Agriculture

Join us on October 5th, 2024 for a family fun day at at the farm to see agriculture education in action! Events are geared for children and include tractor races, milking contest, feed bag toss, compost chaos, egg operation, and more! This family event is free to attend and is located at the Frederick County Farm Museum Fall Fest at Rose Hill Manor Park in Frederick, MD. We hope to see you there!

Maryland nutrient applicators are required under the 1998 Water Quality Act to follow guidelines on fertilizer and manure applications. Farmers applying nutrients (synthetic or organic) to 10 or more acres of land are required to have a current Nutrient Management Voucher. Vouchers are obtained by attending an approved 2-hour training course once every three years. All other certified farmers and consultants in need of continuing education credits are encouraged to attend.

Frederick, Howard, and Montgomery Counties hold Nutrient Management Training and Recertification each year in the Fall. This year it will be a cluster event held at the Frederick Extension Office.

Frederick, Howard, and Montgomery Counties hold Maryland Private Pesticide Applicators initial certification training and exams each year in the Fall. This year the training will be held at the Frederick Extension Office.

The training covers the basics of pesticide use, handling, and safety in preparation for the Maryland Private Pesticide Applicator's Exam, held the following week. This training is optional for those seeking a Private Pesticide License, though it is highly advised to those unfamiliar with pesticide use and safety-seeking certification.

*Please note, the optional training is Nov 7th and the Exam is Nov 14th.*

Private Applicators are required to have a recertification training session during the last year of their current three-year certification period. Recertification training provides applicators with new information on pest control, health and environmental safety, pest management technology, and changes in pesticide laws and regulations to help the applicator continue to use pesticides safely and effectively. The training must consist of a minimum of 4 credits which is the equivalent of two hours of pest or pesticide-related topics as determined by MDA and UME.

Weeds, diseases, and insects are often a major concern for growers in Maryland. Integrated pest management (IPM) programs incorporate multiple pest management strategies into their production practices. This workshop will present information on common crop insect pest identification and biology, monitoring and thresholds, preventive and nonchemical pest control methods, and chemical controls.

Workshops will be repeated in two locations:

On September 30, 2024, in Queenstown, MD.

On October 1, 2024, at the University of Maryland Extension Montgomery County Office (18410 Muncaster Rd, Derwood, MD 20855)

Each workshop will be from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with lunch included.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Emily Zobel at ezobel@umd.edu or 410-228-8800 by September 11, 2024.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number SNE22-005-MD and NIFA award 2021-70006-35384. Empowering small-scaled, limited-resource and other farmers with IPM knowledge.

Place: Caroline County 4-H Park, 8230 Detour Road, Denton, MD 21629
Cost: Free but must register
Registration: https://forms.gle/xNusLjYiTqexMuLEA

Nutrient Management Credits available from DE and MD

Topics to be covered: 'Packers & Stockyard Rule Updates' by Dr. James MacDonald, Agricultural & Resource Economics, UMD
'Litter Management for Salmonella Control' by Dr. Zac Williams, Poultry Science Extension Specialist, Univ. of Arkansas

5:30 Sign-in and Dinner

6:00 “Packers & Stockyard Rule Updates” by Dr. James MacDonald, Research Professor,
Agricultural & Resource Economics, University of Maryland

6:30 Questions and Answers

7:00 “Litter Management for Salmonella Control” by Dr. Zac Williams, Poultry Science
Extension Specialist, University of Arkansas

7:30 Questions and Answers and Wrap Up

Nutrient Management Credits Available

Schedule

8:15 Leave Chester Park & Ride (Under the west side of the Kent Narrows Bridge)

9:00 Arrive Davidsonville Park & Ride (Davidsonville Road, at Rt. 50/301 Exit 16)

9:30 Leave Davidsonville Park & Ride

9:55 Stop 1: Arrive Greenstreet Gardens (95 minutes) - 391 W Bay Front Road, Lothian 20711. For more information visit https://greenstreetgardens.com/

11:30 Leave Greenstreet Gardens

12:00 Stop 3: Arrive Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards (110 minutes) – 15800 Croom Road, Brandywine 20613

Lunch Location - https://www.robinhillfarmandvineyards.com/

1:50 Leave Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards

2:15 Stop 4: Arrive Montpelier Farms (75 minutes) – 1720 Robert S. Crain Hwy, Upper Marlboro 20774. For more information visit https://www.montpelierfarms.com/

3:30 Leave Montpelier Farms

3:45 Arrive Davidsonville Park & Ride

4:00 Leave Davidsonville Park & Ride

4:30 Arrive Chester Park & Ride

Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RFJKEUMYMWwtncfD7

Notice of Filming and Photography - When you attend this event, you enter an area where photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By attending this event, you consent to such recording media and its release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction.

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact Kate Welch at the Talbot County Extension Office at 410-822-1244 by September 19, 2024.

Amy Syester will discuss the importance of litter amendments, water treatments, vaccine adjuvants, the proper usage and how to get the most from them.

Research shows that using litter amendments can:
1 Improve weight gain in birds
2 Enhance feed conversion
3 Improve paw health
4 Reduce mortality rates

The first inaugural conference of its kind, the 2024 Cultivating Innovation in Maryland's Agriculture and Technology Conference has been designed to empower farmers and other agriculture industry stakeholders by providing in-depth knowledge of the latest and most promising technologies transforming the agricultural sector. By embracing cutting-edge agriculture technologies, farmers can significantly boost yields, enhance efficiency, and ultimately achieve greater profitability.

Cultivating Next-Gen Agritech Innovation with a Wide Selection of Conference Topics

The conference agenda boasts a diverse range of topics, including:

- Introduction to Technology: Gain a foundational understanding of the role technology is playing in modern agriculture practices when it comes to streamlining operations and improving productivity
-Uses and Applicability: Learn about the practical applications of technology across various farming and agriculture sectors.
-Data Management & Analytics: Discover best practices and explore the ways data is being used to improve crop yields and efficiency for a more sustainable and profitable future.
-Resource Management: Learn how drones, GIS, water management, precision farming, yield monitors, and other tech are being used successfully.
-Current Implementations: Hear first-hand experiences from early adopters who are already utilizing these hardware and software technologies in their fields.
-Future Outlook: Get a glimpse into the exciting future of agriculture technology, with insights into upcoming innovations and advancements expected in the next 3-5 years.

This conference is ideal for farmers from all sectors of agriculture, agriculture-related companies, University of Maryland Extension faculty, and USDA and other government agency workers.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with fellow farmers, industry professionals, and experts in the field. Together, let's cultivate innovation and drive Maryland's agriculture sector toward a more technologically advanced and prosperous future.