The farmers in Howard County are more than agronomic professionals. Yes, we grow local fruits and vegetables, raise animals and tend to crops that provide the food, fuel and fiber to our community and the world.
But did you know we also work every day to protect our environment?
Through numerous conservation practices, Howard County farmers are stewards of the land, water and air. In the past few years, we have implemented many conservation programs and practices on our farms, including cover crops, buffer strips, nutrient management plans, etc.
Planting cover crops is one conservation practice farmers in Howard County use to sustain Maryland's environment. Planted after the fall harvest, cover crops help to absorb unused plant nutrients that remain in the soil and prevent erosion over the winter months.
Cover crops improve soil productivity and protect water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Management and species selection allow tailoring cover crop benefits, including erosion control, excess nutrient uptake, increased soil nutrients and organic matter, and weed suppression.
Howard County farmers also practice the conservation method of using buffer strips around their farms. Buffers, also known as terraces, serve as an earthen embankment around a hillside that stops water flow and stores or guides it safely off a field.
As water makes its way down a hill, terraces act as small dams to intercept water and direct it to an outlet. Both water and soil quality are improved with buffer strips because debris and excess nutrients are guided to the appropriate area of land, off of fields and out of major waterways.
Another conservation effort we participate in is having Nutrient Management Plans. These farm-specific plans ensure that our farmers are applying the correct amount and form of plant nutrients for optimum yield and minimum impact on water quality.
Nutrient Management Plans are especially important for Howard County farmers because we are in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and want to make sure our bay is clean and sustainable. These plans reduce the potential for nutrients to wash or infiltrate into water supplies and protect Bay water quality by preventing over-application of commercial fertilizers and animal manure. Our plans are tested and updated every three years to stay current with our farmland and scientific research.
On the state level, Maryland Farm Bureau (MFB) works to support our farmers and protect those who live in rural areas. MFB offers many membership benefits for both farmers and non-farmers, such as Nationwide Insurance discounts, savings on agriculture supplies and tools, travel, etc.
To learn more about what our county and state farmers are doing to protect Maryland, or to join Farm Bureau, go to mdfarmbureau.com or like us on Facebook.