Agriculture in Allegany County- University of Maryland Extension

06/19/2026

Can you believe tomorrow is the first day of Summer!

🐛It's a good day to check out the Bug Guy and the Bug of the Week. https://bugoftheweek.com/ Learn about a new bug each week - share with other who are out and about seeing these and other tiny creepy crawlies around!

Mike Raupp, Professor of Entomology at The University of Maryland.

06/18/2026

Success starts with support. 🌱

Past grant recipients have used funding like this to grow their operations, expand their vision, and build lasting success. Now it’s your turn.

Our Young, Beginning, and Small Farmer Grant Program is awarding 10 grants of $20,000 to help move your farm forward.

🗓 Apply by August 21 at 4:00 PM
🌱 Open to full-time or part-time farmers — no need to be a current customer
👉 Learn more + apply: https://ow.ly/JlGP50Za7pY See less

06/18/2026

Fair season is on the way. Are you excited for the Allegany County Fair and the Maryland State Fair? Allegany County Fairgrounds Maryland State Fair

06/18/2026

NEW! Research Update: Impact of Sorghum-Sudangrass Seeding Rate on the Yield, Nutritive Value, and Botanical Composition of a Warm-Season Annual Mixture

Sorghum-sudangrass can be very competitive with other species in summer annual mixtures, especially at higher seeding rates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of sorghum-sudangrass seeding rate on the yield, nutritive value, and botanical composition of a summer annual mixture. Continue reading below…

During 2026, we have been highlighting poster presentations given by UK faculty, staff and students at the recent American Forage and Grassland Council annual conference. We have two presentations …

06/17/2026

The 2026 Cover Crop Grant Program sign up will open on June 22 through July 17, 2026.
Contact the local Allegany County Soil Allegany Soil Conservation District by pone, at 301-777-1747 or reach out by email to Soil Conservation Associate, Ian Cheek (MDA) [email protected] or Ag Resource Conservation Specialist , D. Reid Boden (MDA) [email protected] for those in Allegany County.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1PUdosPH78/

NEWS RELEASE 📰: The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) is pleased to announce that sign-ups for the 2026 Cover Crop Grant Program will open on June 22 and run through July 17, 2026 at local soil conservation districts. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3QuDr9R

06/16/2026

Share your thoughts on Environmental Justice -

MDA wants to make sure our programs and services are open to everyone. In response to a statewide Executive Order, we are developing our first Environmental Justice Strategic Plan. This plan will help us prioritize fairness and equality in our work. We invite you, our valued partners, to share your thoughts by completing our survey. Your input is important to us! The open-ended survey will be available until late June 2026.

Read more about Environmental Justice and Community Resilience at the site address below:
https://mda.maryland.gov/resource_conservation/Pages/environmental_justice.aspx

06/15/2026

🌲 Living here in Allegany County, where forests are such an important part of our landscape, you may enjoy reading Branching Out, Maryland’s Forest Stewardship Education newsletter.

Published four times a year by University of Maryland Extension, Branching Out offers helpful information, current news, and upcoming events for anyone interested in caring for woodlands and natural resources, including landowners, outdoor enthusiasts, and natural resource professionals.

📖 In the Spring 2026 issue:
🔹 Learn about the practice known as “treewashing”
🔹 Read how AI is helping scientists track the growth of ghost forests
🔹 Explore the science behind DC’s iconic cherry blossoms
🔹 Discover the American Basswood in Native Trees of Maryland
🔹 Learn about the Bee-bee Tree in Invasives in Your Woodlands
🔹and more
🔗 Read the Spring 2026 issue here:
https://go.umd.edu/Spring_2026

📄 Download the PDF here:
https://go.umd.edu/Vol-34_no-2

📬 Subscribe for free:
https://go.umd.edu/subscribe_here

📚 Browse selected past issues:
https://go.umd.edu/backissues

Please feel free to share this free resource with others in Allegany County who care about our forests, woodlands, and natural spaces.

06/12/2026

Check out this video on Managing Drought in Grazing Systems where University of Kentucky Forage Specialist Dr. Chris Teutsch discusses several different strategies for managing drought in grazing systems.

https://youtu.be/M_3ahgSQJYo?si=5jJo-lXeJfO6jR5n
For a full list of forage-related educational videos, check out our Maryland Forages YouTube channel.

This presentation was given at the Muhlenburg Cattlemen's Association meeting held on May 4, 2026 in Central City, KY.

06/11/2026

MASTER NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT– START WITH THE FUNDAMENTALS
MDA's two-day Fundamentals of Nutrient Management training will be offered June 24 and 25 in Annapolis. This course provides a comprehensive overview of topics covered by the upcoming Maryland Nutrient Management Certification Exam, scheduled for August 7. You'll learn about Maryland's nutrient management regulations, basic soil science, soil fertility recommendations and much more.
Register at the link below:

A Pre-Certification Training Course COURSE DESCRIPTION This training course provides participants with a basic overview of knowledge areas covered by the Maryland Nutrient Management Certification Examination. Topics include state nutrient management regulations, nutrient management principles, basi...

06/10/2026

Reserve Your Spot!
Pasture Walk at Maryland Solar Grazing Solutions
Date: July 15 from 6 - 8 PM
Location: Maryland Solar Grazing Solutions; Hagerstown, MD
Topics: Grazing sheep under solar panels, using virtual fencing
Click the link/photo below!

Join us for an educational pasture walk with Maryland Solar Grazing Solutions in Hagerstown, MD