01
Mar

Anne Arundel County Envirothon Set for April 13

March 1, 2018 (Annapolis, MD) — The Anne Arundel Soil Conservation District is hosting its annual Anne Arundel County Enviroton event on Friday, April 13 at Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center in Millersville. The Envirothon is a hands-on, environmental problem-solving competition for high school-aged students. Participating teams compete to test their knowledge and skills in five natural resource categories: soils/landuse, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and a current environmental issue. “The District has been involved with the Envirothon for many years now and it is always encouraging to see the enthusiasm the students have when attending the Envirothon training sessions and competition,” said John Czajkowski, District Manager for the Anne Arundel Soil Conservation District. This year’s “5th issue” is western rangeland management and pasture management. Envirothon teams will learn how Best Management Practices (BMPs) are used to protect western rangelands, improve grazing management schemes, promote pest management, reduce uncontrolled wildfires, and improve habitat for sage grouse and other wildlife. “Pasture management also applies to farms in Maryland,” Czajkowski said. “Livestock are an important component of our agricultural industry in Anne Arundel County. The District works with local farmers to ensure that pastures and soils are properly managed.” Last year, a team from South River High School took first place among 15 teams that competed in the Anne Arundel Envirothon. Czajkowski said about 75 students are expected to take part in the 2018 Envirothon, representing eight area high schools. The winning team from this year’s local competition will advance to the Maryland Envirothon which takes place at the Maryland 4-H Environmental Education and Camping Center in Garrett County on June 14 and 15. Winners from state competitions advance to the National Envirothon on July 24 through 29 at Idaho State University. In Anne Arundel County, the Envirothon competition is largely sponsored by the Anne Arundel Soil Conservation District. Other key partners include the Anne Arundel County Public Schools, the Maryland Department of the Environment, and the Department of Natural Resources along with other state agencies and organizations. ### About Anne Arundel Soil Conservation District Anne Arundel Soil Conservation District protects the county's natural resources by offering technical assistance to private landowners and the government for the conservation, management and best use of soil, water and other natural resources. AASCD helps landowners and developers stay in compliance with Federal, State and County policies through voluntary and mandated programs. The efforts of the District focus on the environmental effects of two different but equally essential areas of our local economy: agriculture and urban development. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
March 1, 2018 / Uncategorized / Jamie Tiralla / Permalink
26
Feb

Farmers May Apply Commercial Fertilizer to Small Grains Beginning February 25

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Department of Agriculture today announced that farmers who planted small grains for harvest last fall may “top dress” these crops with commercial fertilizer beginning February 25, as long as ground conditions remain favorable and in accordance with their nutrient management plans. The determination follows Maryland’s nutrient management regulations and is based on research conducted by University of Maryland plant experts. As a reminder,manure may not be applied to fields until March 1. Each year, University of Maryland researchers examine soil temperatures and crop growth over the winter to estimate when small grains will emerge from dormancy. This measurement, known as Growing Degree Units, is used to determine when small grains will benefit from spring nitrogen applications. According to data collected by University researchers, commercial fertilizer may be safely applied to small grains beginning February 25. At this time, these plants will have absorbed all available nutrients in the soil and will require additional nutrients to keep growing. “The winter of 2017-2018 has been interesting,” said Dr. Robert Kratochvil, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Maryland. “Through January, it was colder than normal resulting in a slow accumulation of Growing Degree Units. The first couple weeks of February were warmer and the number of Growing Degree Units increased. A further assessment conducted on February 16 combined with the extended forecast indicated that small grains would benefit from the first application of spring nitrogen on February 25.” The University recommends split applications of spring nitrogen with the first application occurring on or soon after February 25 based on Growing Degree Units and the second application when the crops begin to joint. For additional information on Maryland’s nutrient application requirements, contact the department’s Nutrient Management Program at 410-841-5959. Farmers with fields that are not suitable for harvest should contact their crop insurance agent for guidance. Photo by Edwin Remsberg for USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE)
February 26, 2018 / Uncategorized / Jamie Tiralla / Permalink
20
Feb

Funding Still Available for Conservation Partnership Projects Across Maryland

Applications due by March 16 to local Natural Resources Conservation Service offices Annapolis, Md., February 15, 2018 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is encouraging farmers and forest landowners to submit applications for conservation programs associated with the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Farmers and forestland owners may apply for conservation funding at any time throughout the year, but funding selections are made at specific times and the second 2018 sign-up deadline for RCPP projects is March 16, 2018. Maryland currently offers RCPP in selected areas across the state through eight projects that range in focus, from animal waste management practices, to streamside buffers, to wildlife habitat restoration. The following projects currently have funding available: Accelerating Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plans: Offered in partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, this project addresses animal waste management concerns in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and helps farmers implement practices to avoid winter application of manure. Producers that are interested in waste storage facilities, pumping plants, heavy use areas, and solid/liquid waste separation facilities are encouraged to apply. Cerulean Warbler Appalachian Forestland Enhancement: Offered in partnership with the American Bird Conservancy, this project will focus on suites of conservation practices intended to enhance acres of forest habitat on private lands for cerulean warblers, an at-risk species, and associated species by addressing habitat loss, soil health, and water quality. Producers and/or landowners that are interested in enrolling additional acres into easements, and increasing forest biodiversity are encouraged to apply. Comprehensive Watershed Conservation in Dairy and Livestock Landscapes of the Chesapeake Bay: Offered in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, this project will address both water quality degradation and inadequate habitat for fish and wildlife through a combination of comprehensive conservation planning, conservation practice implementation, and strategic habitat restoration. Producers in Washington County that are interested in waste storage facilities, pumping plants, heavy use areas, and solid/liquid waste separation facilities are encouraged to apply. Delmarva Whole System Conservation Partnership- Field to Stream: Offered in partnership with the The Nature Conservancy and the Delaware Maryland Agribusiness Association, this project will increase the implementation of advanced nutrient management practices and restoration of wetlands to reduce excess nutrients to the Chesapeake Bay. The project will also use science-based targeting of these practices to increase their effectiveness. Private landowners located in the Blackwater, Choptank, Nanticoke, Pocomoke and Wicomico watersheds that are interested in advanced nutrient management and wetland easements and restoration are encouraged to apply. Engaging Small AFO's in the Nutrient Management Process: This project seeks to reduce nutrient and sediment loss associated with small dairy AFOs by encouraging the development and implementation of CNMPs. It is available state-wide to small dairy operations interested in developing comprehensive nutrient management plans and implementing plan practices, including: waste storage structures, animal mortality facilities, heavy use areas, barnyard runoff practices, animal exclusion practices, and enhanced nutrient management (such as manure injection), among others. Mason-Dixon Working Lands Partnership: Offered in partnership with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, this project builds on USDA’s commitment to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed by taking a whole-farm approach to conservation implementation to address the unique needs of both forest and agricultural land owners. The project is designed to help farmers meet their conservation goals and using incentives to implement riparian forest buffers and stream fencing. Producers that are interested in riparian forest buffers, forest stand improvement or forest management plans in addition to other conservation practices are encouraged to apply. Ranking Tool Meeting WIP Goals in the Chesapeake Bay: Offered in cooperation with the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts, this project seeks to accelerate the installation of best management practices to enable Maryland farmers to meet the nutrient and sediment water quality goals set forth in the Chesapeake Bay TMDL. It is available to producers in Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Talbot, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset and Worcester, Washington, Frederick, Howard and Montgomery counties who are interested in animal waste storage, stream fencing, heavy use areas, liquid separation technology, and advanced nutrient management practices. Promoting Rotational Grazing: The objective of the project is to increase adoption of rotational grazing and complementary practices by converting cropland to pasture or moving existing continuous grazing operations to more intensive rotational grazing systems to address water quality degradation in the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac watersheds. It is available to producers in Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery and Washington counties. A conservation plan should be completed before an application can be considered for funding, so farmers are encouraged to call or stop by their local NRCS field office as soon as possible. USDA Service Center locations are listed online at http://offices.usda.gov or in the phone book under Federal Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture. General program information is available on the NRCS Maryland website at www.md.nrcs.usda.gov.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202-720-6382 (TDD).
February 20, 2018 / Uncategorized / Jamie Tiralla / Permalink
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