Calling All Beginning Farmers in Maryland

U.S. Senators from Maryland, Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski have announced that the University of Maryland College Park has been awarded an $845,850 grant through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture for their Maryland Collaborative for Beginning Farmer Success program.

So what does this mean for you?  As beginning farmers, there is now even more help for you to learn about and establish successful farms.  The Maryland Collaborative program has four objectives set to reach their goal of preparing beginning farmers just like you for a successful agricultural career.

1. UMD Extension educators will develop a curriculum for new farmers to encourage and enhance their interest and comprehension of the field.
2. The program will offer workshops that bridge the gap between exploring the career to on-farm apprenticeships and mentorship.  It aims to increase the practical knowledge and skills of beginning farmers so they can make informed decision about what types of farming is practical for their resources, abilities and location.
3. To expand upon an existing new farmer training program managed by Future Harvest – a Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, to provide practical, hands-on training for beginning farmers who will work on farms.
4. To ensure long-term success through continued support.

Mikulski says, “Maryland’s number one industry is agriculture.  This grant invests in our students by giving them the tools necessary to succeed in the field.”  So, calling all beginning farmers in Maryland…be sure to take advantage of this grant money and learning experience.

Have a Bite of the World’s Largest Crab Cake

Most of us could agree that nothing beats a fresh Maryland crab cake (speaking of, is it lunch time yet…now, we’re hungry)!  But if you want a piece of history, literally, head out to the Maryland State Fair on Saturday, September 1^st for a crab cake sandwich made from hopes of breaking another Guinness World Record.

Handy International is a 100+ year old Maryland seafood processor who currently holds the title for world’s largest crab cake.  They first set the record in 2006 and then broke that record in 2009 with a 253-pound crab cake.  This year they will attempt to break their record again!

The crab cake has to be cooked in a specially-built pan that weighs almost as much as the ingredients themselves.  It will take about 10 hours to cook being flipped every 15-20 minutes by 4 men for even cooking.

“Everyone is excited to see how many sandwiches the colossal crab cake yields” said Andy Cashman of the Maryland State Fair. Handy International’s goal is to serve more than 700 sandwiches served from the 2009’s crab cake.  Proceeds from the sales will benefit the Maryland 4-H Foundation.

So, be sure to stop by the Maryland State Fair and get a taste of the world’s largest crab cake. Let us know how it tastes, but in the meantime – we’re too hungry to keep writing…it’s lunchtime!

It’s Fair Season (Already?)!

The aroma of popcorn, cotton candy, and hot dogs fill the air.  You hear children laughing and cows ‘mooing’.  Your feet are aching from walking all day and you are ready to sit down and enjoy a ride on the Ferris wheel.  Does that sound about right – like your last trip to your local fair?

Well, in case you are ready to get back out there and enjoy the cool summer nights, there are tons of fairs going on in your area in the next couple weeks!  Whether it’s the first time you’ll attend, or a continued family tradition, be sure to check these out:

• July 11-14: Talbot Co. Fair, Easton, MD
• July 12-15: Baltimore Co. 4-H Fair, Timonium, MD
• July 19-28: Delaware State Fair, Harrington, DE
• July 20-28: Cecil Co. Fair, Childs, MD
• July 21-28: Washington Co. Ag Expo & Fair, Boonsboro, MD

If you do attend, be sure to snap an ag-related photo and enter it in our fair photo contest on Facebook - you could win up to $250!  You can scan the QR code to be directed to the official contest page.

To find out what other fairs are occurring in your area this summer, check out our Calendar of Events.

Chip Councell: A “Farmer Who Feeds US”

At a time when adults believe half-truths about the food supply and children don’t know milk comes from a cow, it has never been more important to educate consumers about the practice of farming.

Chip Councell of Cordova, Maryland is the tenth generation of his family to farm, where he grows grain and 20 to 30 various kinds of vegetables on almost 1,300 acres annually.  He is also involved in the Farmers Feed US campaign geared towards educating consumers about the farmers who produce their safe, affordable, and nutritious food.

The Farmers Feed US campaign gives farmers an opportunity to tell their story, and that’s exactly what Chip is doing during his feature video clip. Chip stresses that all farmers need to have an impact on the perceptions of agriculture, whereas, “They can no longer just sit back.  We need to be a better job communicating what we do and why we do it to the public.”

You can read more about Chip’s involvement in the Farmers Feed US campaign on page 6 in our Farm Credit Leader magazine.  Or, to learn more about other farmers in the region or get involved in telling agriculture’s story yourself, visit farmersfeedus.org.

3 Ways Farmers Can Participate in the Farm-to-Food Bank Program

We all know how important (and delicious) local food, fresh from the farm is to incorporate in our diets.  But we also know that it can tend to be viewed as a luxury food in terms of affordability.  Well, the Maryland Food Bank is helping to break that barrier by implementing the Farm-to-Food Bank Program throughout the state.

The program includes a network of farms and cooperatives who have pledged to donate fresh fruits and vegetables to the food bank on a regular basis.  Farmers can participate by:

• donating excess crops
• allowing minimum-custody offenders to conduct final sweeps of fields in cooperation with the Maryland State Department of Corrections, or
• contracting to grow most-needed fruits and vegetables on a portion of land set aside specifically for the food bank

Farms may deliver produce to the Maryland Food Bank or arrange for weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly pick-ups.  Then, the food bank will immediately either prepare the fruits and vegetables for meals or reconstitute them into healthy frozen meals for use at a later time.

The farmers’ donations will ensure a steady supply of nutritious food to individuals and families striving to overcome hunger.  We think this is a great partnership of the food bank and local farmers to continue to feed our local communities.  Great work, Maryland Farm Bank!  For a complete list of participating farms and cooperatives, or the join the effort yourself, visit www.mdfoodbank.org.

Eat Local with Dad

Father’s Day is approaching quickly, and are you still figuring out plans to make his day extra special? Well, instead of taking him to a fancy dinner or buying him another tie, consider taking him to the Cecil County Father’s Day Picnic.

The picnic is being held from 1 – 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 17, 2012 at The Fair Hill Nature Center.  It is being hosted by Cecil County farmers who will be serving food fresh from their farms as the main meal.  Highlighted items include burgers from Sassafras River Beef, cheese from Mooo Over Cheese, chips from Herr’s, milkshakes from Kilby Cream, and apple pic from Milburn Orchards.  We’re hungry already…

This idea came about when Cecil County Agriculture Agent, Doris Behnke wanted to host an event that helped promote the “Eat Local” campaign and reintroduced farms and farming to the consuming public.  She and a small committee determined they would begin a local farm meal program which will host events like this four times per year.  Great idea, Doris!

Now what you’re really wondering is how much this will cost you, right? It’s only $8 per person.  But hurry, because only 150 tickets are being sold and they can be purchased by calling the Cecil County Extension office at 410.996.5280.

So, bring out your whole family to recognize Dad on his special day.  Enjoy local, farm fresh food and spend quality time together hiking the trails to the stream or biking around the park.  Oh, and by the way Mom, you won’t have to do any dishes!

If you attend, post of picture of you and Dad to our Facebook page!

Frequently Asked Questions to a Lender

What's your rate? How much are closing costs? You got questions. We got answers! At Farm Credit, our loan officers meet with hundreds of customers a year who ask those exact questions. So, what's the answer to those questions you ask?

Q: What are your interest rates? A: It depends. This isn’t the answer most people want to hear, but it’s the most honest one. Before a loan officer can quote rates, they need to gather as much information as possible – amount of loan, loan type, desired terms, etc. There is a wide range of rate products that are available depending on your needs. It’s also important to remember that rates change daily (even several times a day for mortgages).

Q: How much are closing costs? A: It depends. Most closing cost fees are tied to the loan amount, and a purchase has more costs than a refinance. Some of the things that are included in the closing costs are: transfer tax, recording costs (we are exempt in MD), title work, initial escrow (to pay taxes and insurance), appraisal, daily interest (interest from settlement to the first payment) and origination fee.

Q: How much down payment is needed? A: It depends. There are many different products available that have a wide variety of down payment requirements. For farm loans, the general down payment is 20%. For residential mortgages, it can vary from 0% (depending on program qualifications) up to 20% (in order to avoid mortgage insurance). In general, the more down payment you have, the more likely for both approval and a great rate.

As you can see, the answer to many of these questions is often “it depends.” We look at every loan request as unique and individual. If you have other questions you'd like answered, leave a comment or email info@mafc.com. In the meantime, look for our next blog listing the 26 factors that go into quoting a rate.

MidAtlantic Farm Credit's CEO Receives Award

Bob Frazee, CEO of MidAtlantic Farm Credit received the University of Maryland Distinguished Alumnus Award. These awards are presented annually to the University of Maryland alumni who have achieved recognition for excellence in their profession or field.

Bob was recognized at the Twelfth Annual Alumni Association Awards Gala held on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Visit Bob’s blog to read his acceptance speech. For more information about the awards, visit http://alumni.umd.edu.

Maryland farmers are rock stars!

The Maryland community will be gathered around their sets tonight to watch the premiere of The Maryland Harvest. This documentary is about Maryland farms and farmers and the chefs who love them. It is hosted by local radio personality Al Spoler and produced by Houpla Inc.

In a statement from Maryland Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance, he says, "The documentary highlights the growing importance that top chefs are placing food that comes fresh from the farm and the partnerships that are being formed to ensure consumers are getting the best tasting and most nutritious food possible."

At Farm Credit, we are pleased to have helped underwrite the cost of this program and are excited about it's premiere.

If you'd like to find out why Maryland farmers are rock stars and are the rolling stones of food check out The Maryland Harvest documentary tonight on MPT tonight (April 17) at 9 p.m.

JHU museum exhibit to show early farming practices in Baltimore

A museum at a Baltimore college is opening its doors to an exhibit that traces the city's early food and farm practices, according to a published report.

"Federal Foodies: From Farm to Table in Early Baltimore" has been on display at the Homewood Museum at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Scheduled to run through April 29, the exhibit will be augmented by Historic Farm Day on April 1.

Historic Farm Day focuses on Baltimore's early agricultural history and the Homewood farm. Built in 1801, Homewood was the summer resort for Charles Carroll Jr., whose father signed the Declaration of Independence from Maryland.

Now the primary campus of Johns Hopkins University, the property once encompassed 130 acres and entailed fields of grain, fruit orchards and vegetable gardens. The property had a farmhouse, an ice house, a smoke house, dairy products and cattle.

Set to kick off by paying tribute to Historic Farm Day, the exhibit will feature interactive activities and demonstrations.

Visitors who partake in Farm Day may enjoy educational activities that are set up both indoors and outdoors and are germane to gardening and farming.

Maryland sets a record for cover crop planting

The state of Maryland set a record for cover crop planting in 2011.

Nearly 430,000 acres in the state were planted with cover crops - which are small grain crops - last year, according to the Star Democrat.

"Our farmers continue to show their leadership in the Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts by planting a record number of acres of cover crops, exceeding their two-year goal by 21 percent," Governor Martin O'Malley said.

Talbot County reportedly led the way for the state, planting 47,192 acres of such crops.

Ted Wycall, who owns Greenbranch Organic Farm in Salisbury, told Delmarva Now that cover crops serve a number of functions.

"There are a couple different purposes to cover crops - the main purpose is to prevent soil erosion, but they also help build organic matter and they also help nutrient cycling in the soil," he told the news provider, adding that when a cash crop is not being planted, typically a cover one is.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture predicts that in 2012 cover crops will stop 2.58 million pounds of nitrogen and 86,000 pounds of phosphorus from impacting the Chesapeake Bay, according to the news source.

Maryland honors forestry innovator

One-thousand acres of woods on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland will be named for the state's first forester, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Fred W. Besley first began his tenure as state forester in 1906 after having been tapped by the first leader of the U.S. Forest Service. The Maryland Board of Public Works voted Wednesday to affix Besley's name to forestland in Dorchester County.

The state of Maryland was the nation's third state to establish a program for forestry, which occurred while woodlands in Maryland were being consumed for purposes including settling, farms and industrial production.

Besley devoted 36 years to calling attention to conservation, both private and public. He also conducted inventories of state forests while promoting efforts to reforest and reigning in forest fires. Besley also grew Maryland-owned forest system from 2,000 acres in 1906 to at least 100,000 acres by 1942. The amount of forest owned by the state of Maryland today stands at 138,000.

The innovator worked and owned the five wooded tracts of land that will take on the name Fred W. Besley Demonstration Forest, which Maryland purchased in 2010.

Maryland to hold organic farm production meeting on March 6

Organic farming is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors in the U.S. and in order to help operators in this field the Maryland Department of Agriculture is holding an informational meeting next month.

The seventh annual Organic Grain, Forage and Vegetable Production meeting will take place on March 6 at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills. The cost is $30 and will include a continental breakfast and lunch.

The event is sure to be helpful to those involved in organic agricultural production as the topics covered at the meeting will include managing pests, tools that can help during the transition to organic farming, breeding organic soybeans and corn, nutrient management for organic operations and crop insurance.

In addition to gaining important insights into the industry, participants will get three continuing education credits from the Maryland Department of Agriculture's Nutrient Management Program.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service, in 2008 there were 119 organic operations in Maryland. These farms covered more than 7,600 acres of land that year. Nationwide, more than 4.8 million acres of land was set aside for organic production.

Maryland reports successes with oysters

Oysters that call the Chesapeake Bay of Maryland home this past fall achieved the top survival rate in 26 years, state Governor Martin O'Malley said in a press release.

The 2011 Fall Oyster Survey revealed the sea creature had a survival rate of 92 percent, which indicates how many of them were found alive in a sample.

"Although our fight to restore a thriving oyster population to the Chesapeake Bay is far from over, our continued commitment to renewing this iconic species has begun to pay off," the governor said. "Through balanced investments in aquaculture, sanctuaries, stewardship and enforcement, our native oyster is coming back. Together, we can continue to create jobs and support our local economies while returning our native oyster to healthy, sustainable levels."

The state of Maryland, via the Natural Resources Department and agencies that preceded the DNR, has been keeping a close eye on the oyster population since 1939, representing one of the globe's longest-standing programs to monitor this marine life.

Levels of reproduction, disease and mortality rates of the oysters are monitored by the survey, which indicates future populations.

Maryland chapter recognized at Farm Bureau's annual meeting

The Maryland chapter of the American Farm Bureau was well represented at the federation's 93rd annual meeting in Hawaii, according to The Star Democrat.

Attracting roughly 7,000 participants, the meeting titled "Navigating the Waves of Change" was attended by the Maryland Farm Bureau's president, first vice president and vice president. The delegation, which included members, heard praise for the chapter's achievements with membership and its strong record of programs for members last year.

"We were very pleased to be honored in four of five program areas," president Patricia Langenfelder told the publication. "We might be a small state, but our staff and leaders do an excellent job. We also received the Navigator Award for outstanding membership growth."

Federation president Bob Stallman presented her Langerfelder with awards for agricultural education and promotion, leadership development, policy implementation and public relations.

Voting delegates at the conference in Honolulu early last month advocated for farmers who have been or will be victimized by revenue losses that climb to catastrophic levels by capitalizing on a flexible combination of tools that help meet requirements of fiscal responsibility, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Maryland to consider allowing farmers to brew beer

One Maryland farmer is hoping to try something innovative to help save his property: brewing beer.

Adam Frey says that it has been difficult to keep his family farm afloat due to competition from places like Brazil, reports CBS Baltimore. However, instead of giving up, Frey made the decision to try to convince state legislators to allow farms in Maryland to also operate micro-breweries.

The news provider reports that some lawmakers intend to introduce a bill to allow Frey and others to do just that. After all, Maryland wineries are thriving, why shouldn't it work for a brewery?

Even if the bill gets passed, Frey isn't planning to become the next Adolphus Busch, he still wants to operate his farm.

"And basically create something more than just a family farm. Give us a few extra options as far as farming goes. It's me against the global market. We need some kind of buffer in there," he told the news provider.

The Brewer's Association of Maryland - which was founded in 1996 to promote the brewing industry in the state - lists 15 members on its website.

Milkman makes comeback in Northeast Maryland

A Northeast Maryland company has brought back a service that is most welcome to many customers: the delivery of dairy products by a milkman.

The Cecil Whig reports Kilby Cream of Rising Sun provides a delivery service that Mary Beth Sniadowski-Cole is very pleased to see continuing. She called to ask about non-homogenized milk and was surprised when met with an inquiry as to whether she would like weekly delivery service.

"Oh my God, it's like heaven-sent. To have it delivered to the house is fantastic," Sniadowski-Cole told the publication about the Thursday delivery service of a gallon of white milk, a gallon of chocolate milk and a quart of heavy cream.
"It's wonderful - we just leave our little box out. I don't have to say to my husband, 'Stop at the store and get milk,' because it's right there."

Cecil County saw the return of milk delivery service slightly more than one year ago when Kilby Cream resumed the time-honored practice.

Kilby Cream has been dairying for more than 100 years, according to the company website.

Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show kicks off in Baltimore

The Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) - which is known as The Masterpiece of Trade Shows - begins on January 11.

MANTS offers attendees a wide variety of potential purchases to choose from such as nursery stock, equipment (both light and heavy duty), furniture and many more industry and agricultural products.

The trade show began in the early 1970s in Willamsburg, Virginia, and has greatly increased in size in the past four decades. The event is now held in the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore.

Companies from all over the region attend the event and major industry players are on hand to buy items and see exhibits. According to the show's website, 35 percent of attendees are the owners of their operation.

However, MANTS offers a bit more than a standard trade show as a charity auction will be held and a number of major organizations - such as the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association - have their annual meetings at the event. In addition, a gala will take place on January 11 to raise funds for the VNA Horticulture Research Foundation.

The event will run from Wednesday, January 11, to Friday, January 13.

Maryland farmer's next effort to establish meat processing is smaller

A Southern Maryland farmer is reasonably confident that his push to implement a meat processing facility on his grounds will meet with swift approval from federal inspectors, according to a published report.

Last year's slaughterhouse plans pursued by Johnny Knott for his land in Mechanicsville, St. Mary's County, ran into local resistance, The County Times reports. But this year's proposal, which he said will be of value to regional farmers and will not be as large an operation as last year's, is sure to please federal officials with the U.S. Agriculture Department, Knott told the publication.

"It's not going to have any impact, no noise, no smell, no traffic," Knott told the publication regarding a trailer that will move carcasses to be processed. "The USDA man will be right there to put his stamp on it."

St. Mary's County's top official for economic development said the issue that the zoning appeals board is tasked with handling is complex and unique but might prove to be a boon for Calvert, St. Mary's and Charles counties.

The St. Mary's County Department of Economic and Community Development works to create a strong economic community for businesses and citizens.

Maryland's buy-local exhibit set for next month in Annapolis

Maryland growers are cordially invited to exhibit their products later next month at a state-run buy-local trade show, according to a press release.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is holding the January 24 display that will be held in a bigger facility than the one earlier this year, which attracted the registration of more than 300 vendors. The vendors varied among farmers of produce, artisan cheeses, producers of ice cream and farmers of beef and bison. The exhibit also attracted representatives from supermarkets, chefs, directors of nutrition at schools, distributors and officials involved with economic development.

Officials with Maryland Cooperative Extension and regional agricultural marketing were in attendance as well.

Commercial purchasing agents are becoming increasingly interested in Maryland-grown fruits, vegetables, meats and specialty foods. Maryland farmers fulfill vital roles such as providing healthy food, saving and putting open farm land to good use, and widening rural economies.

The January 24 event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Football Stadium in Annapolis. For more information visit www.marylandsbest.net.