in the state of Maryland, and changes to
the Phosphorus Site Index (PSI) are among these.
The most noticeable update is the name change:
the PSI will now be known as the University of
Maryland Phosphorus Management Tool (PMT).
This change was intentional as the focus of the
PMT is management and how management
changes affect nutrient loss.
For a field to have a high PSI score, there has to be
both a source of P and a P transport pathway. The
current index is multiplicative, meaning the source
component is multiplied by the transport
component. Therefore, both source and transport
components have to be high for the final score to be
high.
After observing the results of many Maryland PSI
scores over several years, it was found that PSI
scores were not accurately representing what was
happening in some areas of the state. These results
prompted modification of the PSI being used in
Maryland.
The PSI was designed as a management decision
tool for farmers. If a farmer had a load of manure
that needed to be spread, the PSI could be used to
decide how much manure should be spread on
each field. Less nutrients would be applied to fields
The major modification to the Maryland PSI is that
with a higher risk of phosphorus (P) loss.
the equation for calculating scores has been
In order to decrease nutrients entering the adjusted. As explained above, the current PSI is
Chesapeake Bay, some cutoff value (or critical value) multiplicative: the equation multiplies the source
must exist. Theoretically, the addition of nutrients component by the transport component. The
above this critical value would cause nutrient loss to modified PSI equation, conversely, is additive. It
surface water. In the past it was thought that a field begins by examining the three P transport pathways
with high soil P, determined by a soil test, would (dissolved, particulate, subsurface) separately. Each
have a risk of P loss to surface water. However, we transport pathway is multiplied by the source factor,
now know that high soil P is not the only factor and then those three products are added together.
contributing to P loss. Not all fields are equal when This allows for the final PSI score to be high when
it comes to losing P to surface water. Therefore, only one transport pathway dominates P loss and,
using a critical value to make nutrient thus, more accurately predicts risk of P loss.
recommendations could result in the application of
Additional changes include removal of the “Very
P to fields with the highest risk of P loss.
High” interpretative category, leaving three
For this reason, the Maryland PSI was originally categories remaining (low, medium, high). All
designed to calculate relative risk, meaning it nutrient recommendations are now based on P
identifies which fields on a farm have a higher risk management.
for P loss. It does not calculate how much P could be
A draft of the MD PMT has been published in the
lost from a field. Each state has their own version of
Maryland Register. Modifications are not yet
the PSI, and some states present their results as a
complete, but the final version of the PMT could be
quantity of P loss. In Maryland, however, PSI results
completed as soon as this summer.
are reported only as a relative risk of loss.
If you have any questions about new regulations,
The PSI is used instead of a critical value to restrict
please contact Dr. Joshua McGrath, University of
nutrient application because it more correctly
Maryland Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management
assesses the risk of P loss in individual fields by
Specialist, at mcgrathj@umd.edu.
identifying which fields on a farm have the greatest
risk of P loss.
Congrats to Annie’s Project 2013 Graduates!
On March 21, Harford County’s second class of Annie’s
Project participants successfully completed the eightweek course. Congratulations to these eight ladies!
Annie’s Project is a business planning and risk
management class designed to give farm women the
networks, resources, and tools they need to be
successful partners in the farm business. Registration
for the 2014 class will open in November 2013.
Maryland Gourd Festival
April 26-28, 2013
This event, sponsored by the Harford
Community College Gourd Club, will
Harford Community College
offer workshops, vendors, and a
Chesapeake Center Dining Room silent auction of gourd products to
Bel Air, MD
benefit the college’s youth arts
scholarship fund. Admission to the festival is free; fees apply to hands-on
workshops. To register for a workshop, or for more information about the
festival, visit www.gourdday.org. For questions, contact Susan Zanella at
410-557-0900 or prsonline@comcast.net.
Clover Tea
April 28, 2013
North Harford High
School
agriculture
students will offer a 9:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m.
variety of vegetables,
North Harford High
herbs, annual and
Pylesville, MD
perennial flowers, and
hanging baskets. Proceeds benefit the school’s
agriculture education program.
May 4, 2013
2:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m.
Deer Creek Overlook
Street, MD
You are invited to the inaugural Clover Tea to
benefit the Harford County 4-H Camp improvement
projects. A variety of teas will be served along with
a mixed herb green salad, scones with assorted
spreads, tea sandwiches, and desserts. Door prizes
and musical entertainment will also be provided.
Wear your favorite spring hat! To reserve your
table of 8, send $120 to Harford County 4-H Clubs
Inc., PO Box 70, Forest Hill MD 21050. For more
information, call 410-838-1779 or e-mail
events@deercreekoverlook.com.
Jeff Myers
Area Extension Director
Harford, Baltimore,
and Carroll Counties
NHHS Plant Sale
Sara Meagher BhaduriHauck
Faculty Extension Assistant
Agriculture and
Natural Resources
sbh@umd.edu
harford.umd.edu
facebook.com/HarfordAg
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