KAREN BUTLER Maryland Correspondent HAGERSTOWN, Md - The 83rd annual Maryland Farm Bureau (MFB) meeting and con vention held here at the Ramada Inn drew more than 400 mem bers to the western part of the state for three days of discussion groups, presentations, and an award banquet. The meeting featured assis tant secretary of agriculture Royden Powell 111 as a keynote speaker, and also offered Farm Bureau members an opportuni ty to review and discuss a num ber of policy updates that will form the basis for the organiza tions, legislative stances in Annapolis and Washington, D.C. next year. Royden Powell is responsible for policy development and pro gram management for soil con servation and water quality at the Maryland Department of Agriculture. During the past year Powell has played a major role in framing specific elements of the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998, the legislation passed last year by the Maryland General Assembly that will impose mandatory nutrient management plans on almost all Maryland farms. Only agricultural operations grossing less than $2,5000 Michael Wilcom accepted the Silver Bowl Award for Frederick County. The Frederick County women's committee was named the outstanding women's committee for the fifth straight year. Shown from left to right are Carolyn Lechiider, president of MFB women's committee at the state level; Louise Stup, chair of the Frederick County women's committee; and Steve Weber, president of » MFB.* t*U**M»U*(*Mt MFB Conducts Convention In Hagerstown annually or ones with less than eight animal units (one animal unit = 1000 pounds) will be exempt from the new law. Under the new bill the Maryland Department of Agriculture has been given full legislative authority to imple ment the law, and Powell is overseeing the development of the new nutrient management regulations. Powell led a panel discussion on the new nutrient manage ment law. He offered farmers a perspective on some of the sobering regulations that are being formulated in Annapolis as a result of the new law. Farmers using commercial fertilizers are required to have nitrogen and phosphorus-based nutrient management plans developed by the end of December 2001. These plans must be implemented by December 2002. Farmers applying animal manure or sludge must have a nitrogen-based plan developed by December 21, 2001, and implemented by December 31, 2002. Farmers applying sludge or manure are also required to develop a nitrogen and phospho rus-based plan by July 1, 2004. These plans must be implement ed by July 1, 2005. In other convention news, Retiring directors honored for their service to Farm Bureau were, from left to right, Glenn Shirley, Carroll County; Charles Fry, Frederick County; Alfred Hanes, Cecil County; Trego Zimmerman, Frederick County; Ron Cashdollar, Howard County; Blan Harcum, Sr., Wicomico County; George Bradley, president of young farmers and ranchers; C. William Knill, past president; Steve Weber, president; Dan Shortall, first vice president; Mike Phipps, second vice president; and Michael Wilcom, incominq president. after several years or discussion, MFB members voted to create a Political Action Committee, or PAC. Basically, the PAC will raise funds to help finance the political campaigns of candi dates who, once elected to office, will serve as advocates for agri culture. The Maryland Friends of Agriculture Fund, or AG Fund, as the PAX will be called, will work through political involve ment to develop an atmosphere in Maryland that is favorable to a healthy agricultural communi ty. It will function without regard to party affiliation, and will be a separate fund that is "connected" to Maryland Farm Bureau. The fund will be gov erned by a 14-member board of directors. At the awards banquet, Frederick County was honored with the highest Farm Bureau honor, the silver bowl award. The award is presented each year to the county with the best overall program, as determined by the gold star awards for each of eight program ares. The eight program areas are membership, pubic affairs, national affairs, information, Farm Bureau women, young farmers, discus sion group, and service to mem ber. Frederick County had received a gold star in each pro gram. Other counties recognized for eight gold stars were: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Howard, and Somerset. Earning seven gold stars were: Alleghany, Cecil, Prince George's, Queen Anne's, and Wicomico counties. Six counties earned six gold stars: Caroline, Dorchester, Harford, Montgomery, St. Mary's and Talbot. Washington and Worchester counties were each awarded three gold stars, and Garrett County earned one. The Anne Arundel County young farmers group was recog nized as best overall young farmers group in Hie state. The women's committee of Frederick County was selected as the outstanding women's committee for the sth year in a .W** . . , ♦ , .* •< Cliff Turner, left, chair of the Anne Arundel County young farmers group, accepted the award for best young farm ers group from Steve Weber, MFB president, and George Bradley, president of young farmers. yi ..ng w honored with scholarships toward their college educations. From left Brinsfieid Lowe, president of Dorchester County FB, accepting for Ralph Jackson IV: Donna Baumann; and Gina Rende. Gibson's Texaco in Lothian, Congress Roscoe Barlett as Anne Arundel County, was hon- honored with a Friend of Farm ored as the Safemark tire dealer Bureau Award. "When I look at with the highest sales for the the legislative agenda of the past year. Safemark is the Farm Farm Bureau, I have very little Bureau service company that to quarrel with," said the con provides tires and parts at gressman. "It's awfully easy to reduced prices to FB members .» * , **«» t * i Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 2, 1999-817 •444444444 4 ft ft ft 4*4*4 ft 4*4 4 4 4 ft ft ft’*- (Turn to Pago BIS)
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