NEWS & VIEWS Bits & Pieces
Act (SB 236/HB 445) (related to the imple- mentation of PlanMaryland) was enacted with amendments that leave fi nal control in the hands of the local jurisdictions. T e Family Farm Preservation Act of 2012 (SB 294/HB 444) was also enacted. T is exempts up to $5 million dollars of the value of a farm from the state estate tax when it will remain in agricul- tural use for at least 10 years. It also reduces the rate for property exceeding $5 million from the current 16% to 5%. T e “Flush Tax” was doubled from $30 to $60, but only for users who discharge into the Chesa- peake Bay Watershed. But the proposed increase in the Gas Tax (SB 971/ HB 1302) failed. Finally, a few bills of interest that were fi led
late: HB 1303 (which doubles from $100,000 to $200,000 per practice the maximum amount of state cost sharing for water pollution control projects such as manure storage structures, steam fencing and crossings, etc.) passed both houses. T is will be especially helpful as farmers are asked to install more “best management practices” to meet Watershed Implementation Plan goals. HB 1404 was enacted, moving the Animal
Waste Technology Fund from the Dept. of Business and Economic Development to the Dept. of Agriculture. T is fund is intended to research, develop and market projects to reduce the amount of nutrients in animal waste, or de- velop alternative waste management strategies. Unfortunately, SB 976/HB 1309, which
would have expanded the list of tax deductible equipment purchases under the subtraction modifi cation law to include manure spread- ers and other nutrient application equipment failed to pass.
WSSC Trails Update Ron MacNab, president Trail Riders of Today
(TROT), shares the following memo regarding the WSSC trails controversy; this memo is from John- nie R. Hemphill, Jr. Chief of Staff for the Washington Suburban Sani-
tary Commission. (For background on the WSSC trails controversy, please visit our homepage at
equiery.com, scroll down to the archives on the lower right hand side, and look for the article titled “Your Last Chance to Ride Rocky Gorge, Triadelphia & Other WSSC Trails,” from November 2011, which can be found either in the November archives or the Legislation & Regulation archives. T is story will link all the stories posted by T e Equiery.) I wanted to update you on the status of the
eff ort to engage a consultant to provide input and advice on protecting the Rocky Gorge and Triadelphia watershed area. We recently issued a Task Order to EA Engineering, Science & Technology, Inc., for the Patuxent Watershed Protection Study. T is is intended to be a broad-based review that will support the entire community’s interest in protecting source wa- ter (Rocky Gorge and Triadelphia Reservoirs) and the surrounding property. As you know, we want to focus the engagement on how we can work toward a more robust watershed manage- ment and protection strategy, while consider- ing the concerns of all the various stakeholders who have traditionally been granted limited ac- cess to the property. T e eff ort will include data assessment us- ing materials provided by organizations that manage or regulate source water and watershed properties, including best management prac- tices, water quality data, etc.., as well as data provided by stakeholder groups like people who fi sh on the property, TROT, hunters, boat- ers and others. Elements of the project include GIS mapping, analysis of soil erosion potential and fi eld visits/reconnaissance of the reservoir
properties. Please rest assured that the consul- tants also plan to meet with stakeholder groups to understand their concerns as part of this process. WSSC sought a broad-based approach to this review, so the review will continue in phases, depending on the outcome of the con- sultant’s initial work.
I hope this information is useful to you, and please feel free to share it with any interested parties. Comments on the WSSC trail situation may be
sent to
editor@equiery.com or posted directly on
equiery.com.
MDA Says Vaccinate for West Nile Early
T e mild winter and warm temperatures early this spring are causing offi cials to worry about a heavy mosquito population this year. T e Maryland Department of Agriculture released a statement on April 10 urging horse owners to vaccinate their horses against West Nile Virus early this spring. T e virus is a mosquito-borne disease that can be fatal. T ere have only been eight equine cases in the state between 2004 and 2011 due to vaccination. In 2003, there were 234 cases reported.
A Little Too Far North
Holiday Stables in Harwood was marked a little too far north on the cross-country school course map found on page 25 of the April issue. It should be located south of Annapolis.
“Beauty Inside” Correction
T e story “T e Beauty Inside” found on page 49 of the April issue was miss-attributed to Patty Wise. Ms. Wise, on behalf of the Rose of Sharon Equestrian School, which was founded by Executive Director Joan Marie Twining, submitted the story to T e Equiery.
Don’t miss The Equiery’s Directory to Rental Stables & Guided Trail Rides in Maryland
Free Listing in FOUR Places!
1 - July print issue
2 - Saddle Up brochure 3 -
equiery.com
4 - The Equiery’s phone directory
Free Listing (appears in the July issue; thousands of brochures placed in Maryland tourism centers; appears on
www.equiery.com; listing in menu option of Equiery’s 800 #) Business Name ____________________________ Primary Phone Number _______________________ Maryland County ___________________________
Expanded Listing: $40 (FREE with ad package)
Discounted Ad Package: $130 (Ads & expanded listings in the July issue, brochure & website - Includes 1/6 page ad in the July issue, 1/4 page ad in the brochure and a link to your website. Ad layout is free. One photo free, ad- ditional photos for $5 each. Call for other ad packages)
For more information, visit our website at
www.equiery.com 10 | THE EQUIERY | MAY 2012
Te Equiery 800-244-9580 |
www.equiery.com
MARYLAND’S SOUR
MAY 2011
SOURCE OFE OF EQF EQU NE NFORMATION SINCE 1990 EQUINE INFO
www.equiery.com Congratulations to Trails
ailsails L
Samantha Sandler Kramer & Elliptic, winners of & Best Conditioned at the 2010 Biltmore Challenge 100-mile ride © GenieSS, Inc.
&Land La
See page XX to find out!
FREE
Deadline June 10!
848476-120512
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104