~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CARROLL SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT CONSERVATION NEWS AND 2013 ANNUAL REPORT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN As I begin my annual message, I would like to reflect on the accomplishments of the District in 2013. BMP’s were installed with EQIP funds for a total of $1,894,812 dollars and 98 BMP’s were installed using Maryland Agricultural Cost Share funds. The Ag community continue pace on the BMP installation. This is a reflection of how Best Management Practices not only improve water quality and protect the environment, but improve the efficiency of agriculture education. As I have expressed in years past, this reflects how serious the ag community is in implementing best management practices to protect the environment and improve farming operations. The conservation acres also provide economic benefits within our community for contractors and suppliers. The District this year recognized Wilview Farms as Cooperator of the Year. Mr. Engel recognizes the importance of protecting the environment while making the ag operation more efficient. In closing, I will encourage everyone who is involved with crop and livestock operations, if you don’t already work with Soil Conservation to contact the District office. Yours in conservation, Board Chairman Myron Frock 1 DISTRICT EMPLOYEE’S CELEBRATE MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES STOP BY TO SAY HELLO TO OUR NEW EMPLOYEES 25 YEARS OF SERVICE BRETT SATTAZAHN AND SAMANTHA SPENCER District Administrative Assistant Marilyn Magin and Board Chairman Myron Frock Marilyn started with the District in 1988 as secretary and in 1995 became the Administrative Assistant. In addition to carrying out the normal office duties, she keeps the District’s financial records and administers the Maryland Agricultural Cost-Share (MACS) program. Brett Sattazahn BRETT SATTAZAHN 15 YEARS OF SERVICE Brett Sattazahn is the new District Planner who began working here February 14, 2013. Brett grew up in a dairy farm in Berks County, PA , where he learned he wanted to work close to farmers. To pursue this goal, he attended the Pennsylvania State University and majored in Environmental Resource Management in the Soil Science option. At school he got to learn a great deal about, and witness, many conservation practices. He also learned a great deal about soils. Now residing in Littlestown, Brett enjoys playing softball and being outside. He also enjoys history and community events. Brett looks forward to working with Carroll County farmers and helping to keep soil from becoming dirt. District Soil Conservation Planner Michael Tracey and Board Chairman Myron Frock Michael Tracey, Soil Conservation Planner, has been working with the District since 1998 and has fifteen years of experience in writing soil conservation and water quality plans. 2 2013 COOPORATOR OF THE YEAR WILVIEW FARMS Sam Spencer Hugh, Becky and Jeff Engel, Missy Edmonds, Technician, Board Chairman Myron Frock and Matt McMahon, Planner SAMANTHA SPENCER Jeff and Karen Engel own and operate a 147 acre dairy farm in Keymar, MD. In addition to producing high quality milk since the early 1990’s, the Engels grow grain and forage crops on their own farm and additional rented acreage. Samantha “Sam” Spencer joined us in May of 2013 as an MDA Technician. Originally from Sharpsburg, MD, she graduated from West Virginia University in 2011 with a degree in agriculture. While attending WVU, she was a member of the soils team for 2 years. Sam worked for the West Virginia Department of Agriculture as a Nutrient Management specialist for a little over a year, and worked at the Washington County Soil Conservation District as a grant technician before coming here. Sam is planning a spring 2014 wedding and lives in Westminster. Good stewardship of the land and protection of natural resources have always been a priority for the Engels, as evident by the numerous best management practices they have implemented within their operation throughout the years. Hard work and dedication to the protection of soil and water quality make the Engels very deserving of the Cooperator of the Year award for 2013. ENVIROTHON 2013 On April 24, 2013, we sponsored the Carroll County Envirothon at Bear Branch Nature Center. Eight teams, totaling 48 students participated. RURAL LEGACY PROGRAM In 2013, Rural Legacy grant funds were used by the County to purchase four easements totaling 175 acres. The total number of easements purchased with Rural Legacy grant funds are 43, covering 3,889 acres. Carroll County and the Carroll Soil Conservation District will continue their efforts to preserve productive farmland and protect resources in the Little Pipe Creek and Upper Patapsco watersheds. The 2013 Carroll Envirothon Program included a day of instruction with training in giving presentations and a day of testing in the resource areas of aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and achieving balance between traditional agricultural uses with non-agricultural uses on Montana rangeland. The venturing crew headed to the Maryland Envirothon where they placed second. 3 RENTAL EQUIPMENT MARYLAND INCOME TAX SUBTRACTION MODIFICATION FOR CONSERVATION EQUIPMENT The District has the following planting equipment available for farmers for no-till, minimum till & injector spreading. The equipment is available to adjacent counties in both Maryland and Pennsylvania within a 20 mile radius of Westminster. The Maryland Income Tax Subtraction Modification for Conservation Equipment is available to help farmers offset costs associated with buying certain types of conservation equipment to control soil erosion, manage nutrients and protect water quality in streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. A taxpayer is allowed a subtraction on his/her individual or corporate Maryland Tax Return equal to 100 percent of the cost of buying and installing conservation tillage equipment, liquid manure injection equipment, and poultry or livestock manure spreading equipment. Contact the District to obtain a certification form and information about eligibility requirements JOHN DEERE NO-TILL DRILL The John Deere 1590 No-till Drill is leased by the District from Finch Services of Westminster. It is a new 2014 Model 10’ pull-type drill with an overall transport width of 10’6”. It has 7” row spacing between 16 individual seed units. It has a total weight of 6900 pounds. It will seed almost any seed by no-till, minimum to conventional with a 70 or better horsepower tractor. It is rented for $12.50/ac. with a $60 minimum. It has both a main seed box and small grass seed hopper. BD 1307 FRONTIER DRILL URBAN - 2013 The BD1307 Frontier Drill is owned by the District and was purchased new in 2009 from Finch’s in Westminster. It is a 7.5’ pull-type drill with an overall transport width of 7.5’. It has 7” row spacing between 12 individual seed units. It has a total weight of 3360 pounds. This seeder is capable of seeding no-till, minimum till and conventionally. You will need a 40 or better horsepower tractor to operate it. It has both a main seed box and a small grass seed hopper. It is rented for $9/ac. with a $40 minimum. Soil erosion & sediment control plans reviewed (includes multiple reviews) Soil erosion & sediment control plans approved Urban ponds Forest harvest operation sediment control 1,500 GALLON BADGER LIQUID WASTE TANK INJECTOR SPREADER This manure injector spreader is owned by the District. It was financed through a Chesapeake Bay grant thru the St. Mary’s Soil Conservation District and transferred to the Carroll SCD in 2000. It is equipped with a vacuum pump for loading and unloading. It is also equipped with injectors but can be operated through a spreader plate. The tank spreader is available at $25 per day. 4 158 62 6 22 BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMP’S) DISTRICT EQUIPMENT (Acres planted with equipment) John Deere No-Till Drill Alfalfa Buckwheat Oats Frontier No-Till Drill 19.8 56.9 3.6 4.5 94.0 48.4 20.0 53.5 7.5 23.8 Orchard Grass 144.6 Pasture Mix Rye Sorghum Soybeans 4.7 154.3 Sudan Grass Tillage Radish Timothy Wheat Totals Access Control Agrichemical Facility Closure of Waste Impound Conservation Cover Conservation Crop Rotation Contour Farming Critical Area Planting Diversion Fencing Filter Strip Forage & Biomass Planting Grade Stabilization Structure Grassed Waterway Heavy Use Area Protection Irrigation Systems Nutrient Management Prescribed Grazing Residue & Tillage Mgmt Riparian Forest Buffer Riparian Herbaceous Cover Roof Runoff Structure Seasonal High Tunnel Sediment Control Pond Stream Crossing Subsurface Drainage Underground Outlet Upland Wildlife Habitat Waste Storage Structure Watering Facility Waste Facility Closure Watering Facility 75.1 9.7 85.8 494.0 312.2 CONSERVATION WORK COMPLETED AGRICULTURE New Farm Plan Revised Farm Plans Total Plans No. 121 48 169 Ac. 8,503 5,468 13,971 5 75.1 1 1 75.9 2,289 27.8 1.1 1,417 61,149 8.6 37 1 22.8 1.63 16 1,093.3 1 1,733 64.8 26.5 24 5,678 1 9 16,016 2,330 21 9 17 2 17 Ac No No Ac Ac Ac Ac Ft Ft Ac Ac. St Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac No Sq Ft St St Ft Ft Ac St No No No Program Highlights - Board moved to keep same slate of officers and committee appointments - The Board selected the 2013 District Cooperator of the Year – Wilview Farms. - Venturing Crew 202 Team won the 2013 Carroll Envirothon in the annual event. Forty seven high school students from seven high schools and one Scout Troop took part. - Board sponsored $480 for 4-H Camp for the benefit of the Carroll County 4-H Youth Development Program. - $100 contribution to the University of Maryland Soil Judging Team. - Board approved agreement with NRCS for 5 year Statement of Work. - Board moved to contribute $100 to the Walkersville FFA Chapter Land Judging Team. - The Board approved 2 new computers that can be set up on the NRCS system. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Myron R. Frock, Chairman Gregory W. Dell, Vice Chairman Donald Maring, Treasurer Nevin Garvick, Member Matt Hoff, Member ASSOCIATE SUPERVISORS Lawrence Meeks Richard Weaver ASSISTING STAFF MARYLAND COOPERATIVE EXTENSION – CARROLL COUNTY Bryan Butler, Extension Liaison, Extension Agent CARROLL SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT (CSCD) Jennifer Kemp – Soil Conservation Technician Marilyn M. Magin - Administrative Assistant Stan D. Pennington - Soil Conservation Planner Brett Sattazahn – Grant Planner Bryan H. Snyder - Sediment Control Planner Gay A. Teada - Secretary Michael A. Tracey - Soil Conservation Planner MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (MDA) RESOURCE CONSERVATION OPERATIONS (RC) Charles E. Null, Jr. - District Manager Terry L. Coblentz - Soil Conservation Engineering Technician Melissa S. Edmonds - Soil Conservation Associate Matthew D. McMahon - Soil Conservation Planner Mike Scheffel – Soil Conservation Planner Noah L. Schaeffer - Soil Conservation Associate Samantha Spencer – Soil Conservation Technician UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS) Eric N. Hines - District Conservationist Lori A. Ashbaugh - Soil Conservation Technician Website address: www.carrollsoil.com 6