Agriculture

One-hundred-and-fifty years ago Monday, this county was the scene of the bloodiest single day of the Civil War or the War of Northern Aggression. If you are a frequent reader of this column, then you know I am almost as passionate about history as I am about agriculture. As we look back, “The 1860 agricultural census of Washington County portrays pre-war Sharpsburg as a district of prime land, crops, and animal husbandry (the raising of livestock). Typically, wheat, Indian corn, hay, rye oats and Irish potatoes were the crops raised.

As you read this column, schools are in session and college campuses are filled with students attending classes in order to fill their time between football games. As I reflect on this and other things about education and America, I find we are no longer No. 1 in any category, with the exception of spending per student. The U.S. is 14th in reading, 25th in math and 17th in science among countries ranked by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. Now, you are probably wondering, what does this have to do with agriculture?

Valerie Mason represented Washington County in the 2012 Miss Maryland Agriculture program at the Maryland State Fair in Timonium, Md. Sponsored by the Maryland Farm Bureau and Maryland State Fair, the two-day competition culminated with an on-stage contest Aug. 24. Phyllis McKenzie of Carroll County was named Miss Maryland Agriculture. Twenty-one county farm bureaus were represented during the annual event.

David Herbst has had dirt under his fingernails for as long as he can remember. And he wouldn't have it any other way. As the owner of Misty Meadow Farm in Smithsburg, he comes from a long line of relatives who have made a living from the soil. That includes his grandfather, who moved to the property in 1918, arriving on a horse and wagon. “I can still remember as a child going out to the fields with Grandpap to pick rocks,” Herbst said. “While Dad was planting, we would get another field ready.” Herbst probably never imagined at such a young age that one day, he would be in charge of the farm.

The deadline for nominating farmers and farm families for the Governor's Agriculture Hall of Fame has been extended to Aug. 31 to give Maryland residents more time to prepare nominations. The hall honors the leaders of Maryland's thriving agricultural community and pays tribute to those who have dedicated their lives to Maryland agriculture. Any farm family that derives its income principally from farming is eligible for the award. Since 1991, when the Hall of Fame was established, 42 farm families from 22 counties have been honored for their high standards of conduct; personal values; contributions to their community; and performance, leadership, innovation and achievement in agriculture.

Joe Moritz had his hands full of sometimes squawking chickens Tuesday morning at the 65th annual Berkeley County Youth Fair. Moritz, an associate professor of poultry science at West Virginia University, worked well into the afternoon judging 86 sets of chickens. Using his trained eyes and knowing hands, Moritz handled laying hens, pullets (immature laying hens), fancy fowl, meat birds and a couple of turkeys. He was helped in the judging by WVU students Ashley Evans, Alina Corey and Angela Lamp.

With good reason we pride ourselves on our agricultural heritage and the sound values and rural scenery and flavor that come with it. Washington County's Ag Expo kicks off this week, making it a good time to recognize those young men and women whom we will be counting on to preserve these assets and keep our county a desirable spot for residents and visitors alike. We also take this time to pay tribute to the amount of work that's involved in bringing these animals and products to the fair.

About 100 farmers - some delivering heated remarks to state agriculture officials - attended a public hearing Wednesday night at the Washington County Agricultural Education Center regarding new proposed regulations they might have to follow to protect the Chesapeake Bay from pollution. The proposed changes are to Maryland's Nutrient Management Regulations and include proposed laws that govern how nutrients are applied to soil. One proposal that drew criticism is that farmers will have to establish a 35-foot setback from perennial and intermittent streams when applying nutrients.

Betsy Herbst said her husband's grandparents arrived at their farm in a horse-drawn wagon on a snowy Saturday in 1918. With another generation of the family now taking up their duties at Misty Meadow Farm, the family broadened its  business by adding a creamery - selling ice cream made from the milk and cream produced by the farm's dairy herd. On Wednesday, Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Buddy Hance stopped by to sample some of the two dozen flavors offered at Misty Meadow Farm Creamery.

The Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corp. has announced a grant-funding opportunity to encourage Maryland's agricultural producers to expand or diversify their business operations by installing capital assets to make a product that is “value added.”  Eligible applicants must be a crop or livestock producer or processor, agricultural cooperative, seafood processor, or primary or secondary timber products processor, and...