GARRETT COUNTY AG NEWSLETTER

The Tri-State Forage Conference will be held at the Grantsville VFD 178 Springs Rd, Grantsville, MD 21536 on Wednesday, January 22nd from 9am-3:30pm. The event will include a light breakfast and lunch. The cost is $30 if registered by January 12th or $40 for late registration and at the door. Credit card registration can be made via Eventbrite at https://go.umd.edu/wmdforage

or contact the Garrett County Extension Office for cash/check registration at 301-334-6960. Checks will need to be made payable to Maryland-Delaware Forage Council.

This course is designed for people in Maryland who are considering or in the beginning stages of starting a farm as a business. The online class will meet on Thursday evenings, from 7 to 8:30 pm, from February 13 through April 17, 2025. Students will complete at-your-own pace homework on the course website on campus.extension.org and will meet online each week via Zoom. Course registration is $60 plus eventbrite fees of $5.87. Two people from the same family/couple may attend the course under one registration. For more information or to register go to https://go.umd.edu/BFScourse25

With the passage of the Food Safety and Modernization Act in 2011, at least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration. On February 27th the University of Maryland and Maryland Department of Agriculture will offer a Produce Safety Grower Training Course which will satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement. The course will be held from 8m to 5pm at Garrett Colleges CTTC in Accident in room 104. The fee for the training is $45 and will include lunch and materials. To register for the meeting go to http://bit.ly/49Bw71D or call Margaret Todd at 316-993.5293. For questions contact Willie Lantz at the extension office at 301-334-6960.

University of Maryland Extension will be holding the Mountain Top Vegetable Meeting on Tuesday March 11th at Garrett College. The meeting will include presentation by the new University of Maryland Extension Specialist, Veronica Yurchak. Veronica will do a presentation on bio-controls in high tunnels. Carol Allen, UME will present on the new water quality regulations. Allison Luettel with MDA will cover producer requirements for the Food Safety and Modernization Act. We will also be taking time to discuss the future of vegetable production in Garrett County. Contact the extension office for registration details at 301-334-6960.

University of Maryland will be partnering with Freedom Ag and Energy in Oakland to hold the Western Maryland Agronomy Meeting March 12th at the Pleasant Valley Community Building. More info will be coming. If you have questions or to register, contact Freedom Ag and Energy at 301-334-3121 or the Extension Office at 301-334-6960. Pesticide Recertification and Nutrient Management Credits will be offered for WV and MD.

Applications for Extension’s Workforce Development Internship Summer 2025 are open! Visit the University of Maryland Extension website to learn more and apply.

The University of Maryland Extension (UME) is seeking undergraduate students interested in careers in Extension and agriculture industries. Our Workforce Development Internship is a ten-week full-time Summer experiential learning and professional development opportunity for undergraduate students currently enrolled in a in a two-year, four-year degree or certificate program and who are interested in a career in agriculture and natural resources.

Worcester County is offering a small ruminant and backyard flock series in February. Some guest speakers will join the series. These are webinars, and you may attend as many as you like. There is a separate registration for each series.

The small ruminant schedule is as follows:

What to Expect When They’re Expecting: Parturition Through the First Weeks on February 6, 2025

Bottle Feeding Lambs and Kids on February 13, 2025

Lamb and Kid 911 on February 20, 2025

Lamb and Kid Nutrition on February 27, 2025

You may register for any of the above sessions at https://go.umd.edu/lambandkid

The backyard flock schedule is as follows:

Poultry 911:Health problems you should watch out for and what to do in a poultry emergency on February 7, 2025

Common Poultry Diseases and How to Prevent Them with Dr. Bautista on February 14, 2025

Coccidia and Other Internal Parasites with Dr. Tatijana Fisher on February 21, 2025

Maximizing Health Through Bird Welfare on February 28, 2025

You may register for any of the above sessions at https://go.umd.edu/poultry911 .

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.

Agronomy News

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.

Vegetable & Fruit News

For more than 30 years, Branching Out has kept Maryland woodland owners and managers informed about ways to develop and enhance their natural areas, how to identify and control invasive plants and insects, and about news and regional online and in person events.

Branching Out

The University of Maryland Forage Extension Program offers a wealth of resources and educational opportunities designed to support those involved in forage production and management. By signing up for monthly updates, you can stay informed about upcoming programming, workshops, and events that can enhance your knowledge and skills in this field. Additionally, you'll gain access to a variety of useful resources, including research findings, best practices, and expert advice tailored to the needs of forage producers. To ensure you don't miss out on these valuable insights and opportunities, visit the provided link to subscribe and receive the latest information directly in your inbox. Sign up at this link to start receiving these resources.

Please click here to update your contact information and to stay updated on everything agriculture-related in Garrett County and the tri-state area.

William Lantz, Principal Agent

Agriculture & Food System

wlantz@umd.edu

Office Hours: Monday-Friday

8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Except for Observed Holidays

Faculty/Staff Directory

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.