Publications

Authors: Paul Goeringer - Lori Lynch - Sudeep A. Mathew

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) promotes, supports, and regulates risk management solutions for America’s agricultural producers by providing federal crop insurance programs. In addition, the agency provides education and outreach programs in risk management. The RMA develops the premium rate, administer premium and expense subsidy, approve and support products, and reinsure private sector companies via Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC).

Authors: Ginger S. Myers

Farm to Hospital -Selling Farm-Raised Meats and Poultry in Maryland (FS-929) Fact Sheet is to assist livestock and poultry producers in developing products and marketing tools to increase meat and poultry sales directly to hospitals and extended care facilities or to distributors who handle hospital food purchasing accounts. By Ginger S. Myers, Marketing Specialist, University of Maryland Extension and Director of the Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center.

Authors: Jenny Rhodes - Shannon Dill - John Hall

A pesticide is defined as any material that is applied to plants, soil, water, harvested crops, structures, clothing, furnishings, or animals to kill, attract, repel, regulate or interrupt the growth and mating of pests, or to regulate plant growth.

Authors: Jenny Rhodes - Shannon Dill - John Hall

The Water Quality Improvement Act (WQIA), also known as the Maryland Nutrient Management Law, was passed in 1998 by the Maryland State Legislature. The goal of nutrient management planning is to reduce non-point source pollution (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus from cropland) by balancing nutrient applications with crop nutrient requirements. Nutrient management planning, which is an array of best management practices (BMPs), is considered to be one of the most cost-effective means of controlling excessive nutrient applications.

Authors: Jenny Rhodes - Shannon Dill - John Hall

University of Maryland Extension’s (UME) Agricultural Nutrient Management Program, which is funded by Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) focuses on reducing nonpoint source nutrient pollution to the Chesapeake Bay from plant nutrients applied to cropland. The Program provides (1) nutrient management planning services to Maryland farmers through a network of Nutrient Management Advisors located in all county Extension offices and (2) continuing education and technical support to certified Nutrient Management Advisors and certified farm operators via state and regional nutrient management specialists.

Authors: Jenny Rhodes - Shannon Dill - John Hall

No one should go hungry in America. United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provide children and low-income people access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education. They help nearly one in five people.

Authors: Jennifer Reynolds

In 1998, the Maryland General Assembly passed the “Maryland Nutrient Management Law” that requires certain agricultural operations, including horse farms, to obtain a nutrient management plan. This document is intended to help horse farm operators determine if a plan is needed for their farm and what basic steps are necessary to obtain a plan.

Authors: Jennifer Rhodes - J. Richard Nottingham

Taking just a little extra time before harvest to make simple adjustments can significantly increase farm profitability. Proper maintenance is important and will save money and down time during harvest. Start harvesting with all combine settings set according to owner’s manual and in the least aggressive part of the range (slowest rotor speed, widest rotor/concave clearance), then make adjustments one at a time and observe the effect of each change. Take an inventory of pre-harvest losses so you can determine what the harvest losses are. Getting out of the combine to check for crop loss is a must! Combine related loss should be 1 bushel/acres or less if crop is standing well. 2 kernels found in 1 square foot represents 1 bushel/acre yield loss.

Authors: J. Richard Nottingham

How well are you prepared for a natural disaster? There is no possible way to be prepared for every possible disaster. However, many things can be prepared in advance to help cope with a natural disaster. Proper planning before a disaster occurs can decrease the severity of the impact and can help a poultry producer return to normal operating conditions quickly and safely.

Authors: Jennifer Rhodes

The construction process of new poultry houses can be lengthy and tedious. This fact sheet is a tool to help potential poultry growers complete all the requirements needed to construct poultry houses in Maryland. Please read this packet carefully.