NEWS&VIEWS You Can Use


MDA Updates Nutrient Manage- ment Plan Writing Strategy


On July 17, the Maryland Department of Ag-


riculture (MDA) held a Nutrient Management Plan writing summit to provide stakeholders with an overview of its new nutrient manage- ment program. Maryland law requires all farm- ers grossing $2,500 a year or more or livestock producers with 8,000 pounds or more of live animal weight to follow nutrient management plans when managing animal manure. T ese plans must be prepared by a certifi ed University of Maryland specialist, certifi ed private consul- tant, or farmer who is trained and certifi ed by the department to prepare his or her own plan. MDA explained that its goals were to, among others: adapt the nutrient management pro- gram to fi t modern farming practices and operations; improve the plan writing process through cost-free plans available to farmers; and increase the number of farmers trained to write NMPs. In a press release that same day, Maryland Department of Agriculture Secre- tary Kevin Atticks thanked the “industry and their representatives for providing critical in- put throughout the listening sessions." He also thanked "the University for stepping up and addressing our concerns." For its part, the University of Maryland's


College of Agriculture and Natural Resources thanked MDA for working with it "on priority changes to the statewide nutrient management program.” Dean Craig Beyrouty said that the University “is very encouraged by the progress that has been made to re-introduce Univer- sity of Maryland plan writers so that we may continue to off er the support our Agricultural community has come to trust and rely upon. I’m thrilled that the University of Maryland Extension (UME) will administer this new program. T ey provide research-based edu- cation with a deep understanding of farmers’ operations and environmental needs and will be excellent stewards for this important work.” MDA is holding nutrient management


program training classes starting in August. T e next Nutrient Management Certifi cation Exam will be held on August 4 in Annapolis, Keedysville, and Easton.


Maryland Horse & Pony Show Returns to Maryland


T e Maryland Horse & Pony Show has been moved from the Virginia Horse Center to the


Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro for this year. T is year’s show will take place September 13-17. A schedule will be released soon.


Cap Challenge to Celebrate 30 Years T e Capital Challenge Horse Show will be


celebrating its 30th anniversary at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marl- boro September 28-October 8. Over the last three decades, Capital Challenge has grown exponentially and is now 11 days of competi- tion. “It is so remarkable to see how Capital Challenge Horse Show has grown over the past 30 years,” said co-founder and show man- ager Oliver Kennedy. “We are proud to show- case elite competition year after year with the support of our sponsors and loyal exhibitors.” T is year’s schedule and more information


can be found at capitalchallenge.org. To read more about Capital Challenge’s history, go to equiery.com and search “Capital Challenge.”


WIHS Regional Moves to Upperville T e Washington International Horse Show


(WIHS) board of directors announced on June 22 that the 2023 WIHS Regional Horse Show and USHJA Zone 3 Championship will be re- located from Morven Park to Upperville, VA. T e show will run October 19-22. T e four-day show includes the return of the


WIHS Regional Hunter Finals after a three- year absence. T e WIHS Children’s and Adult Hunter and Jumper Championships qualifi ers will also be part of the show along with the USHJA Zone 3 Championships. Prize lists will be available this month on


www.wihs.org with online entries opening on horseshowing.com.


New Equiery Artist Contest T e Equiery and Maryland Horse Council


are proud to announce a new contest for equine artists and artisans. T e new contest is open to Maryland residents who specialize in two- dimensional and three-dimensional artwork. T is contest is not open to photographers since T e Equiery already has an annual photography contest featured in this issue. T e Grand Champion artwork will be fea-


tured on the November 2023 Equiery cover with an interior editorial piece on the artist. In addition, the Grand Champion artist will receive 50% off one ad in the November and


December issues. In addition, all entries will receive 25% off one ad in the December issue. Digital copies of artwork must be emailed to editor@equiery.com by October 1, 2023. All entries must be accompined by the following information: • artist name • artist contact information (address, email and phone number) • artwork medium and dimensions • artwork title For additional information, see the Artist Contest banner ad on equiery.com.


Oldfi elds School to Reopen Advocates for Oldfi elds School, the 156-year- old boarding school in Baltimore County, have reached an agreement with trustees to reopen the school for the 2023-2024 school year. Trustees announced in April of this year that the school would be closing at the end of the academic year and the property would be sold. At the time, offi cials from the school cited de- clining enrollment, fi nancial challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic as reasons for the clo- sure. Advocates for the school fi led a lawsuit to temporarily halt the sale in June. According to T e Baltimore Banner, the agree- ment states the school will open in September 2023 and hand over management to a newly installed board of trustees. T is board will be chaired by Taylor Smith, Oldfi elds’ former head of school. Smith told T e Baltimore Ban- ner he is drafting a letter to former students and their families to encourage them to return this fall. During Smith’s tenure the school en- rolled around 175 students from grades eight to 12. Enrollment dropped to around 100 stu- dents this past school year. Currently, some educators plan to return to


the school while others have already sought employment elsewhere. T e new board has al- ready started interviewing candidates for head of school. Smith added that he did not know the status of the previous arrangement between Oldfi elds and Garrison Forest School in re- gards to students transferring from Oldfi elds to Garrison for the coming school year. T e settlement agreement also shrinks the


board from 25 seats to 15 seats. Twelve new board members have already been sworn in while the additional seats will be fi lled by January 2024.


continued... IF YOU HAVE NEWS, VIEWS OR UPDATES TO CONTRIBUTE, PLEASE SEND THEM TO THE EDITOR at


The Equiery, P.O. Box 610, Lisbon, MD 21765 • FAX: 410-489-7828 • email editor@equiery.com. Be sure to include your full name, phone number and address. All submissions become the property of The Equiery.


www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580 THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION | AUGUST 2023 | 9


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