Important! BCFB Annual Meeting and Annual Banquet

RSVP online by October 4th for the Annual Meeting

RSVP online by October 29th for the Annual Fall Banquet

If you prefer, you can register by phone at 410-823-1789.

Next Month! Ag 101 Training - Two-Day Session

Maryland NRCS and Extension have teamed up to offer Ag 101, a two-day, technical assistance program to educate agricultural service providers about Maryland agriculture. The first day is being held via Zoom and the following day is outdoors on an Extension research farm. Topics will include the major sectors of Maryland agriculture, biosecurity & farm safety, and professional conduct with farmers.

The final of two sessions being offered this fall:

October 6-7, 2021.

See the attached flyer to register, or contact Andy Kness at

akness@umd.edu for more information.

New! Maryland Farms Unite to Send Farm Fresh Food to Louisiana After Hurricane Ida

On September 6, 2021, over 25 Maryland Farms came together to send farm fresh vegetables, fruit, dairy, eggs and meat to the communities devastated by Hurricane Ida. First Fruits Farms in partnership with Albright Farms have partnered together to organize donations from Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania farms to send down through Convoy of Hope. Read the full press release.

New! Calling all Baltimore County Farmers! Do you offer local food or farm activities to the public? Baltimore County Extension and the Maryland Agricultural Resource Council (MARC) would like to update the previous Baltimore County Farm Map to help consumers who are looking for farm, fresh food or on-farm family activities. If you wish to include your farm on the map, please fill out the Google Form.  If you have any questions, please contact Erika Crowl at 410-887-8090 or ecrowl@umd.edu.  

New! IPM Special Alert - Fall Armyworms Due to a quick rise in Fall Armyworm activity in many Maryland landscapes, UMD Extension released a special alert to address these pests. Read the IPM Special Alert on Fall Armyworms released on August 30, 2021

Input Needed: UMD Extension's Winter Meeting Survey Your local Extension Agents are trying to plan out local winter meetings and are looking for your preference for attending. They ask that you please take a minute to complete this very short, three-question survey. Your input is greatly appreciated.

CLICK HERE FOR SURVEY

On July 30, 2021, Maryland Farm Bureau proudly welcomed Pat Wolff, retired American Farm Bureau legislative veteran, as its senior director of national affairs. “We are beyond excited to have Pat joining our team here in Maryland with her wealth of knowledge and experience of working on Capitol Hill and within the Farm Bureau family,” said John Torres, Maryland Farm Bureau executive director. “Building stronger relationships between Maryland’s farming community, our congressional delegation, and with the administration will enhance our mission to protect and grow Maryland agriculture and preserve rural life. Our members can be confident that Pat will be working hard every day to represent their interest in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with our team at the American Farm Bureau Federation.” Read the full press release.

The first 50 BCFB members that place an order for their farm/company's membership sign will receive a $60 dollar rebate from

Sizing and Pricing:

Double sided

18" x 24" $145

3' x 4' $380

Single sided

18" x 24" $105

3' x 4' $320

Double sided

18" x 24" $135

3' x 4' $350

Single sided

18" x 24" $95

3' x 4' $ 290

To claim your $60 rebate, provide proof of purchase to the BCFB via email.

Questions? Please contact BCFB at 410-823-1789 or email

410-620-9180 www.adartsignsinc.com

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is collecting data from farmers and ranchers for its annual Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). The survey looks at all aspects of U.S. agricultural production, the well-being of farm households, farm finances, chemical usage, and various farm production characteristics. The survey also collects detailed information on production practices, costs, and returns for different commodities on a rotating basis. In 2021, the survey will take a closer look at corn, rice, dairy and organic dairy production in the United States. More here. 

Maryland Department of Agriculture Highlights -

New! Maryland Horse Library and Education Center Designated Part of the Maryland Horse Park System On September 10th, the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center was designated by the Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) as the Educational and Cultural Center of the Maryland Horse Park System. The new, multi-faceted facility will honor the history and importance of Maryland’s horse industry. Construction of the 4,500-square-foot center is expected to begin in September and will be open to the public by spring 2022. The center will be located in the Maryland Horse Breeders Association’s (MHBA’s) building in historic Reisterstown, centrally located close to Pimlico Race Course, Sagamore Farm, and other popular equine destinations. Once completed, the facility will house over 1,000 equestrian books, a memorabilia area, versatile meeting rooms, a media center, interactive kiosks and rotating exhibits.

Due This Month! Soil Phosphorous Test Results Due to the Department by September 30 On August 23rd, MDA announced that Maryland’s Phosphorus Management Tool (PMT) regulations require certified nutrient management consultants and farmers who prepare their own nutrient management plans to report field level soil Phosphorus-Fertility Index Value (P-FIV) results to the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) by Sept. 30. Instructions for how to report soil phosphorus data will be mailed to business license holders, consultants, and certified farmers in mid-August. Read the full press release.

Due Next Month! Department Accepting Nominations for Governor's Agriculture Hall of Fame As of August 5th, the MDA is accepting nominations of farmers and farm families for the Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame, which pays tribute to those who have dedicated their lives to the state’s leading industry. Nominations are due by Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. Those selected for induction will be honored during the “Taste of Maryland Agriculture” event on Feb. 3, 2022. Any farm family that derives its income principally from farming is eligible for the award. The hall of fame, established in 1991, includes 53 farm families from 23 counties who have been honored for their high standards of conduct; personal values; contributions to their community; and performance, leadership, innovation, and achievement in agriculture. Read the full press release.

Due Soon! LEAD Maryland Updates

LEAD Maryland Fellowship Cohort, Class XII (2022-23) As of June 1st, interested candidates are encouraged to apply for participation in LEAD Maryland Class XII (2022-23). Class XII will participate in 2022-23. The application will remain open until October 1. All application materials can be found on the homepage of the LEAD Maryland website.

Are you receiving the University of Maryland Extension's Agricultural newsletter for Baltimore County: Ag Insight?

In the September edition, you'll find:

To receive the newsletter directly, email Erika Crowl.

Visit the UMD Extension website for past newsletters.

The Baltimore County Ag Center is hosting a Farmer's Market via an outdoor market running on Friday's from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., May through November. Vendor applications are now be accepted.

The Ag Center is looking for all types of agricultural products as well as hot food vendors. It is asked that items be grown / produced within 100 miles of the AG Center and be produced by the vendor. (no re-selling)

View the application and vendor contract with additional information.

Work Boots.com is an online store specializing in work footwear, apparel and equipment. With styles from industry giants like Carhartt, Dickies, Timberland Pro and Wolverine, Work Boots.com is a one-stop shop for all work wear requirements. Members of the Maryland Farm Bureau receive a 15% off discount to Work Boots.com Call (636) 680-8061 or 410-922-3426 for the promo code. More here.    

MYDEALS Mobile App for Member Savings Advantage Looking for an easy way to see your member benefits all in one place? Download the Member Savings Advantage app on your phone to receive exclusive discounts at thousands of popular restaurants and retailers. Take a look at how the MYDEALS app works. The app can be downloaded on a smartphone or tablet from the APP Store or Google Play. Members can find discounts that are in their area based on their location when using the app.  If a member already registered on the website with a user email and password that same credential can be used on the mobile app. If not, a member will need to go to “Setup Account” and enter the program ID -200655 and their Farm Bureau ID# as the Mobile Password. If Access has an email address and password on file, it will pre-populate the “Setup Account” page and the member will need to finish registration. Learn more about the Member Savings Advantage program.

Mini Grant Program

The Mini Grants Program for Community Engagement is designed to engage Maryland residents in activities that enhance communities, engage residents, and improve natural resources. Details of the program can be found on the website.

The program status is open. This program runs annually; we begin accepting applications at the start of June every year. To view the RFP, click here.

Deadline: Rolling basis. Requests for this Mini Grant Program are accepted on an on-going basis until funds are fully expended for the fiscal year. 

Sarah Everhart and Margaret Todd with the UMD Agriculture Law Education Initiative (ALEI), recently wrote an article about the Agricultural Employment Surveys being conducted by the Maryland Department of Labor. Read their article titled Prevailing Wage and Practices - Agricultural Employment Surveys. The article covers critical elements of the Ag Employment sector and includes links to the Agricultural Online Wage Library and the Agricultural Employment Practice Survey Library. Additional UMD Agriculture Law Education Initiative articles can be viewed here.

New Blog! Maryland Risk Management Education Blog

The College of Agriculture & Natural Resources' Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics has a blog that is focused on issues related to agricultural policy, crop insurance, and agricultural law.

The most recent blog from September 5, 2021 titled USDA Announces CFAP 2 Funding for Contract Livestock and Poultry Growers can be viewed here. Earlier blogs can be accessed here on the college's website.

MPT's Maryland Farm & Harvest have released over 800 episodes in their 8th Season so far!

Check out the link below that features their season 8 promotional video via YouTube, and please like & share with all your networks!

All past episodes can be viewed at MPT’s website.

Please save the date for Maryland Farm Bureau's Annual Convention which will be held on