CONSERVATION UPDATES

SEPTEMBER 2008 www.CharlesSCD.com Ifyoureinterestedinrentingthedrill: First,stopbytheCharlesSoilConservation District(SCD)officeandfilloutthe ConservationAssistanceAgreementand scheduleadaytousethedrill. Next,pickupthedrillatHughGardinerson yourscheduleddayandreturnitwhenfinished. Finally,payHughGardiner$2peracreand$25 perdayforthedrillrental.Thelowerrental ratesarepossiblebecausetheCharlesSCDis subsidizingthisdrillrentalprogram.

NoTillDrillRental
HughGardiner,Inc.,withtheassistanceofCharlesSoil ConservationDistrict,offersaGreatPlainsModel1005 notilldrillforrent.Themodel1005hasa10ft.planting widthanda12ft.transportwidthwith71/2inchrows. Thedrilliscapableofplantingsoybeans,smallgrains, coolseasongrassesandsmallseededlegumes.A50hp fullsizetractoronnearlyflatlandand65hpongently slopinglandisrequiredtopullthisimplement.Steeply slopinglandwillrequiregreaterthan65hpora4wheel drivetractor.Thisdrillalsorequiresanauxiliaryvalve (hydraulic)toraiseandlowertheimplement. Thegoalofthisprogramistoincreasetheamountof farmsimplementingnotillandofferequipmentthat enablessmallacreagefarmersaccesstonotillcropping withoutthesignificantexpenseofpurchasing equipment.

BermudaGrassHayWalk
ElmerDenglerledaBermudaGrassHayWalkearlier thismonthonJackWelchsfarm.Thewellattended eventillustratedfirsthandtheadvantagesandissues relatedtospriggedandseededBermudagrassvarieties. Muchsuccesshasbeenexperiencedinavarietyof situationsintheSouthernMarylandareaincluding heavyusageareas,pastureplantinginbufferedareas, lowcarbforage,andhorseoperations. Bermudagrassshouldbeplantedinareaswithbuffers suchastreelinesornaturalbuffers,notalongothercrop fields.Bermudagrassisagoodforageprovidingless carbsthanothergrassesanditisasuccessfulalternative forhorseswithlaminitis(betterknownasfounder). IfyoudlikemoreinformationabouttheuseofBermuda grassinyouroperation,pleasecontactCharlesSCDand wewillbegladtodiscussitspotentialwithyou.

GreatPlainsModel1005NoTillDrillforRent

20082009WinterCoverCropProgram
Thankstoallwhohavesignedupforthecovercrop programthisyear.Pleaseseeremindersbelowforthe programs(s)forwhichyouhavebeenapproved. TraditionalCoverCropReminders: o Lastdaytoplantcovercropat maximumpaymentrate/acreisOctober 1,2008;LastdaytoreporttoCharles SCDofficeisOctober8,2008 o Lastdaytoplantcovercropformid rangepaymentrate/acreisOctober15, 2008;LastdaytoreportisOctober22, 2008 o Lastdaytoplantcovercropfor minimumpaymentrate/acreis November5,2008;Lastdaytoreportis November12,2008 o Allseedtestresultsorseedtagsmustbe turnedintoreceivepayment o PleasevisitFSApriortocominginfor officialFSAaerialmapsofyourplanting location(s) o Ifyoucantcomeintoouroffice,please callusat3019349588ext.3 o AllpaymentswillbemadeinSpring 2009 CommodityCoverCropReminders: o Lastdaytoplantcommoditycrop ($30/acre)isNovember5,2008 o Lastdaytoreportcommoditycover croptoCharlesSCDofficeisNovember 12,2008 o Allseedtestresultsorseedtagsmustbe turnedintoreceivepayment o PleasevisitFSApriortocominginfor officialFSAaerialmapsofyourplanting location(s) o Ifyoucantcomeintoouroffice,please callusat3019349588ext3 o AllpaymentswillbemadeinFall2008

Mr.DeVaneoperateshis74.2acrefamilyfarmonNew CutRoadinMarbury,MD.Theprimaryagricultural operationsonthefarmincludehayandlivestock production. WilliamT.DeVanehasbeenacooperatorwiththe CharlesSoilConservationDistrictsince2005.During thistimehehassuccessfullyinstalledvarioussoil conservationandwaterqualitypracticesincluding heavyuseareaprotection,animalwastestorage structure,wateringfacility,pastureandhayland plantingandtheimplementationofacomprehensive nutrientmanagementplan. Duringthedinnerprogram,numerousothergroupsalso recognizedMr.DeVaneandpresentedhimwith ProclamationsandCertificatesofAppreciation. Includedinthisgroupare:theCharlesCounty Commissioners,theMarylandHouseofDelegates,and theMarylandDepartmentofAgriculture. CongratulationsareagainextendedtoWilliamT. DeVaneforhisexemplaryconservationethicas demonstratedbyhisapplicationofbestmanagement practicesonhisland.

LuisDieguez,CharlesSCDDistrictManager;BillDeVane, 2007CooperatoroftheYear;CharlesRice,CharlesSCDChairman

MarylandStateConservationAward HughC.Gardiner,Inc.
AlsorecognizedduringthedinnerwasHughC. Gardiner,Inc.Theorganizationreceivedthe2007 CharlesSCDConservationAward,recognizedforits participationwiththeDistrictinitsnotilldrillrental program.HughC.Gardiner,Inc.hasbeeninstrumental inlaunchingtheprogramandhassupportedthe

2007CooperatoroftheYear WilliamT.DeVane
AttheCharlesSCDannualdinnerheldonMay14,2008, theDistrictrecognizedWilliamT.DeVaneastheCharles SCD2007CooperatoroftheYear.

conservationdistrictandtheagriculturalcommunity throughouttheyears. OnJuly16,HughC.Gardiner,Inc.wassubsequently awardedthe2007MarylandAssociationofSoil ConservationDistrictsOutstandingContribution AwardatitsAnnualAwardsBanquetheldatWisp Resort,McHenry,Maryland. CongratulationsandappreciationareextendedtoHugh C.Gardiner,Inc.fortheiroutstandingsupportofthe agriculturalcommunity.

CarlWalterswasrecognizedattheMaryland AssociationofSoilConservationDistrictsAnnual AwardsBanquetwithaServiceAwardfor35Yearsof Service.CarlhasservedontheCharlesSCDBoardsince August21,1973.CharlesSCDappreciatesCarls dedication.

CharlesCountyEnvirothon
FivestudentsfromWestlakeHighSchoolrepresented CharlesCountyattheAnnualMarylandEnvirothon CompetitionheldJune1718atHarfordGlen EnvironmentalEducationCenterinHarfordCounty. TheCharlesCountyfirstplaceteamfromWestlakeHigh Schoolandrepresentingthecountywas:KathleenSeay, KimberlyWiman,SeanMichaelPrice,SeanCannonand FarhanSaifudin,coachedbyscienceteacher,Charles Newcomb.ThesecondplaceteamwasfromThomas Stone:CourtneyFlerlage,MichelleEdelen,Emily Trefry,JaneLightfoot,CharlesKahahawai,coachedby scienceteacherJanMilman.

HughC.Gardiner,IIIacceptingawardfrom MASCDPresident,LeeMcDaniel

MASCDServiceAward CarlWalters

WestlakeEnvirothonTeamatMarylandEnvirothonCompetition

CarlWaltersReceiving35YearServiceAward

StudentsfromallsixCharlesCountyHighSchoolswill kickoffthe20082009Envirothonprogramwiththeir firsttrainingonOctober23,2008attheIzaakWalton LeaguefarminWaldorf.Studentsreceivetrainingin aquatics,forestry,soils,wildlife,andafifthtopicwhich thisyearis:BiodiversityinaChangingWorld(this topicchangeseachyearandrelatestoacurrent environmentalissue).The16thAnnualCharlesCounty EnvirothonCompetitionwillbeheldatGilbertRunPark onTuesday,April28,2009. Thisprogramismadepossiblebyfinancialsupportfrom theCharlesSCD,CharlesCountygovernmentandlocal businessesandorganizations.Weofferourthanksfor

yourcontinuedsupportofthisnaturalresources educationprogram.

StaffUpdates

DeeDeeSaunders

SaraLewis

TerryHeinard

TerryHeinard,NRCSDistrictConservationist,started thisspringatCharles/St.MarysNRCSadministrative areaandsplitshertimebetweenthetwooffices. TerrygraduatedfromtheUniversityofMD,College ParkCollegeofAgriculturein1979withaBSdegreein Agronomy.ShehasworkedinDistrictofficesforthe past21years. SheworkedforMDAfor8yearsasaFarmPlannerin theHowardandAnneArundelDistricts.Forthepast12 years,sheworkedforNRCS,startingasaSoil ConservationistintheCalvertoffice,thenDistrict ConservationistintheCarolineofficeontheEastern Shore. IfyouareintheDistrictoffice,pleasetakethetimeand sayhello.Terrywouldliketomeetyou.

DeeDeeSaunders,AdministrativeSpecialist,joinedthe staffinMarchtryingtofillthebigshoesofretiree AggieHigdon. DeeDeehasaBSinMarketingfromTheAmerican UniversityandanMSBAinFinancefromtheUniversity ofMaryland,UniversityCollege.Shehasworkedwitha Fortune500companyaswellassmallbusinesses. DeeDeeandherhusband,Dave,alongwiththeirfour activechildrenresideinLaPlata.Ifyouhaventalready met,DeeDeewelcomestheopportunitytomeetyou.

SaraLewisjoinedCharlesSCDinJuneasanMDASoil ConservationPlannerRegionalEquineSpecialistserving SouthernMaryland.SarawasbornandraisedinSt. MarysCountyandspentover30yearsonanearby farm.Shesfamiliarwithequineboarding,cattle,anda varietyofcropsincludingtobacco,hay,cornandbeans. Sarahasover35yearsofequineexperienceranging fromshowing,training,andbreedingtomanaginga largeequineboardingfacility.Asanactiverider,she participatesinlocaleventssuchasorganizedtrailrides, foxhuntsandhunterpaces. SarawasawardedanartscholarshipandattendedSt. MarysCollegeofMaryland.Inadditiontoher extensiveequinebackground,shehasover15yearsof professionalgraphicdesignexperience. SaraandherhorsesresideinCharlesCountyandshe looksforwardtohelpingtheequinecommunitybetter themselvesandtheirland.Pleasecallorstopbyand meetSaraifyoureahorseownerorwouldlike informationaboutequineprograms. SusanDavisreturnedtoCharlesCountyinJulywearing adifferenthat.After14yearsasaSoilScientistwith NRCS,includingdoingthesoilsurveyupdatefor CharlesCounty,sheisconvertingtoaResource Conservationist. SusanreceivedherBAfromEarlhamCollegein Richmond,Indianaandpursuedgraduatestudiesatthe UniversityofMaryland. Alongwithherhusband,Joel,andtwodaughters,Grace andMelissa,SusanlivesonasmallfarminPort Republicwithagrowingpasselofcritters. Susanwillbeworkingonconservationplanning,NRCS programs,andsheishappytoanswerquestionsabout soilsanytime.

SusanDavis

DonnieGilroy

DonnieGilroy,MDASoilConservationTechnician, Cons joinedthestaffinAugust.Hehasworkedwithgrain, produceandtimberproductsoverthepast18yearson hisfamilyfarminAccokeek. DonniecomestoCharlesSCDafterworkinginthe CharlesCountyGovernmentasasupervisorinPublic Facilities,workingmainlywithstormwatermaintenance andrepairprojects.Hisbackgroundalsoincludeswork withMarylandDNRasatechnicianatMyrtleGrove WMAandSmallwoodStatePark. Donnielooksforwardtomeetingandworkingwiththe Charlesagriculturalcommunity. AggieHigdon,AdministrativeSpecialist,retiredatthe endofFebruaryafter27yearswiththeDistrict.Aggie hasenjoyedhersummerbiking,golfing,playingtennis andtakingcareofhernewchildEmmy(abeautiful dachshund). JimCary,NRCSDistrictConservationist,alsoretiredat theendofFebruary.Jimandhiswifemovedtosunny Surprise,Arizona. KyongChung,NRCSSoilConservationist,remainsout onextendedsickleave.PleasecontactTerryHeinard hereatCharlesSCDifyouareawaitingplansor informationfromKyong.Continuedthoughtsand prayersforhercontinuedimprovementareappreciated. GailMyers,NRCSCivilEngineer,andherfamily welcomedabeautifulbabygirlintotheirfamily.Emma ReneeMyerswasbornTuesday,August26th. CongratulationsGailandfamily.

ConservationPrograms
NaturalResourcesConservationService(NRCS)in partnershipwiththeCharlesSoilConservationDistrict

andtheMarylandDepartmentofAgriculture(MDA) hasseveralprogramstoassistwiththeinstallationof bestmanagementpracticesonagriculturallands. Conservationplanningisthefirststepwhen consideringinstallingbestmanagementpractices. CharlesSCDstaffwillworkwithyoutoidentifyyour resourcesandsuggestsolutionstoyourresource concerns.Insomesituationsyoumaywishto participateineithertheNRCSorStateofMarylandcost shareprograms. Manyofthesamebestmanagementpracticesareoffered underseveralprograms.Ourstaffcanhelpyouto determinethebestoptionforyouroperation. NRCSprogramsthatmightbeofinteresttoyouare: WildlifeHabitatIncentivesProgram(WHIP):the objectsofWHIParetherestorationandmanagementof uplandandwetlandhabitats.Practicesincludebutare notlimitedto: Plantingsofgrasses,trees restorationofwetlandhabitats EnvironmentalQualityIncentivesProgram(EQIP):the objectivesofEQIPprovideassistancetoinstalland maintainconservationpracticesthatenhancesoil,water andrelatedresources(includinggrazinglands,wetland andwildlifehabitats).Practicesinclude: Animalwastestorage Pastureplantings Livestockwateringsystems Windbreak/shelterbelts Residueandtillagemanagement,notill Enhancednutrientmanagement Transitiontoorganicproduction MarylandAgriculturalWaterQualityCostShare Program(MACS):theobjectiveoftheMACSprogramis tocontrolandreduceagriculturallyrelatedwater pollutionfromerosion,animalwastesandnutrients. Practicesincludebutarenotlimitedto: Grasswaterways Filterstrips Roofrunoff Heavyuseareas Fencinganimalsoutofstreamsandponds Advanceplanningforyourfarmoperationisvitalto assuringthatyoucanachievethegreatestbenefitfrom thesecostshareprograms.Socomeinorcallifyouhave aquestionorwishtechnicalassistancefromourstaff.

CharlesSCD
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Fall2008 Oct1/8 Oct2 Oct9 Oct15/22 Oct22 Oct29 Nov5/12 Nov5/12 CoverCropFallCertifications CCPlanting/ReportingDue(Max) HorseWorkshop:Frederick AnneArundelSCDAnnualDinner CCPlanting/ReportingDue(Mid) GreenCardClass:St.Marys SoMdSCDDinner,Annapolis CCPlanting/Reporting(Min$) CommCropPlanting/ReportingDue