DOVER — The Delaware Department of Agriculture reminds poultry and livestock growers to take proper precautions to shelter and protect their animals as winter storm season is upon us.

“Preparedness is the key to keeping animals safe,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Heather Hirst, who heads the Department’s Poultry and Animal Health Section. “Winter storm situations can be deadly to livestock and poultry, but taking the right steps can keep them healthy.”

In preparation for heavy snow and possible power outages, owners should inspect poultry houses and other structures; keep back-up generators, fuel, and filters on  hand; check feed inventories; have a back-up communications plan; and mark driveways and roads with tall poles or stakes. Roofs should be cleared of snow as soon as possible, while taking proper steps for worker safety.

Other precautions recommended by the Department of Agriculture include:

>> Check and secure all buildings and enclosures. Repair or secure loose boards, doors, window covers, metal sheeting, wire and equipment that could blow around in high winds.

>> Provide water and food. Make sure your animals have alternate water sources in case power is lost and pumps and automatic waterers are not working. Have enough food and water on hand for seven days. Move feed to higher ground to prevent mold contamination from flooding.

>> Mark animals. Identifiers for returning lost animals could include ear tags with farm name and phone numbers, brands, paint markings on hooves or coats, or clipped initials in hair coats. Leg bands can be used for back yard poultry.

>> Stock up on supplies. Make sure you have basic veterinary supplies on hand and that your livestock are current on vaccinations.

# # #

Media contact:

Dan Shortridge
Director of Communications and Marketing
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520
daniel.shortridge@delaware.gov

DOVER  —  The Delaware Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Program is offering a new “Partnership Tree Planting Grant” to nonprofit groups who own property within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The U&CF Program will award eight (8) $1000 matching grants on a first-come, first-served basis to qualifying nonprofit groups who apply by February 27, 2015. While the program’s main objective is to improve water quality in the regional Bay watershed, trees can offer grant recipients many other natural benefits such as cleaner air, reduced erosion, and aesthetics. Reports also indicate that trees can improve property and resale values and enhance community well-being.

DOVER  — Farmers and agricultural professionals attending Delaware Ag Week 2015 can now get even more business advice and expertise, as the Delaware Department of Agriculture is expanding its popular direct marketing workshop to a full day.

The Jan. 15 workshop will include presentations in the morning on website development, selling to grocers, roadside farmstand traffic safety, Delaware’s Buy Local initiative, and other topics. The afternoon will feature presentations and a Q&A forum on federal, state and private grant and loan programs that can make farming more profitable.

“An important part of our mission is to help farmers maintain profitability and expand into new markets,” said Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee. “These workshops will help teach some new business techniques and opportunities to farmers who are already growing the best farm-fresh products out there and want to make the right connections.”

The marketing workshop, normally held on Tuesday or Wednesday, was moved to Thursday to avoid conflicting with attendance at the Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association sessions. It will be held in the Department of Agriculture’s Education Building, near the Dover Building. Attendance is free, and registration is not required.

Delaware Ag Week is attended by more than 1,900 Delaware farmers, and includes sessions on topics including fruits and vegetables, poultry, grain crops, marketing, beef cattle and irrigation. It runs from Jan. 12-16 at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington, and is sponsored by the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, Delaware State University Cooperative Extension, and the Delaware Department of Agriculture. For a complete schedule and more information, visit sites.udel.edu/delawareagweek.

# # #

Media contact:
Dan Shortridge
Chief of Community Relations
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520
daniel.shortridge@delaware.gov

Photos are available for media use on Flickr.

DOVER – Delaware farmers’ markets had a record $2.6 million sales season, double that of just five years ago, thanks to dramatically increasing interest in local food and farm-fresh products, the Delaware Department of Agriculture announced today.

“This record-setting season is a reflection of Delaware’s thriving local food movement,” said Governor Jack Markell. “Farmers’ markets help strengthen our neighborhoods and increase economic opportunity. Our farmers, community leaders and market organizers deserve congratulations for a job well-done and thanks for their hard work to keep Delaware’s agriculture and food sector moving forward.”

Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee said the markets are a great example of public-private partnerships. “Over the last few years, we have seen an incredible rise in people wanting to eat healthy and buy fresh, local foods for themselves and their children,” Kee said. “Our farmers and producers are working to meet that demand by selling some of the best fresh produce, meats, cheeses and honey that any state can offer. Our farmers’ markets also connect the people who eat with the people who grow their food, fostering conversations and friendships that can last a lifetime.”

Shoppers bought more fresh produce and other goods from farmers’ markets than ever before in 2014. Sales from all 27 First State community-run farmers’ markets totaled $2,636,727, up more than $520,000 from 2013. Sales have increased more than eightfold since the Department of Agriculture began tracking them in 2007.

Fresh produce made up 59 percent of the total sales in 2014, with the remainder coming from value-added products such as meats, cheeses, jellies, breads, salsa, eggs or honey.

Delaware’s farmers’ markets are all run at the local level, by municipalities, business groups, farmers or market associations, with the Department of Agriculture providing support and marketing assistance.

Use of the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card system is growing steadily, allowing families to purchase local produce and food items as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Five markets offered EBT transactions during 2014, for $5,902 in sales. Several other markets are planning to expand into the program in 2015.

The 2015 market season will begin in April; most markets start their operations in May, June and July. There are currently two winter markets open for the season, in Millsboro and Delaware City. A list of the markets is online at Delaware’s Buy Local Guide, de.gov/buylocal.

Farmers and others interested in becoming a vendor, or community groups interested in starting a local market, can contact Department of Agriculture marketing specialist David Smith at (302) 698-4522 or davidm.smith@delaware.gov.

Delaware Farmers’ Market Sales Trends
2007:  $289,706
2008:  $800,679
2009:  $1,121,024
2010:  $1,330,617
2011:  $1,794,265
2012:  $1,960,357
2013:  $2,107,265
2014:  $2,636,727

# # #

Media contact:
Dan Shortridge
Chief of Community Relations
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520
daniel.shortridge@delaware.gov

DOVER – Delaware authorities are urging poultry and bird owners to be vigilant in the wake of avian influenza cases reported in Oregon and Washington state.

“Though it’s far away at the moment, we know that avian influenza can spread rapidly,” said Delaware State Veterinarian Dr. Heather Hirst, who heads the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Poultry and Animal Health Section. “Poultry growers and owners of backyard flocks can do their part by taking proper biosecurity precautions to prevent against the spread of the disease.”

There are no immediate public health concerns due to the West Coast cases, and avian influenza does not affect poultry meat or egg products, which remain safe to eat. Delaware’s commercial poultry industry has a strong and active avian influenza surveillance program, and works in close contact with the Delaware Department of Agriculture, the University of Delaware, and other partners.

Avian influenza spreads bird-to-bird through saliva, feces, and other bodily fluids. Since many species of wild waterfowl can carry and shed influenza virus in feces without showing any signs of illness, it is extremely important to make a strong effort to keep domestic birds separated from wild waterfowl and to keep domestic birds off waterways where wild waterbirds live.

“Low pathogenic forms of avian influenza naturally occur in wild birds such as waterfowl, shorebirds and gulls, and in most cases cause no signs of infection or only mild symptoms,” said Rob Hossler, Wildlife Administrator for the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. “However, when domestic species and wildlife intermix, occasionally a high pathogenic form can develop which can cause increased mortality to one or both of the groups.”

While the Washington and Oregon strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has not been found in commercial poultry in the United States, Hirst said its detection in a backyard poultry flock and captive gyrfalcons on the West Coast makes monitoring of backyard flocks and other birds extremely important.

“All bird or poultry owners can implement basic biosecurity steps to keep their flocks healthy and safe,” Hirst said. “Reporting sick or dead birds is especially critical to keeping avian influenza from spreading.”

Biosecurity measures recommended by the Delaware Department of Agriculture include isolating birds from visitor and other birds; keeping shoes, tools, equipment, vehicles and cages clean when entering area where birds live; avoiding tracking wild waterfowl feces into domestic bird living areas; avoiding sharing equipment and tools with neighbors; watching for warning signs of disease; and reporting sick or dead birds.

Sick or dead domestic birds, including backyard flocks and commercial poultry, should be reported to the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Poultry and Animal Health Section, (302) 698-4500 or (800) 282-8685 (Delaware only). To report groups of dead or sick waterfowl, shorebirds or gulls, contact DNREC’s Wildlife Section – Wildlife Disease Program, 302-735-3600.

For more information on backyard bird flock biosecurity, visit http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov/.

# # #

Media contact:
Dan Shortridge
Chief of Community Relations
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520
daniel.shortridge@delaware.gov