There is plenty going on before Spring 2015! Here is a list of events compiled from Agline and other resources on the web. Again, if you haven’t been keeping up with Agline, it’s a great resource for agribusinesses in the tri-county area. Link to the latest issue here.

Also, be sure to follow The Upper Shore Harvest Directory on Facebook and Twitter to connect with your favorite local businesses. Social media is a great way to keep up-to-date with local producers. In these out of season months, it is still possible to buy local if you know where to go! Farmers’ markets and natural foods stores such as Chestertown Natural Foods carry local products. Use the Harvest Directory to find the product you need and see when the business is open to get your favorite products in the off season.

Farmers’ Markets– Check out these markets which stay open during the cold months:

Kent Island- Thursdays  3:30-6:30pm  830 Romancoke Road, Stevensville, MD

Chestertown- Saturdays 8am-12pm Fountain Park, Chestertown, MD

February:

19- AIR Workshop – Annual Implementation Report Work shop, 11:00 a.m.—2 p.m.,

Bring your records to Tilghman Terrace, Centreville; UME & MDA will help you complete the form. Due Mar. 1 to MDA. Light lunch. Must pre-register at 410- 758-0166.

20 - Basic Irrigation Management Workshop 9:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m. Rockawalkin Community Hall 6772 Rockawalkin Road, Hebron, MD 21830

21 - MOFFA Winter Meeting (snow date Feb. 28), 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Maryland Dept. of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD.

25 – 2015 Bay Area Fruit Meeting, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Wye Research & Ed Ctr., Queenstown, MD. Pesticide credits offered.

Pre-register by calling . 26 – Delmarva Dairy Day, 9:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m., Hartly Fire Hall, Hartly, Delaware.

26 - Eastern Shore Vegetable Meeting, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Caroline County 4-H Park, Denton.

For more information call .

27 – Queen Anne’s Co. Agronomy Day, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Queen Anne’s 4-H Park, Centreville, MD.

Beef & shrimp lunch provided by sponsors. Nutrient Management Voucher Training & Recertification and Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification available. Call to pre-register.

28 - Maryland Small Ruminant Expo, Frederick Co. 4-H Camp & Activity Center, Frederick, MD.

Contact Susan Schoenian, Sheep & Goat Specialist,

March:

4 – Last Scheduled Meeting for PPA & Nutrient Management Voucher recertification for the season., 6-9 p.m., Talbot Co. Ag Center, Easton.

Call .

4 – Private Pesticide Applicator Training, 1:00-3:00 p.m., UME Wicomico Co.

Call to register

5 – New Commercial Poultry Grower Training, 8:30 a.m.- 3 p.m., Somerset Co. Extension Office.

Call Sheila Oscar at to register.

7 – Cooptastic, Delaware State Fair Grounds, Harrington, DE.

More info to come (check Agline’s March edition)

10 – Field Crops and Pasture IPM Workshop, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Anne Arundel Extension office, Gambrills, MD.

Call .

11 – Private Pesticide Applicator Exam, 1:00-3:00 p.m., UME Wicomico Co.

Call to register.

12 – Private Pesticide Applicator Training, 7-9 p.m., UME Caroline Co., Denton.

Call to register.

19 – Private Pesticide Applicator Exam, 7-9 p.m., UME Caroline Co. Denton.

There are 3 upcoming Youth Town Halls in Kent, Cecil, and Queen Anne’s Counties. The town halls are sponsored by the Upper Shore Regional Council and the Rural Maryland Council as a part of an initiative to retain youths in the aforementioned areas to foster a community rich in opportunities for the future of our region. The dates are listed on the following materials:

Happy December–well, not quite but it is coming fast! Though it seems we are just gearing up for the holiday season, there are plenty of resourceful and fun events coming up that you do not want to miss; so keep your cool and don’t get lost in the holiday scramble! Below are some of the key happenings for agribusinesses this December.

December 2:

Upper Shore Ag Leasing Workshop  9am-2pm at the UME Kent County Office

There is a $10 registration fee including course materials and lunch. Pre-order online here .

Grain Marketing Meeting at Sudlersville Methodist Church Hall, 103 N. Church St. Sudlersville, MD.

$10  Breakfast

December 3:

Small Farm Short Course 6-8:30pm UME Kent County Office in Chestertown, MD

The course is $30 per person and you can register by calling . The course takes place also on the 10th and 17th.

LEAD Maryland’s Foundation’s “Image of Agriculture: Ag Evolution, Food Revolution” Symposium featuring key note speakers Celebrity Chef Bryan Voltaggio and USDA Under Secretary Michael Scuse. Register here

December 4

Limited Space!

UME Cecil County Master Gardeners Evergreen Kissing Ball Workshop

6-8pm Cecil County Administration Building 200 Chesapeake Blvd., Elkton, MD

Workshop to be held in room 1720 and is only open to the first 15 people to call and register for $10

Dec. 5-7 2014

Winterfest Weekend in Chestertown

see link for more infor: http://www.downtownchestertown.org/event/winterfest-weekend/

Dec. 6 Crow Vineyard & Winery tasting at Chesaapeake Bank from 2-4pm in Chestertown during Winterfest

see link for more infor: http://www.downtownchestertown.org/event/winterfest-weekend/

December 7-9, 2014

Maryland Farm Bureau Convention at Clarion Resort Hotel, 101st Street, Ocean City, MD

December 8

Youth Town Hall sponsored by the Rural Maryland Council and the Upper Shore Regional Council

7pm-9:30pm at Queen Anne’s County High School 125 Ruthsberg Rd, Centreville, MD.

December 9

Youth Town Hall sponsored by the Rural Maryland Council and the Upper Shore Regional Council

7pm-9:30pm at Elkton High School 110 James Street Elkton, MD.

December 10

Youth Town Hall sponsored by the Rural Maryland Council and the Upper Shore Regional Council

7pm-9:30pm at Kent County Middle School 402 East Campus Ave.,Chestertown, MD

December 16 

Grain Marketing Meeting at Sudlersville Methodist Church Hall, 103 N. Church St. Sudlersville, MD.

$10  Breakfast

December 17

Small Farm Short Course 6-8:30pm UME Kent County Office in Chestertown, MD

The course is $30 per person and you can register by calling

December 18

Nutrient Management Voucher Training

10am-Noon at UME Kent County Office 709 Morgnec Road, Chestertown, MD

call to pre-register

Have a safe and Happy Holiday Season!

Happy (almost) November! I hope you’ve all noticed our two new social media initiatives #WineWednesday and #FarmFriday; we’re  continually working hard to promote our local businesses!

With Thanksgiving on it’s way, the Upper Shore Harvest Directory is a perfect way to find those fresh ingredients for your Thanksgiving meal (and dessert)! Use the Harvest Directory app to find ingredients on the go or plan a fun fall trip to one of our participating agri-businesses.

Highlights for November:

Check out this month’s Agline for more events and happenings for November!

November 7 & 8

11th Annual Small Farm Conference

Where: University of MD Eastern Shore

When: 7th; 12 noon-8pm, 8th; 8:30am-5pm

Register Online at

November 14th

Harvest Breakfast

Where: Queen Anne’s County 4H park

When: 7:00am

November 20

Kent County Farm Bureau Board of Directors’s Meeting

Where:Kent Public Works Complex

When: 7pm

Happy October! I hope you’ve picked up your copy of the newest harvest directory brochure. Don’t forget to use the harvest directory to find some fall fun!

Here are some upcoming events beneficial to agribusinesses in the Upper Shore and happening near you:

October 7: 

Grain Marketing Meeting, 6:30 a.m., Sudlersville Methodist Church Hall, 103 N. Church St., Sudlersville, MD. $10 breakfast.

October 8:
Queen Anne’s Co. Farm Bureau Annual meeting, Church Hill, MD. Call  for more information.

October 9:

Women in Ag Farm Tour. See the detailed description at the link below:

http://www.extension.umd.edu/news/events/thu-2014-10-09-0900-2014-fall-farm-tour

October 14:
Kent County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, 7 p.m. Kent County
Public Works building, 709 Morgnec Rd., Chestertown, MD

Private Pesticide Applicator Training, 8:30-10:30 a.m.,
Queen Anne’s Co. Extension Office, 505 Railroad Ave., Centreville,
MD. Must pre-register by calling .

Manure Management for Equine Owners, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Kindred Spirit Farm. Worcester Co. Contact Jessie Flores
( or

October 21:
Grain Marketing Meeting, 6:30 a.m., Sudlersville Methodist
Church Hall, 103 N. Church St., Sudlersville, MD. $10 breakfast

October 28:
Private Pesticide Applicator Exam, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Queen
Anne’s Co. Extension Office, 505 Railroad Ave., Centreville, MD.
Must pre-register by calling .

And don’t forget Daylight Savings time ends November 2!

If you aren’t familiar with Agline, it is an excellent resource for agri-businesses in the Upper Shore check out the September issue here. We’ve pulled some key happenings from the latest issue as listed below, but be sure to keep up with Agline’s monthly publications!

Congratulations to Bob Arnold and Family and Mark Eck and Family for being honored at the Queen Anne’s County Fair as the 2014 Farm Families of the Year!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

September 19

Pesticide Container Recycling for Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties, 9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.,

MidShore Regional Solid Waste Facility on Barker’s Landing Road, Easton.

September 23

Grain Marketing Meeting, 6:30 a.m.,

Sudlersville Methodist Church Hall, 103 N. Church St., Sudlersville, MD. $10 breakfast.

September 25

How To Write A Nutrient Management Plan, 9:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m.,

UME, Wye Res. & Ed Center, Queenstown, MD. Cost $20. Call .

COMING SOON!

Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School.

The 2014 School will be held at the Princess Royale Hotel in Ocean City, MD, November 18-20. The link for registration will be available in early September.

October 1

Deadline—LEAD Maryland Foundation, Inc. applications are due.

Go to: http://extension.umd.edu/lead-maryland

AUGUST 2014:

August 2…

Pastured Poultry Conference Free for producers, 9:00 a.m.—
4:00 p.m., Delaware State University, Ag Annex, Room
111, Center for Small Flock Research and Innovation,

Dover, Delaware.

August 6…

Mid-Atlantic Precision Ag Equipment Day, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.,
Wye Research & Ed Center, 124 Narrows Dr., Queenstown, MD.

August 6…

Kent County Farm Bureau Picnic, 6:30 p.m., Andelot. Farm,
12240 Andelot Farm Lane, Worton, MD. Meat and drinks provided.
Bring a dish to share.

August 6…

Caroline/Dorchester County Fair, (All day) to Saturday, Aug.
9, 2014 (All day). Caroline County 4-H Park,8230 Detour
Road http://www.extension.umd.edu/news/events/wed-
2014-08-06-0000-carolinedorchester-county-fair

August 7…

2014 Maryland Horse Forum, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Prince
George’s Equestrian Center, Upper Marlboro, MD. To register:

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/maryland-horse-forum-2014-tickets-

11169404991 More info: https://

August 11-16…

Queen Anne’s County Fair, Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park, Cen-
treville, MD. http://queenannescofair.com/

August 12…

Grain Marketing Meeting, 6:30 a.m., Sudlersville Methodist
Church Hall, 103 N. Church St., Sudlersville, MD. Speaker: Chad
Nagel, Nagel Farm Service.” $10 breakfast.

August 12…

Lower Shore Farm Bill Workshop, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.,

Rockawalkin Community Hall, 6772 Rockawalkin Rd., Hebron, MD..
Cost $10.

August 13…

Upper Shore Farm Bill Workshop, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.,

Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park, Dining Hall, Centreville, MD. Call
for more information. Cost $10.

August 13…

Ag Progress Days Bus Trip, 7:00 a.m., sponsored by Mid Atlantic
Farm Credit, will be offering a bus pick up at the Cecil County Ex-
tension Office location on August 13th at 7:00 a.m.. The bus will
return to Cecil Co. around 9:00 p.m.

August 15…

Pesticide Container Recycling for Eastern Shore, 9:00 a.m.-
3:00 p.m., Nicholson Transfer Facility on Earl Nicholson Road,
Chestertown, MD

August 21…

2014 Eastern PA Grazing Conference, 9 a.m.—4 p.m.

August 22– Sept. 1, 2014—Maryland State Fair

Timonium Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD

August 29…

Grain Marketing Meeting, 6:30 a.m., Sudlersville Methodist
Church Hall, 103 N. Church St., Sudlersville, MD. $10 breakfast.