Agriculture plays a prominent role in the culture and economy of the Chesapeake Bay region. Farmers tend to 7.4 million acres of land in the Bay watershed. The Environmental Finance Center (EFC) works with local, state, and regional governments, Extension personnel, individual farmers, land trusts, and others to help balance the needs of the agriculture community with other interests within the watershed.

EASTERN SHORE AGRICULTURE COLLABORATIVE

The Eastern Shore Agriculture Collaborative (ESAC) is a group of local and state government, EPA, non-profit, academic, and agribusiness representatives and farmers who have been invited to participate in several meetings with a goal of trying to maintain and increase the economic viability of farming on the Eastern Shore in the context of improving water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.

Poultry Litter Experts Science Forum

At the request of the Eastern Shore Agriculture Collaborative (ESAC) and the Environmental Finance Center, ten scientists gathered on October 29, 2008 to conduct a pertinent review of data and relevant literature relating to the temporary storage of poultry litter. The purpose of this scientific forum was to derive consensus recommendations on poultry storage times and methods. The review was conducted by the Chesapeake Research Consortium and sponsored by the Keith Campbell Foundation.

CLICK HERE for a summary of discussions and recommendations.

        Meeting Minutes

• April 2009 (PDF 103 KB)

• November 2008 (PDF 112 KB)

• September 2008 (PDF 120 KB)

• July 2008 (PDF 87 KB)

  Presentations

  • Norman Astle
  • Russ Brinsfield
  • Lynne Hoot
  • Jenn Raulin
  • Bill Rohrer
  • Mark Rose
  • Mike Twining

• April 2008 (PDF 178 KB)
• February 2008 (PDF 79 KB)

Maryland Online Farmer’s Market

EFC launched the Maryland Online Farmer’s Market in July 2008 at www.foodtrader.org. A companion site of EFC’s Maryland Agriculture Exchange, FoodTrader.org will connect buyers and sellers with local food soon after it is harvested.

Foodtrader.org represents a new and unique service for the state of Maryland. This venue lets the general public know when food is harvested, how much food is available, and where that food can be purchased outside of local farmers markets. With Foodtrader.org, farmers can create an instantaneous listing that will identify the description, quantity, price, and location of their items. Consumers can search listings within specific categories and communicate directly with the farmer to buy the food at the farm, at a farmers market or at another prearranged location.

Maryland Agriculture Exchange

EFC launched the Maryland Agriculture Exchange on May 1, 2008 at www.agtrader.org. The site helps farmers in Maryland and throughout the Chesapeake Bay region exchange products such as manure, compost, hay, fodder crops, fruits and vegetables, organics, equipment, livestock, and much more. This new exchange website is the first of its kind in Maryland and may be unique to the nation. Please see our News and Events page for press coverage of the Maryland Agriculture Exchange.

RESOURCES

UNDER CONSTRUCTION - PLEASE CHECK BACK SOON

For more information about the Eastern Shore Agriculture Collaborative, please contact Joanne Throwe at jthrowe@umd.edu, or Elizabeth Skane at eskane@umd.edu