Governor Markell signed House Bill 160 to permit shellfish aquaculture in Delaware's Inland Bays, allowing the state to reap the economic benefits of a multimillion dollar industry while improving water quality in the bays.

535 kindergarten students at McIlvaine Early Childhood Center in Magnolia learned fire safety from Smokey Bear as part of the Delaware Forest Service's annual education program. Located in the Caesar Rodney School District, McIlvaine is the largest kindergarten program in the First State.

Five marketing and research projects supporting Delaware crops will receive nearly $230,000 in funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee announced today.

Delaware jockeys are continuing their support of a nutrition program to help improve jockey health and safety on the state’s racetracks with a recent donation.

The Delaware Forest Service funded a streetscape project in Georgetown, highlighted by the planting of 18 new cherry and lilac trees along East Market Street near the Sussex County Courthouse. Total cost was estimated at $37,000.

Delaware’s farming future and long agricultural heritage were both recognized today in a ceremony honoring the newest participants in the state’s Young Farmers Program and the latest inductees into the Century Farm Program, with the announcement that 10 young farmers would be receiving no-interest loans from the First State’s new innovative assistance program, now in its second year.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture's marketing team has been honored by the Delaware Food Industry Council for its work connecting farmers and grocers.

More than 30 Delaware farmers have Christmas trees available for First State merrymakers this holiday season, with firs, spruces and pines in abundance – and easy to find and buy with the Delaware Fresh mobile app. The app and a related website, de.gov/christmastrees, feature locations, hours and other shopping information.

The Delaware Forest Service is seeking qualified and interested individuals for its upcoming series of wildfire training classes at the Delaware State Fire School. Ideal candidates should be: at least 18 years of age, physically and mentally fit, motivated to learn, and willing to travel for two weeks or more for out-of-state assignments.

Photos are available for media use on Flickr. DOVER – Delaware’s community farmers’ markets set a new sales record in 2013, with shoppers buying more than $2.1 million in fresh produce and other goods, the Department of Agriculture said Tuesday. Gov. Jack Markell and Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee announced the news at an annual […]

Forty-four new farms totaling more than 4,300 acres have been selected for permanent easements to add to the Delaware Farmland Preservation Program, the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation has announced.

The 2014 Delaware Arborist and Tree Care Seminar will be held on March 4 and 5 at Baywood Greens in Long Neck, Sussex County. Cost is $80 with lunch included. Register at delawaretrees.com.

Delaware farmers produced a record $1.2 billion worth of crops and livestock in 2012, according to Census of Agriculture data released Thursday, showing how First State agriculture is thriving and succeeding despite economic challenges, state leaders said.

The Delaware Forest Service's 2014 Arbor Day Poster Contest is now open to all Delaware students in grades K to 5. Public, private and home schools are encouraged to participate as well as after-school groups and youth organizations. Posters are due by April 4th, 2013. This year's poster contest theme - "Trees are Terrific…In Cities and Towns!" - is dedicated to the important role that trees play in our communities and schoolyards.

The Delaware Forestry Association (DFA) will present its 2014 Tree Farmer of the Year Award at its annual meeting on Thursday, March 27, 2014 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Bridgeville Fire Hall, 311 Market St., Bridgeville, DE 19933. Tickets are $27 for adults and $12.50 for children ages 6 to 12. DFA is a nonprofit organization established in 1982 to promote the sustainable practice of forestry on the Delmarva Peninsula. Info at delawareforest.com.

Brian Michalski was honored as the 2014 Delaware Tree Farmer of the Year at the annual meeting of the Delaware Forestry Association in Bridgeville recently. Michalski is a four-time chair of the state Tree Farm Committee and has operated his 59-acre tree farm near Greenwood, Sussex County since it was first certified in 1997. He has also been DFA’s president for four years.

Delaware growers are the first on the East Coast able to take advantage of a new online tool that helps protect sensitive crops from pesticides that may drift due to wind or weather. Delaware is the newest participant in the DriftWatch program, which allows growers of certain crops or commercial beekeepers to alert pesticide applicators of sensitive areas before they spray.

With farm stands opening their doors and farmers' market seasons kicking off this month, it's now easier than ever for Delawareans to buy their farm-fresh items directly from growers.

The Delaware Forest Service will hold its 19th annual Fire Camp at Redden State Forest near Georgetown on Saturday, April 26 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The intensive one-day seminar provides hands-on training to volunteer wildland firefighters and, weather permitting, will feature a "live burn" exercise in which crew members battle an actual wildfire.

Irrigation can increase grain production and profitability even in a near-ideal growing season, a new survey of Delaware cropland shows.

More than $336,000 in federal grant funding is now available for projects to help produce, market or access Delaware-grown fruit, vegetables and certain other crops.

The acting executive director of the Delaware Harness Racing Commission has been named to the post permanently. Mark Davis, the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s deputy principal assistant and policy advisor, had been acting director since September 2013 after previously serving as a liaison to the harness racing industry.

Delaware farmers are among the most productive and efficient in the nation, with the First State remaining first in the nation in the value of agricultural products sold per acre, according to U.S. Census of Agriculture data released Friday.

With warm weather here and mosquito season under way, Delaware horse owners are being advised to make certain their equines’ vaccinations are current to protect against the threat of two potentially fatal diseases. Unvaccinated horses suffer most severely from both West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, which are spread by infected mosquitoes and can be fatal.

HARRINGTON — Visitors to the Delaware State Fair can learn about farming, explore the fair and win prizes this year with the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s new Fair Scavenger Hunt. Families can search for answers in the fair’s animal barns, on equipment row, and in the DDA buildings, gaining a deeper understanding of the importance […]

In response to increased wildfire activity in the western United States, the Delaware Forest Service (DFS) dispatched a crew of volunteer wildland firefighters from Blackbird State Forest in Smyrna on Saturday, July 19 that traveled to Redmond, Oregon. The team is getting in position to fight a wildfire in that region and should receive its assignment in the next 24 hours. The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho recently upped its National Fire Preparedness Level to 3 on a 5-point scale. However in the Northwest, the regional level is currently at the maximum 5 on a 5-point scale due to the incidence of 17 new fires and 24 large uncontained blazes.

Delaware Governor Jack Markell, Perdue Farms Chairman & CEO Jim Perdue, and DuPont Pioneer representatives celebrated a venture today that is increasing economic opportunity for Delaware farmers and creating healthier foods for consumers. In remarks at the Delaware Department of Agriculture's Education Building, officials and company executives shared the successes and plans for future growth of DuPont Pioneer's Plenish brand high-oleic soybean oil, a soy-based trans fat-free alternative for food companies and for foodservice operators.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture and landscape artist Mark S. Reeve are partnering on a year-long project to preserve the images of historic First State farms.

The Delaware Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program is accepting applications for its 2014 grant program from municipalities, homeowner associations, and certified 501(c)(3) non-profit groups in Delaware. Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 for either tree planting or tree management projects and require a 50-50 cost-share match in cash or in-kind services. Projects must be performed on public land and only one project in one category by each applicant is permitted. Applications will be judged on a competitive basis by a committee of the Delaware Community Forestry Council. Deadline for submission is September 15, 2014.

High-resolution images on Delaware Forest Service’s Facebook Photo Album DOVER – The Delaware Forest Service has sent a second wildfire crew to the western United States as 41 active large fires are burning over 700,000 acres across five western states, with most concentrated in California, Oregon, and Washington, with 10 each. So far this year, […]

To honor October as “Fire Prevention Month,” Smokey Bear will visit over 90 Delaware schools to teach children that “only you can prevent wildfires.” Ashley Peebles, trainer-educator for the Delaware Forest Service, oversees the annual Smokey Bear program, which reached almost 8,000 children last year. 2014 marks the 70th Anniversary of Smokey Bear's introduction in 1944, which has evolved into the longest running public service campaign in U.S. history.

The Delaware Forest Service plans to conduct a prescribed fire on 74 acres west of U.S. Route 113 near the Town of Frankford, Sussex County. The burning could begin as early as Monday, October 27, though officials estimate the date might be closer to mid-week. The actual date of ignition will depend on local weather and fuel conditions.

The Delaware Forest Service's Urban and Community Forestry Program is awarding over $47,000 in competitive grants to fund 14 community-based tree projects in all three Delaware counties. This year, more than half of the successful projects - a total of $29,429.35 - addressed tree management issues such as the removal of hazardous trees. Overall, 11 projects were funded in New Castle County, one in Kent County, and two in Sussex County.

Four families which have owned their farms for at least 100 years were honored as owners of Century Farms on Tuesday in a ceremony honoring Delaware agriculture’s long heritage and historic roots.

DOVER — Tickets are now available for the 44th annual Agricultural Industry Dinner on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. An early-bird discount is available for registrations received by December 31. Sponsored by the Delaware Council of Farm Organizations, the event began in 1971 as a way to celebrate Delaware farmers […]

Delaware farmers, lawn care companies, golf courses and other nutrient handlers should not apply nutrients to the ground during the winter months, the Delaware Department of Agriculture says in a reminder.

The Delaware Forest Service (DFS) is seeking recruits to enroll in its upcoming wildfire training classes at the Delaware State Fire School. Candidates should be at least 18 years of age, physically and mentally fit, motivated to learn, and willing and able to travel for at least two weeks or more (usually during the summer) for out-of-state fire assignments. Previous firefighting experience is not required. The deadline for course registration is January 3, 2015.

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 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 Fifth Annual Delaware Arborist and Tree Care Seminar will be held on March 3 and 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Hagley Museum & Soda House, 298 Buck Road, Wilmington, DE 19807. Sponsored by the Delaware Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, the annual gathering offers classroom lectures, hands-on training, and on-site exhibits offering the latest knowledge and techniques for those interested in proper tree care and safety. This year's topics will include: crane safety for tree care workers, pesticide application, mature tree care and hazard risk assessment, new tree and shrub introductions, and how to use i-Tree to assess and manage urban forests. Cost is $90 with lunch included.

The Delaware Forest Service is holding its annual Arbor Day School Poster Contest, which is open to all Delaware students in grades K to 5. Public, private and home schools are encouraged to participate and posters are welcome from after-school groups and youth organizations. This year’s contest theme is “Trees are Terrific… Inside and Out.” To participate, teachers must register their classes by March 13 and submit posters by the deadline of March 27. Classes that participate can also request free pine seedlings on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Delaware Forestry Association will present its annual "Tree Farmer of the Year" award at its annual meeting at the Felton Fire Hall located at 9 E. Main Street, Felton, DE 19943 on Thursday, March 12, 2015. Tickets are $27 for adults, $12.50 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for those under age 6. Reservations are kindly requested by March 2, and more information is available by contacting Steve Ditmer at (410) 896-9283. The Delaware Forestry Association is now accepting applications through April 1, 2015 for its annual $1,000 forestry scholarship award. The scholarship will be awarded to a full-time student who must choose forestry as their studies major and be accepted or enrolled in a two-year or four-year accredited school program.

Bernice and Douglas Moore were honored as Delaware Tree Farmers of the Year at the annual meeting of the Delaware Forestry Association on March 12 in Felton. The Moores were recognized for their continuous commitment to sustainable forest management and stewardship planning, as well as extensive engagement in forestry education and outreach. Their 102-acre property near Georgetown has been a certified Tree Farm since 1993. On hand to present a proclamation from the Delaware General Assembly were Reps. David L. Wilson (R-35) and Harvey R. Kenton (R-36). Governor Markell also sent a video message to congratulate the Moores for their accomplishment.

A special exhibition of Delaware’s agricultural heritage is receiving strong support from the Delaware business community. The Century Farm art exhibition will open at the Delaware Agricultural Museum & Village in Dover from May 1 – June 30, with a special public reception on May 14, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Two Delaware racing officials have been named chairman and secretary of the Organization of Racing Investigators, which represents racetracks, regulatory agencies and law enforcement involved in upholding the integrity of horse racing.

The 2015 Delaware farmers’ market season opens this week, kicking off another great local growing season after a record-setting 2014. "A taste of Delaware is available at any local farmers' market or farmstand, where First State families can buy directly from our state's farm families," said Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee.

Delaware horse racing contributed more than $182 million to the state's economy in 2014, supporting the equivalent of more than 1,500 full-time jobs, according to an economic impact study released today.

State authorities are alerting local businesses and purchasers of tropical nursery stock of the recent detection of fire ants in a shipment of palm trees imported from Florida. The red imported fire ants were detected during a routine check at a Sussex County business by the Delaware Department of Agriculture's Plant Industries nursery inspection team. They were eradicated and do not pose a threat.

To protect against the spread of avian influenza, the Delaware Department of Agriculture is prohibiting waterfowl entries in the poultry competitions at the Delaware State Fair next month. "This action is being taken out of an abundance of caution to guard against the spread of avian influenza," said Delaware State Veterinarian Dr. Heather Hirst. There have been no East Coast cases of the disease. There are no immediate public health concerns, and poultry and eggs which are properly prepared and cooked are still safe to eat.

Governor Markell shares his highlights from Governor’s Day at the 2015 Delaware State Fair.