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

Sagamore Racing Recognized for Standout Environmental Practices

http://www.sagamoreracing.com/sagamore-racing-recognized-for-standout-environmental-practices-?a=1&c=1053 

Maryland Horse Council

Winter Farm Stewardship Committee Meeting

Summary Report

            The Third Farm Stewardship meeting took place on February 18, 2013 in the comfortable and heated lounge of Lori Larson’s lovely Wyndham Oaks Farm.  Overlooking the impressive indoor arena, 25 members of the Maryland horse community gathered to discuss land stewardship issues with the overall goal of contributing to healthy horses and a healthy environment in Maryland. 

            Jane Thery, the committee chair, opened the meeting with an overview of the committee priorities of: promoting the view of the equestrian community in state-wide policy discussions regarding the environment; getting public recognition for the positive contribution to land management on the 527,000 acres in Maryland horse farms; linking technical and financial assistance resources to horse farm needs; staying ahead of the curve on land management technologies and regulations; and promoting the participation of horse farms in the Maryland Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program (FSCAP).

            Amy Burk, University of Maryland Equine Specialist and committee vice chair, distributed her latest paper on horse farm implementation of best management practices which highlights that horse farmers are very well-informed on good farm management but sometimes lacking in implementation of these sound practices.  She also invited participants to attend the Horse Pasture Management Training sessions on May 23 and September 19, 2013. 

Sagamore Farm owner Kevin Plank

            Gerald Talbert, the program director of FSCAP, shared the good news that Sagamore Farm, owned by Kevin Plank and managed by Tom Mullikin, and the Potomac Horse Center owned by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and managed by Rick Terselic, were certified.  This brings the number of certified horse farms up to seven with acreage of 898.3.  Again, congratulations to Persimmon Tree Farm and Carolyn Krome,  Edgewood Farm and Steve Darcey, Bloomsbury Forge and Karla Stoner, Graden/ Rover’s Content and  Milly Welsh, Wyndham Oaks and Lori Larson, Potomac Horse Center and the Maryland-National Capitol Park and Planning Commission,  and Sagamore Farm and Kevin Plank.   Gerald answered questions from several farm owners looking into getting certified. 

Sagamore Farm, owned by Maryland's own Kevin Plank, CEO of Underamour, joins the seven horse farms now certified under the Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program (FSCAP)

            Lori Larson, the owner of Wyndham Oaks Farm, talked about designing the farm from the beginning to meet high environmental standards.  Her experience with the FSCAP certification was that the process was simple as long as you had good farm management practices and kept your records up-to-date.  Lori noted that she had also installed solar panels on the indoor arena roof and built the barns with natural light and ventilation.  She is interested in exploring new technologies for on-farm energy generation using the horse manure from the 65 horses on the property.  Wyndham Oaks has its Farm Stewardship green sign prominently displayed at the farm entrance. 

            Gary Felton, bio-environmental engineering and water quality specialist from the University of Maryland, is an expert on composting.  He reviewed the simple steps to composting horse manure and highlighted its value as an organic soil enhancement.  He also raised the issue of action needed to stop the use of persistent herbicides on equine hays and grains as the herbicides do not break down in the composting process and can kill plants when the compost is applied.  The Maryland Horse Council will look into ways to help stop the use of these persistent herbicides.  Gary offered to provide additional information to anyone interested in composting horse manure. 

            Brenda Platt directs the Composting Makes $en$e Project at the Institute for Local Self Reliance and was representing the National Composting Association.  She raised the need to come up with modern composting regulations that will promote composting in a clear and transparent manner.  She noted that the state of Maryland is presently reviewing composting regulations and encouraged the horse community to get involved.  Brenda distributed a list of certified composting facilities that accept horse manure.  The list was provided by Craig Coker of Coker Composting and Consulting.  They are: Veteran’s Compost in Aberdeen, Maryland; Howard County Bur Environmental Services in Marriottsville, Maryland (for Howard County horse farms only); Peninsula Compost in Wilmington, Delaware; Royal Oak Farm in Evington, Virginia; Black Bear Composting in Crozet, Virginia; McGill Environmental Systems in Waverly, Virginia; Two Particular Acres in Royersford, Pennsylvania; Terra-Grow, Inc. in Terre Hill, Pennsylvania; and Barnside Mulch and Compost in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania.  She said that discussions are ongoing about building more composting facilities to manage the growing demand for composting in the region. 

John Blackburn, internationally-renowned stable architect, points out the natural lighting and ventilation features of Wyndham Oaks Farm which he designed.  The farm hosted the Winter Farm Stewardship Meeting.

            The meeting was topped off by a presentation from architect John Blackburn on his design of Wyndham Oaks.  John explained how he lays out stable operations to separate the spaces for people, cars and horses for safety.  He also described the thermodynamics of roof design to bring maximum ventilation to the stables to contribute to a healthy air supply for the horses.  His use of natural ventilation and natural light also cuts down on energy use.  He gave the group a walking tour of Wyndham Oaks stables and answered questions about his design work.

            A special thanks to Andy Bennett of The Piedmont Group.  Andy provided information on the insurance his company provides as well as some swag bag goodies to the group.  He also sponsored our meeting refreshments.  Thank you Andy!

            Thanks to everyone for coming out on a chilly February day for our Farm Stewardship winter meeting.  Stay tuned for information on the spring meeting. 

*  Save the Date  *  Farm Stewardship Meeting February 18, 2013

Winter Farm Stewardship Committee Meeting Contributing to Healthy Horses and a Healthy Environment in Maryland Monday, February 18th (Presidents' Day) 3:00-5:30 pm Wyndham Oaks, LLC 19301 Bucklodge Road * Boyds, MD 20841 Scroll down or click here for Directions to the Farm   Barn Tour, Presentations, Networking and Refreshments    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 Certified Farm Experience: LORI LARSON, Owner, Wyndham Oaks Composting Options for Horse Farms ...    What's New in Composting: GARY FELTON, Associate Professor & Extension Specialist, Bioenvironmental Engineering/ Water Quality, UMCP Composting in Maryland - Opportunities and Challenges:  BRENDA PLATT, Director, Composting Makes $en$e Project, Institute for Local Self Reliance   Green Stable Design, Tour of Wyndham Oaks by Architect JOHN BLACKBURN Light Refreshments Provided by Our Meeting Sponsor:  The Piedmont Group Note: The Entrance to Wyndham Oaks Farm is directly across from Moore Road 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!

Directions    Directions to Wyndham Oaks

2012 Wrap Up and Heads Up for Next Meeting

        Well the Maryland Horse Council Farm Stewardship Committee had a good year.  We held wonderful meetings at the lovely farms of Carolyn Krome and Steve Darcey, made new contacts, clarified our mission and gave the Maryland Horse Council a more powerful voice in the political world of agriculture and the environment.  Our mission of getting recognition for our well-managed horse farms is off to a strong start with the help of  Gerald Talbert, Project Leader of the Maryland Farm Stewardship, Certification and Assessment Program (FSCAP) who explained the program to meeting participants and took the initiative to print a program brochure highlighting our horses.  As of mid-December, we can celebrate the fact that FIVE horse farms with a total of 430 acres are now "Certified Agricultural Conservation Stewards."

Congratulations to Persimmon Tree Farm and Carolyn Krome,  Edgewood Farm and Steve Darcey, Bloomsbury Forge and Karla Stoner, Graden/ Rover’s Content and  Milly Welsh, and Wyndham Oaks and Lori Larson.


In our mission to keep connecting horse farms with the technical and financial resources available to them, we have posted a resource list on the website, provided a forum for presentations from Maryland Soil Conservation Districts and our vice-chair, Amy Burk, has presented information on the many programs available through the University of Maryland system, especially in the area of pasture management.  We will continue to seek out and disseminate information on these resources.

In cooperation with the Maryland Horse Council legislative gurus (mainly vice president Jane Seigler), we have provided information on the laws and regulations governing land use, including sending out notices about opportunities to provide comments on draft laws and regulations.  This effort led to modification of some rules to make them more practical and user-friendly to our horse community.  

In our examination of farm stewardship issues, we have identified the need to clarify options for composting horse manure on your own farm and at commercial facilities.  An issue for discussion at the first meeting of 2013 will be whether to compile a list of quality haulers and composters for use by new horse farm owners and those considering the composting options.  

So, hats off to all of the people who helped move the farm stewardship programs forward and to our president Stueart Pittman for his support.  Thank you.  

For next year, we are off to a great beginning with the Winter Farm Stewardship Committee Meeting set to be held at Wyndham Oaks in Montgomery County from 3:00 to 5:30 pm on Monday, February 18 (Presidents' Day).  I am delighted to report that Lori Larson, the owner of Wyndham Oaks, has agreed to not only host the meeting at her beautiful dressage barn club room but also speak about her experience with the Farm Stewardship Certification Program.  In addition, we will have the pleasure of tour and presentation of the barn's design by its architect, John Blackburn, who specializes in barns designed for healthy horses and the use of natural light and ventilation.  Amy Burk will fill out the program with information on new University of Maryland programs for equines and on the renovated teaching farm on the university campus. 

Thanks to everyone for your positive energies and efforts in improving and celebrating our horse farm stewardship.

Happy Holidays !!!!!!!!!!!

Jane 

Report on the Second Meeting

Maryland Horse Council Farm Stewardship Second Meeting, October 8, 2012

It was a chilly autumn afternoon at beautiful Edgewood Farm, the home of Steve and Bonnie Darcey.  Steve is a conservation engineer with the Prince George’s Soil Conservation District and Bonnie is an accomplished show hunter equestrienne. 

Our group of about 20 gathered in the indoor arena.  Jane Thery, Chair of the MHC Farm Stewardship Committee, opened the meeting with thanks for the Darceys for hosting the meeting and a round of introductions of those present.  The group ranged from farm management experts to those looking for information on the latest environmentally-sound horse farm management ideas. 

Steve Darcey began his farm tour with thanks to the event sponsors, Colonial Farm Credit and the Prince George’s Soil Conservation District.  The group clambered up onto his hay wagon for the tour.  The first stop was to see a drainage system and row of warm-weather grasses.  The drainage system included an underground pipe, plantings to hold the soil and rubble to protect from erosion.  As Darcey said, the point of the system is to “wear out the water” by running it around until is slowed way down.  This is an essential element of keeping sediment and nutrients out to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  The grasses are planted to improve wildlife habitat and hold the soil.  Both of these farm improvements received significant funding from state and local programs.  The second stop was at the composting area.  Darcey composts the manure and bedding from his own horse operation and hauls in horse manure from about ten nearby farms.  The compost is turned regularly, situated well away from water courses and is sold in bulk, primarily as potting soil.  

On returning to the indoor, Gerald Talbert, Project Leader of the Maryland Farm Stewardship, Certification and Assessment Program (FSCAP) explained the process of farm certification which includes having a nutrient management plan, a conservation plan and meeting all state and county requirement for nutrient management.  He noted that both the farm community and the environmental community support the program.  To date, there are four certified horse farms with several others in the process of assessment. 

Eileen Beard, the Maryland Department of Agriculture Equine Specialist, explained that she and her colleagues at the Soil Conservation District offices are ready to help horse farms review their farm stewardship needs, provide technical assistance at no cost and identify state and federal sources of financing. 

Jane Seigler, Vice President of the Maryland Horse Council, gave an update on the Maryland nutrient management regulations, noting that input from the horse community did make the final regulations more user-friendly to horse farms.  The regulations include setbacks to keep livestock and manure spreading away from streams, keeping manure stacks away from waterways and limiting winter manure spreading.

Amy Burk, Maryland Horse Council Farm Stewardship Committee Vice Chair and University of Maryland Equine Specialist,  provided information on the university pasture management project and the fact sheets produced by the Maryland Department of Agriculture Horse Outreach Workshop (HOW) on topics ranging from composting to horse health. 

Information on the winter meeting of the MHC Farm Stewardship Committee meeting will be forthcoming.  Any questions?  Contact Jane Thery, Committee Chair, at theryjane@gmail.com

Second Farm Stewardship Meeting: Contributing to Healthy Horses and a
Healthy Environment in Maryland

Monday, October 8th
3:00-5:30 pm

 Farm Tour, Presentations, Networking and Refreshments at Steve
Darcey's Edgewood Farms

Speakers:
** Gerald Talbert: Project Leader Maryland Farm Stewardship
Certification and  Assessment Program (FSCAP) on Progress Bringing in
Horse Farms **
** Steve Darcey: Owner of FSCAP Certified Edgewood Farm on the
Certification Process**
** Jane Seigler, Vice President, Maryland Horse Council on
Environmental Legislation **
** Amy Burk, Vice Chair, MHC Farm Stewardship Committee and University
of Maryland Equine Specialist on Pasture Management
** Eileen Beard, Maryland Department of Agriculture Equine Specialist
on Resources for Horse Farms


Edgewood Farms
2506 Richie Marlboro Road
Upper Marlboro, MD  20774
(Directions and Farm Information Attached)

 RSVP to Jane Thery:
theryjane@gmail.com,  202-527-2145
Please cc to Margaret Rizzo at the Maryland Horse Council:
admin@mdhorsecouncil.org


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!