Technical Assistance Available for Maryland Horse Farm Management

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has received grant funds to help owners and operators of small-sized equine operations with pasture and manure management. There are four regional equine specialists to provide assistance in Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Carroll, Frederick, Montgomery, Howard, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s counties through the county soil conservation districts.

Small-sized horse operations often are outside the traditional agricultural outreach efforts and many of our financial assistance programs,” said Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson. “The grant will help us bridge this information gap. We’ll be able to offer technical and financial assistance to horse owners who may not know how to tap into the expertise available with the goal of further protecting soil and water quality.” Soil Conservation Districts have knowledge and expertise to address pasture and manure management issues that are prevalent on horse operations.

The recreational segment of the state’s horse industry is growing quickly. Examples of best management practices include watering troughs, manure storage structures, sacrifice lots, pasture renovation/establishment, and roof runoff. With more than 87,000 animals, the Maryland horse industry ranks second in livestock population behind poultry. Maryland has twice as many horses per square mile as Virginia, Texas, California, or Kentucky.

Partners in the project are the Maryland Department of Agriculture, the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension and Equine Studies Program, the Horse Outreach Workgroup, Maryland Department of the Environment, soil conservation districts, the Maryland Horse Industry Board and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

Source: www.extension.org