Kratovil discusses ag’s future at Sump farm

By MICHEL ELBEN
Staff Reporter

CORDOVA, Md — Bees buzzing, chickens clucking and tomatoes ripening — Vicki and Mark Sump’s farm is alive with activity.
But it was the conservation efforts they have employed on the farm that brought Rep. Frank Kratovil (D, Md.) to the farm last week.
With leaders of the Talbot Soil Conservation District gathered at the Sumps 180-acre farm on Aug. 17, Kratovil toured the farm and talked with Vicki about the  farm’s conservation efforts.
“Everyone’s got a part to play and farmers have been doing more than most,” said Rep. Kratovil.
Kratovil listened to USDA, NRCS Public Relations Specialist Genevieve Backus and District Conservationist Teresa Kampmeyer’s review of the Sumps’ conservation plan map.
The Sumps were named the 2009 Talbot County Conservation District Cooperator of the Year for their help in protecting Maryland’s water, air and soil quality.
“The Sumps have a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan,” said Kampmeyer. “It was one of the first in the county.”
Their plan addresses all aspects of the poultry operation including: manure handling, nutrient management, feed management, and conservation practices.  It changes as the Sumps update their best management practices (BMPs).
Dunmore Heath Farm has been a poultry farm since 1962. Mark and Vicki upgraded the two original poultry houses in 1987 when they bought the farm and have been Allen’s growers ever since.
Vicki took Kratovil on a walking tour of the farm.  She told Kratovil about the tornado that went through in 1995. The tornado destroyed everything but the poultry mortality composter.
They lost their home, two large barns, and the two original poultry houses.
The Sumps rebuilt their house and three new poultry houses. They now have seven greenhouses on the farm as well.
“The greenhouses grow flowers to sell to the Home Depot. I’ve just started to grow tomatoes this summer,” said Vicki.
Vicki said she has sold the tomatoes to Whole Foods stores in the region and Shore Gourmet in Easton.
“That’s a lot of balls in the air,” Kratovil said.
Kratovil took a tour of the greenhouse and its tomatoes. Vicki showed the him her experimental pollination method for this season’s tomatoes.
“I bought 75 bees and one queen.  You can see them doing their job and this type doesn’t seem to sting you,” Vicki said.
Vicki said she plans to start growing peppers and basil soon.
The Sumps use the BMPs for 90,000 chickens.
“They’re processed just around the corner in Allen’s plant,” Vicki said.
Kratovil then posed questions to the group about conservation practices and how the government could help.
“So what’s the biggest obstacle?” Kratovil said.
“The same paperwork we filled out last year we have to fill out again,” said Taylor Spies, Talbot County Soil Conservation board member and Cordova, Md., farmer.
“We’d like to put a manure shed on our other farm but we can’t because of the bureaucracy, the paperwork, the regulations,” Sump said.
“The single most important thing NRCS does is to work one of one with the farmers,” said Kampmeyer. 
“What are the issues with cover crops?” said Kratovil.
“Mark is away right now studying radishes as a cover crop,” said Vicki.
“Why is he studying radishes as a cover crop?” Kratovil said.
“We need all the revenue we can get from the cover crop,” Vicki said.
According to the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, cover crops planted in the fall between harvest and planting of spring crops help reduce soil erosion, limit nitrogen leaching, suppress weeds, increase soil organic matter, and improve overall soil quality.
“The bottom-line is that tillage radishes may increase yields. Radish roots fragment soil for better nutrient and water absorption because they have a longer tap root,” said Mark Mason, USDA, NRCS soil technician.
“But what about the cover crops you’re using now?” said Kratovil.
“The timing,” said Spies. “October 1 we’re just starting into corn.”
“The program,” said Robert Wilson, Queen Anne’s County Soil Conservation board member and local farmer. “I’d rather get paid according to stand, last year it was so wet,” Wilson said.
“What about the young people?  Do they want to farm?” Kratovil said.
Spies said they do but it’s tough and seems to be harder than it was for him to get started farming.
“I tell my sons to be prepared. ‘You’re going to have no money.  You’re going to have to live and struggle to get through this winter,’” he said. “They’ll get jobs off the farm to get by.  It just didn’t used to be like that.”
“So what kind of incentives can we give?” said Kratovil.
“I’d like to see a program where a retiring farmer can sell his land to a young farmer.  Some kind of young farmers’ loan program where an old farmer doesn’t just have to give his land away,” said Wilson.