Local farms in Kent County, Talbot County, and Queen Anne’s County will be featured in an episode of the new season of the Maryland Public Television series Maryland Farm & Harvest airing in January and February.
Featured on the program on Tuesday, January 6 at 7 p.m. is a surprise visit from none other than the host of MPT’s national automotive series MotorWeek. John Davis trades on-the-road for in-the-field as he settles into the cab of some heavy-duty ag equipment for a very special test drive — a brand-new tractor from Atlantic Tractor in Queenstown, MD. After putting the tractor through the MotorWeek paces, he’ll take look under the hood to show viewers what makes it go.
Also featured on Tuesday, January 6 is Keith Leaverton, owner of the Leaverton family farm in Centerville. In a four-part series spanning four episodes of the MPT series, Mr. Leaverton describes the economics of grain farming and how his farm fits into the global commodities market. Keith’s farm is also featured on episodes airing January 13, January 20, and February 3.
Featured on Tuesday, January 20 at 7 p.m. is Nagel’s Farm Service in Wye Mills, MD. In this episode, host Joanne Clendining visits a grain elevator on the Eastern Shore. Farmers Chad and Chip Nagel shows what happens to grains after it is brought to the elevator and how this operation works to sustain an entire global market.
Also on Tuesday, January 20 at 7 p.m. is Arnold Farms in Chestertown, MD. In this episode, Bob Arnold shows that despite the improved modern efficiencies of harvesting vegetables, many of the crops on his farm must still be cared for and harvested by hand.
Featured on Tuesday, February 3 at 7 p.m. is Kent County farmer Kurt Dill. Some might think that farmers are only busy during harvest season and have their winters free, but Dill’s winters are always full of activity. Dill takes host Joanne Clendining through a typical day in the wintertime and shares some strategies for protecting his crops from inclement weather and hungry geese.
Also featured on Tuesday, February 3 is a segment on Maryland-grown tofu, showing how one operation is responsible for feeding groups of people around the world. Joanne visits 4Ms Farm, which is known for growing soybeans and sold around the country after being processed into tofu.
MPT’s Maryland Farm & Harvest had its series debut in November 2013. The program puts a human face on Maryland agriculture, telling the stories of the people who grow food and fiber — from corn and soybeans to apples, poultry, milk and cheese. From locations statewide, the series chronicles the successes of and the challenges to the state’s No. 1 industry.
The series airs on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on MPT-HD and is rebroadcast on Thursdays at 11:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 a.m. Each show will also re-air on the secondary channel MPT2 on Fridays at 6:30 p.m.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture is MPT’s co-production partner for Maryland Farm & Harvest. Major funding is provided by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board.
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