u s department of agriculture

In the event of an outbreak in Maryland, the latest information will be posted on the department's Bird Flu Blog and on Twitter @MdBirdFlu and @MdAgDept.

According to the most recent agricultural census completed in 2012 by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, there are 12,549 farms in the United States marketing their products through Community Supported Agriculture, including 119 in Maryland. Members pay an upfront subscription fee to farmers in return for a share of the season's harvest, which is usually provided weekly.

We scientists make decisions carefully, thoughtfully and analytically. It's time Donald Trump and his administration did the same.

The Hunger Free Schools Act of 2015 authorized the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which provides all Maryland students in eligible participating schools with free breakfast and lunch, every school day. The law is up for reauthorization this year — and we urge lawmakers to once again show their support for an option that truly makes a difference in the academic, social and emotional welfare of our children

Howard County officials are beginning a study to evaluate methods to control the tick population in the county.

The teams of President Trump's temporary appointees laying the groundwork for taking over and remaking federal agencies refer to themselves as "beach

The Trump administration on Tuesday ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to temporarily stop giving out grants and signing contracts, and Maryland officials were "working to clarify" what that might mean for state programs that are heavily dependent on federal funds.

This quarantine order will remain in effect from January 1, 2017 until June 30, 2017. High Path Avian Influenza is not known to threaten human health. It can, however, wipe out flocks of chickens in days.

Maryland is one of seven states chosen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to participate in a two-year pilot program that will allow food stamp recipients to buy groceries online for the first time.

The grant will help Maryland dairies implement best management practices to address nutrient management needs over the next five years.

Producers can text MDCarroll to FSANOW (372-669) to subscribe to text message alerts from Carroll County.

The University of Maryland School of Medicine will use a $5 million federal grant to tackle childhood obesity by helping teachers, parents and students come up with ways to practice healthy habits in schools.

There are steps people can take to avoid becoming sick from food containing bacteria or other contaminants

After observing what one school mentor had started, Towson High School Parent Teacher Student Association President Cheri Pegues has brought a countywide food supplement program called Food For Thought Baltimore County to the school, which provides a free bag of food each week to students identified by school officials as in need.

It's that time again, when families gather round the kitchen table ... and argue about how to cook a Thanksgiving turkey. How do you thaw it? When is it done? Thankfully, the USDA and the Carroll County Health Department have some tips on how to have a safe and delicious turkey day.

In the mightiest nation on the planet, too many people still lack access to proper nutrition — and that must not be overlooked

This year's program includes several updates to help producers better evaluate their conservation options and potential benefits.

Committee nominations are due by Tuesday, Nov. 29. The group advises the Secretary of Agriculture on the scope, timing and content of periodic agricultural censuses, surveys of agriculture and other related industries.

The USDA recently announced about $5 million in grant funding to support efforts that improve access to local foods in schools.

The safety net coverage enrollment period will continue until Aug. 1, 2017.

The USDA recently announced the availability of a streamlined version of its guaranteed loans.

As BWI continues to increase its international traffic, Rosoff and her fellow agricultural specialists at U.S. Customs and Border Protection are seizing more banned items to prevent invasive species, disease-carrying foods and anything else that could potentially devastate American agriculture from slipping through the airport into the U.S.

The 2014 Farm Bill authorized the ARC-PLC safety net to trigger and provide financial assistance only when decreases in revenues or crop prices, respectively, occur. The ARC and PLC programs primarily allow producers to continue to produce for the market by making payments on a percentage of historical base production, limiting the impact on production decisions.

When Norman Sellers started working on the farm full-time in 1957, the family had 80 cows. Now they have approximately 700 Holsteins, with a few red and white. They care for 300 milk cows, 150 steers, and 250 calves and beef cattle.

Pam Spencer was about to dig up a fading milkweed plant in her garden when her husband, Steve, showed her a black-and-yellow larva he'd found on one of its leaves. It was a monarch butterfly in its earliest stages of life.

Students visited with farmer Greg Horner and saw the produce grown on his Hampstead farm. They also had an opportunity to visit interactive nutrition education stations where they matched seeds to the appropriate products and received Maryland Department of Agriculture's farmer trading cards which contained produce facts and farmer information. They also tasted fresh produce and learned more about the health benefits of fruits and vegetables.

As soon as Jason King parked outside St. Vincent de Paul Church Saturday morning, he was immediately greeted by some familiar faces, and quickly began doling out bologna sandwiches, bananas and bottles of water from the back of his car.

The Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office on Tuesday announced indictments against 14 food retailers for defrauding $16 million from the food assistance program.

Breastfeeding is healthy and cost-effective, and gives children a great start.

The narrowing margin between milk prices and the cost of feed triggered the payments, as provided for by the 2014 Farm Bill. The payment rate for May/June 2016 will be the largest since the program began in 2014.

As the Howard County Fair marked its 71st year with traditional staples like animals shows, rodeo circuses and funnel cakes, young programmers geared up for one of the fastest growing areas of 4-H across the country: Robotics.

Russell L. Hawes, a retired federal government economist and a World War II veteran, died July 25 from pneumonia at the Blakehurst Retirement Community in Towson. He was 93.

Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs trigger financial protections for participating agricultural producers when market forces cause substantial drops in crop prices or revenues.

Baltimore police corralled two escaped bulls in West Baltimore on Friday morning, police said.

Biting into a yummy local peach or chomping down on fresh steamed corn is a treat of summer that doesn't usually crop up in a school cafeteria.

University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers use muffins to test the best replacement for saturated fat.

Passed down through generations since 1934, the farm has been protected under the county's farmland preservation program since 1989. But its owners, part of the aging ranks of farmers in the county and throughout the state, wonder how long it will last.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture opened the nomination period for farmers and ranchers to serve on local Farm Service Agency county committees on June 15.

News from schools in Baltimore County.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service will survey nearly 1,000 operations across Maryland to determine crop production and supplies levels in 2016.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is encouraging Marylanders to celebrate National Dairy Month by enjoying healthy and nutritious dairy products during June and all year long.

The Morning Report is a quick roundup of links to stories that Carroll County residents are talking about for June 2, 2016. Read our eNewspaper, a PDF

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that farmers and ranchers filing crop acreage reports with the Farm Service Agency and participating insurance providers approved by the Risk Management Agency can now provide the common information from their acreage reports at one office and the information will be electronically shared with other locations.

La Cuchara is among the first in Baltimore growing microgreens onsite using a process created by the urban farm City-Hydro. Founded in 2011 by Larry and Zhanna Hountz, City-Hydro supplies 75 varieties of microgreens to local restaurants from a second-floor room of the Hountzes' rowhouse.

Johns Hopkins medical students will no longer train on live animals

Maryland farmers and processors with organic certifications are now eligible for cost share reimbursement from the United States Department of Agriculture's Organic Certification Cost Share Program.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Maryland Farmers Market Association estimate that local farmers markets generated $51 million in sales, with more than 2.3 million consumers visiting farmers markets in 2015.

A new fruit and vegetable garden at Douglass High School is training students for future careers as urban farmers.

United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that dairy farms participating in the Margin Protection Program can now update their production history when an eligible family member joins the operation.

International Record Store Day is Saturday, April 16. We visit The Archive record shop in Ellicott City to preview the celebration. We also talk to other vinyl dealers at the Antique Depot in Ellicott City to talk about the importance of records today.