NEWS RELEASE

United States Department of Agriculture • Rural Development

1221 College Park Drive, Suite 200, Dover, DE  19904

Phone: (302) 857-3580 • Fax: (302) 857-3640 • TDD: (302) 857-3585 • Web: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov

Ag Specialist will promote Mid-Shore farms

Dover, DE October 3, 2007 – The Mid-Shore Regional Council, Inc. is using a $66,900 USDA Rural Development grant to promote agriculture, forestry and fisheries in Caroline, Dorchester and Talbot Counties. 

“This grant is a great return of the people’s money to help preserve the Maryland rural landscape,” said Marlene Elliott, USDA Rural Development State Director.  “’The Ag Specialist position will provide the competitive advantage needed to ensure that Maryland’s rich agricultural history and legacy in the fishing and shell fish industries continue to thrive so that these businesses can be passed down for future generations to enjoy.”

The Council used the grant to hire an Agriculture Economic Development Specialist whose primary position will be to work with county councils, state agencies, chambers of commerce, farm bureaus and other related organizations to promote alternative resource based enterprises.  Alternative enterprises can mean anything from expanding agri-tourism in the region to establishing value-added producer products and services.  The primary goal of the Ag Specialist is to attract, grow, and retain agricultural related businesses in the mid-shore region.

Designated by the State of Maryland, the Council was formed in 2001 to help promote the interests and goals which unite Caroline, Dorchester and Talbot Counties in order to enhance the physical, economic, social and cultural well being of the region.  With the support of the USDA Rural Development grant and a $12,000 grant provided by the American Farmland Trust, the Council hired Dr. Wenfei Uva to serve as the Agricultural Economic Development Specialist for the tri-county area.  Dr. Uva began her position in August.   Uva and her husband and children reside in Federalsburg, MD where they own and operate a 36 acre specialty horticultural farm.  Wenfei has an extensive background in specialty crop marketing including fruits, vegetables, and nursery and greenhouse production.  Prior to joining the Council, Dr. Uva was an extension faculty at Cornell University in New York for 8 years and worked closely with the horticultural industries on business management and marketing issues during that period. Originally from Taipei, Taiwan, Dr. Uva received her Master and Ph.D. degrees in Agricultural Economics and Horticulture from Cornell University in New York.

 “There is a great need in the region for this position,” said Scott Warner, Executive Director, Mid-Shore Regional Council.  “From the last Census of Agriculture, between 1982 and 2002, farm land in the Upper and Mid Shore region decreased by 91,524 acres or 12 percent total.  Dr. Uva will be a great asset to the farm, fishery and forestry community by providing consulting services and grants knowledge that will help keep these industries on the path of a brighter future.”

 To reach Dr. Uva contact her in the Caroline County Cooperative Extension office located in Denton, MD located at 207 South Third Street.  Her cell number is 410-200-0366 and email address is wuva@midshore.org.

 USDA Rural Development is committed to the future of rural communities.  Last year, the agency returned over $185 million to rural Maryland.  They have over 40 loan, grant and loan guarantee programs that support agriculture, business opportunities, home ownership, home repair, rental housing, broadband technology, public safety, health care, education, social and cultural needs and energy related projects.  Additional information on rural programs is available by calling their State Office located in Dover at (302) 857-3580, their Georgetown Office at (302) 856-3990, ext. 5 or by visiting their website at www.rurdev.usda.gov.  TTY users should call (302) 857-3585.

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