Dairy farm tour in Manchester on Wednesday
The Carroll County Farm Bureau will present a tour of the Sellers family dairy farm in Manchester from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Participants will tour the working dairy farm, Panora Acres, on Tracey's Mill Road off Route 30. Participants should dress appropriately for walking around a farm.
Farm Bureau women will serve a free boxed lunch during the tour.
Reservations are requested at 410-857-5503.
Goat, sheep nutrition conference in Keedysville
Maryland Cooperative Extension will hold its Mid-Atlantic Goat and Sheep Nutrition Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center in Keedysville.
Topics will include feeding goats and sheep, pasture as nutrition, nutrient requirements, using goats and sheep for weed control, forages and pasture design, evaluating animal body condition, and ration formulation and cost comparison.
The cost is $20 and registration is required by Dec. 2.
Information: 301-432-2767.
Livestock compensation available for producers
Carroll County was designated an agricultural disaster area in October because of the continuing drought conditions.
The designated means that qualifying livestock producers may enroll in the 2002 Livestock Compensation Program. Farmers with cattle, sheep, goats and buffalo are eligible to apply for assistance.
Eligible livestock must have been owned or cash-leased for at least 90 days, with June 1 being in the 90-day period. Payment varies according to number, type and weight of livestock.
Information: 410-848-2780.
Agribusiness Web site features local products
The Carroll County Department of Economic Development has created an agricultural Web site, featuring local agricultural products and services.
The site was created to assist consumers in finding agricultural products and producers of farm goods in marketing their homegrown products.
Consumers will be able to locate fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat and numerous horticultural operations on the site. Agribusinesses will find farms offering Carroll County's livestock, horses, dairy cattle, grains and forage products.
Subheadings include a farm finder, agricultural services and agencies, farmers' markets, a bulletin board for free advertising by agriculture producers, agricultural events and a promotional materials section with downloadable brochures and listings from Carroll County.
An agricultural web links page is available, listing harvest dates of fruits and vegetables.
The agriculture site address is www.carrollag.org, and also can be accessed through Economic Development's Web site, www. carrollbiz.org.
Farm or agribusiness owners in Carroll County interested in being listed may fill out the form located on the Web site, or call Gabe Zepp at 410-386-2070.
Adkins honored for agriculture teaching
Terry Adkins, an agriculture teacher at South Carroll High School, has received the Maryland Outstanding Agriculture Program award.
The award is presented by the Maryland Agriculture Teachers Association (MATA), the professional association for agricultural educators. Recipients are selected by the MATA board of directors and members of the organization.
Adkins was selected for the award based on excellence in classroom instruction, laboratory instruction, professional activities outside of the classroom, professional growth over the years, and involvement as an adviser with the local chapter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA).