Virginia Pig Farm Catches the Swine Flu

As if the misnomer of a name, swine flu, is not bad enough for hog farmers coping with the stigma of the H1N1 virus, now one Virginia pig farmer may be connected to a pig farm near the center of the epidemic in Mexico.

Read more.

Buddy Hance Appointed as Md. Dept. of Agriculture Secretary

This just in ... read more.

Pay cut vs. Job?

A recent study (see article) confirms that most Americans agree that a pay cut is better than losing a job entirely.

Unfortunately, that doesn't help the latest Maryland unemployment numbers, which shows a 17-year high in the state's unemployment rate (see article).

Is this the best time to cut aid to farmers?

A Tour of Lambco

It was a great opportunity to get a tour of Lambco, LLC, the new lamb and goat processing facility in Carroll County (New Windsor, MD) that opened not too long ago. The Frederick County Sheep Breeders Association sponsored the tour on Saturday morning and Mr. Joe Kavanagh, the family proprietor of Lambco, LLC showed the group around the new facility. Amenities included:

• The only processing facility for lamb and goats of its kind in the area


• A full Halal processing center for Muslim holidays


• Space for "one-at-a-time" harvesting of animals as part of the facility


• A complete processing center to handle orders around busier times of year


• An immensely clean facility with a full-scale wastewater treatment system


• A well-researched and implemented nutrient management plan

One part of the facility that I liked was the holding pen area. The designers thought of everything, right down to the chicken wire above the ceiling and below the rafters to keep birds and pigeons out of the area - a welcome preventative step!

I have included many photos of Lambco on the site. Also included is a link to the LambCo. site. I highly recommend you visit it if you are interested in lambing and/or goat processing.

View the photos or go to the LambCo site.

Help Days End Horse Rescue Win $$ in a Voting Challenge

We need your help!

One of the best fundraisers is getting people to vote online in a contest where the organization can win some real dollars. Such is the case for Days End Horse Rescue in nearby Lisbon, Maryland.

Last year, the horse rescue organization won $2,000 in this contest. So don't just sit there, help them out! Vote today!

Read more on the story.

Farm-Fresh Food for Maryland's Schoolchildren

We knew that the best food for Maryland's schoolchildren comes from local farms, where meats, fruits and vegetables are grown and shipped to area schools. But the latest article in the Baltimore Business Journal confirms it.

One interesting point from this article is reaffirming the need for better education among children and parents about the foods available to them from nearby farms. There's SO much out there ... why not use it? And eat it!

Read more.

Will Biofuels Bring Jobs Back to Farming?

A recent news report in The Gazette talks with Maryland farmers about the potential jobs created by biofuels production facilities being created, developed and expanded across Maryland.

But will jobs come with the expanding services? Read more.

Should Maryland Seize a Racetrack to Maintain Preakness Stakes?

The latest news from Annapolis is that Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley is asking legislators and aides to work on paperwork to seize the Pimlico racetrack in order to preserve the Preakness Stakes in the state of Maryland.

According to news reports from The Baltimore Business Journal, O'Malley and legislators are concerned that a new owner to the track could close it down and turn it into a shopping mall.

Should the state of Maryland seize the track by eminent domain? Post your comments.

Read more on the story here.

The Poison Dart Frog Lives In Maryland

Thanks to one Maryland farmer, the poison dart frog - which is endangered in many places of the world (mainly in Central and South America) where it was once native - is alive and well.

Read more.

'Tis the Season ... for Lamb!

With the Passover and Easter holidays upon us, we hear all the buzz about everyone's penchant for lamb. A recent article in the Baltimore Sun focuses on the religious holidays and their focus on lamb. The article also highlights several Maryland farms who produce and sell lamb specifically for these purposes.

Shameless plug: Regardless of the season, Wild Wind Farm continues to raise lambs throughout the year for your dining pleasure. Email me for more information.

A Sign of the Times?

Think about it: Back in the day, the grassy fields around what is now Comcast Center on the University of Maryland campus used to be grazed by animals as part of Maryland Agricultural College (circa 1856) - the center of the Maryland "college" campus. Today, you would hardly know it. Do most students even know there IS an agricultural wing to this college?

What's even more frustrating is the fact that agricultural students will now have to pay additional fees (on top of what they are already paying) to use the farming facilities that once were a much larger part of the university system. Couldn't they just add a fee to the thousands of cars that park on campus every day? There has to be a better way, no?

Read more here (link courtesy of DiamondBack Online, Maryland's independent student newspaper).

Farmers + Schools = Agri-cation!

A neat program about Maryland farmers working with schools to educate kids about agriculture and its effects on their lives today.

Read more at the Baltimore Sun.

"Program connects farms, families through schools"