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Delaware News


  Category: Department of Agriculture


Delaware Forest Service offers volunteer fire grants

Department of Agriculture | Forest Service | Kent County | New Castle County | State Fire Marshal | Sussex County | Date Posted: Thursday, February 9, 2017

The Delaware Forest Service (DFS) is offering up to $4,500 in grants to help fire companies in the First State improve their readiness and ability to fight wildfires. The deadline is May 1 and the form is available on-line. Funded by the U.S. Forest Service, the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) program has provided more than 120 grants worth almost $300,000 to Delaware volunteer fire companies over the past 10 years. All grants require a 50-50 cost-share match and priority will be given to applicants that have not received funding in the past three years.



Arbor Day school poster contest for grades K to 5

Department of Agriculture | Forest Service | Kent County | New Castle County | Sussex County | Date Posted: Friday, February 3, 2017

The Delaware Forest Service is seeking entries for its annual Arbor Day Poster Contest, open to students in grades K to 5 from all public, private, homeschool, afterschool, and other organized youth groups. Winning posters will be selected from each of the three counties in the following grade categories: Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2, Grades 3 and 4, and Grade 5. The twelve winners will be recognized at the annual Statewide Arbor Day Celebration hosted by Governor Carney in Dover. A tree planting ceremony will be scheduled at each winner’s school and the teacher receives a $50 gift card for classroom supplies. The deadline to register is March 15 with poster submissions due by March 31.



Redden Forest picnic area closed due to illegal activity

Department of Agriculture | Forest Service | Sussex County | Date Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2017

The Delaware Forest Service is closing a picnic pavilion and adjacent parking lot at Redden State Forest due to persistent criminal activity at the site, located on the Jester Tract at Camp Road and Redden Road north of Georgetown, Sussex County.

Designed by Delaware’s first state forester William S. Taber and constructed by conservation work crews in 1936, the rustic pavilion has now become a magnet for lewd conduct, drugs, and other offenses that have occasionally startled and kept away other visitors. While agency officials have no specific timetable for reopening, they plan to use the closure period for renovations and security upgrades that could again allow for public access at the site.



Secretary Scuse announces appointment of Short, Bounds as deputy secretaries of agriculture

Department of Agriculture | Date Posted: Thursday, January 26, 2017

Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse today announced the appointment of Austin Short and Kenny Bounds as deputy secretaries of agriculture.



Cat owners urged to make sure vaccinations are up to date

Department of Agriculture | Division of Public Health | Date Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2017

  DOVER – Delaware cat owners are being advised to make certain that their pets’ vaccinations are up to date to protect against disease after three cases of feline distemper, also called feline panleukopenia, were recently reported by a Dover-area veterinary clinic. The three reported cases occurred in two six-month-old kittens and one adult cat. […]






  Category: Department of Agriculture

Delaware Forest Service offers volunteer fire grants

Department of Agriculture | Forest Service | Kent County | New Castle County | State Fire Marshal | Sussex County | Date Posted: Thursday, February 9, 2017

The Delaware Forest Service (DFS) is offering up to $4,500 in grants to help fire companies in the First State improve their readiness and ability to fight wildfires. The deadline is May 1 and the form is available on-line. Funded by the U.S. Forest Service, the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) program has provided more than 120 grants worth almost $300,000 to Delaware volunteer fire companies over the past 10 years. All grants require a 50-50 cost-share match and priority will be given to applicants that have not received funding in the past three years.



Arbor Day school poster contest for grades K to 5

Department of Agriculture | Forest Service | Kent County | New Castle County | Sussex County | Date Posted: Friday, February 3, 2017

The Delaware Forest Service is seeking entries for its annual Arbor Day Poster Contest, open to students in grades K to 5 from all public, private, homeschool, afterschool, and other organized youth groups. Winning posters will be selected from each of the three counties in the following grade categories: Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2, Grades 3 and 4, and Grade 5. The twelve winners will be recognized at the annual Statewide Arbor Day Celebration hosted by Governor Carney in Dover. A tree planting ceremony will be scheduled at each winner’s school and the teacher receives a $50 gift card for classroom supplies. The deadline to register is March 15 with poster submissions due by March 31.



Redden Forest picnic area closed due to illegal activity

Department of Agriculture | Forest Service | Sussex County | Date Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2017

The Delaware Forest Service is closing a picnic pavilion and adjacent parking lot at Redden State Forest due to persistent criminal activity at the site, located on the Jester Tract at Camp Road and Redden Road north of Georgetown, Sussex County.

Designed by Delaware’s first state forester William S. Taber and constructed by conservation work crews in 1936, the rustic pavilion has now become a magnet for lewd conduct, drugs, and other offenses that have occasionally startled and kept away other visitors. While agency officials have no specific timetable for reopening, they plan to use the closure period for renovations and security upgrades that could again allow for public access at the site.



Secretary Scuse announces appointment of Short, Bounds as deputy secretaries of agriculture

Department of Agriculture | Date Posted: Thursday, January 26, 2017

Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse today announced the appointment of Austin Short and Kenny Bounds as deputy secretaries of agriculture.



Cat owners urged to make sure vaccinations are up to date

Department of Agriculture | Division of Public Health | Date Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2017

  DOVER – Delaware cat owners are being advised to make certain that their pets’ vaccinations are up to date to protect against disease after three cases of feline distemper, also called feline panleukopenia, were recently reported by a Dover-area veterinary clinic. The three reported cases occurred in two six-month-old kittens and one adult cat. […]