1. BMP’s used by Agriculture Producers Jessica Flores UME Ag & Natural Resources Educator November 16, 2015

2. Landscape of Worcester County The county covers approximately 303,920 land acres. 71.8% of the land in Worcester County is currently zoned for agriculture. Approximately 374 farm businesses encompass 99,304 acres of farmland Average farm size of 266 acres

3. Farming of Worcester County IN MARYLAND: # 2 county in broiler production ($13,248,055,000 annually) # 4 county for ag production ($199,265,000 annually) # 5 for corn production ($29,448,000 annually)

4. Best Management Practices BMP’s Include many practices –Cover Crops- HU pads –Precision Agriculture- Fencing –Nutrient Management- Manure Storage –No-till –Buffer strips

5. Maryland Cover Crop Program The Cover Crop Program is administered by the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program and funded by the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund and the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund.

6. Planted after corn, soybeans, sorghum, tobacco or vegetables are harvested Barley, canola, rapeseed, kale, rye, ryegrass, spring oats, triticale, forage radish and wheat may be used Normally planted by beginning of November

7. Winterkill Cover Crops Winterkill low-residue cover crops are being investigated for inclusion in no-till spring vegetable systems November 2013, Field Day at UMD CMREC in Clarksville highlighted research –Radish –Phacelia –Mixtures of species

8. Forage Radishes

9. Forage radish & wheat mixtures

10. Precision Agriculture Used to improve the agronomic, environmental and economical management of crop production in accordance with in-field variability Based on –Precision soil sampling –Variable rate nutrient application –Recordkeeping/yield monitoring Ensure most efficient production is achieved

11. UME field day Features technology and equipment focused on precision ag Field day that demonstrates equipment being used. Mid-Atlantic Precision Ag Day

14. UVAs and Drones

15. Buffer Strips

16. High Use Pads – Chicken Houses

17. Rotational Grazing

18. Continuing Education MDA & College of AGNR co-sponsor many trainings and field days throughout the state –Nutrient Management –Pesticide Recertification –Agronomy Day –Field Days