Delaware Inducts Three Farm Families into Century Farm Program

DOVER, Del. (March 21, 2024) – Governor Carney, Secretary of Agriculture Scuse, and state legislators inducted three Delaware farm families into the Century Farm Program, honoring them for their commitment to keeping farmland within the family for 100 years.

“Agriculture has long been Delaware’s number one industry. Family farms built our state; in fact, there are 18 farms still in operation that are older than Delaware,” said Governor Carney. “I’m honored to be a part of this event recognizing the committed work of these three family farms who have been a part of our state’s history for 100 years.”

The Delaware Century Farm Program was established in 1987 to honor farm families who have owned and farmed their land for at least 100 years. The farms must include at least 10 acres of the original parcel or gross more than $10,000 annually in agricultural sales.

With the announcement of these three new families, Delaware will have recognized 155 Century Farms over the past 37 years. Delaware Century Farm families receive a sign for their farms, an engraved plate, a certificate, and legislative tributes.

Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse also took the opportunity to announce a new program related to long-term ownership of family farms.

“The family farm is at the heart of our number one industry – feeding Delawareans, Americans, and citizens worldwide. We want to ensure we recognize not only those farms that have been in production for 100 years but also the 24 farms that have already received this award and have kept the farm in the family for 200 years or more,” said Secretary Scuse. “The Delaware Department of Agriculture has created a new ‘Multi-Century Farm Award’ to highlight these farms, including a new lane sign denoting this achievement.”

2024 Delaware Century Farm Awardees:

R & C Evans Farm L.P. (Harrington, Kent County): The Evans family is recognized for their 60-acre family farm located in Milford Hundred.

Mr. William Biggs, our great-grandfather, purchased the original 64 acres from Jacob Pleasonton on January 9, 1917. On January 18, 1922, he purchased 22 more acres from Mr. Pleasonton, called “Potter Land.” William laid down with his infant great-grandson, David, to nap and never awoke; in turn, the farm was passed down to David’s grandmother, Hazel Biggs Davis, on November 21, 1970. On February 1, 1990, Carolyn Davis Evans and her husband, Reginald Evans, purchased the farm from her parents. For estate planning purposes, on October 31, 2005, the farm became known as R & C Evans Farm. Carolyn lived on the farm until her passing on July 4, 2021, and Reginald lived there until he passed on December 26, 2023.

The farm remains in the family, where they raise grain crops on 60 acres of farmland. While times have changed from when William Biggs tilled the land behind a mule to today’s technology, the same dinner bell remains on the pole that called generations of family members in to eat around the family table. David’s sister remembers watching Al Johnson flying his bi-wing crop duster over the farm and waggling his wings to say hello. They both look to keep the farm in the family for future generations.

 

David Evans, Linda Samulevich, and Heather Evans accepted the Century Farm Award posthumously for Carolyn and Reginald Evans.Picture (L to R): David Evans, Linda Samulevich, and Heather Evans accepted the Century Farm Award posthumously for Carolyn and Reginald Evans.

Fleetwood Family Farm (Laurel, Sussex County): The Fleetwood family was honored with the Century Farm Award for their 35-acre farm in Broad Creek Hundred.

Earl C. Fleetwood and his wife, Blanche, purchased the original 55-acre farm from Robert T. and Nancy J. Spicer on November 17, 1920, for $2,500. The farm was bequeathed to his son, Roland V. Fleetwood, when Earl died in June 1978. Roland and his wife, E. Jean Fleetwood, are the current owners of the farm.

The family currently farms 35 acres; the property still has the original farmhouse built in 1845. Additional farm buildings included a chicken house built in 1961, a garage in 1965, and a shed in 1980. Over the years, the family has raised corn, beans, strawberries, melons, tomatoes, and poultry.

Picture (L to R): Todd Fleetwood, son; R.T. Fleetwood, grandson; and Roland Fleetwood accepted the Century Farm Award.Picture (L to R): Todd Fleetwood, son; R.T. Fleetwood, grandson; and Roland Fleetwood accepted the Century Farm Award.

Warnick Family Farm (Greenwood, Sussex County): Valerie Warnick was presented with the Century Farm Award for their family farm located in Nanticoke Hundred.

The original farm was purchased by Gideon E. Hershberger and his wife, Susanna on September 1, 1914, from Josiah B. Hostedler. After Gideon passed away, Susanna took on the farm and left it in her will to her nieces and nephews, Dwight, Archibald, Leota, and Walter Warnick in 1941. On January 24, 1944, the farm was purchased by Dwight and Sue Warnick. While Sue passed away on October 17, 1956, Dwight continued to farm the land until he was 85 and then rented the land to two local farmers until he died on April 8, 2011. He was 102 years old. Dwight left the farm to his children, Mary Kathryn Warnick and Donald L. Warnick. Mary Kathryn lived on the farm until October 2011. The farm was purchased on June 19, 2015, by Edward C. Warnick and his wife Valerie. In January 2022, Edward passed on, leaving the farm to Valerie. They have three children, Ashley, Blake, and Wade.

The family still uses the original farmhouse. Over the years, the Warnick Family has grown corn, soybeans, wheat, and rye. They also grew chickens for many years; at some point, family members had dairy cows, beef cattle, and pigs.

Picture (L to R): Evelyn Shahan, Blake, Natalie, and Stephanie Warnick, Ashley Warnick Heuchling, Valerie Warnick, Logan, Ava, and Zane, Mary Kathryn Warnick, Samantha, Wade, and Kylie Warnick, and Jean Warnick Kenton and Harvey Kenton were present to support Valerie in receiving the Delaware Century Farm Award.Picture (L to R): Evelyn Shahan, Blake, Natalie, and Stephanie Warnick, Ashley Warnick Heuchling, Valerie Warnick, Logan, Ava, and Zane, Mary Kathryn Warnick, Samantha, Wade, and Kylie Warnick, and Jean Warnick Kenton and Harvey Kenton were present to support Valerie in receiving the Delaware Century Farm Award.

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First State Food System Program Opens Third Grant Application Cycle

DDA logo next to the words Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy, underneath their are icons of an apple, food plate with fork and knife, and chickenDOVER, Del. (March 18, 2024) — The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) announced today that the Delaware Council on Farm & Food Policy (Council) is accepting grant applications for Cycle 3 of the First State Food System Program. Through this program, funding is available to Delaware farmers and a diverse range of food supply chain entities. Awarded funds will aid local entities in expanding capacity, coordinating with partners in their communities, and doing their part to build resilience in Delaware’s food system.

The Council has awarded just over $1.3 million since 2022, funding 26 projects across Delaware. With two grant cycles awarded, the Council has learned from applications submitted just what the needs are in Delaware communities regarding the food supply chain and food system.

The Council will devote a portion of Cycle 3 funds to prioritize projects addressing food aggregation, cold storage, or transportation activities. In addition, applicants should also describe how the project may benefit more operations than one, how the project will enhance the local food system, and foster cooperation or facilitate resource sharing. They should also have a sustainability plan to continue the work beyond the grant funding.

All applicants must complete registration through SAM.gov and provide a Unique Entity ID (UEI). Applicants must meet this requirement before receiving funding. Please allow sufficient time to complete this process, which may take several weeks.

Like last year, farmers and food supply chain entities are encouraged to apply. To be considered for funding as a producer, the farm operation must have an annual sales value of at least $20,000. The farm must actively produce no more than 300 acres of fruits, vegetables, other specialty crops, or other products for human consumption. Larger-scale producers can apply, but projects should include partnerships or collaborations with other local entities or initiatives.

The First State Food System Program will again offer grants from $2,500 to $150,000. Applicants must submit a project that can be completed no later than October 31, 2026, with funds committed no later than December 1, 2025. Funds may be used to make specific, one-time purchases for equipment or other capital expenses or expended in numerous ways to cover various operational, administrative, or capital expenses. All grant applications must be submitted by Friday, May 10, 2024.

The Council is working with the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) to facilitate the First State Food System Program through its grant application portal. This partnership allows applicants to apply to this grant program more efficiently and learn more about additional opportunities available through DCF. While DCF is facilitating the grant application process, this is not a grant program of the DCF.

The online application is available at https://delcf.org/grants. Click “Apply Now” anywhere on the page to log in or create a new profile. Once logged in, click “Apply” at the top of the page. Select “Delaware’s First State Food System Program” from the list of open opportunities to complete and submit an application and upload supporting documentation.

The funding for this program is provided through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed into law by President Joe Biden and championed by members of Delaware’s congressional delegation – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester.

Contact the Delaware Council on Farm & Food Policy for grant program questions at DDA_farmandfoodpolicy@delaware.gov. Complete program information can be found at https://farm-and-food-delaware.hub.arcgis.com/. For technical assistance using the DCF grant portal, applicants can contact Kelly Sheridan at ksheridan@delcf.org.

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Delaware Department of Agriculture Opens Request for Applications for Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program

DOVER, Del. (March 12, 2024) – The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) announced today they are accepting applications for the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) through April 30, 2024. Through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), more than $1.7 million in competitive grant funding is available for projects designed to build resilience across the middle of Delaware’s food supply chain.

Funds will support expanded capacity for aggregating, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distributing locally and regionally produced food products. These include specialty crops, dairy, grain for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products. Ineligible products include meat and poultry, fiber, wild-caught seafood, exclusively animal feed and forage products, fiber, landscaping products, tobacco, and dietary supplements.

RFSI is funded through Section 1001(b)(4) of the Federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Using a standardized competitive review process, DDA will award two types of grants:

Simplified Equipment-Only Projects, using a simplified application to fund smaller grants between $10,000 and $100,000. This project option is a fixed-price grant, which will fund only equipment purchases. Applicants cannot use these funds for associated facility upgrades, staffing, or other costs. The amount awarded will only equal the equipment cost up to $100,000. No match is required for this type of grant project.
Infrastructure Grants, with a minimum of $100,000 and a maximum of $1,156,597 for infrastructure projects and activities. Infrastructure grant applicants must contribute 50% of the proposed project cost as a match to the grant unless the applicant qualifies for a reduced match as outlined in the Request for Applications (RFA).

Based upon stakeholder outreach, Delaware is seeking projects that provide technical assistance to producers working to develop value-added products, expand access to climate-smart technologies for farmers and food waste management, and increase the number of facilities that support product aggregation, cold storage, warehousing, and distribution of targeted agricultural products.

Applications should be submitted by agricultural producers or processors or nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, local government entities, and tribal governments operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities. Institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals bringing producers together to establish cooperative or shared infrastructure or invest in equipment that will benefit multiple producers’ middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, and distribution of targeted agricultural products may apply. All businesses and organizations must be domestically owned, and project facilities must be physically located in Delaware.

To review Delaware’s RFA and other Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program documents, visit https://de.gov/rfsi. Using the link on this website, applicants can apply for the RFSI grant through the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) application portal. The DCF online portal allows applicants to submit their applications more easily. While DCF is facilitating the grant application process, this is not a grant program of the DCF.

DDA will host an informational webinar about the RFSI grant program at 10 a.m. on March 21, 2024. RFSI virtual office hours for prospective applicants to connect with the Delaware Department of Agriculture on the grant process are scheduled for April 4 and April 18 at 10 a.m. Registration is required for each session and will be available online at https://de.gov/rfsi.

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Controlled Burn at Brandywine Creek State Park Aims to Boost Native Wildlife and Plant Growth

 DNREC uses controlled, or prescribed, burns to manage meadows and create more suitable habitats for native species like, clockwise from left, the monarch butterfly, common yellowthroat bird, eastern bluebird and orange sulphur butterfly. DNREC Photos

 

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is working with the Delaware Department of Agriculture to execute a controlled burn at Brandywine Creek State Park in February or March. This prescribed burn will help manage nearly 30 acres of meadowland near the park’s nature center.

While much of the natural area managed by the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation is forested, Brandywine Creek State Park is known for its vast meadowland views divided by blue gneiss stone walls. The last controlled burn at BCSP was held in 2013.

Prescribed burning is a meadow management technique, which mimics natural fire and is used periodically in place of annual mowing, to halt progression of meadowland so it does not become a forest. Additionally, this controlled burn should encourage the growth of native wildflowers and warm season grasses. This plant growth creates more suitable habitats for nesting grassland birds like the eastern bluebird and common yellowthroat, native pollinator insects like the orange sulphur and monarch butterflies, and other grassland-dependent animals.

The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation is coordinating with DNREC’s Division of Air Quality and the DDA Forest Service to perform the burn on a single day, to be determined by weather, personnel availability and open burning approval. BCSP will be closed on the date of the burn and the exact date will be announced on the park’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, once it is known.

About DNREC

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Shauna McVey, shauna.mcvey@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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2024 Arbor Day Poster Contest Now Open

PHOTO: Lyla Jones of Brandywine Springs Elementary (at right) was the State winner for the 2023 poster contest.

Contact:
Ashley Melvin, Delaware Forest Service

(302) 698-4551  ashley.melvin@delaware.gov

DOVER, Del. (February 1, 2024) – The Delaware Forest Service is now seeking entries for its annual Arbor Day Poster Contest, open to all K-5 public, private, homeschool, after-school, and other organized youth groups. The annual Arbor Day Poster Contest is designed to increase an appreciation and awareness of the important role that trees play in our quality of life, communities, ecosystems, and our state. The Arbor Day Poster Contest is a fun way to celebrate Arbor Day with your students.

This year’s theme, “Trees are Terrific…for Outdoor Adventures!” is intended to highlight the importance of getting outside. Ample data exists to document that when children and adults spend more time outdoors, they become healthier, less stressed, more connected to nature, and better stewards of the environment. There are many activities that can be enjoyed outdoors, and trees and forests can enhance the experience. At a Delaware State Forest, for instance, you can explore, camp, hike, fish, birdwatch, ride bikes, read a book, or just take time away from your busy lifestyle. Even if you don’t have access to a forest, trees can be found in so many parts of our daily lives. Trees exist in parks, schoolyards, and backyards and can serve as the central focus of many outdoor adventures!

Delaware’s Official Arbor Day is Friday, April 26.

Posters will be judged on originality, use of theme, neatness, and artistic expression. Each winner receives a gift card, a tree-themed book, and a tree planting at their school. Twelve winners will be selected, one from each county in four grade categories: kindergarten, grades 1 and 2, grades 3 and 4, and grade 5. All participating classes will receive free loblolly pine seedlings delivered to their school.

The 12 winners will be invited to the annual Statewide Arbor Day Celebration hosted by Governor Carney. A tree-planting ceremony will also be scheduled at each winner’s school to celebrate Arbor Day. This year, the teacher of each of the 12 poster winners will receive a “Tree Trunk” of outdoor learning resources.

The deadline to register is March 9, with entries submitted by March 22.

Register to Participate and Receive Seedlings:

2024 Arbor Day Poster Contest – Google Form

Contest Guidelines and Teacher Resources:

Guidelines and Resources – Shared Google Drive

SEEDLING ANNOUNCEMENT: We have been notified by the tree nurseries in the tri-state area of a projected shortage of tree seedlings this year. Some species have already sold out due to the increase in reforestation projects happening in our area. Participation in the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest has also increased to the point that giving seedlings away may not remain sustainable (what a problem to have!). We will do our best to fill the orders until we run out of seedlings. If you do not think the majority of your students will be able to plant their seedlings, consider declining the offer to receive them.

This year the Delaware Forest Service is also celebrating Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday. Smokey wants everyone to enjoy their Outdoor Adventures wherever they may take you. As families are encouraged to spend time outdoors, Smokey’s timeless message reinforces the need for civic responsibility while enjoying Delaware’s precious natural resources. You can share the story of Smokey Bear with your students by participating in the National Smokey Bear Reading Challenge at a local library near you!

Planting a tree is a fun activity we can enjoy today, knowing that the tree will continue to improve our lives over time. Trees planted throughout our communities not only provide beauty but help shade our streets and schoolyards and create habitat and food for wildlife. Trees planted today will benefit our communities tomorrow by improving air quality, serving as sound barriers, moderating air temperatures, reducing energy consumption, and filtering run-off into streams and rivers.

For more information, contact: ashley.melvin@delaware.gov