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Howard County, Maryland has a total land area of 161,394 acres - of which approximately 25 percent is farmland.

Agriculture is among the top five industries in the county - accounting for more than $200 million in sales each year.

 

There are 318 farms with an average size of 125 acres.


Howard County's major crops include dairy and livestock, corn and small grains, and hay and pastures. Tree fruit, small fruits, and vegetables add to the farm income. Pick-your-own operations, roadside stands, and on-the-farm markets are important outlets for these commodities.

New emerging agricultural products in Howard County include nursery products, turf, bedding plants, and landscaping materials.

 

Latest Newsletter

December 2011: Supply of Calendars Available

A supply of beautiful 2012 calendars are available at the Howard Soil Conservation District Office. These calendars, free for the taking, were developed by the Maryland Grazers Network. Each month, the calendar offers valuable tips on good grazing techniques. The calendars are large and provide plenty of space for writing daily notes and appointments for each day.

The pictures of grazing dairy cows, beef, and the occasional goats and sheep are great. You might even learn something! Stop by and pick one up at the District office located at 708 Lisbon Center Drive, Woodbine (in the Lisbon Shopping Center. They are free, no cost to you.

Got e-mail?
If you would prefer to receive your monthly meeting reminders by the much more economical e-mail route, then please inform Merhlyn Barnes at merhlynbarnes@aol.com



Howard County Economic Development Authority - Agriculture Pages

 

President’s Message - January 2012

 

Congratulations to Katie Loveless

2011 Miss Howard County Farm Bureau

by Merhlyn Barnes

On Sunday, August 7, 2011, the opening day of the 66th Annual Howard County Fair, Katie Loveless, 17, was chosen to be Miss Howard County Farm Bureau. She is the daughter of Joe and Carol Loveless and lives on Pipe Dream Farm, Woodbine, where she raises goats and pigs.

Katie is a very active member of the Poplar 4-H Club, and carries projects including sewing, home environment, crafts and fine arts and is Co-Chair of the Howard County Fashion Revue. She is also involved in Junior Leadership, market goats and showmanship, market swine, dairy leasing and livestock judging. She has an internship with Howard Soil Conservation District and works at Woodcamp Farm.

A senior at Glenelg High School, Katie is Vice President of Student Government, Founder of Leader of Future Educators of America, and a two-year member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She does track and field, cross country and is a member of the concert choir.

First alternate is Anna Larrimore, 17, who is currently President of the West Friendship 4-H Livestock Club, where she has held multiple offices. Her projects include swine, horticulture, photography, crafts and baking.

Anna, daughter of Tom and Barbara Larrimore, is a senior at Glenelg High School. She is Captain of the Glenelg Dance Team and the Senior Dance Company. She is also Secretary of the Teen Republican Republican Club, a member of the Spanish Club, and on the Student Leadership Council. Active in community Service, she volunteers at Days End Farm Horse Rescue, the ARC of Howard County, and is a Teen Board Member of the Glenwood Community Center.

Others in the outstanding 2011 court included Catherine Brigante, Cynthia Garner, Allie Pickens, Taylor Rhodes, and Meghan Ross.

Congratulations to Ellie M. Feaga and Kevin Spicer

Our 2011 Little Miss Howard County, is Ellie M. Feaga, age 9 of Woodbine who attends Bushy Park Elementary School, Glenwood, MD. She is active in the 4-H Dairy Club, showing Holstein cattle. She also sews & has been in the 4-H Fashion Review; grows vegetables, herbs and flowers. Ellie has hosted bake sales, contributing proceeds to the American Red Cross and to Susan G Koman.

Kevin Spicer, 2011 Ho. Co. Future Farmer, age 10 of Ijamsville, MD attends Kemptown Elementary School. He is a 4-H Dairy Club member and shows market steers, lambs, sheep, rabbits, poultry and breeding heifers. He is also a member of All Star Baseball Team, Book Club, Cub Scouts, Radio Spot and likes to play basketball.

[Photo, Left to Right: Mathew Chaney, 2010 Future Howard County Farmer; Nichole Lynn King, 2010 Little Miss Howard County Farm Bureau; Ellie M. Feaga, 2011 Little Miss Howard County Farm Bureau; Kevin Spicer, 2011 Future Howard County Farmer; and Tess Cavagan, 2010 Miss Howard County Farm Bureau.]


This video is dedicated to farmers, both past and present who have endured to provide our safe, affordable and abundant food. Please take a minute and thank farmers for all of their efforts.


Smiling contestants in the Miss Howard County Farm Bureau, Little Miss and Future Farmer competitions participate in the 66th Annual Howard County Fair Opening Day Parade, August 7, 2011.


Show Your Pride in Preservation

By now, you’ve probably seen the beautiful new "Farmland Forever" sign posted on a neighbor’s farm. The sign is available to any property owner whose land is in the Howard County Agricultural Land Preservation Program (ALPP). All you need to do to let others know that you’ve made the commitment to preserve your farm is fill out a form. There will be no cost to program participants for the sign or its installation. The sign is made of aluminum and is 24" x 30" in size, and a sample of what it looks like is on the ALPP website, along with the form. The County will construct the sign post and do the installation.

If you would like to show your pride in preservation, please complete and return the on-line form to Joy Levy, ALPP Administrator, at 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043. Joy can also be reached at 410-313-5407 or jlevy@howardcountymd.gov The link to the ALPP web page is http://howardcountymd.gov/DPZ/agriculture.htm


Maryland Farm Bureau On-Line Membership Processing

You can go to the Maryland Farm Bureau website and join our organization with a valid credit card. Likewise current members can go to the website and renew their membership, eliminating the need to mail in the renewal notice with a check. Renewing members will need their membership number.

Just go to www.mdfarmbureau.com and click on "Become a Member Today" in the top right hand corner.

 

                          
 

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Keir Knight
PLAIN ENGLISH WRITING & DESIGN

Mt Airy, Md 21771.