Publications

While estate planning for Maryland farm operators can be complicated, a conservation easement can be an effective tool to include in your plan. Conservation easements can help reduce the value of a farm estate and ensure the land will continue to be available for agricultural use. Donating a conservation easement is one way to reduce federal and state estate taxes when the value of your estate minus permitted deductions exceeds the current estate tax exemptions. Under current federal and Maryland tax laws, donating a conservation easement to a qualifying group can result in favorable tax deductions.

Understanding the basic concepts of how to feed horses properly is important to ensure optimal health and performance in the horse. One of the most fundamental aspects of understanding equine nutrition is learning how the digestive anatomy and physiology of the horse influences what and how we feed horses to meet their nutritional needs. Teaching Basic Equine Nutrition is a two-part series of publications that educators can use to help foster a fun and easy learning environment when teaching equine nutrition. Teaching Basic Equine Nutrition Part I details how to assemble a model equine digestive tract that is easy to make, store, use, and transport for equine nutrition presentations to people of all ages. Teaching Basic Equine Nutrition, Part II instructs educators about the physiology of the digestive tract and how it relates to good feeding management practices.

Understanding the basic concepts of how to feed horses properly is important to ensure optimal health and performance in the horse. One of the most fundamental aspects of understanding equine nutrition is learning how the digestive anatomy and physiology of the horse influences what and how we feed horses to meet their nutritional needs. Teaching Basic Equine Nutrition is a two-part series of publications that educators can use to help foster a fun and easy learning environment when teaching equine nutrition. Teaching Basic Equine Nutrition Part I details how to assemble a model equine digestive tract that is easy to make, store, use, and transport for equine nutrition presentations to people of all ages. Teaching Basic Equine Nutrition, Part II instructs educators about the physiology of the digestive tract and how it relates to good feeding management practices.

Like any new business venture, starting a distillery requires careful planning and a major investment of resources. Marylanders interested in opening a distillery should consider taking classes and talking to existing distillers before starting out on their own. This guide is intended to provide an overview of the legal process of getting the required licenses and permits needed to open a distillery.

Soils are composed of mineral and organic matter. Weathered rocks provide soil minerals, while organic matter forms from decayed animal and plant residues. An important component of healthy soil, organic matter helps maintain and improve soil’s physical condition. Some of these benefits include increased nutrient and water holding as well as stabilizing structure, which helps soil drainage. Organic matter is in a constant state of transition, continually breaking down and releasing finer, more decomposed particles. This breakdown is caused by scavengers in the soil (insects, earthworms, bacteria and fungi) as they feed on organic matter. These scavengers also become part of the soil organic matter when they die. As long as there are fresh sources of tissue in the soil, the cycle can continue and organic matter levels will stay constant. However, if fresh material is not added to the soil, organic matter will slowly be lost.

Divorce can be financially devastating for a family farm. Protecting the family farm from divorce is possible if farmers plan ahead with a valid prenuptial agreement, understand the legal parameters of marital vs. non-marital property, limit bequests to family members, and are able to come to a voluntary division of marital property, rather than asking a judge to value and divide the assets. Author: Sarah Everhart, Legal Specialist; Title: Protecting the Family Farm in Divorce (FS-1050)

Soil organic matter is an essential component of soils. It must be added and maintained, and the soil type as well as the organic material being added are very important. Fact Sheet 1045 examines how soil organic matter can be managed in agricultural production.

Social capital is a resource that includes several elements of social well-being including trusting networks among people, engagement with institutions, and connections to resources. Positive youth development program can foster youth's social capital to be better postured to combat social injustice.

Many farms across Maryland use interns to lighten the overall farm workload and help young people gain practical farming knowledge. Although interns can be a welcome addition to a farm’s workforce, farm employers need to be aware of how to properly compensate interns and the legal consequences of adding them to the payroll.

The purpose of this fact sheet is to 1) give consumers addtional information on whom to contact when sick, 2) how a sick person would be diagnosed, and 3) the questions your health care provider may ask. The fact sheet also provides a list of Maryland Health Departments, how reporting is important to your community and how this data is used, and lastly an optional list of foodbourne pathogens most problematic in Maryland