Trade School - Registration is Active!
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Trade School is taking place December 11th at Hilton Garden Inn on Kent Island, Maryland. This event is free to attend but registration is required due to limited seating.
We are excited to hear from Chip Councell, Chip Bowling, and Andrea Durkin as we learn about everything trade.
Hotel registration will close November 11th.
To register, click
here
.
For more information, click
here
.
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House of Environment &Transportation Committee visits Eastern Shore Farms
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Thursday, November 7th we enjoyed spending time with producers, legislators, and other agricultural organizations.
The House Environment and Transportation Committee had three farm stops on the Eastern Shore.
At Black Dog Farm, an organic poultry farm, owner Chris Rhodes talked about why he has expanded his operation for his three children. "We are always thinking about the next generation," said Chris. Both organic and conventional birds are steroid, hormone, and antibiotic-free, birds have access to feed and water 24/7, and depending on the company both birds have enrichments (bully boxes and hay bales for example). The main difference is that organic birds have outdoor access and organic feed. Even though Chris raises organic birds, he farms the land conventionally.
Next at
Triple Creek Winery
, Alex Spies explained to the group the amount of hand labor needed to produce grapes, the importance of certain pesticides to help his product, and his overall business. Alex said, "if you don't take care of the environment you won't make money." This is important because Alex understands that spraying only when needed is beneficial to him and the environment.
Lastly, we visited the Hutchison Brothers. This family produces 11 different crops on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Kyle Hutchison showed the group a Nitrogen Bioreactor, a practice that removes Nitrogen from water that filters through it, which was placed on the farm through a grant with
ShoreRivers
. This conservation practice is now eligible for cost share from the
Maryland Department of Agriculture
. On the farm, Bobby and Kyle spoke to the group about precision agriculture, research they have assisted with, and manure transportation and storage.
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Hot News - Market Facilitation Program
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If you have registered for the latest round of MFP, you have received 50% of your funding.
Announced yesterday, November 7th by USDA Sonny Perdue, another round of MFP payments has been cleared. This will be 25% of your total funding and will be available to producers later this month of early December.
The last 25% will be discussed and announced in January of 2020.
If you haven't signed up, you still have time. The deadline is December 6th. Visit your local FSA office to register.
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Minimum Wage for Employees on Your Farm
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The Maryland Department of Labor has produced a helpful resource for you! This resource will assist with which employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements under Maryland law.
Check out this helpful guide
here
.
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- The America Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings testified on EPA's proposed supplemental rule making. Brian says, "ACE members are furious with EPA's double-standard; when it came to helping refineries escape RFS obligations from 2016 through 2018." ACE urges the agency to take a small step in the right direction.
- Read the full article here.
- Leaders of the Governors' Biofuels Coalition sent a letter to U.S. EPA urging the agency to honor President Trump's commitment to the Renewable Fuel Standard. The letter says, "every waiver EPA approves negatively effects our farmers, biofuel producers and the thousands of residents who benefit from the industry."
- Read the full article here.
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Farm and Harvest - Season 7
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Maryland Public Television debuts Season 7 of Maryland Farm and Harvest this coming Tuesday, November 12th.
The show airs at 7 PM every Tuesday!
The first episode will feature organic potting mix and how a dairy farm manages manure. On the 19th, a 74-year-old fisherman will be showcased alongside a tech startup and the importance of internet for farmers.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture has more information on Season 7, click
here
to learn more.
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The deadline to plant cover crops for an incentive payment was this past Tuesday, November 5th. You must report everything to your district conservation office by November 13th.
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- National Wheat Foundation
- Apply for one of the two $2,500 scholarships offered at the National Wheat Foundation. You must be enrolled in an agriculture related degree and be a member of the National Association of Wheat Growers. This application is open now and due December 1st.
- Apply here.
- National Corn Growers Association
- The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has variety of scholarship available for everyone, check them out and apply before December 1st. Be sure that you are a member of the NCGA.
- Five $1,000 Scholarships for community college and technical school students.
- One $2,500 Scholarships for a Grad Student or PhD Candidate.
- Five $1,500 Scholarships for undergraduates.
- Apply here.
- America's Farmers Grow Ag Leaders Scholarship
- Sponsored by Bayer, more than 350 scholarships totaling more than $500,000 will be awarded to students across the United States in 2020. Students enrolling in careers in any agricultural-related field of student are able to apply. The deadline to apply is January 15th.
- Apply here.
- Mid-Atlantic Certified Crop Advisers
- Are you or someone you know enrolled in an agronomy related program? Be sure to apply for one of the two $1,000 scholarships from Mid-Atlantic CCA! Applications are due March 6th. Recipients will also get to take the CCA Exam after graduation, free of cost.
- Apply here.
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- 2019 Agriculture and Environmental Law Conference
- At the Crowne Plaza Hotel on 173 Jennifer Road in Annapolis, farmers, lawyers, professionals, and stakeholders will come together. This event will be Thursday, November 14th from 8 AM to 3 PM and will provide Continuing Nutrient Education Credits.
- To register and see the agenda click here!
- Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School
- Over two and a half days, session topics will cover nutrient management, crop management, and pest management. There are five program options offered each hour. The event is in Ocean City, Maryland November 19 – 21st. Registration is capped at 300, sign-up today.
- To learn more and register, click here.
- Proposal Deadline
- Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board is seeking proposals to support education, promotion, and research projects related to grain. Proposals are due December 2nd.
- ShoreRivers Ag Workshop
- ShoreRivers will host a one-day workshop on building farm resiliency through improved drainage water management and soil health on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at the Caroline County Soil Conservation District (9194 Legion Rd, #3, Denton, MD 21629). RSVP by November 22nd to lwood@shorerivers.org or 410-810-7556 x 276.
- Maryland Farm Bureau Convention
- Maryland’s 104th Farm Bureau Convention will be held December 8th – 10th at the Clarion Fontainebleau Resort in Ocean City. Tim the Dairy Farmer, Governor Hogan, and Mr. Zippy Duvall are all planning on making an appearance. We will be having a booth and hope to see you stop by.
- To register for the convention, click here.
- Delaware Ag Week
- From January 13th to 16th stop by the Delaware state fair grounds in Harrington for the 2020 Delaware Ag Week. Topics will touch on poultry and beef production, on farm research, agronomy, precision agriculture/irrigation, risk management, and soil health.
- For more information, click here.
- Taste of Maryland Dinner
- The 50th Annual Taste of Maryland Agriculture Celebration will be held Thursday, February 6, 2020 at Michael's 8th Avenue in Glen Burnie.
- For more information, click here.
- National Commodity Classic
- Commodity classic is around the corner. Check the schedule and fly out to San Antonio this February! We will be there from the 26th to the 29th.
- The agenda can be found here.
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A new member benefit with NCGA is the Association Motor Club Marketing (AMCM). This new opportunity is a roadside service provider dedicated to providing emergency dispatch assistance to you and your family.
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Created By: Jenell Eck
Programs and Public Relations Director
jenell.mdag@gmail.com
Please contact for questions.
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