Howard Soil Conservation District

10/09/2026

Due to recent weather conditions impacting planting conditions, the following deadlines have been extended:

The revised deadlines apply to the following seeding methods and crop varieties, moving from the original October 10 cutoff to the new dates below:

• Aerial Seeding: Extended to October 15
• Incorporated Seeding Incentives: Extended to October 15
• Oats and Mixes (containing Legumes and/or Brassicas): Extended to October 15

09/30/2026

The Howard County Local Working Group meeting will be held Thursday, October 22nd at 10:00 AM. The meeting will be held virtually as well as in person.

What is a Local Working Group?

No one knows more about a community's natural resource problems than the people who live and work there. That's why it's so important to give local landowners and partners a voice in how best to prioritize and address these issues through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Local Working Groups (LWG). The LWG is the foundation of NRCS' conservation program delivery process. It supports locally led conservation efforts by coordinating USDA programs with other federal, state, and local conservation programs to provide an integrated solution to addressing natural resource concerns.

The purpose of this meeting is to prioritize local natural resource concerns for fiscal year 2027 Farm Bill programs, which offer financial assistance for installing conservation practices. Farmers and producers representing a variety of crops and livestock raised within the local area, private woodland owners, representatives of agricultural and environmental organizations, and representatives of other agriculture and natural resource agencies are encouraged to attend.

Topics and questions include but are not limited to:
* Land use priorities (livestock, forestry, cropland, grazing, wildlife)
* Resource concerns (air quality, aquatic habitat, concentrated erosion, degraded plant condition, field sediment, nutrient and pathogen loss, field pesticide loss, fire management, inefficient energy use, livestock production limitations, pest pressure, soil quality limitation, storage and handling of pollutants, terrestrial habitat, weather resilience, wind and water erosion)
* What are conservation gaps in the current program?
* What are missed opportunities in utilizing EQIP funding?
* Suggestions on resources or leverage opportunities to extend and make our conservation efforts go further?
* Comments or suggestions on outreach strategies or efforts to underserved communities?
* What are our missed communications or outreach opportunities?
* What is the best way to advertise all programs (radio, newspaper, flyers, mailings, other)?

Local Working Group meetings are open to the public, and all recommendations will be considered.

We hope that you will join us. For more information or to register please call (410)313-0680.

09/11/2026

University of Maryland Extension and partners are excited to be bringing back the Maryland Grazing School this fall and invite grazers and livestock owners to attend!

The Maryland Grazing School will be held over two days on October 29-30, 2026 at the Wye Angus Farm in Queenstown, MD from 8 AM to 5 PM each day. Designed with producer interests in mind, this 2-day grazing school will offer a more in-depth education on pasture and grazing management.

For more information or to register, visit https://go.umd.edu/mdgrazingschool.

09/11/2026

Tomorrow, Friday, 9/11 is the RSVP deadline for this year's Cooperators Dinner. Don't miss it. Call our office, (410)313-0680

09/04/2026

The Howard Soil Conservation District invites you and your family to join us at Gorman Farms, Highland, Maryland to honor Howard SCD’s Cooperator of the Year. The event will be held Thursday, September 17th, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Please join us for a tour of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operation and the conservation practices they have installed. This is also an opportunity to catch up with friends from the agricultural community and enjoy a delicious meal! Help us celebrate the agricultural community and the conservation efforts of Howard County farmers!

Tickets are $20 ea. Children 10 and under are free.

*RSVP by 9/11/26*

For more information and the reservation form, click here >>

09/04/2026

Howard SCD is currently making plans for our 2027 Howard County Envirothon. If you would like to learn more about Envirothon please do not hesitate to reach out. We would be more than happy to tell you about this amazing program and how to start a team.

As you prepare for a new school year, consider giving your students an opportunity to take learning beyond the classroom. 🌎🌿

Envirothon connects high school students with real-world conservation challenges through hands-on learning and friendly competition. It’s a chance to spark curiosity, build confidence, and introduce students to careers in natural resources while helping them develop skills they’ll carry with them long after graduation.

Interested in starting your own Envirothon team? Your first step is to contact your state/provinces representative. They can provide the information you need to start a team in your area!

https://bit.ly/4bvcr1w

09/04/2026

🌱 Strong farms depend on strong connections. 🌱

Women working in agriculture across Howard County are invited to join us on September 15 for Women in Agriculture: Growing Strong Farms, Families & Communities.

👩‍🌾 Connect with others in agriculture, share experiences, and strengthen relationships across our farming community. Register today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1994682323525?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/04/2026

2026 Equine Conservation Summit
November 14, 2026
University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (California, MD)

Join the Horse Outreach Workgroup for the inaugural Equine Conservation Summit!

Grow your knowledge on how to better manage your horse farm through the many sessions on pasture and nutrient management, equine nutrition, and technical and financial assistance. Check out the agenda (found at the link below) for a full list of what to expect.

It's finally time! Register for the 2026 Equine Conservation Summit at our shiny new website: http://bit.ly/eq-summit
Registration is open until October 30th. Be sure to follow our page! You can count down with us as we give you the inside scoop on our events and speakers.
🏔️ See you at the Summit! 🏔️

07/06/2026

Howard SCD is hiring for an Engineering Specialist

Howard SCD is seeking an Engineering Specialist to review sediment and erosion control plans, ponds, and design agricultural BMPs. Position requires considerable knowledge of State and County pond and sediment control laws. Experience with AutoCAD, GIS ArcView, ArcMap, ArcGIS and Property View. BS degree in Engineering and three years of experience in engineering.

Submit cover letter and resume to Jackie Covington at [email protected], 410-313-0680 by 7/31/26.

For more details, please see Howard County Government's job opportunities: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/howardcounty?keywords=soil

06/22/2026

Sign-up for Maryland Department of Agriculture 2026-27 Cover Crop Program starts today (thru 7/17). Interested in planting at least 10 acres of cover crops this fall? Contact your local Soil Conservation District to learn more or to sign-up.

NEWS RELEASE 📰: The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) is pleased to announce that sign-ups for the 2026 Cover Crop Grant Program will open on June 22 and run through July 17, 2026 at local soil conservation districts. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3QuDr9R