State Agencies Archives

Grant $$ available from MD Horse Industry Board

Posted by Editor | Sep 6, 2017 | Latest News, State Agencies | 0 |

The Maryland Horse Industry Board is now accepting grant applications for research, educational and promotional projects that support horses or the equestrian community, or develop new opportunities for the Maryland horse industry. Application deadline is October 2. Among the organizations eligible for grants are non-profit organizations, clubs and associations, businesses, licensed farms and stables, government entities, schools and educational institutions. Projects of interest to the Board include (but are not limited to) those that develop new opportunities for the Maryland horse industry. Projects will be evaluated for their value to the industry, degree of industry promotion, size and scope of activity, financial need, potential for matching funds, benefits and quality of the written presentation. Grant requests should not exceed $3,000. The average grant amount is approximately $1,000. In 2017, 28 projects received $30,000 in grant allocations. Funding for these grants and for the Maryland Horse Industry Board is provided by the Maryland Feed Fund, which collects $6 on every ton of horse feed sold in Maryland. Since the fund was established in 2002, MHIB has awarded over $400,000 in grant monies to over 300 projects throughout Maryland. “Horses are a critical component to Maryland’s agricultural industry. The Maryland Horse Industry Board and The Feed Fund do a terrific job in helping to stimulate growth and opportunity in Maryland’s equestrian community—without using any government funding,” said Horse Industry Board Chairman Jim...

URGENT: Harvey, Horses & The AHC Survey

Posted by Editor | Aug 31, 2017 | Equine Health, Latest News, Legislation & Regulation, State Agencies, Welfare: Neglect & Cruelty Cases | 0 |

Hurricane Harvey…there are horses drowning…why the heck should we care about filling out yet another survey? Because. Because the horrific footage of Harvey’s biblical flooding and the ongoing rescue efforts of people and animals reminds us that the government, run by and for the people, runs on data – NEEDS data in order to assist, help, provide, DO. In order to gather data, citizens – horse owners – need to engage. It is incumbent upon us, as citizens, to participate in data-gathering projects, such as the American Horse Council’s survey. And the participation of Maryland horse people this year...

Survey Says: 51.8% of Marylanders want to ride a horse!

Posted by Editor | Jul 14, 2017 | Latest News, State Agencies | 0 |

The Institute for Governmental Service and Research recently conducted an online opinion poll of 1,000 Maryland residents. Respondents had a broad demographic and geographic range, with 50.8% indicating an interest in either riding or participating in some sort of activity involving horses. The majority are interested in some sort of recreational or sport riding; the least interest is in watching races. More women than men are interested in riding; more men than women are interested in watching races. This response indicates a strong need for gateway programs into the horse industry. Gateway programs include spectator events, guided trail rides,...

Western Maryland: What do you need?

Posted by Editor | May 2, 2017 | Latest News, State Agencies | 0 |

The University of Maryland Extension (UME) is committed to providing quality services for members of our agricultural community. In order to help UME, an Agriculture Needs Assessment has been created to understand issues concerning Western and Northern Maryland agriculture, identify agricultural and educational needs, and to focus UME training and resources. The survey has four main sections: 1) industry priorities, concerns and viability 2) research and education needs 3) education and training preferences and 4) demographic and farm information. T There is no personally-identifying information collected from the survey. Click here to access the survey, which will be open...

Racing Rocked Annapolis

Posted by Editor | Apr 21, 2017 | Latest News, Legislation & Regulation, Racing, State Agencies | 0 |

By Tom LaMarra (originally published on tharacing.com, the official website for the national Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association). The Maryland racing industry’s efforts to educate lawmakers and present a unified front paid off during the 2017 General Assembly session that ended April 10. The Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act contained several provisions that, had they passed, would have shifted money from the Purse Dedication Account, which is funded by a percentage of video lottery terminal revenue at the state’s six casinos. On the table was a recommendation for the industry, not the state, to pay about $2.5 million for Maryland Racing...

Anne Arundel County Horse Tests Positive for Equine Herpes Virus

Posted by Editor | Apr 4, 2017 | Equine Health, Latest News, State Agencies | 0 |

THIS JUST IN FROM THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: A horse stabled in ANNE ARUNDEL County has tested positive for the non-neuropathogenic form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1). On the evening of April 2, the horse was transported to Marion DuPont Scott Equine Health Center in Leesburg, Va., where it exhibited severe neurological signs, and was euthanized shortly after arrival. Diagnosis of EHV-1 was confirmed today, April 4, by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Animal Health Lab in Warrenton, Va. The farm is presently under a 21-day investigational hold and strict biosecurity measures are in place while...