BEGINNING FARMER SUCCESS Meet a Partner—SMADC hile the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) focuses their efforts on the five Southern Maryland Counties; many of the initiatives of SMADC reach beyond these borders of Southern Maryland.
“SMADC provides vision, support and research in terms of education, grants, marketing and promotion as it incubates new farm and food industries. As new farm economies are being formed, SMADC helps to streamline regulations and reduce obstacles. With Maryland FarmLINK, SMADC is building an on-line farming community to
share ideas, announce training opportunities, provide resources, and be a source for selling, leasing, and or farming land in the state.” Maryland FarmLINK provides agriculture communities with access to available farmland, equipment, events and educational resources. Users can log into the site for free which allows them to view more detailed information about listed properties and equipment. Users are also added to a listserv which sends a weekly update about events and news. The site also offers Realtor resources which will help educate Realtors about providing assistance to those wanting to sell, lease, or buy farmland. One of the most exciting components of the site is the Mentor Match Program. Read more about the Mentor Match Program on the next page.
2/18 - Crop Operations Using Manure & Fertilizer Class 2/18 - Basic Irrigation Management Class 2/18 - Backyard Greenhouse Class 2/19 - Women In Ag Pre Conferences 2/19 - Soil Fertility & Conservation on the Small Farm 2/20 - MidAtlantic Women In Agriculture Conference 2/22 - Mt Top Fruit & Vegetable Conference 2/24—Farming: Pencil to Plow Course 2/27—GAP Food Safety Training 3/3—GAP Food Safety Training 3/11—GAP Food Safety Training
Extension.umd.edu/newfarmer February 2014 Volume 1, Issue 4
January/February Events—click events for more information
More events can be found on our site under “events”
Photo: courtesy of Southern Maryland Agriculture Development Commission
Find A Mentor. Be A Mentor. I Have . . . Access to Land Determined Enterprise Found a Mentor
Use Maryland FarmLINK to find a mentor today!
Following advice from a successful and experienced farmer can provide a smoother and more fulfilling entrance into farming for profit for a beginning farmer. Maryland FarmLINK aims to pair mentors and mentees through their Mentor Match Program. Potential mentors and mentees should first familiarize themselves with the eligibility requirements which are listed on the Maryland FarmLINK site. Applications for both mentors and mentees are evaluated based on area of interest, experience level, land availability, and future goals, to name a few. There is no charge to apply and no charge to selected mentees. The mentors are paid a $750 stipend through funding provided by Maryland Beginning Farmer Success to support their mentoring obligation to their mentee. Click here to learn more. Mentee Application
Mentor Application
Farmer Spotlight Keyes Creamery is a dairy farm business in Havre de Grace, Maryland. The Keyes family raises 200 Holstein cows, heifers and claves and uses the milk that is collected during the grazing season to produce cheese and ice cream. Their premium ice cream can be found in several flavors ranging from traditional classics like Vanilla to trendy flavors like Cappuccino Crunch. Keyes Creamery products can be found at local farmers markets. Find out more about Keyes Creamery:
Interview with Megan Keyes from Keyes Creamery, a local Dairy Farm Business. Click below to view the video.
Keyes Creamery Website
Click to view more videos
Up Coming Beginning Farmer Programs t may not feel like it, but Spring will eventually be upon Maryland in the next month or two. Be prepared by participating in an upcoming University of Maryland Beginning Farmer Training Event. Click the titles to learn more.
Basic Irrigation Management for Those New to Irrigation February 18th 9:00—11:30 a.m. Rockawalkin Community Hall 6772 Rockawalkin Rd, Hebron, MD 21830
Farming: Pencil To Plow February 24th 6:00—9:00 p.m. Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce 144 E Main St Salisbury, MD 21803
Learn about irrigation methods, soil evaluation for Business planning, market research, government irrigation, water sources, irrigation timeframes and regulations, budgeting, cash flow projections, and reviewing income statements and balance sheets. strategies, and considerations for fertigation.
Starting a Second Career in Local Food – Com- Beginning A Successful Small Farm mercial Food Production and Marketing for the April 3—May 15 7:00—9:00 p.m. New Farmer on Small Acreage Frederick County Extension Office 330 Montevue Lane January 21—April 1 6:00—8:45 p.m. Frederick, MD 21702 Montgomery County Extension Office Agricultural History Farm Park Derwood, MD 20855
Learn about marketing, small ruminant production, soils, crop planting, season extension, business planning, pest management, irrigation, equipment and plasticulture.
Topics include finding a farm enterprise, soil fertility, pasture systems, weeds in pastures, cover crops, and adding animals into your farm.
Click here to receive this newsletter every month To submit information for the monthly newsletter please contact the Beginning Farmer Success Project Coordinator, Andrea Rice at amrice@umd.edu
Andrea Rice amrice@umd.edu 301.868.9410
“This project was supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant #2012-49400-19552. To find more resources and programs for beginning farmers and ranchers please visit www.Start2Farm.gov, a component of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.”
The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.