AGRICULTURE's VISIT TO Annapolis

[capt.george]

[q]





By J. Henson -- The Capital
Michael Heller, manager of the Chesapeake Bay foundation's Clagett Farm, drives a tractor around State Circle.

Politicians promise accord on agriculture issues
By PAMELA WOOD, Staff Writer

Serenaded by schoolchildren singing of "11 fish a-swimmin' " and "12 oysters a-filterin'," and offering farm-themed gifts to match, Maryland's top three politicians pledged yesterday to work together on agricultural issues.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation - which organized yesterday's event - and other environmental groups are pushing for an increase in funding for programs that help farmers with bay-friendly practices.

To draw attention to the agriculture requests, the foundation arranged for several dozen children to sing to the politicians about the "12 Days of Ag-Mas." Most of the children were from the Summit School, Key School, Magothy River Middle School and Severn River Middle School.

As they sang, representatives from the group of kids gave themed gifts to Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., such as smoked fish and oyster shells. All the gifts came from local farmers and watermen.

Wearing a Santa hat, Michael Heller of CBF's Clagett Farm in Prince George's County drove an orange Massey Ferguson 255 diesel tractor in front of the State House to serve as a backdrop for the stunt.

"When it comes to the bay, the most significant promise I can make is we will continue to work together," Mr. Ehrlich said during the ceremony, where he was joined by House of Delegates Speaker Michael E. Busch, D-Annapolis, and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., D-Calvert.

Though the three men often have very public disagreements on issues such as legalizing slot machines, Mr. Ehrlich said their cooperation on Chesapeake Bay issues has been a highlight of the past few years. He again cited the "flush fee" passed in 2004 that helps to pay for sewer plant upgrades and other environmental programs as a successful collaboration.

"We will continue the spirit of cooperation," Mr. Ehrlich said.

Specifically, the bay foundation is asking for $120 million for agriculture programs, ranging from farm preservation to manure management. That will be one of the CBF's key requests during the General Assembly session.

"If the governor puts the money in the budget, we will keep it in," Mr. Miller said.

Will Baker, president of the Bay Ridge-based foundation, said that to save the bay, Maryland must save its farms as well.

"They are two sides to the same coin. You can't have one without the other," Mr. Baker said.

In 2004 there were 12,100 farms in Maryland on a little more than 2 million acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.





----------------YEH--ONLY Another 120 MILLION------FOR farm programs---OK I guess if CBF says so------BUT,BUT, IS it used by the farm community----Look around you as you drive the roads of our great state, at the fields that abutt our road ways ----The ones that recently were harvested of thier Soybean & Corn crops---HOW many of these fields show the Winter green of COVER CROPS ----NOT many in South county----HOW about the rest of the State ?Are the fields that ajoin the secondary roads any better?----Several years ago I wrote the then Governor Glendding, a letter as to the acceptance of the Cover Crop program --His retun letter stated he was Dissapointed , but felt it would IMPROVE ----HAS IT ?---IS the 50.00 a acre incentive too low ?-----Did the PAY to stop raising Tobacco & raise grain, + plant Cover Crops after harvest, not give ENOUGH incentive ---Hard to figgure out , If I was still tilling the soil , I'd jump on this one like stink on manure -----OH WELL, who sees Run Off in the Chesapeake in mid winter anyway, only the watermen community--120 Million ---MR. farmer show me some Green on your fields---[excited][excited]

[Purdue1]

Why in the world does the CBF own a farm in Prince Georges?

[scotty80]

I hear ya Capt George. Don't see too much green in Cecil or Kent either. Some, but not much. [q] [IS the 50.00 a acre incentive too low ?/q]


Perhaps it needs to be the Law, like the flush tax ? It's the same scenario, use the land / pollute the Bay / pay to fix it. Some farmers receive subsidies as they should. It's a matter of National Security. God forbid we would need to depend on a middle east country for food [sad], let alone oil.
Is it crack down time on Farmers and/or Politicians ?

[Purdue1]

I can't find the text of the plan for paying the farmers for green crops. Obviously something is wrong with the plan or you would see green. Coming from the Ag industry, I think $50 sounds kinda low, especially with the higher fuel costs....but I haven't read the plan to know the details.

[J.P. Williams]

Folks--

Capt. George is right, as usual. The Green $ that go out should bring green on the fields in winter. There's a problem, though, in timing the harvest of crops and getting the cover planted so it'll do some good. That's part of what we're trying to work out w/ the farm community w/ the upcoming legislation.

And yes, the reason CBF owns Clagett Farm is to keep us in touch w/ the reality of farm issues. (It was donated to us in 1982.) Michael Heller spends a lot of time on his tractor, but he works hard on Bay-friendly farm issues, at both the regional and federal levels. We use the farm for ag research (in cooperation w/ the Univ. of MD) and for school field trips (generally tied to canoe trips nearby on the Patuxent around Jug Bay).

John Page Williams
CBF Senior Naturalist

[capt.george]

[q] There's a problem, though, in timing the harvest of crops and getting the cover planted so it'll do some good. That's part of what we're trying to work out w/ the farm community w/ the upcoming legislation.
[/q]
-----J P ------As I observe the grain farmer in Maryland, I see the problem that they Depend on CUSTOM HARVESTERS---The crop is ready for harvest at first frost-Soybeans---Corn even eariler ----But since they live in a Custom COMBINE Controlled WORLD, the Farmer Waits for thier turn ----AW its too late to plant cover now, I gotta buy the seed, Expencive as most is certified--Gotta disk, hook up the drill & sow ETC.-----

-----If it was me , i'd have some Guano sacks of plain ole cover grain from someones spring harvest for seed (cheap but good)--Crank up to My MODERN powerful, stereo, & heated, a/c equiped Tractor, colored Green, Red, Orange dosen't matter ---Hook up the disk with the hitch I rigged to tandem the modern rubber tired drill--Fill the hopper with seed --No Fetertlizer ness & DIsk & Drill in one shot while listening to Johnny Cash full blast ---Wether sowed in Oct Or Dec. IT Will germinate GREEN----I'll make J P happy, also SBF & the Sec. of Agriculture when he signs my Cover Crop check & my topsoil wont end up at Bloody Point----WONDER how much a Good used Massy Fergurson combine costs?-[grin]

[Purdue1]

JP, I will let you respond to Capt George. With that research farm to stay in touch with the farmers issues you surely can see the problems with what Capt George just stated.

[J.P. Williams]

Hey George & Purdue 1--

Good question. I think George, being a man of many talents and wide experience, has put his finger on one of the important parts of the problem. I'm not the most knowledgeable CBF'er on farm issues (though not the least either), but I'll have to defer to Michael Heller (Mgr. of Clagett) or my fishing friend Tom Simpson, who is the UMD's go-to guy on farm issues. Will see what I can dig up over the next couple of days and report. Maybe Tom would like to try a bowl of Happy Harbor's chowder for lunch one day.

Merry Christmas to you all.

Best, JPW

[capt.george]

John---Would Look forward to enjoying a bowl of chowder with friends, better yet a tour of the farm---I read your Supurb article on--- "Restoring the bay's great green filter"--- In last night's CAPITAL---An Excellent read !!--Conservation of soil is especilly, in critical settings is nothing new , it was taught to me as a farm Boy taking 3 hrs of Agriculture, every day for 4 years of high school, back in 49--52----Granted , I brought these school lessons, home & put them to use ---Many were new & not practiced by my neighboring farmers---Contour farming, cover crops ,buffer zones , crop rotation ETC. were unheard of in the early 50's---Heck, Hybred corn use wasen't accepted untill 47-48---
------One of the problems, I see in the farmer not taking advantage of the Cover Crop program is that the GRAIN cover crop , being a green & thriving carpet, may be a difficult thing to destroy when using the aparent choice of Maryland farmers THE NO TILL concept----To make full use of this Carpet it should be plowed under ---A aparent Tool of the PAST---NO Till scratching of the soil would leave Smattering portions of Growing grain in the new Spring seedbead----
-------If I was still working the soil --I would lobby the state to Allow Harvest of the PAY FOR cover crop--(now it requires turning under)-----This would give me Encentive, to make sure ALL my acres were planted over during the winter---Using Early harvest grain --Rye or Barley, I could then plant 80 day corn or soybeans for harvest in the fall---TWO crops rather than One ---The state's happy, the SBF is happy, The CHESAPEAKE is happy---My topsoil is happy, My cattle were happy grazing green all winter , controlled by a simple Electric fence rotatation, to control over grazing ---& maybe i'd made a buck-----Oh WEll---[grin]

[capt.george]

---JP---Matt--Scotty, Reds Don't let this disscusion Die----Happy New Year---[wink]