Anne Arundel County UME News

Solutions in Your Community

Anne Arundel County UME Newsletter

June 2023

Photo: Master Gardener Vegetable Garden at the Dairy Farm

Mark Your Calendar!

August 2, 2023

Field Crops Twilight, Barbecue & Ice Cream Social

CMREC, Upper Marlboro, MD

August 25, 2023

Anne Arundel County Extension 2023 Open House

Gambrills, MD

Office closures:

July 4: Independence Day

September 4: Labor Day

Nutrient Management Program Update

Maxine Da-Som Yoon

Nutrient Management Advisor

On June 1, MDA announced that it will no longer fund the University of Maryland to provide free nutrient management plan-writing services out of the County Extension offices. While

details have yet to be announced this means that:

free-to-the-public writing of nutrient management plans is likely to be a thing of the past for most producers who do not write their own plans.
my time as an Extension plan writer is quickly coming to a close.

While plan writing by the UMD Ag Nutrient Management Program will effectively cease for most producers, the Program will continue primarily in an educational role by teaching farmers to write their own plans and providing technical assistance to plan-writers. As a result, the electronic records that are currently on file for you will be retained. We can send a copy directly to you and, if you provide your permission (a form will be available), this electronic information may be shared with the future nutrient management advisor of your choosing. The electronic information you will want to have for your next plan writer (or for yourself) should include recent nutrient management plans and their corresponding NuMan Pro files and GIS ‘shapefiles’or ‘kmls’ used for making maps.

For a short while, any hard copies of past plans will be available in the county office for you to pick up. At some point these files will be shredded. The timing of retention of hard copies depends on the particulars of the Extension office and so I encourage you to reach out to the office as soon as possible.

Contact MDA if you have concerns about finding a private plan-writer or want to find out more details about potential cost share opportunities.

(https://mda.maryland.gov/resource_conservation/Pages/nutrient_management.aspx)

Here is a FAQs sheet that may be helpful to you.

(Nutrient Management Plan Writing Program FAQs)

UMD AGNR has released an official statement recently.

(https://agnr.umd.edu/news/message-agnr-leadership-changes-nutrient-management-program)

Contact MDA if you have concerns about finding a private plan-writer or want to find out more details about potential cost share opportunities.

(https://mda.maryland.gov/resource_conservation/Pages/nutrient_management.aspx)

(Nutrient Management Plan Writing Program FAQs)

My plan is to continue writing plans until 8/31/23, when funding ends:

Though I am relatively new to plan writing, I hope to continue assisting the farmers in the community with their Nutrient Management Plans (NMP). I truly believe in how NMPs help reduce unnecessary nutrient runoff into the bay while also increasing profit margins by

optimizing nutrient usage. However, because MDA is no longer funding advisor’s salaries I will have to charge a fee. This is a brand-new market and the rate is uncertain right now, but I assure you that I will charge a fair and reasonable rate. Please let me know if you’d like me to assist you in the future, and I can save your digital files for you.

The future is unclear as of right now, but there will be four UMD Nutrient Management

Specialists to assist with education, research, and NMPs for farms smaller than 10 acres. If you are interested in obtaining nutrient management training and certification to write your own plans, please fill out this Certification Interest Form. I am unsure of the exact capacity and capability in which the NM Specialists will be of assistance to smaller farmers.

According to the MDA, farmers are supposed to keep up to 5 most recent years of their

NMP. Either digitally or physically. I have many physical files and older NMPs in my office,

meeting this requirement for farmers. If you would like to pick up any physical files, please let me know and come into the office. If the physical files are not picked up by mid-July, they will most likely be shredded.

If you have updated your plan this year, that is great! I hope to hear from you before your

next plan is due. If your plan has expired, I would recommend taking this time to get a free plan before my time is over. If I am currently working on your plan now, please send me any

necessary documents (soil tests, etc.) ASAP so I can finish your plan.

If you have any questions or concerns about these uncertain times, there will be two listening sessions in regards to the changes in Nutrient Management Planning hosted by the MDA.

Mid Shore Maryland Nutrient Management Summit

Thursday, July 13, 2023 5 pm - 7 pm

Talbot County Community Center

10028 Ocean Gateway Easton, MD 21601

Nutrient Management Summit

Anne Arundel Community College Pascal Center for

Monday, July 17, 2023 9-12 pm

Performing Arts Professor Kauffman Theatre

101 College Parkway Arnold, MD 21012

Anne Arundel County Extension

2023 Open House

The Anne Arundel County Extension Office 2023 Open House will take place on Friday, August 25. Visitors will be able to tour the Demonstration Garden, participate in activities, pick fresh peppers a our Urban Farm and much more!

Field Crops Research Twilight, Barbecue & Ice Cream Social

You are invited to a Fields Crops Research Twilight, Barbecue and Ice Cream Social at the Central Maryland Research & Education Center, 2005 Largo Road, Upper Marlboro, Maryland on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 from 4:00 to 9 PM. A barbecue dinner will be served at 4:00 pm followed by homemade ice cream prior to the evening tour. University of Maryland Extension Educators and Specialists will showcase their field crop, vegetable and fruit research plots.

Barbeque begins at 4:00 PM

Ice cream Served at 5:15 PM

Crops Twilight at 6:00 PM

Please arrive on time as the wagon tour will start promptly at 6:00 PM. This event is free. However, a reserved meal ticket is required.

If you need special assistance to participate, please contact the Anne Arundel County Extension office at 410-222-3906 by August 1st.

Urban Farming Research Clinic

The Anne Arundel Extension Urban Farming Research Clinic (UFRC) is in operation for the 2023 season!

New plantings in 2023:

Vineyard of vinifera wine grapes; Hops trial with local Pherm Brewery; Apple trial, Peach trial; Blackberry trial; Asparagus bed; Buckwheat for bees and buckwheat flour; Oats for steel cut oatmeal; Milling Corn for cornbread; Sunflowers for bird seed; and Pumpkins.

High Tunnel in 2023:

The Chili-Mix, a chili-pepper and culinary herb trial will be the first UFRC high tunnel project.

Visit the Urban Farming Research Clinic website - https://extension.umd.edu/locations/anne-arundel-county/agriculture-food-systems/urban-farming-research-clinic - to learn more about the UFRC.

Healthy Eating - Apple Pancakes

1 1/3 cup complete pancake & waffle mix*

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon table or maple syrup

1 Tablespoon packed brown sugar

1/2 cup applesauce

1 cup water

1-2 Tablespoons cooking (vegetable, olive or canola oil)

Applesauce, syrup, or fresh berries for topping

Combine pancake mix, cinnamon, maple or table syrup, brown sugar, applesauce, and water. Stir just until large lumps disappear. Over-stirring will cause tough pancakes. Pour slightly less than 1/4 cup batter for each pancake onto a preheated, lightly greased pan over medium heat. When pancakes bubble around edges and towards center, flip it. Pancake is done when bottoms are golden brown. Serve with applesauce, syrup, or berries.

Note: Recipe adapted from Pennsylvania Nutriiton Education Network

Source: extension.umd.edu/programs/family-consumer-sciences/snap-ed/eat-smart

Join Anne Arundel County 4-H

Did you visit the Anne Arundel County Fair this year? Did you wonder what in the world 4-H is all about? Do you have children between 8 and 18 or know someone who does? If so, it's easy to learn more! Visit our website or email the the Anne Arundel County 4-H office at gsumbrum@umd.edu."4-H makes the best better!"

Become an Anne Arundel County Master Gardener

Interested in becoming a Master Gardener? Master Gardeners are a group of gardening enthusiasts who are passionate about gardening, education, and volunteering in their community. The curriculum is presented by University of Maryland Extension faculty and trained Master Gardeners.

Click here for more information.