CAROLINE AND DORCHESTER FARMS RECEIVE GRANTS FROM USDA AND MARBIDCO

Federalsburg, July 19, 2010 - USDA Rural Development State Director Jack Tarburton highlighted the selection of three Maryland Ag businesses to receive a portion of $22.5 million through the Value-Added Producer Grant program.  Two of the recipients are located in Dorchester and Caroline Counties where USDA officials presented them with ceremonial checks followed by tours of their Ag operations.
 
The Value-Added Producer Grant program is a nationally competitive program designed to support farm families in rural America by helping them to market their commodities and increase their financial returns.  Value-Added Producer Grants may be used for planning activities or to provide working capital to market value-added agricultural products and farm-based renewable energy projects.  A value-added product is created when a producer takes an agricultural commodity, such as milk or vegetables, and processes or prepares it in a way that increases its value to consumers.  Click Here for entire Article.

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Maryland Value Added Producer Grants for Capital Assets Now Available From MARBIDCO

Annapolis (June 30, 2010)…. The Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) has announced a grant funding opportunity to encourage Maryland's agricultural producers to expand or diversify their business operations by installing capital assets to make a product that is “value added. Eligible applicants must be a crop or livestock producer or processor, agricultural cooperative, seafood processor, or timber products processor, and have been in business for a minimum of two years. Click Here for entire Article.

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DNR To Host Four Public Oyster Regulation Hearings

Annapolis, MD (June 21, 2010) — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has set the dates, times and locations for four public regulatory hearings as part of the implementation of Governor Martin O’Malley’s Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Plan. Governor O’Malley and DNR submitted the proposed regulations in May after months of public discussion, DNR open houses and robust input from thousands of citizens following the Governor’s announcement of the plan in December 2009. Click Here for entire Article.

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Center for Maryland Agriculture - $10 Million Facility to Serve as Focal Point for Local Agriculture Industry

Towson, MD (June 9, 2010) - At a grand opening ceremony for the new Baltimore County Farmers Market at the Maryland State Fair, Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith announced that he has selected Chris McCollum to serve as Executive for the County's new agricultural center slated to open in September.

"Chris will do an excellent job managing this important facility and will provide the vision and leadership that will quickly establish it as a true focal point for local agriculture here and throughout the region," Smith said. "We created this center to help grow Baltimore County's $300 million agriculture industry by developing important synergies among farm services agencies and the agricultural community." Click Here for entire Article.

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Celebrate National Dairy Month in June
Milk and Dairy Products among Maryland’s Top Three Agricultural Commodities

Annapolis, MD (June 8, 2010) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture encourages all Marylanders to celebrate National Dairy Month by enjoying healthy and nutritious dairy products this month, and all year long.  As Maryland’s third largest agricultural commodity, milk and dairy products accounted for more than $194 million in farm receipts in 2008. National Dairy Month celebrates the value of milk and dairy products as part of well-balanced diets of every American, well as the importance of milk production to the agricultural industry.

"Dairy farming is a vital part of Maryland's agriculture," said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. "These farms are associated with a quarter million acres of open, productive farmland and provide us with milk, ice cream, yogurt, cheese and many other nutritious foods. The O’Malley Administration is committed to keeping family farms profitable, which helps to keep Maryland smart, green and growing. I encourage Marylanders to support our dairy farmers."  Click Here for entire Article.

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USDA Announces Availability of Compliance Guide for Mobile Slaughter Units 

Washington, DC (May 24, 2010) - As part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today announced the availability of the compliance guide for mobile slaughter units. This document presents recommendations and is not a regulatory requirement. Food Safety and Inspection Service will post this compliance guide on its Significant Guidance Documents Web page at www.fsis.usda.gov/Significant_Guidance/index.asp.

"USDA is excited to offer this help to small producers and encourages establishments who own or manage mobile slaughter units to use this guidance document to help meet food safety regulatory requirements," said Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Jerold R. Mande. "Food must be safe, regardless of where it is produced, and FSIS has worked with mobile unit operators to develop inspection procedures tailored to their needs." Click Here for entire Article.

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NRCS Announces Initiative To Improve Agricultural Energy Efficiency

Annapolis, MD, (May 21, 2010) - USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) today announced an initiative designed to help Maryland agricultural producers transition to more energy efficient operations. This initiative will make funding available for individual on-farm energy audits designed to save both money and energy when fully implemented.

"Helping Maryland's farmers reduce energy use helps everyone’s bottom line," said Jon Hall, NRCS State Conservationist for Maryland. "More efficient energy use will help our agricultural producers become more energy independent." Click Here for entire Article.

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MAERDAF 2011 applications are currently being accepted! 

Annapolis, MD (May 10, 2010) - The Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF), administered by the Rural Maryland Council, provides grants to rural-serving nonprofit organizations that promote statewide and regional planning, economic and community development, and agricultural and forestry education. Also eligible are rural community colleges that support small and agricultural businesses through enhanced training and technical assistance. MAERDAF's goal is to increase the overall capacity of rural-serving nonprofit organizations and community colleges to meet a multitude of rural development challenges and to help them establish new public/private partnerships for leveraging non-state sources of funding. Click Here for entire Article.

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Many of the items on this website are in PDF format. You will Adobe Acrobat Reader to access them. If you do not already have it, you can download it for free.

What's New at MARBIDCO?

Maryland Value Added Producer Grants for Capital Assets Now Available from MARBIDCO: Application Deadline - August 16, 2010
Click Here for Details

Farm Energy Efficiency Information

Rural Business Energy Efficiency
"Micro" Loan Fund
Click Here for Application

Do you need a farm Energy Audit done?
Click Here for Details

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Installment Purchase Agreements for Easement Sellers!
Click Here for Details

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See Loan Applications Now Available
Click Here for Details

Upcoming Events

University of Maryland Extension: New and Beginning Farmer Interest Meetings
Wednesday, 7/21/2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 8/10/010 at 7:00 p.m.
Wicomico Extension Office
28647 Quantico Road
Salisbury, MD 21801
Click Here for Details

Other Rural Business
News of Note

Funding Sources for Agriculture
Check out this list prepared by University of Maryland Extension which was developed to assist farmers and producers locate funding sources and technical assistance for their operations. The list includes funding sources from federal, state and non-profit agencies.
Click Here for Details

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Are you looking to start a farm or
rural business?
The Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center (MREDC) announces new website to assist the agricultural and natural resources community:www.mredc.umd.edu
Click Here for Information

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"The Impact of Resource Based Industries on the Maryland Economy"
Prepared by: BEACON, Business, Economic, and Community Outreach Network at Salisbury University
Click Here to View PDF

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2007 Census of Agriculture Farms & Farmlands in Maryland
Click Here to View PDF

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Maryland Niche Meats and Poultry Producers Directory

Maryland's niche meats and poultry producers and the Ag Marketing Program of the University of Maryland Extension have joined together to produce the first, "Maryland Niche Meats and Poultry Producers' Directory". The purpose of this directory is to help restaurants, consumers, food brokers, producers, or anyone looking to purchase the freshest, best quality farm-raised meats available directy from Maryland farmers who raise it. Farmers' Market Masters can use the directory to locate and recruit vendors from Maryland's rapidly growing number of farmers' markets.

This directory has been organized by product for ease of aggregating suppliers. Many producers offer multiple products. The list is always growing and expanding, so the latest listings will be available online at:
www.agmarketing.umd.edu
Click Here to View PDF

Farmers Market Directory

Annie's Project focuses on many aspects of farm management and is designed to empower women in overall farm decision making. Visit Annie's online at:
www.anniesproject.umd.edu

United States Department of Agriculture: Know Your Farmer Know Your Food:www.usda.gov/wps/portal/know
yourfarmer?navid=KNOWYOURFARMER

Maryland Rural Enterprise
Development Center (MREDC)
www.mredc.umd.edu

Find the Best Local products
from Maryland Farmers: www.marylandsbest.net

Seasonal Produce: Find out what
produce is in season when: www.marylandsbest.net/in_season.php

Maryland Agriculture Exchange: Buy, Sell and Trade Agricultural products: www.agtrader.org

Find local products in grocery stores, restaurants and farmer's markets: www.localharvest.org

Celebrate local sustainable food and
serve healthy food choices: www.sustainabletable.org