Nutrient Management

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Are high fertilizer prices getting to you? If so, you might want to attend the nutrient management meeting set for Thursday, Feb. 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Cumberland County Extension Office to get up to speed on issues relating to manure management and nitrogen efficiency. The featured speakers will be Doug Beegle and Jerry Martin from Penn State Extension. Here are the topics on for this program; call if you have any additional questions: · Importing manure to your farm: do you know what you need to know?

WASHINGTON COUNTY ? Growing up on a farm in the Williamsport area, Brian Forsythe knew from an early age that he wanted to find a career that would keep him rooted in the earth. And he has. Forsythe, 22, recently landed a job at the Maryland Cooperative Extension on Sharpsburg Pike. His official title is nutrient management adviser, Antietam Watershed project agricultural nutrient management program. "I take soil samples and send them off for analysis," Forsythe said. Based on the results, he then writes up a nutrient program and advises the client what to add, when to add it or what not to add in the way of fertilizer.

ANNAPOLIS - The Maryland Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension is offering nutrient management training workshops so "pasture-based operations" can write nutrient management plans this fall. These workshops will train farmers how to write nutrient management plans, "thereby eliminating the cost of paying a consultant," said Gov. Robert Ehrlich. "When it is easier for farmers to operate their land under a certified plan, more will participate and the ultimate goal of improved water quality will be achieved," he said.

Washington County farmers and officials grilled Maryland Agriculture Secretary Earl F. “Buddy” Hance on Thursday about a variety of concerns. Hance was a guest speaker at the county's inaugural agriculture business forum at the Washington County Agricultural Education Center south of Hagerstown. He faced questions about topics ranging from nutrient management to a new law limiting the use of septic systems on rural land - even though the Department of Planning, not his department, is behind that law, Hance stressed.

WASHINGTON COUNTY - Growing up on a farm in the Williamsport area, Brian Forsythe knew from an early age that he wanted to find a career that would keep him rooted in the earth. And he has. Forsythe, 22, recently landed a job at the Maryland Cooperative Extension on Sharpsburg Pike. His official title is nutrient management adviser, Antietam Watershed project agricultural nutrient management program. Growing up working on the family orchard and dairy farm, Forsythe was active in 4-H with dairy cows.

Farm runoff bill may favor Mennonites ANNAPOLIS - Mennonite farmers - who own more than half of the estimated 800 farms in Washington County - could benefit from a change in the proposed farm runoff legislation that's being hotly debated in the Maryland General Assembly. Both the House of Delegates and the Senate this week added language that would require the Maryland Department of Agriculture to adopt the religious exemptions from the mandatory nutrient management plans.

Meyers appointed to Soil Conservation Committee By SCOTT BUTKI / Staff Writer Betty J. Meyers of Sharpsburg has been appointed Western Maryland representative of the State Soil Conservation Committee. One of her goals is let people know how state policies affect farmers. "I hope to make the general public more aware of the farmers' plight in the nutrient management program," she said. State law requires farmers to develop nutrient management plans designed to minimize the amount of pollution that ends up in the groundwater.

Antietam Unit 236, Sharpsburg American Legion Auxiliary, presented a Dargan family with a Blue Star Service Banner at its June 11 Unit meeting.  Unit President Ava Gift presented the banner to Steven and Shelly (Sue) Haskell in honor of the service of their son, Charles Robert Kretzer Jr. (known as C.J).  C.J. graduated from Boonsboro High in 2008 and enlisted in the Marines on Mother's Day 2009. He deployed to Afghanistan on his birthday, April 26, of this year. Gaulding, Wesmiller get Masons scholarships Antietam Masonic Lodge 197 in Keedysville presented scholarships to Jillian Gaulding and Mikaela Wesmiller at an open strawberry night meeting Tuesday, June 19, at the lodge on Main Street in Keedysville.

Spring has sprung and many in the community are hard at spring chores. This is the time of year that many a pound of fertilizer is applied to hill and dale. Before you open the fertilizer or dust off your spreader, ask yourself this question, “Have I taken a soil sample?” If the answer is “no,” then the next question is, “Why am I going to spread fertilizer?” Much has been made of the need to improve the health of the bay and how we all have a responsibility to help.  Nutrient management is now a fact of life for every farmer in Maryland.

laurae@herald-mail.com After years of battling over Maryland's 1998 farm runoff law, agriculture and environmental interests appear to have reached an agreement on streamlining the regulations. Representatives from the Maryland Farm Bureau and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation detailed the proposed changes to lawmakers Tuesday. The proposed legislation would: Allow farmers to become certified to write their own nutrient management plans, which some Washington County farmers have already been doing under a pilot program.

Jennifer Bratthauar, Penn State Extension educator for agronomy and nutrient management for Franklin County, warns about the impact of planting in compacted soils. It is that time of year again when homeowners and farmers are getting ready to plant their gardens or numerous acres of cropland. Even though planting is still a couple of weeks away, it is important to keep in mind that what you do to the soil now could affect your entire growing season. This is why it is important to maintain your soil's fertility and its structure, to maintain its health and quality.

Washington County farmers and officials grilled Maryland Agriculture Secretary Earl F. “Buddy” Hance on Thursday about a variety of concerns. Hance was a guest speaker at the county's inaugural agriculture business forum at the Washington County Agricultural Education Center south of Hagerstown. He faced questions about topics ranging from nutrient management to a new law limiting the use of septic systems on rural land - even though the Department of Planning, not his department, is behind that law, Hance stressed.

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.

Antietam Unit 236, Sharpsburg American Legion Auxiliary, presented a Dargan family with a Blue Star Service Banner at its June 11 Unit meeting.  Unit President Ava Gift presented the banner to Steven and Shelly (Sue) Haskell in honor of the service of their son, Charles Robert Kretzer Jr. (known as C.J).  C.J. graduated from Boonsboro High in 2008 and enlisted in the Marines on Mother's Day 2009. He deployed to Afghanistan on his birthday, April 26, of this year. Gaulding, Wesmiller get Masons scholarships Antietam Masonic Lodge 197 in Keedysville presented scholarships to Jillian Gaulding and Mikaela Wesmiller at an open strawberry night meeting Tuesday, June 19, at the lodge on Main Street in Keedysville.

Spring has sprung and many in the community are hard at spring chores. This is the time of year that many a pound of fertilizer is applied to hill and dale. Before you open the fertilizer or dust off your spreader, ask yourself this question, “Have I taken a soil sample?” If the answer is “no,” then the next question is, “Why am I going to spread fertilizer?” Much has been made of the need to improve the health of the bay and how we all have a responsibility to help.  Nutrient management is now a fact of life for every farmer in Maryland.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Are high fertilizer prices getting to you? If so, you might want to attend the nutrient management meeting set for Thursday, Feb. 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Cumberland County Extension Office to get up to speed on issues relating to manure management and nitrogen efficiency. The featured speakers will be Doug Beegle and Jerry Martin from Penn State Extension. Here are the topics on for this program; call if you have any additional questions: · Importing manure to your farm: do you know what you need to know?

AgCalendar Today - Nutrient management voucher training, Washington County Extension Office, 7 p.m. Jan. 16 - 4-H Swine Club, Washington County Extension Office, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 - 4-H Dairy Club, Washington County Extension Office, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 and 19 - Future Harvest Conference, two-day conference to improve farming and marketing methods to increase the bottom line. For registration, contact CASA, P.O. Box 1544, Eldersburg, MD 21784; phone - 410-549-7878; e-mail - fhcasa@verizon.

WASHINGTON COUNTY - Growing up on a farm in the Williamsport area, Brian Forsythe knew from an early age that he wanted to find a career that would keep him rooted in the earth. And he has. Forsythe, 22, recently landed a job at the Maryland Cooperative Extension on Sharpsburg Pike. His official title is nutrient management adviser, Antietam Watershed project agricultural nutrient management program. Growing up working on the family orchard and dairy farm, Forsythe was active in 4-H with dairy cows.