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COVER CROP SIGN-UP ENDS SOON
MDA's annual cover crop sign-up is ALMOST OVER! If you plan to plant cover crops in your fields this fall to improve your soil and protect local water quality, please contact your local soil conservation district by July 17th to apply for our grants. District staff are standing by to help you complete your application.
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NEW CONTINUING EDUCATION OPTIONS FOR NURSERY & GREENHOUSE OPERATIONS
We are excited to announce that two new online training webinars are now available for certified farm operators who develop nutrient management plans for nurseries, greenhouses, or controlled environments. Operators who are certified through the Farmer Training and Certification Program can earn one continuing education credit for each webinar by watching the video, completing a short quiz, and achieving a score of 70% or higher.
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NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION EXAM IS AUGUST 1st
The Maryland Nutrient Management Certification Examination will take place on August 1st at locations in Annapolis, Keedysville, and Easton. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions that cover various knowledge areas. It is designed for farmers and professional service providers who want to become certified to prepare nutrient management plans for other farmers.
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Learn how this local Maryland farm family works to raise healthy chickens while protecting the natural resources that we all depend on.
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AND THE FIRST PLACE WINNER IS...
A team of high school students from Harford County has won the 2025 Maryland Envirothon competition. North Harford High School edged out teams from 13 counties with a winning score of 458.50 points out of 500. They will go on to represent Maryland at the NCF Competition in Alberta, Canada, later this summer. Teams from Montgomery, Allegany, St. Mary's, and Frederick counties rounded out the top 5 winning teams.
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CHESAPEAKE BAY'S HEALTH DECLINES SLIGHTLY–LONG TERM OUTLOOK REMAINS POSITIVE
The health of Chesapeake Bay experienced a slight decline last year, according to a new report card published by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. The Bay received a grade of C, down from its peak grade of C+ the previous year. The latest data highlights ongoing progress and amid climate-related challenges that require sustained attention and action.
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PROFESSIONAL FERTILIZER APPLICATOR EXAM AND TRAINING
Lawn care workers who want to become certified by MDA to apply fertilizer to lawns should register for the upcoming certification exam on August 13th in Salisbury. An optional training session is offered before the exam. In Maryland, lawn care workers hired to apply fertilizer to lawns must be certified by MDA or work under the direct supervision of a certified professional.
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PEOPLE IN THE NEWS —
Andrew "AK" Leight joined MDA's Program Planning and Evaluation team as a Data Analyst on June 25th. In his new role, AK will work across various programs within the Office of Resource Conservation to provide support for data analysis, reporting, and enhancements to the database system. AK brings over 20 years of federal service experience to MDA, having previously worked with NOAA.
ENGINEER WANTED
The Charles Soil Conservation District is seeking a dynamic engineer to perform professional civil and agricultural engineering-related work. Please visit the Charles County Government website to apply for this position.
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NEED HELP WITH A CONSERVATION PROJECT?
Please contact your local soil conservation district for additional information on MDA conservation programs, grants, and services.
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