
GARRETT COUNTY AG NEWSLETTER

High Tunnel Construction Workshops
High tunnels are used by many vegetable farmers to extend the growing season. A high tunnel is a greenhouse-like structure that allows producers to start planting earlier in the spring and grow later into the fall. These structures are very beneficial in Garrett County with our colder climate and short growing season. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has funding available through EQIP to purchase and construct tunnels. The funding will cover the cost of the tunnel and construction cost. Farmers can construct their own tunnels at a considerable cost savings.
University of Maryland will be offer a hands-on high tunnel construction workshop the week of July 22nd. A classroom session is planned for Wednesday, July 24th from 5-9pm at the Extension Office where attendees learn about the basic parts and construction of a high tunnel. The second part of the workshop will be held on Thursday, July 25th at Backbone Food Farm south of Oakland. The second day from 5-9pm, participants will be helping to construct a high tunnel. Even if you don't think you would build your own tunnel, the workshops are valuable for planning, learning about the construction and future maintenance of the structure. If you would be interested in attending the high tunnel workshop please call the Garrett County Extension Office at 301-334-6960.
If you are interested in funding through NRCS contact them at 301-501-5886.
Cover Crop Sign Up
This year’s cover crop sign-up runs June 21 through July 17, 2024, at soil conservation district offices statewide. This is your opportunity to apply for attractive grants to help pay for seed, labor, and equipment costs to plant cover crops in your fields this fall. Contact the Garrett County Soil Conservation office at 301-501-5886.
Maryland Producer Cold Storage Grant Program
The Maryland Producer Cold Storage Grant Program was created to help farmers and watermen purchase necessary cold storage equipment for their operations. This grant opened on June 14, 2024. Application deadline is August 30, 2024.
MARBIDCO will match up to 50% of the cost of the project purchase, with a maximum grant award amount of $2,000. The minimum grant award is $500 (meaning therefore, that the minimum project or equipment purchase size is $1,000).
Click on article below to view application.
Internship Off To A Busy Start
The Workforce Development Extension Internship is off to a great start. Follow along with our summer intern, Cambria Snyder, an undergraduate student at West Virginia University, on her adventures with our Extension office on her weekly blog as well as other students selected as extension summer interns. By clicking below, you will be able to read her blog.
Statewide Agriculture Newsletters
Newsletters from UME offer informative, researched-based information that the reader can put into practice. Informative articles include crop production, disease information, animal science, and upcoming programs. Take a closer look at the newsletters listed below.
The Agronomy News is a statewide newsletter for farmers, consultants, researchers, and educators interested in grain and row crop forage production systems. This newsletter is published once a month during the growing season and will include topics pertinent to agronomic crop production. Subscribers will receive an email with the latest edition.
The Fruit & Vegetable News is a timely publication for the commercial vegetable and fruit industry available electronically from April through October. Published by the University of Maryland Extension Agriculture and Food Systems team.
Update AG Client Contact Information
Please click here to update your contact information and to stay updated on everything agriculture-related in Garrett County and the tri-state area.
UME Garrett County Agriculture & Food System
William Lantz, Principal Agent
Agriculture & Food System
Office Hours: Monday-Friday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Except for Observed Holidays
Email: rcvetnic@umd.edu
Website: https://extension.umd.edu/locations/garrett-county
Location: 1916 Maryland Hwy., Suite A, Mt. Lake Park, MD 21550
Phone: 301-334-6960
Office Hours: M-F 8:30 am-4:30 pm excluding holidays
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4HGarrettCoMD
University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact us at least two weeks prior to the event at 301-334-6960.