June is National Dairy Month: Celebrate!
June is National Dairy Month, and we encourage Marylanders to celebrate by enjoying healthy and nutritious dairy products this month and all year long. National Dairy Month celebrates the value of dairy products as part of a well-balanced diet for every American, as well as the importance of milk production to the agricultural industry. Here are some ways to celebrate:
- Include milk -- the official State beverage -- in your diet. Maryland dairy farmers supply about 114 million gallons to grocery stores through dairy cooperatives
- Buy some of the cheeses produced by Maryland farmers. Fourteen farms either produce cheese on their farms or have it produced off-farm with unique recipes.
- Experience Maryland’s dairy farms first-hand on the Maryland’s Best Ice Cream trail, which features eight dairy farms that produce farm fresh ice cream and sell it directly to consumers on the farm. Get an Ice Cream Trail passport here.
Find local cheese and dairys near you at: www.marylandsbest.net.
For more information.
Homeowners Can Help Protect the Bay
Now that it's spring, it's time to recognize that lawn care practices can make a big difference to the health of our streams, rivers and Chesapeake Bay. Maryland’s lawn fertilizer law takes effect Oct. 1, but it’s not too soon to adopt these best management practices:
- Fertilize warm season grasses in late spring or summer & cool season grasses in fall, based on soil tests.
- Sharpen lawnmower blades. A clean cut is healthier for the grass.
- Raise the cutting height of the mower to 3". Tall grass shades out weeds and needs less water.
- Leave grass clippings on the lawn to provide free fertilizer all season.
- If you must fertilize, follow University of Maryland recommendations and learn about soil testing.
- Do not apply fertilizer to impervious surfaces or within 10 to 15 feet from waterways.
- Do not apply fertilizer if heavy rain is predicted.
- For more tips.
- For more information, visit www.mda.maryland.gov/fertilizer.