* HOST: From the canvas Maryland agriculture Did you know that Maryland farms That fruit trees make a great And that modern tractors Don't go anywhere, stories about the people are coming up next on ANNOUNCER: Major funding for is made possible in part by...

The Maryland Grain investing in smarter farming food, feed, and fuel, Additional funding Maryland's Best, Rural Maryland Council, a collective voice for MARBIDCO, helping to sustain for future generations.

A grant from the Maryland Specialty Crop Block Program.

Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit, lending support to agriculture Brought to you in part by... A donation from the The Maryland Soybean Board, Progress powered by farmers.

Wegmans Food Markets, healthier, The Maryland Association of Soil And by...

The Maryland Nursery, Landscape, The Maryland Seafood The Maryland Farm The Keith Campbell Foundation And by... Closed Captioning has been made empowering those who are deaf or speech disabled * HOST: Charles "Bud" Hoober sales company in Pennsylvania and today they have 10 stores selling all kinds of machinery.

Hi, I'm Joanne Clendining and this is Today, we're at a Hoober where they provide sales and Coming up, our friends from but it's not in a new car.

But before we get behind let's get behind the canvas painting competition inspires of happy little farms.

* JESSICA BELLS: excellent use of light, that's something in plein air painting.

It's not just about it's creating a great painting or tells a certain story about of agriculture.

JOANNE: A glowing yellow field overlooking a pristine, vineyard.

Now that's a sight worth especially if you've got and a paintbrush on hand.

DAVID CSONT: This is the one exactly what I want to do and A lot of the ideas and thoughts I have about that I keep bottled up while I'm doing commercial work, which I really enjoy.

JOANNE: Planted with his easel in Easton, David Csont knows his canvas to tell for inspiration.

CSONT: Loved the idea of that juxtaposed by the sunflowers.

Your eye's led from the right right to that building.

And the sort of cooler green are then juxtaposed by that so you get these layers which I'm really excited about JOANNE: He's not the only one Maryland farms have to offer.

Selected artists from near to celebrate the 17th year Spearheaded by it's the largest competition of focusing on plein air, BELLS: Artists apply from and 58 are chosen to paint for about a week and art sales.

We stamp all the canvases at the to make sure that they're blank and the artists descend all to paint from life en plein air.

JOANNE: Regardless of the artists choose to paint, a farm-to-table dinner at the their new works.

SHANNON DILL: We thought was sort of logical, right?

We're painting, we're on farms, so it's just a great time JOANNE: Orchestrating an event The Plein Air Easton competition of many sponsors, organizations, ALEX SPIES: However we can get in there through events or through the wine tasting It's a big... Big thing for our family is all in agriculture.

JOANNE: The Spies family for the past six years and they artists who pick their for their paintings.

SPIES: I love the large a whole farm, all the barns, When they are able to capture and know exactly is always, enjoyable for me.

JOANNE: And the feeling While Alex takes in the the artists soak in the view, of the vineyard to motivate MARY VEIGA: The whole farm here JOANNE: Mary Veiga's doesn't come as a surprise.

In fact, VEIGA: I've been painting and doing art and so I love doing That's my favorite thing.

And I started doing plein air and just started doing about three years ago.

JOANNE: Formally but for most artists CSONT: Even though this is it's not really a competition.

You're almost more than anything else.

And I've made that I see every year and it's been a lot of fun.

JOANNE: And not to mention CSONT: I'm not going to miss that.

[laughs] I was here the year before last CASSANDRA VANHOOSER: You can that is here tonight, that there of what's actually going on and in the barns So it's a farm-to-table dinner best of Talbot County JOANNE: Nothing says it better a fresh meal all while looking at that encompasses the beauty of VANHOOSER: The plein air and painting from the farm gate the beautiful landscape, the farm community, to know and what goes on on a farm, but to get a feel for it.

JOANNE: will find a permanent dwelling, and others will tour galleries, at the Academy Art Museum where they'll be showcased exhibition.

BELLS: Hopefully it ends up it ends up in collections.

We have a broad base of who we've cultivated so I think that artwork at Plein Air Easton is spread * JOANNE: All right, agricultural expertise.

Here is our thingamajig Do you think you know Here's a hint.

It is not a piece of Stay tuned and we'll have the JOANNE: Of course, there's always This 4th of July we asked from their barbecues and show us Independence Day on the farm.

* JOANNE: is a world leader in agriculture in research and development of Up next, we visit a Carroll who enjoys sharing the delicious * JOANNE: From the sky may look like a regular orchard, at the neat rows and you'll notice something, STANTON GILL: We have just about out here.

You name it, JOANNE: In the two decades and his wife, Nancy MacBride, 105 acre operation, a little bit of everything.

STANTON: I'm a scientist, new things and trying out and pushing the edge.

JOANNE: During our visit Stanton gave us a tour of their which might hold the world of fruit grown in one place.

In just half an hour we saw Japanese heartnuts, figs, Asian pears, oranges, lemons, valor plums, [breathes in] The list goes on and on.

STANTON: Our philosophy on our farm markets, we sell to and we'll sell to caterers.

We don't grow huge quantities JOANNE: But by growing they found their niche.

STANTON: In our orchard, having a diverse number whatever, that all come in works better for our markets.

JOANNE: Since each type of Stanton constantly looks STANTON: We keep records on not only information about but also so we can do a cost analysis to see is that really Because we're running JOANNE: Sometimes that leads such as growing trees STANTON: So here we have This is 30 feet wide, at the peak and we're growing We grow cherries in here.

We have figs and blueberry all What we're doing is deflecting off the plants.

That reduces disease All the water is controlled by a trickle irrigation system.

JOANNE: By keeping the tree tops the bugs and birds, the amount of chemicals needed temperamental fruits.

STANTON: So the big advantage is pretty close to organic Much more difficult to do that and our rains if you're growing fruit.

JOANNE: Falcon Ridge Farm practices integrated pest which combines a variety of to protect their crops.

STANTON: It's really We'll use the best parts but we will use chemicals But we use them only when needed and we pinpoint to what We're very conscious of and also for beneficial insects, as much as possible as much as possible by selecting JOANNE: And as if the farm Stanton also works and integrated pest for the University of plus he's a college professor STANTON: Well, I use the whole When I'm teaching my classes for the credit classes, I will and show them how you grow it, what's the problems All those different aspects are JOANNE: He and his wife, also act as informal educators at the only farmer's market rush to buy their before it sells out.

GUY: They know their fruit.

They know their business If you ask Stanton about the that they've got, and he can and how it all works.

Nancy is a fabulous baker and sort of thing and And they're just wonderful WOMAN: You come here and a huckleberry.

I didn't know what that was Or the most ripe apricots anywhere else the different things.

JOANNE: And different is what because where there's a will, STANTON: Just the whole farm I love it when someone says Definitely, It's got its challenges but everything that's put in it's one you can solve.

So that's probably part of besides producing something JOANNE: Another important area Without it, See how the science of soil * JOANNE: During the 1930's, a lesson it's never forgotten, if you want it Drought, erosion, created huge dust storms, in the Great Plains.

By 1940, about two and a half had fled the area.

Enter the father of soil Hugh Hammond Bennett.

In 1935, he convinced Congress the Soil Conservation Service how to keep their top soil on the field.

One method the SCS taught was that's when a farmer alternates with strips of grass across to catch soil runoff.

The image of a farmer plowing but in the 1970's, tilling the soil They began to use a less invasive method of These practices are still used and wind erosion, more productive Here in Maryland Chesapeake Bay watershed, their counterparts around soil conservation methods.

Today, soil scientists don't on the field.

In the past few years, the top soil is healthy.

While soil may seem simple, ecosystem of microorganisms.

We now know this natural order because when it comes JOANNE: With machines like this, you have the right fuel Joe Ligo knows the way it works.

* JOE LIGO: At the beginning of gasoline powered tractors and steam engines to do work around the farm.

But after World War II, began switching to engines No, it's not cranberry juice.

This is diesel fuel over gasoline makes it heavy duty work Incidentally, the pink color is that this is off road diesel.

Even if you had a car usually it's illegal because it's taxed differently.

Almost all tractors but that is beginning to change.

Several startups have created electric tractors with similar They're quieter and cleaner and even if the electricity 100% renewable energy sources, lower overall emissions than The technology is still but now even the big are looking into it.

Perhaps, in the future, and this will be the new way JOANNE: Al Spoler is but he'll be back soon.

In the meantime, from our sister show MotorWeek .

Now, Greg is used to testing all trucks, and SUVs, even he was amazed by farmers have at their Greg.

* GREG CARLOSS: I don't know why, a tractor and so far, Well, today that changes To many people, images of rusty old machines and tiny front wheels, with something BRIAN GOTT: I work for Hoober Incorporated GREG: Hoober Inc. dealerships and Brian was nice for a tractor test with GOTT: This is a This tractor would be used in a pulling a planter, [metal clanking] GREG: Pulling all that and lots of it.

So similar to the Cummins you'd this Case IH Magnum 280 turbo diesel engine.

But at 8.7 liters, you can get in a pickup truck.

[engine starting] [engine roars] GREG: And if you think this sends power to the soil wrapped in six foot tall rubber.

Once inside, I feel like I'm in GOTT: Everything touchscreen as well.

Cab controls, heat, AC, radio oil pressure, temperature, GREG: I'm intimidated What happens if I GOTT: That's got a lot That's your throttle, You can raise As far as the auto guidance, 90% of your work.

GREG: Yeah, Using GPS this thing can drive down to the sub-inch.

Letting an 11 foot tall tractor on its own is cool and all, GREG: And here we go, Full throttle.

GREG: This model uses a power with 19 forward gears, GREG: Can I go up through TYLER RAHMER: Yeah.

GREG: Just hold it RAHMER: Yep.

GREG: 28, 29, 30.

We hit 30.

RAHMER: Downhill GREG: I think we could.

Maybe at the hands of GREG: She rides RAHMER: She does.

GREG: It feels good.

RAHMER: It's like GREG: Yeah, that's exactly GREG: Not only does this it's priced like one too.

At $200,000, this Magnum 280 as a Bentayga, a much bigger return on GOTT: These are more designed a paycheck with it.

It's not a play vehicle, no.

It's a workhorse.

GREG: For me, piloting this was like playing with but it's really an for today's farmer and, more vital to our society I've ever driven.

JOANNE: Thanks, Greg.

You can watch more automotive And of course you can watch of Maryland Farm and Harvest Plus, don't forget to follow for show updates, And don't worry, with another local buy.

JOANNE: Now, hold on.

We're not done yet.

Remember our thingamajig?

Did you guess it?

Our hint was that it's not This is an SMV This bright reflective triangle to warn other drivers, often go under the speed limit.

Congratulations If you see a vehicle on the road maintain a safe and only pass JOANNE: Don't forget to join us thingamajig, along with more passionate people I'm Joanne Clendining, Closed Captioning has been made empowering those with to stay connected.

* ANNOUNCER: Major funding for is made possible in part by...

The Maryland Grain investing in smarter farming food, feed, and fuel, Additional funding Maryland's Best, Rural Maryland Council, a collective voice for MARBIDCO, helping to sustain for future generations.

A grant from the Maryland Specialty Crop Block Program.

Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit, lending support to agriculture Brought to you in part by... A donation from the The Maryland Soybean Board, Progress powered by farmers.

Wegmans Food Markets, healthier, The Maryland Association of Soil And by...

The Maryland Nursery, Landscape, The Maryland Seafood The Maryland Farm The Keith Campbell Foundation And by...