Farm Stewardship Meeting May 23, 2013

Spring Farm Stewardship Committee Meeting Contributing to Healthy Horses and a Healthy Environment in Maryland Thursday, May 23 4:30 - 6:00 pm Central Maryland Research and Extension Center University of Maryland 4241 Folly Quarter Road Ellicott City, MD University of Maryland Equine Rotational Grazing Demonstration Farm   Presentations, Networking and Refreshments  This meeting will precede a premier pasture management seminar offered by the  University of Maryland,  "Breaking the Hay Habit: How to Use Pasture to Lower Feed Costs." For more information on the seminar, please contact Jen Reynolds; 301-405-1547. Welcome:   JANE THERY, Chair, Farm Stewardship Committee Update on University of Maryland Equine Programs:  AMY BURK, Associate Professor and Extension Horse Specialist, UMCP  Maryland Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program Update: GERALD TALBERT, Program Director Other speakers may be added. Contact:  Jane Thery ... theryjane@gmail.com  Click HERE to R.S.V.P. The program is free for members of the Maryland Horse Council. Others wishing to attend are encouraged to  join the Maryland Horse Council to take advantage of programs and resources in support of our horse community!

Preparing for Your Lender

For many, purchasing a farm is a lifelong dream.  Longtime Maryland Horse Council sponsor MidAtlantic Farm Credit (http://www.mafc.com/) helps many Maryland residents make this dream into a reality.  Here is a brief guide to how to prepare for your lender.  Check back next week to learn more!

The borrower-lender relationship is a two-way road, and both parties have mutual goals. Both want to ensure the long-term viability of their businesses and have high expectations for one another. When preparing to work with a lender, you should rate the lender based on some of the following characteristics:

1. Skills & Qualities

• Stake in your industry?
• Understands your business and the risks?
• Characteristics of current borrowers

2. Capacity

• Ability to meet current and future borrowing needs?
• What are the lender’s limitations?
• Will they grow with you?

3. Products & Services

• Cookie-cutter vs. customized approach?
• Competitive rates?
• Flexible terms and conditions?

4. People & Lending Philosophy

• Transaction vs. long-term relationship
• Ability to help evaluate options and alternatives
• Timeliness and convenience

5. Long-term Presence in Agriculture

• Support during prosperous and challenging times
• Commitment to industry and its people
• Financial health of the institution

Check back in the next MHC blog post to learn about the ways that your lender rates you when making decisions about working with you and your operation. For more information about Farm Credit, check out farmcreditequine.com, call us at 888.339.3334 or email us at connect@mafc.com. You still have time to watch some great steeplechase racing. Check out the Maryland Governor’s Cup steeplechase series sponsored by Farm Credit.

Horse farms becoming larger part of Bay’s landscape, nutrient efforts

From April 1st's Bay Journal:

http://www.bayjournal.com/article/horse_farms_becoming_larger_part_of_bays_landscape_nutrient_efforts