Look at all the Green Out there!

With the 2011/2012 Cover Crop fall certification in the books, the Talbot Soil Conservation District is pleased to announce that Talbot County farmers planted 47,181 acres of cover crops. A increase of 4% more acres certified than last year. Aerial seeding went up 35% from last years totals. There were a total of 85 farmers that signed up for the traditional and harvest programs. If you are participating in the commodity Cover Crop program please remember that you cannot add any organic sources of nitrogen before March 1st. Due to the mild winter weather, applying commercial fertilizer is permitted before March 1st. Kill down date is March 1st for the State program and March 15th for the Federal (NRCS) program. Within two weeks of the suppression of the Cover Crop, please certify with the Talbot SCD to determine the final cost-share payment.

>> Click here to learn more about Cover Crops

The Talbot Soil Conservation District is pleased to announce our 2011 Cooperators of the Year, Billy & Jenny Shortall of Trappe. The Shortall's live on their 400 acre Discovery Farm located in Trappe. Billy rents 11 other farms within a 6 mile radius, all totaling 1700 tillable acres, which are used for cash grain production. Most of the farms are share cropped with the landlords receiving a share of the crop and paying a share of the expenses. This arrangement requires a level of trust and cooperation not found in the more common cash rent agreements.

>> Click here to read more about what they have done

During the 2010-2011 Envirothon year, Talbot schools had four teams participate in the Eastern Shore Regional Envirothon; three from Saints Peter & Paul H.S. and one from St. Michaels H.S. The Eastern Shore Regional Envirothon was hosted by Talbot SCD at Pickering Creek Environmental Center, but due to last minute scheduling problems the competition day was held at Martinak State Park in Denton, MD. Martinak Park held all of the required natural resources to hold an Envirothon.

>> Click here to read more

	Click Here for Updates on the 2008 Farm Bill
EQIP / CBWI Sign-up Deadlines: Round 2 March 16, 2012 Round 3 April 13, 2012 Round 4 May 11, 2012 EQIP Initiatives (Organic, High Tunnel, Energy) Sign-up Deadlines: Round 1 February 3, 2012 Round 2 March 30, 2012 Round 3 June 1, 2012 AMA Sign-up Deadline: Round 1 February 3, 2012 WRP / FRPP Sign-up Deadline: Round 1 February 10, 2012 Round 2 March 16, 2012 Round 3 April 13, 2012

>> Editorial by Mr. Ed Heikes [2/12]
>> Spring Newsletter 2012 [2/12]
>> 2011 Envirothon Results [2/12]
>> Updates on E & S Info [2/12]
>> 2011 Cooperator Info Added [10/11]
>> 2011/2012 Cover Crop Program [6/11]

Is your Conservation Plan out of date?

Did you know that a Soil & Water Quality Conservation Plan are current for only ten years? If you know your plan is out of date and would like to request an update, please contact one of the planners.

>> Click here for more information

Notice to Minority Farmers about Compensation Claims