agline - university of maryland extension...poultry litter management act statement by secretary joe...
TRANSCRIPT
CLICK BELOW FOR DAIRY INFO. http://extension.psu.edu/animals/dairy CLICK BELOW FOR LIVESTOCK INFO. http://extension.psu.edu/
Eastern Shore Agriculture Needs Assessment Results
P.1
Conservation Compliance Deadline P.1
Eastern Shore Spring Show P.1
Calendar P.2
Cecil County Cooperator of the Year
P.2
Principles of Soil Health Field Days P.3
Poultry Litter Management Act Statement by Secretary Joe Bartenfelder
P.3
2016 Guides Available for Purchase P.3
Videos on the Web - Queen Anne’s County Agronomy Day
P.4
Videos on the Web - Fruit School 2016
P.5
MDA Releases Preliminary Data on Soil Phosphorus Levels
P.5
Wye Angus Sale P.6
Cecil County Young Farmers Sport-ing Clay Fundraiser
P.6
Volume 6, Issue 4 April 2016
AGLINE Newsletter—Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne’s Counties
In the spring of 2015, UME conducted an agricultural needs assess-
ment for the nine Eastern Shore counties of Caroline, Cecil, Dorches-
ter, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worces-
ter. The goals of the needs assessment were to: - Help UME under-
stand issues concerning Eastern Shore agriculture - Identify agricul-
tural educational needs - Focus UME agricultural training and re-
sources. The survey concentrated on four critical areas: 1) industry
priorities, concerns and viability, 2) research and education needs,
3) education and training preferences and 4) demographic and farm
information. Approximately 300 farmers completed the survey on
paper or through an online link. Results of the survey have been
compiled in a full report. The full report can be found at http://
extension.umd.edu/about/extension-impact/eastern-shore-
agriculture-needs-assessment.
Contact your local Extension Office
for registration forms or visit
https://extension.umd.edu/queen-
annes-county/4-h-and-youth/fairs-
and-shows.
Farmers seeking federal crop insur-
ance premium subsidies for the
2017 reinsurance year must comply
by June 1, 2016 by filing form AD-
1026. The 2014 Farm Bill relinked
crop insurance premium subsidies
with conservation compliance.
For more information, visit: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/
nrcs/detail/national/programs/farmbill/?cid=nrcseprd340750
Volume 6, Issue 4 Page 2
APRIL 2016
02 - Wye Angus Sale, 12:00 p.m., WREC, Queenstown,
MD. Contact Eddie Draper at 410-827-6016 or
[email protected]. Details P6
04 - Poultry Farm Management for New & Existing Grow-
ers, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Georgetown, DE. To register
call Sheila Oscar at 410-742-1178 or email at
[email protected]. For more information call or email Jon
Moyle, [email protected], 410-742-1178 or Jenny Rhodes,
[email protected], 410-758-0166.
06 - Understanding Acidified Foods Workshop, 8:30 a.m. -
5:00 p.m., Annapolis, MD. Call Carol Reynolds at 410-
841-5769 or email [email protected] for
more information and to register.
10 - Cecil County Young Farmers Sporting Clay
Fundraiser, 10:00 a.m., Kennedyville, MD. Details P6
12 - Timely Ag Issues/Grain Marketing, 7:30 a.m.,
QA Extension Office, Centreville, MD. $2/person: coffee,
donuts, etc.
13 - Principles of Soil Health Field Day, WMREC,
Keedysville, MD, 9:00 a.m.—3:30 p.m. Call Allison
Moore at 301-799-6821, ext. 3 to register. Details P3
14 - Principles of Soil Health Field Day, Caroline County
4-H Park, Denton, MD. Call Lindsay Brown at 410-479-
1202, ext. 116 to register. Details P3
20 - DPI Booster Banquet, 6:00 p.m., Wicomico Youth &
Civic Center, Salisbury, MD.
26 - Timely Ag Issues/Grain Marketing, 7:30 a.m.,
QA Extension Office, Centreville, MD. $2/person: coffee,
donuts, etc.
29 - Poultry and Rabbit Processing Certification Training,
Maryland Department of Agriculture, Annapolis, MD,
8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Call Carol Reynolds at
410-841-5769. Details P2
MAY 2016
10 - Timely Ag Issues/Grain Marketing, 7:30 a.m.,
QA Extension Office, Centreville, MD. $2/person: coffee,
donuts, etc.
14 - Eastern Shore Spring Show, Queen Anne’s County 4-H
Park, Centerville, MD. Contact your local Extension
Office for registration information.
24 - Timely Ag Issues/Grain Marketing, 7:30 a.m.,
QA Extension Office, Centreville, MD. $2/person: coffee,
donuts, etc.
CALENDAR
On-Farm Poultry and Rabbit Processing Certification Training
ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 21, 2016) – To help farmers meet growing consumer demand for local meats, the Maryland Department of Agriculture will conduct a training workshop for on-farm poultry and rabbit slaughter and processing. The training will be held Friday, April 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Md. Dept. of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis. The fee is $20 and includes lunch and ma-
terials. Pre-registration is required. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. This workshop is part of a voluntary certification program to assist small poultry and rabbit operations to meet the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s approved source requirements to sell poultry and/or rabbit (off-farm) at farm-ers’ markets or to restaurants and retailers in Maryland. Workshop participants will learn to recognize diseases of public health concern, take basic biose-curity measures, write and implement basic Standard Sanitary Operating Procedures, develop Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point plans, and properly dispose of offal and waste water. To become certified for off-farm sales, producers must:
Complete the training;
Pass a brief test at the training;
Submit an application for certification along with a $75 annual fee; and
Be inspected by Md. Dept. of Agriculture inspectors, who will conduct an inspection at least once per year to verify that producers are following food safety requirements.
To download a copy of the registration form, click here. For questions, contact Carol Reynolds at (410) 841-5769 or [email protected]. Space is limited, early registration is encouraged. To learn more about Maryland’s Poultry and Rabbit Program, visit: http://mda.maryland.gov/foodfeedquality/Pages/poultry_rabbit_program.aspx
Congratulations Reisler Family!
Cecil Soil Conservation District has
named Richland Farm as their
2015 Outstanding Cooperator
of the Year.
Richland Farm is located in Rising Sun
and has been
owned and operated by the Reisler
family for five generations.
Volume 6, Issue 4 Page 3
Principles of Soil Health Field Days Maryland farmers and Conservation Partnership staff are invited to learn about the keys to
healthy, productive soil from Ray 'The Soils Guy' Archuleta and Paul Salon, NRCS' Southeast and
Northeast Regional Soil Health Specialists.
Managing for soil health is one of the easiest and most effective ways for farmers to increase
crop productivity and profitability while improving the environment. Results are often realized
immediately, and last well into the future.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to participate in hands-on demonstrations and field exercises
with a nationally recognized Soil Health expert. The training is offered at two locations for your
convenience. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP as soon as possible but no later than April 4.
Space is limited.
When: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | 9:00 am - 3:30 pm When: Thursday, April 14, 2016 | 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Where: UMD Western MD Research & Education Center Where: Caroline County 4-H Park
18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756 8230 Detour Road, Denton, MD 21629
Please call Allison Moore at 301-799-6821 ext. 3 to register. Please call Lindsay Brown at 410-479-1202, ext. 116 to
register.
If you have questions or need an accommodation to participate, please contact Christy Brown, 443-482-2936,
Statement by Secretary Joe Bartenfelder
on the Poultry Litter Management Act
The following is a statement attributable to Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder in response to the Poultry Litter Management Act legislation
in the Maryland General Assembly:
“In light of the recent legislative hearings on the ‘Poultry Litter Management Act’ (SB 496/HB 599), I believe it is important to make two clarifications. The first is to define the word ‘excess’ as it relates to poultry litter in Mary-land. The second is to clarify how the Maryland Department of Agriculture originally estimated 228,000 tons of manure would need to be transported. “The Maryland Department of Agriculture defines litter as ‘excess’ when it cannot be used as an organic fertilizer on the land where it is generated. However, most farmers sell this ‘excess’ to other farmers that use it in ac-cordance with a nutrient management plan, or to facilities that process it for alternative uses. In these instances, there is not an overabundance of litter. “For instance, ‘no-land’ chicken farms — that is, poultry farms that do not grow any crops — have 100 percent ‘excess’ litter. However, most of those farmers sell that manure as fertilizer to other farmers or to alternative use facilities. So, farmers who operate poultry farms may have no ‘excess’ manure if they apply the litter to their fields with low phosphorus levels as indicated by their nutrient management plans, or sell their litter to a broker or another farmer who needs the fertilizer for his crops. “This use of the word ‘excess’ has led to significant confusion and misunderstanding. “The department tracks where poultry litter is generated in Maryland and where it is being applied or if it is transported off the farm of origin, using annual implementation reports submitted to the department as required by the nutrient management law. Based on information we have, to date, there is not an excess of poultry litter in Maryland. “While planning for implementa-tion of the phosphorus management tool (PMT), the department used Uni-versity of Maryland Nutrient Management Program data to estimate how much manure would be available if cropland was further restricted from manure application under the PMT. “For planning purposes, the depart-ment estimated that 228,000 tons of poultry litter would require relocation to other farms for land application or alternate uses. This is the estimate was used for the PMT economic impact study conducted by Salisbury University in 2014. The department intends to modify these estimates as real data becomes available."
2016 Guides Available for Purchase at Your
Local Extension Office
2016 Disease and Nematode
Management in Field Crops
Now Available
http://go.umd.edu/3nu
Bay Fruit School 2016 - VIDEOs on the WEB
If you missed the Bay Fruit School 2016, check out these videos of the days’ presentations. Videos have been provided by GEORGE HARVEY | Station Manager | Public Info-QACTV, Centreville, MD.
Bay Fruit School 2016 - Native Pollinators and Honey Bees
Video link: https://youtu.be/wQ33LUJl6eU?list=PL6EF12A92A0118B03
Bay Fruit School 2016 - Delmarva Blueberry Variety Trial
Video link: https://youtu.be/kMsce33EfV8?list=PL6EF12A92A0118B03
Bay Fruit School 2016 - Predicting Disease Infection Periods
Video link: https://youtu.be/PZIdjeeLvRg?list=PL6EF12A92A0118B03
Bay Fruit School 2016 - Raspberry Fruit Rot and Interactions with Spotted Wing Drosophila
Video link: https://youtu.be/ypxT-IA-4wE?list=PL6EF12A92A0118B03
Bay Fruit School 2016 - Nutrient Management Updates
Video link: https://youtu.be/XgnhNs9OVpQ?list=PL6EF12A92A0118B03
Bay Fruit School 2016 - Demystifying Copper
Video link: https://youtu.be/n3aG6JsHuJ8?list=PL6EF12A92A0118B03
Bay Fruit School 2016 - Insect Pests of Brambles and Blueberries
Video link: https://youtu.be/GN70OAND1vM?list=PL6EF12A92A0118B03
Bay Fruit School 2016 - Nutrition in Fruit Plantings
Video link: https://youtu.be/zY5es7LD36Q?list=PL6EF12A92A0118B03
Bay Fruit School 2016 - Pesticide Topic Updates
Video link https://youtu.be/HoADiqdbnx0?list=PL6EF12A92A0118B03
Volume 6, Issue 4 Page 4
Queen Anne's County Agronomy Day - VIDEOs on the WEB
If you missed the Queen Anne’s County Agronomy Day on February 26, 2016, check out these videos of the days’ presentations. Videos have been provided by GEORGE HARVEY | Station Manager | Public Info-QACTV,
Centreville, MD. AGRONOMY DAY 2016 – Welcome
Video link: https://youtu.be/eMWLNOb93OU?list=PL6EF12A92A0118B03
AGRONOMY DAY 2016 - Nutrient Management Update
Video link: https://youtu.be/QwPDQnre4Fo?list=PL6EF12A92A0118B03
AGRONOMY DAY 2016 - Nitrogen Management for Corn
Video link: https://youtu.be/wGk7y0DCkgw?list=PL6EF12A92A0118B03
AGRONOMY DAY 2016 - 2015 Disease & Fungicide Update
Video link: https://youtu.be/bK4isj0Nrzk?list=PL6EF12A92A0118B03
AGRONOMY DAY 2016 - All You Need to Know about Phosphorus
Video link: https://youtu.be/4NLD6wHxJ2w?list=PL6EF12A92A0118B03
AGRONOMY DAY 2016 - 2015 Weed & Herbicide Control Update
Video link: https://youtu.be/ZF5e7kN4UgY?list=PL6EF12A92A0118B03
Volume 6, Issue 4 Page 5
Agriculture Department Releases Preliminary Data on Soil Phosphorus Levels
Soil Data Collected for First Time Statewide as a Result of PMT Regulations
ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 14, 2016) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture today announced that based on statewide soil test information 82 percent of farm
fields tested to date will not be impacted by new environmental regulations, which may limit phosphorus application or the use of animal manure as a fertilizer. Eighteen percent of farm fields will require use of the phosphorus management tools to evaluate risk. Only 1 percent of all farm fields are immediately banned
from applying phosphorus crop fertilizer. The phosphorous in poultry and dairy manure will impact its use as a crop nutrient in these situations.
“We are pleased that we finally have real, accurate soil phosphorus data from cropland across the state and not estimates or formulas based on modeling scenarios. In the long term, this data, which will be regularly collected, will enable the department to track progress as farmers implement the PMT and additional best management practices on their farms,” said Agriculture Secre-tary Joe Bartenfelder. “This data collection will also guide the department to ensure we have the resources needed to provide financial and technical sup-port for farmers to implement the PMT.”
The Phosphorus Management Tool (PMT) is an updated tool that uses the latest scientific findings to identify the potential risk of phosphorus loss from farm fields and prevent the additional buildup of phosphorus in soils that are already saturated. Farms that are over certain thresholds must utilize the PMT to evaluate risk and determine if they are limited in how much phosphorous can be applied to their fields. The PMT regulations are being phased in over several years to give farmers time to modify their management practices. High soil phosphorus levels are more likely to occur on fields where manure or poultry litter has been applied as a crop nutrient over an extended period. The PMT regulations went into effect June 2015 and are part of the state’s Water-shed Implementation Plan to restore the Chesapeake Bay, as required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The data is based on analysis from 875,622 acres compiled to date through-out the state and show 82 percent of farmland in Maryland has soil phospho-rus levels that fall below PMT thresholds. These fields, according to soil tests, have a Fertility Index Value under 150. Poultry litter and dairy manure can be applied as fertilizer to these fields in accordance with Maryland’s nutrient management regulations. The acreage reported to date represents about 70 percent of farmland re-quired to submit soil phosphorus data to the department.
“The soil test data submission is a new requirement of the department resulting from the Phosphorus Management Tool regulations,” said Assistant Secretary for Resource Con-servation Hans Schmidt. “The department is contacting those who have not submitted data so we can have a complete picture of soil health in Maryland.”
While 18 percent of farmland is impacted by the PMT regulations, most farm fields are not at risk for phosphorus loss and may still benefit from manure as a crop fertilizer. Two thirds of farm fields on the Lower Eastern Shore have soil phosphorus levels that will require use of PMT and 11 percent or 8,700 acres on the Lower Eastern Shore are restricted from any phosphorus application. However, every region in Maryland has at least a few hundred farm acres with soil phosphorus levels over 500 FIV – prohibit-ing further phosphorus application.
The following summarizes the Soil Phosphorus Fertili-ty Index Value (FIV) statewide data results compiled to
date from Maryland farmland:
FIV less than 150: 82 percent (714,162 acres) – These fields are not required to run PMT.
FIV 150-299: 13 percent (115,557 acres)
FIV 300-450: 4 percent (30,683 acres)
FIV 450-499: 0.6 percent (4,780 acres)
FIV greater than 500: 1.2 percent (10,441 acres) – These fields are banned from applying phosphorus.
The PMT economic impact study conducted by Salisbury University in 2014 used information provided by the Mary-land Department of Agriculture that was based on Univer-sity of Maryland comparisons of the original risk manage-ment tool (the Phosphorus Site Index) with the PMT. The university information was based on 391 data points and projected a percent change in high risk fields by region. The department assumed all manure available in a county was applied to cropland in that county, a worst case scenario. Using the manure available in each county multiplied by the percent of estimated change in FIV level for that county, 228,000 tons of poultry litter were project-ed to require alternative management. The data released today reflects nearly 57,000 farm field soil samples statewide and gives a more accurate picture of soil phos-phorus fertility index levels in Maryland. Soil samples must be no older than three years and some farmers and consultants are currently in the process of updating infor-mation by collecting and analyzing soil samples to update farm nutrient management plans.
For more information on the Phosphorus Management Tool, visit: www.mda.maryland.gov/pmt.
Click here for a PDF chart of soil phosphorus levels by region. A PDF spreadsheet of FIV levels broken down by county is available here.
The University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources programs are open to all and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation, or gender identity and expression. The Uni-versity of Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Equal Access Programs. La Universidad de Maryland es una institución con Igualdad de Oportunidades de Empleo y con Igualdad de Acceso a Programas.
Contact your local UME Agriculture Educator:
Cecil County ~ Doris Behnke at 410-996-5280 or [email protected]
Kent County ~ Nate Richards at 410-778-1661 or [email protected]
Queen Anne’s County ~ Jennifer Rhodes at 410-758-0166 or [email protected]
University of Maryland Extension,
Queen Anne’s County
505 Railroad Avenue
Centreville, MD 21617
NON-PROFIT ORG
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PERMIT NO. 46