Cambridge Waterfront
Cambridge Waterfront Development, Inc. (CWDI) and BCTDesign Group are looking for your ideas and opinions about the future of waterfront development at Sailwinds. Your ideas will be considered by CWDI in the shaping of a development master plan which will guide development decisions over the next several years.
Take the survey and let your voice be heard. As part of the survey, there’s also a background presentation to help you think about how this area (about 40 acres from the Bill Burton Fishing Bridge to Cambridge Creek) should be developed.
Take the survey at bctdesigngroup.com/cambridge. If you prefer a paper copy of the questionnaire, email sandra.trippjones@cwdimd.org or call 805-453-4480.

Waste Technology Grants
The deadline to apply for animal waste technology grants awarded by the Maryland Department of Agriculture is Dec. 31. Animal waste technology projects that are cost-effective, proven, innovative, and adaptable to Maryland will be considered.
Maryland’s Animal Waste Technology Fund has $3.35 million to invest in innovative technologies during this grant cycle. Proposals will be accepted from vendors, businesses, and individuals.
There are no maximum or minimum request amounts. Read the request for proposals and grant evaluation criteria at maryland.gov/mda.

Gas prices steady
Maryland gas prices were unchanged last week, averaging $2.33/g on Monday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 2,167 stations. Gas prices in Maryland are 7.4 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 12.1 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Maryland was priced at $1.87/g Monday while the most expensive is $2.99/g, a difference of $1.12/g. The lowest price in the state Monday was $1.87/g while the highest was $2.99/g, a difference of $1.12/g.
The national average price of gasoline fell 0.7 cents per gallon last week, averaging $2.14/g Monday. The national average is up 1.4 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 41.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Lawn Fertilizer Blackout Dates
The Maryland Department of Agriculture reminds citizens that lawn fertilizer blackout dates authorized by Maryland’s Lawn Fertilizer Law are now in effect. The law prohibits citizens and lawn care professionals from applying nitrogen and phosphorus to lawns until March 1, when cool season grasses emerge from winter dormancy and can benefit from nutrient applications.
Applying fertilizer to hard or frozen ground increases the risk for nutrient runoff in storm drains that feed into the Chesapeake Bay. To further protect water quality, fertilizer may not be used to de-ice walkways and driveways. For more information on Maryland’s Lawn Fertilizer Law, visit the department’s website.

Conservation Reserve Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that the sign-up period for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) will be open from Jan. 4 to Feb. 12, 2021. The competitive land conservation program provides technical and financial assistance to eligible landowners to address soil, water, and related natural resource concerns on their land. For more information or to apply for CRP, farmers should contact their local Farm Service Agency.

Buy Locally Grown Trees
The Maryland Department of Agriculture is encouraging residents to buy fresh-cut, locally-grown Christmas trees, rather than artificial trees or those grown out of state. Visiting a local tree farm is a great, low-risk activity for families looking to get outside and celebrate the holiday season.
Plus, buying a local tree supports family-owned farms and businesses, preserves farmland, and protects the environment. Find a local Maryland Christmas tree farmer near you by visiting Maryland’s Best.

Virtual Forage Conference
University of Maryland Extension, University of Delaware Extension, and the Maryland-Delaware Forage Council invites forage producers, grazers, livestock owners, and associated industry personnel to attend the upcoming Maryland-Delaware Virtual Forage Conference in January 2021.
The virtual conference will be held over two partial days on Jan. 14, 2021 and Jan. 19, 2021 beginning at 9 a.m. each day.
The featured speakers for this upcoming conference are Drs. Chris Teutsch and Dan Undersander. Dr. Teutsch is an Associate Professor and the Forage Extension Specialist at the University of Kentucky and will be speaking on ‘Strategies to Boost Summer Production Using Warm Season Forages’.
Dr. Undersander is an Emeritus Forage Professor with the University of Wisconsin and will be speaking on ‘Drying Hay When Mother Nature Doesn’t Cooperate’. Other topics will include pasture renovation, weed management for pasture and hayfields, maintaining forage stand persistence, and optimizing soil fertility for forages.
Registration is free but is required to attend. Participants are welcome to join for one or both sessions; CCA, Nutrient Management, and Private Pesticide Applicator Credits will be offered at each session. For full details and registration information, please visit go.umd.edu/forage. If you have questions or need assistance contact your local county extension office or Amanda Grev at agrev@umd.edu or 301-432-2767 x339.