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Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
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Showing posts with label Ag Carroll Co Ext Service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ag Carroll Co Ext Service. Show all posts

Monday, May 01, 2017

May and June 2017 University of MD Farm Notes


May and June 2017 University of MD Farm Notes

http://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_docs/newsletters/2017-05.pdf

In This Issue ……..

We Need Your Input 1
MDA Regulations For Cattle & Swine For Shows 2
Census Of Agriculture For Farmers & Ranchers 2
Dicamba Tolerant Soybeans 3
PA Counties Designated As Disaster Areas 5
Dates to Remember 6

WE NEED YOUR INPUT!

The University of Maryland Extension (UME) is committed to providing relevant services for members of our agricultural community. In order to provide the best programming UME is conducting a needs assessment of the Northern and Western Maryland agricultural community. The Needs Assessment Survey has been created to understand the issues concerning agriculture and to identify the agricultural and educational needs of the community. We will use this information to focus UME training and resources.

The survey has four main sections 1) industry priorities, concerns and viability, 2) research and education needs, 3) education and training preferences and 4) demographic and farm information. To access the survey go to:

This survey will take about 20 minutes to complete. Your participation will be kept confidential, you can skip any question you want to, and stop at any time. The survey can be completed on a computer or smartphone.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey for Agriculture and Natural Resource Programming, and making your voice heard. It will be open until May 31, 2017. Should you have any questions or additional comments please contact Andy Kness at 410-638-3255.

NEW MDA REGULATIONS FOR CATTLE AND SWINE FOR SHOWS
Becky Ridgeway – 4-H Agent Associate- Carroll County

New for 2017, the Maryland Department of Agriculture has put into place new regulations for cattle and swine exhibitors.  If you plan on showing in ANY Maryland fair or exposition you are required to have a RFID tag placed in ALL cattle and swine ears.  If you are a producer you can obtain a Maryland Premise ID from MDA by contacting 410-841-5810 in order to obtain your own RFID tags.  Having a Maryland Premise ID for RFID tags should be the responsibility of the producer NOT the buyer of the animals.  Tags can be purchased from a variety of different companies (FYI – if you are planning to order your own RFID tags, be aware that many of the tag companies are backordered and it will take some time to receive your tags).  At this time, RFID tags are only required for any cattle or swine that will be shown, this is not required for cattle/swine entering the market. More information on RFID tags can be found at: https://go.umd.edu/RFID  

 USDA Approved AIN “840” RFID Manufacturers 
•        Allflex USA, Inc.
•        Alliance ID (microchips)
•        AVID Identification Systems Inc. (microchips)
•        Datamars, Inc (microchips)      •        Destron Fearing
•        Hana Micron America
•        Leader Products
•        MicroTraks, Inc.
•        Shearwell Data Limited  •        Southfork Solutions Inc.
•        Stockbrands Co. Pty. Ltd.
•        Temple Tag Ltd.
•        Y-Tex Corporation
•        Zee Tags Limited   •       
                      Samples of AIN “840” RFID Ear Tags:

Source: Official Identification Requirements and Information for Exhibition of Cattle and Swine For the 2017 Maryland Fairs and Shows Season

CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE COUNTDOWN BEGINS FOR AMERICA’S FARMERS AND RANCHERS

America’s farmers and ranchers will soon have the opportunity to strongly represent agriculture in their communities and industry by taking part in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Conducted every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the census, to be mailed at the end of this year, is a complete count of all U.S. farms, ranches, and those who operate them.
“The Census of Agriculture remains the only source of uniform, comprehensive, and impartial agriculture data for every county in the nation,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “As such, census results are relied upon heavily by those who serve farmers and rural communities, including federal, state and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations, Extension educators, researchers, and farmers and ranchers themselves.”

The Census of Agriculture highlights land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures, and other topics. The 2012 Census of Agriculture revealed that over three million farmers operated more than two million farms, spanning over 914 million acres. This was a four percent decrease in the number of U.S. farms from the previous census in 2007. However, agriculture sales, income, and expenses increased between 2007 and 2012. This telling information and thousands of other agriculture statistics are a direct result of responses to the Census of Agriculture.

“Today, when data are so important, there is strength in numbers,” said Hamer. “For farmers and ranchers, participation in the 2017 Census of Agriculture is their voice, their future, and their opportunity to shape American agriculture – its policies, services and assistance programs – for years to come.”

Producers who are new to farming or did not receive a Census of Agriculture in 2012 still have time to sign up to receive the 2017 Census of Agriculture report form by visiting agcensus.usda.gov. and clicking on the ‘Make Sure You Are Counted’ button through June. NASS defines a farm as any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the census year (2017).

For more information about the 2017 Census of Agriculture and to see how census data are used, visit agcensus.usda.gov or call (800) 727-9540. Editor’s note - To see the data collected by the 2012 Census of Agriculture for Maryland go to go.umd.edu/MarylandCensus2012.

Source: USDA

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN USING DICAMBA TOLERANT SOYBEANS
This article was originally posted on the University of Maryland Extension Blog on April 10, 2017

Matt Morris, Extension Educator, Frederick County (mjmorris@umd.edu)

Dicamba tolerant soybeans, marketed under the trade name Roundup Ready Xtend will be available to Maryland growers for the 2017 growing season. This line of soybeans will combine previous Roundup Ready technology with a tolerance to the herbicide dicamba. While this new dicamba tolerance may be useful in combatting certain tough-to-control weeds including marestail and palmer amaranth, caution needs to be taken when making applications of dicamba. Problems with dicamba applications may arise due to the sensitivity of certain crops to dicamba. Exposure can occur due to drift, volatility, or a non-target application. Below are some recommendations to consider when utilizing new dicamba tolerant technologies.

Know the location of sensitive crops:

Talk with your neighbors and know where crops such as tomatoes, grapes, alfalfa, and non-tolerant soybeans are located. This will aide in the decision to use dicamba near these crops, especially if a prevailing wind is headed their direction. In addition, buffer zones of 110’ (220’ if a 22oz/ac rate is exceeded), will need to be maintained between dicamba application sites and sensitive crops. To see an incomplete list of some sensitive crops in your area go to: https://go.umd.edu/sensitivecrops

Dicamba type:

The only dicamba products that will be approved for in-crop use with Xtend soybeans will be XtendiMax from Monsanto, FeXapan from Dupont, and Engenia from BASF. These are lower volatility formulations than other dicamba products and are designed for the dicamba tolerant soybeans.

Rates:

Engenia – Dicamba tolerant soybeans – max of 12.8 fl oz/application and 51.2 oz/season.

FeXapan and XtendiMax – Dicamba tolerant soybeans – max of 44 fl oz/preplant application, 22 fl oz/postemergence application, and a max of 88 fl oz/season.

Nozzle selection:

Engenia – Only TTI11004 and TTI11005 are currently approved.
FeXapan and XtendiMax – Apply large droplets with specific nozzles.  Do not use flat fan nozzles that produce driftable fines.  Use TTI11004 or nozzles listed on the EPA-mandated product websites.

Spray adjuvants and water conditioning:

Ammonium sulfate (AMS) CANNOT be mixed with these new dicamba formulations. AMS is commonly used as a water conditioning agent for glyphosate applications. Adding AMS will increase volatility of the dicamba. Also, certain spray adjuvants and herbicide tank mix partners are not compatible with the new dicamba formulations. Always consult the label before mixing.

Recordkeeping:

Always keep records of where you’ve planted dicamba tolerant soybeans. This can help avoid costly misapplications to a crop that is not tolerant to dicamba. It will be extremely important to convey this information to custom application companies or employees on your farm.

Wind speed, temperature, and temperature inversions:

When applying these new dicamba products the optimal wind speed is 3-5 mph. Applications are prohibited when wind speeds are above 15 mph; however, great caution and even stopping spraying when wind speeds are above 10mph would be ideal. As temperature increases so does the volatility of dicamba. Caution should be used when applications are made in hot, humid weather.

Caution should also be taken when wind speeds are below 3 mph as this could indicate the presence of a temperature inversion. Inversions are another cause of vapor drift. Other indicators of a temperature inversion include low hanging smoke or dust, morning fog or frost, clear and still nights with little to no cloud cover, and ground temperatures cooler than early morning air temperatures.

Multiple applications and weed height:

Multiple herbicide applications with the same mode of action within a single season selects for herbicide resistance. Avoid using dicamba on tolerant soybeans more than once in a season. If possible, a pre-emergence herbicide should be applied before or at planting. It is also important to remember that weeds should be targeted at 4” of height or less for successful control.

Application suggestions:

Keep ground speeds below 15 mph and nozzle pressures as low as possible to maintain the desired application rate. Boom height should be no more than 24” above the crop or weed canopy. If a weed is 4” tall, boom height should not exceed 28”.

Most importantly:

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE PRODUCT LABELING. It is a violation of Federal and state law to use any pesticide product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling.

The U.S. EPA will allow its approval of dicamba tolerant soybeans to run until the end of 2018. At that point they will consider whether or not to renew approval based on the amount of problems that arise as a result of this new technology. In order to have this technology in the future, proper stewardship by the grower is essential. If you have questions regarding the use of dicamba tolerant soybean technology or dicamba itself please contact Matt Morris @ 301-600-3578 / mjmorris@umd.edu or contact your local Extension office for more information.

References and other Resources:

University of Illinois Extension. The Bulletin. Dicamba and Soybean: What to Expect in 2017. http://bulletin.ipm.illinois.edu/?p=3765
Purdue University Extension ID-453-W. 2,4-D- and Dicamba Tolerant Crops- Some Facts to Consider. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/id/id-453-w.pdf

Reviewed by Ron Ritter, Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland

USDA DESIGNATES 14 COUNTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA AS PRIMARY NATURAL DISASTER AREAS WITH ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS IN SURROUNDING STATES

In response to a request from Hollis Baker, Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) acting State Executive Director in Pennsylvania, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 14 counties in Pennsylvania as a primary natural disaster area due to losses caused by a drought that occurred from May 1, 2016, through Dec. 10, 2016. Farmers and ranchers in Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, and Washington Counties in Maryland also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous.

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on April 5, 2017, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for FSA’s low interest emergency (EM) loans, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.

Other FSA programs that can provide assistance, but do not require a disaster declaration, include Operating and Farm Ownership Loans; the Emergency Conservation Program; Livestock Forage Disaster Program; Livestock Indemnity Program; Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program; and the Tree Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA service centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

FSA news releases are available on FSA’s website at www.fsa.usda.gov via the “Newsroom” link. This article has been abbreviated from its original publication, Release No. 0038.17, which was written by Latawnya Dia, 202-720-7962, Latawnya.Dia@wdc.usda.gov
Source: USDA

DATES TO REMEMBER

May 3          Pasture Walk – Discussions of weeds, grass species, hay quality and rotational grazing. Call Baltimore County Extension office to register at (410)-887-8090.

May 5          "Delay the Burn: See More Cash Crop Benefits By Keeping Your Cover Crops Alive Longer"-9:30 to 11 am. Two MD pesticide applicator and nutrient management credits. Leslie Bowman's Farm, 8531 Grindstone Hill Rd. Chambersburg, PA. Contact Nevin Dawson: (410) 479- 4030, https://fielddemofranklin.eventbrite.com

May 10        Women in Agriculture Webinar- Bugs that Bite: Vector Arthropods and How to Avoid Them -Noon. Register at: http://extension.umd.edu/womeninag/webinars

May 17        High Tunnel Twilight Meeting - 6 pm to Dark. Wye Research and Education Center. Programming includes tomatoes and ground cherries. For more information contact Mike Newell at: (410) 827-7388. To register contact Debby Dant at (410)-827-8056 x 115.

May 20        Carroll County Master Gardener Plant Sale and Garden Flea Market - 8 am to Noon, 704 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, MD

May 24        Women in Agriculture Webinar- Communication on Difficult Topics and with Difficult People -Noon. Register at: http://extension.umd.edu/womeninag/webinars

May 31        Deadline for entering the Carroll Biz Challenge - Contact the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce or go to https://carrollbiz2017.launchgen.com/ for more information.  

Jun 1-Sep 20       MDA Pesticide Container Recycling Collection - The Mill of Black Horse, 4551 Norrisville Rd. Current customers only. Call 410-329-6010 or 410-692-2200 for hours and drop-off instructions.

June 1        Agribusiness Breakfast: Why Does a Gallon of Milk Cost more than a Gallon of Gasoline - MDVA Dairy Counsel Representative, 8:00 am to 9:00 am, Baugher’s Restaurant, Westminster MD, Must call 410-386-2760 or email mabbott@umd.edu to register.

June 2        MDA Pesticide Container Recycling Collection. 9 am to 3 pm,  Scarboro Landfill, 3241 Scarboro Road, Harford County. Call 410-841-5710, or visit https://go.umd.edu/pesticidecontainer for rules and instructions
June 8        Maryland Land Conservation Conference, Pearlstone Conference Center, Reisterstown, MD. Registration is $85 before May 15th. Contact Tracy at metoutreach.dnr@maryland.gov

June 14      Women in Agriculture Webinar- How to Create Social Media Memes, and Other Photo Apps - Noon. Register at: http://extension.umd.edu/womeninag/webinars

June 19, 20 Fundamentals of Nutrient Management - 9 am to 4pm, Maryland Dept. of Ag, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis. 2 day training includes state nutrient management regulations, nutrient management principles, basic soil science, and soil fertility recommendations. For information and registration contact MDA.

June 20      MDA Pesticide Container Recycling Collection - 9am to 3pm, Frederick County Landfill, 9031 Reich's Ford Road. Call 410-841-5710, or visit https://go.umd.edu/pesticidecontainer for rules and instructions.

June 21      Hops Field Day - See the new hops yard, discuss varieties for growing locally, and field maintenance. Western Maryland Research and Education Center, 18330 Keedysville Rd Keedysville, MD 21756. Contact the Brewers Association of Maryland for more information at 410-252-9463.

June 28      Women in Agriculture Webinar- Can I Use This Picture? Media Law - Noon. Register at: http://extension.umd.edu/womeninag/webinars

Visit our web site at http://extension.umd.edu/carroll-county
For more event listings visit
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/AGNRCalendar/

Yours for better farming from your
Carroll County Agriculture Extension Educators,

Bryan R. Butler, Sr.      
Extension Agent              
Agriculture and Food Systems           
bbutlers@umd.edu                           

Peter Coffey
Extension Educator
Small Farm/Alternative Ag
plcoffey@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.
+++++++++++++++
Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 
Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:
Baltimore Sun - Carroll County Times - The Carroll Eagle: www.explorecarroll.com: http://www.explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO

Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Thursday, September 06, 2012

Eagle Archive: Kinzy found rocky soil, but planted a fertile seed in Cooperative Extension

Eagle Archive: Kinzy found rocky soil, but planted a fertile seed in Cooperative Extension





Much has changed in Westminster and Carroll County since Grover Kinzy, the first Maryland Cooperative Extension agent, came to town on Nov. 10, 1916 — in part, as a response to the economic chaos in the agriculture community resulting from the market repercussions of World War I.

Kinzy's office was in the Times Building, across the street from the old Westminster fire hall on Main Street in Westminster. One of the first things Kinzy did was help start local 4-H clubs.

According to the definitive history book on agriculture in Carroll County — "Legacy of the Land" by Carol Lee — it wasn't an easy task for Kinzy… http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/news/community/ph-ce-eagle-archive-0902-20120901,0,1065554.story

… Tom Ford, the county agriculture adviser-consultant in the Carroll County office of the Cooperative Extension Service, wrote on Sept. 19, 1992… http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/news/community/ph-ce-eagle-archive-0902-20120901,0,1065554.story


*****

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

A Tomato Convocation in Westminster By Bob Allen

A Tomato Convocation in Westminster By Bob Allen


I’m a big fan of old varieties of plants and I’m Patuxent writer Bob Allen’s biggest fan – although I remain jealous over the huge novella word limits he is given by our editor, but that is the stuff of another column. On second thought, maybe not.

A Tomato Convocation in Westminster

http://explorecarroll.com/community/710/tomato-convocation/

Heirlooms are ripe for celebration By Bob Allen
ballen@patuxent.com

Posted 8/24/08

The mouthwatering magic and savory mystique of heirloom tomatoes was celebrated in Carroll County last week at a lively, tomato-inspired confabulation of food, fun and horticultural education and tomato lore.

If there had been a gaudy neon marquee advertising the Carroll County Master Gardeners' annual Heirloom Tomato Festival, it might have flashed:

"TOMATOES! TOMATOES!
NOTHING BUT...
HEIRLOOM! HEIRLOOM!
ALL THE TIME!"

Held at the Saturday, Aug. 16, Carroll County Farmers Market, the sixth annual festival was a spirited gathering of tomatoes and the people who love them, grow them, cook with them, talk about them and celebrate their merits.
But these were not just any tomatoes on parade.

In fact, the mere mention of store-bought hybrids (often distinguished by bland taste, pallid complexion and cardboard-like pulpiness) was met by good-natured disdain.

To most master gardeners, the only kind of tomato worthy of salt, vinegar, garlic, basil, olive oil and salad dressing is a genuine, home-grown heirloom.

Indeed, heirlooms are the true hall of famers of the tomato world.

[…]

An heirloom is a pure-bred tomato that has been established and kept true to its specific variety, with its gene pool unsullied by hybridization for least 50 years.

The master gardeners on hand at the Heirloom Tomato Festival provided fresh, juicy samples of the colorful-looking and even more colorfully named array of heirlooms from their back yard and side lot tomato patches -- Goliaths, Bullhearts, Hillbillies, Blackrims, Siberians, German Greens, German Johnsons, Aunt Rubies, Belgian Pinks, Brandywines, Polish Linguisas and a host of others.

[…]

All proceeds went to a special agriculture education scholarship fund set up by Carroll County Master Gardeners.

Maryanne Turner, president of Carroll County Master Gardeners, the local chapter of the state-wide volunteer training program coordinated by the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension, was doling out bite-sized samples of her green tomato pie, which were gobbled nearly as quickly as she could scoop them into little paper cups and put them on the counter.

[…]

For more on the Master Gardeners program, or to learn how to get a copy of the tomato recipe booklet, call Steve Allgeier at the Carroll County Extension Office at 410-386-2760.


You can read the rest of Mr. Allen’s mouthwatering novella, complete with recipes, here:
A Tomato Convocation in Westminster

http://explorecarroll.com/community/710/tomato-convocation/

20080824 A Tomato Convocation in Westminster By Bob Allen