NEWS & VIEWS continued...
* Fall fertilizer applications for small grains will be limited. * Guidance and clarifi cation is provided on the use of soil amendments and soil conditioners. “T e implementation schedule addresses a major stakeholder concern and should provide farmers and local governments with adequate time to comply with the new regulations and to apply for cost-share funding to install ad- ditional best management practices,” said Sec- retary Hance. “T e O’Malley Administration is committed to providing farmers with the criti- cal fi nancial resources necessary to meet our shared environmental goals.” T e Nutrient Management Advisory Com- mittee has been working on the revised regula- tions for more than a year. T e new rules were originally introduced last fall; however, due to overwhelming feedback [go horse people!] Governor O’Malley asked that the proposed regulations be placed on hold to provide an ad- ditional opportunity for stakeholders to further discuss the proposal. If the AELR Com- mittee does not delay the proposed regula- tory changes, they will be published in the Maryland Regis- ter for a 45-day pub- lic comment period. After the comment period closes, MDA will review any com- ments. If MDA makes substantive changes as a result of the public comment, the revised regula- tions will be resubmitted to the AELR and the Maryland Register.
Established in 1998 to develop and refi ne
regulations and requirements for Maryland’s Nutrient Management Program, the 16-mem- ber Nutrient Management Advisory Commit- tee includes representatives from the U.S. De- partment of Agriculture, MDA, University of Maryland, Maryland departments of the En- vironment and Natural Resources, Maryland Farm Bureau, Delaware-Maryland Agribusi- ness Association, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, commercial lawn care companies, the biosolids industry, as well as local governments and the state legislature. What does this mean for horse farm owners? It is hard to say what these proposed regs
actually mean for horse people, as the pro- posal has not yet been made public, and won’t be made public until it receives the thumbs up from the AELR Committee. Once it is public, we will have 45 days to review and comment (and we will post for our readers those links once available). Pam Saul, owner and manager of Rolling Acres
www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580
in Montgomery County (a large horse and hay operation) and an active member of Farm Bu- reau, reviewed the summary provided by MDA in the powerpoint presentation, and observed that this proposal seems slightly better than the prior proposal, but that “it wasn’t all that good to start with. Where we were concerned about fencing livestock from the setback, they have added that a person can work with the conservation district to implement BMP (Best Management Practices) which still means that we will be required to fence out horses from streams. And sacrifi ce lots shall have a 35-foot setback. T e only good part is that ephemeral streams, irrigation and treatment ditches and fi eld ditches have been removed.” What can we do? Review MDA’s summary and continue to monitor this site for updates and the link to the full proposal (if and when it becomes available, pending AELR’s approval).
Stay connected with your legislators in Annapolis, and get in- Maryland Equestrian Heads to London Olympics
bone in the top part of his foot. T e remainder of the drivers involved in the accident–George Polk, Jr., Justin Brenneman, Charles Perry, Jr. and Justin Vincent–all re- ceived medical attention following the race and did not require any further treatment.
Maryland Estate Tax Reform Bill Now Law
Suzanne Stettinius of Parkton is most widely known as a young steeplechase jockey and trainer who has a barn full of ponies she lends out to kids looking for a start into the sport. But 24 year old Suzanne, a McDaniel College graduate, did not race this season. Instead, she has been focusing her time and energy in the sport of Modern Pentathlon (show jumping, fencing, running, shoot- ing and swimming). After several top national and international placings over the last four years, including a second place at the January 2012 Domestic Qualifi er in Colorado Springs, Suzanne has earned a spot on the U.S. Modern Pentathlon Olympic team, which will be competing in London this summer. Good luck Su- zanne and we can not wait to hear all your Olympic stories!
volved with the groups working to protect your interests in Annapolis, the Maryland Farm Bu- reau and the Maryland Horse Council.
7 Horses In Pile-Up at Rosecroft On May 22, seven harness horses were in-
volved were involved in what can only be de- scribed as a pile-up on Rosecroft Raceway (Fort Washington). All the horses involved in the incident were uninjured, but three drivers went to Prince George’s County Hospital. According to Rosecoft, the accident occurred in the one mile fi fth race when the lead horse, Pinderonabender, driven by William Carter, took a bad step approaching the fi nal three- eighths of a mile point of the race. T at started a chain reaction that involved seven of the nine horses in the race. Carter has received stitches around his ears for cuts received and has three fractured ver- tebrae. Driver Donnie Russell has an internal wrist fracture and suff ered a separated collar- bone which was reset. He was scheduled to have surgery later yesterday afternoon. Driver Justin Hite has a cracked heel and a broken
On May 22, Maryland Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance released the following statement on the signing of estate tax reform legislation that would protect the generational transfer of farmland. T e legislation (SB294/HB444) Family Farm Preservation Act of 2012, better known as the “estate tax” bill, was proposed by Governor Martin O’Malley and Senate Presi- dent T omas V. Mike Miller. It allows farms valued under $5 million to be passed down from generation to generation without incur- ring estate taxes, provided that the land stays in agricultural use for at least 10 years. T e legisla- tion also reduces the Maryland estate tax rate to 5 percent for qualifi ed agricultural property values over $5 million,
down
from the current 16 percent. “T is new law,
long sought after by the agriculture com- munity, will make it easier for farmers to pass down farmland through generations by decreasing the estate tax burden
on the owner’s death. No Marylander should be forced to sell a farm that has been in their family for generations because they cannot af- ford the tax bill. We thank Governor O’Malley, Senate President Miller, Maryland legislators and all who were involved in the passage of this important legislation that protects our heri- tage and strengthens our agricultural economy. When our farm businesses are sustainable, the next generation will see farming as a viable ca- reer opportunity, and Maryland will preserve its open space and locally-grown food industry.”
Secretariat’s New Preakness Record
A hearing conducted by T e Maryland Rac- ing Commission was held on June 19 at Laurel Park to fi nally settle the dispute surrounding Secretariat’s winning time in the 1973 Preak- ness Stakes at Pimlico. T e offi cial winning time of 1:55 diff ered
from two independent clockers from the Daily Racing Form, who clocked the race at 1:53 2/5. T e stewards at Pimlico, and later the commis- sion, altered the offi cial time to 1:54 2/5 due to continued on page 35
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