Agriculture & Natural Resources

Capitalize on the hardware and digital tools now avaliable through the internet. 3 courses packaged into a 1 day seminar that will cover topics on

Digital Databases - Getting your business Listed - how to enter their business information in the 8-9 digital databases such as Google Maps, etc.
Fingertip Merketing for Portable Devices - Incorporating digital service and application into your marketing plan
Apps, and Social & Professional Applications - Intro into the basics of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn for business

Time: 8:30am-1:30pm

Cost: $40.00 per person (iincludes lunch and course materials)

Location:WorWic Community College, Workforce Development Center(WDC), Room #WDC304

Registration deadline is April 1, 2012. Contact Shannon Dill at sdill@umd.edu or register online at http://agnradmin.umd.edu/training/description.cfm?ID=179

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Grower Certification Training

Become certified to write and update your own Nutrient Management Plan. Will be held at the Wye Research and Education Center on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 9am-3pm.

For registration contact Debby Dant 410-827-8056 ext.115 ddant@umd.edu. For program info, contact Andrew Ristvey, aristvey@umd.edu.

There is no cost for this program, but headcount need for lunch (Which will be provided).

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BACKYARD BUFFER PROGRAM

University of Maryland Extension is partnering with Maryland DNR Forest Service to offer the Backyard Buffer Program to the Lower Eastern Shore. This program is designed to assist homeowners who have a stream or other waterway on or adjacent to their property to create a streamside buffer of native trees and shrubs.

Click here for a registration brochure.

Trees will be reserved and distributed on a first come, first serve basis as a limited number of bags are available. The first 100 homeowners to register for each Lower Shore county will receive trees. Send your application in early! Your “Buffer in a Bag” for Lower Shore counties will be available for pickup at your local University of Maryland Extension office on Saturday, April 14, 2012 between 10:00am -12:00pm, just in time for the spring planting season!

Contact 410-651-2004 or visit your local lower Shore Extension office for a registration brochure.

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POULTRY FARM MANAGEMENT FOR NEW & EXISTING GROWERS

Date: April 9, 2012

Location:Cokesbury United Methodist Church Community Building, 5957 Cokesbury Road, Rhodesdale, MD 21659

Time: 8:00am to 3:30pm

This workshop is open to all. If you need special assistance please register two weeks before the date. Registration cost is $30 includes breakfast, lunch, and materials. Please register by April 2, 2012 by contacting jcook2@umd.edu or 410-742-1178. For more information call or e-mail jenny Rhodes, jrhodes@umd.edu, 410-758-0166.

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Pasture Walk & Avoiding Founder

DATE: April 18, 2012

TIME: 6:00-8:00pm

LOCATION: PEMBERTON EQUESTRIAN CENTER
26627 Pemberton Drive Salisbury, MD 21801

Pastures have noticed the spring weather and have started growing along with those pesky weeds. If you are like most, trying to keep an upper hand on weed control is a challenge. Discuss various management techniques to help promote optimal pasture productivity, including weed suppression.

This is a free program but pre-registration is recommended to ensure program materials. Contact Jessie Renshaw at 410-632-1972 for additional information and driving directions.
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Poultry Processing and Marketing Group

DATE: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012
TIME: 7:00 PM
LOCATION: Farmer Tom’s 427 Cockeys Mill Road
Reisterstown, MD 21136

Got poultry? Need them processed? Looking to rein in production costs through group purchases and services? Could you use an additional volume
market for your sustainable raised poultry? Then you need to attend an information and organizational meeting of a new group forming in Central Maryland whose mission is to:

Provide safe, environmentally responsible, and economically feasible
processing services to small and mid-sized poultry producers.
Organize a buying group for chicks, poults, feeds, and poultry
supplies to secure quantity discounts.
Provide training and continuing education about regulations,
marketing, and production.
Service volume sales accounts through aggregation of group member
birds to provide an additional outlet to group members and sufficient
supplies to volume buyers.

Please contact Ginger Myers, University of Maryland Extension, gsmyers@umd.edu, 301-432-2767, ext. 338 to register.

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Solar for Farmers Information Workshop

DATE: Friday, April 27, 2012 & Friday May, 4, 2012

TIME: Sessions are held at 1:00pm and 3:00pm

LOCATION: Wicomico Extension Office 28647 Old Quantico Rd., Salisbury, MD

Environmentally friendly electrical energy at a fair price. Clean Engen offers a solution to save on electricity cost without taking on additional debt burden. Poultry farm families will be able to enter into the Clean Engen lease for no money down, and save on their electric bills on day one, and for the next 30 years.

To register for one of the workshops, contact kfurtado@edendelmarva.org or call 302-542-3400. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited. Registration is on a first come first serve basis.

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Strawberry Twilight Meeting

DATE: May 9, 2012

TIME: 6:00-8:00pm

LOCATION: Wye Research & Education Center Farm Operations Complex, 211 Farm Lane, Queenstown, MD

Discussions will be on season challenge's and the impact of the new fruit pest may have on the industry. You will see USDA Moveable High Tunnel Plots with plasticulture strawberry production, High Tunnel plots with table top production and bio-fumigation trial, and Outdoor Plasticulture Fertility Trial plots with Chandler strawberries.

No pre-registration necessary. Refreshments will be served. Contact Mike Newell, mnewell@umd.edu, 410-827-7388. If you need assistance to attend this program, please contact Debby Dant, ddant@umd.edu, 410-827-8056, no later than May 2, 2012.

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JUNE 15th & 16th Salisbury, MD

More details to come...

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Somerset County

Agriculture and Natural Resources

"A WAY OF LIFE"

Overview

Somerset County is the southernmost county in Maryland's Eastern Shore. Only 26% of the land-base is classified as agricultural, however, agriculture is the largest industry in the County. 288 farm businesses encompass 54,823 acres of farmland with the average farm size of 190 acres. Production of corn, soybeans, broilers, vegetables and livestock rank the County 2nd in agriculture value in the State of Maryland. Various agricultural programs are offered throughout the year. The Somerset County Extension Agricultural Agent maintains routine contact and collaborates with outside agencies and civic organizations such the Somerset County Soil Conservation District, Somerset County Farm Bureau, Somerset County Young Farmers, and Somerset County Fair Board . Each year the Somerset County Fair features a wide variety of educational material and information on Agriculture in Somerset County and throughout Maryland. There are many items in the display available to the public, such as contact information, numerous fact sheets, soil test kits for field and home and garden, and information for agricultural producers and homeowners.

In addition to the strong agriculture community within the county, the many waterways meandering throughout Delmarva shape the landscape of the county. With its many waterways, Somerset County supports a diverse population of wildlife that includes upland game, migratory waterfowl to oceanic species. The county supports many acres of wetlands. Somerset County is proud to offer many public state lands for hunting, including Deal Island WMA especially famous for waterfowl hunting. Richard Nottingham, Agriculture Educator located in Somerset County and Jessica Renshaw, Agriculture Faculty Assistant located in Worcester County are avaliable to serve the local community, answering any questions or concerns that you may have. Feel free to contact them by contacting the Somerset Office at 410-651-1350 or the Worcester County Office at 410-632-1972.

Delmarva AgrAbility Project

"When disability strikes a farm family, everything changes except
perhaps the desire to continue farming."

Agriculture is considered one of the most hazardous occupations in the United States. According to the National Safety Council, annually, there are 850 deaths and 140,000 disabling injuries. When disability strikes a farm family, everything changes except perhaps the desire to continue farming. Recognizing that drive and the critical need for farmers, the National AgrAbility Project was established with approval of the 1990 Farm Bill. The goal is to inform, educate and assist farmers and farm workers with disabilities as well as their families, so they can continue to lead successful careers in agriculture and contribute to their families, communities and nation. It is estimated that more than one in every six Delmarva Farmers has a disability. For more information contact the AgrAbility Case Manager, 500 N. Dupont Highway, Suite 100, Georgetown, Delaware 19947 or phone toll free, 1-877-204-3276.

For more information about agricultural programs on the Lower Eastern Shore, contact Richard Nottingham, County Ag Agent, 410-651-1350.

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For more information, contact Richard Nottingham, Agriculture Educator; 410-651-1350

Last updated: 04/26/2012