About Shlagel Farms
Our Farm
Russell Shlagel is the third generation of Shlagel's to farm this land. His grandfather; Otto came to America because of advertisements by the German American Colonization Company for good farmland, and he bought the original tract in North Waldorf in 1912. Sadly, he died within a few years while clearing land in the pasture. His wife also passed within 6 weeks and left 5 minor children on the farm. Of those, George; who was 12 at the time, was determined to stay on the farm and make it profitable. Except for a stint in the US Army George spent his entire life on the farm and loved the land until his last breath. He passed his love of the land on to his son Russell who farms full time along with sons.
We are conventional growers and use no till planting whenever possible to reduce the disturbance and loss of the soil. We use Integrated Pest Management strategies to reduce the use of pesticides. Russ and Karl have their Private Pesticide Applicators License which involves testing and continuing education for renewal. When a crop protectant is necessary Farmer Russ will always use an organic approved product as his first line of defense. It's imperitive that we protect our pollinators!
We use Best Management Practices which focus on the management of inputs to provide for economic, environmental and agronomic efficiency in production agriculture.
We raise the majority of our vegetables on plastic mulch with drip tape to speed production time, reduce herbicide use and conserve water.
Nutrient Management
We are certified by Maryland Department of Agriculture to write the farm’s Nutrient Management Plan. This is a state mandate for any agricultural enterprise grossing $2500 or more or having more than 8 animal units. This law was passed in 1998 to comply with the Maryland State Water Quality Improvement Act which sought to reduce run off and pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. This is a comprehensive and detailed plan that monitors fertilizer use and nutrient loading of the soil. The plan can only be developed by utilizing extensive soil, water and manure testing. With knowledge of that and how these tests pertain to every management unit of land;( this involves many, many individual tests), a forward plan is developed of every crop to be planted on a certain piece of land with the knowledge of what each individual crop’s nutritional requirements are based on soil tests and potential yield. This way of projected planning insures that there is never any extra nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium etc. applied to the land that won’t be completely utilized.
Food Safety
In 2015 we were awarded our USDA Harmonized GAP; third party certification. The focus is food safety at all times and in all processes of the operation from harvest to packing. This is a costly inspection that demonstrates total commitment to food safety and brings us in to compliance with the Obama administration's Food Safety and Modernization Act. We have maintained that certification every year. Additionally, we passed a surprise FDA inspection.
You can find our fruits and vegetables in several local chain grocery stores. In addition we sell to local produce brokers and they in turn to local chefs. We participate in multiple Farmer’s Markets throughout the DMV and in 2014 we added a modified CSA/Buyers Club to our operation. The ordering is done on-line and pick up is Saturday mornings at the farm. We are proud to offer farm raised beef, pork and chicken .
We work closely with USDA Soil Conservation to integrate and employ the most up to date soil conservation practices. Over the past decade we have built multiple grass waterways for collecting rainwater. Excess rainwater is directed through these waterways where it is filtered by the grass and flows into collection ponds where it can be used for irrigation. This helps greatly with water conservation as well as prevention of soil erosion. It has been the motto of this farm since Otto Shlagel walked behind the horse and plow on this very land that he purchased in 1912, that “if we don’t take care of this land, it won’t take care of us”. What was true for him, remains our truth today.