A Farmer Education/Resource Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Maryland Cooperative Extension Office, 330 Montevue Lane in Frederick County.

The event will feature information on Maryland's nutrient management regulations, best management practices, financial assistance programs, sustainable agriculture, organic agriculture and marketing strategies for small farm producers.

The event is sponsored by the Maryland Small Farm Cooperative. Registrants receive two hours of continuing education credits from the Maryland Department of Agriculture's Nutrient Management Program.

Registration is $8. Deadline to register is Saturday.

Information: 301-845-2614.

Federal disaster loans for drought

Federal disaster loans are available to Maryland small businesses as result of the drought disaster designated for Maryland by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to farm-related and nonfarm-related small business concerns and small agricultural cooperatives that suffered financial losses as a direct result of the drought.

Farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to SBA, but nurseries may apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.

Information: 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired).

Training in application

Maryland Cooperative Extension offices will offer free voucher training and renewal courses to farm operators who apply nutrients to 10 or more acres of cropland.

The two-hour applicator training course is required once every three years for operators.

The Carroll County Extension Office will hold classes Nov. 21, Dec. 18 and Feb. 25.

Information: 410-386-2760.