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MDA Blog
March 24, 2018
2018: The Year of Ag Land Preservation
Published in the March 24, 2018, edition of Lancaster Farming
2018 is turning out to be the year for Agricultural Land Preservation in Maryland!
Only a few weeks remain in this year's legislative session and it is turning out to be a good year for our agriculture community. The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) program is undergoing substantial changes with a focus on keeping working farms in production while accommodating for changes in the industry and the increased need for diversification. The Foundation has easements on more than 2,200 properties, covering over 304,000 acres statewide at a public investment of nearly $700 million.
Let's start with the really good news for MALPF this session: For the first time since 2007, Governor Larry Hogan has included full funding for MALPF ($45 million) in this year's state budget. The budget also includes historic funding for the department's cost-share program, which is critically important to our progress in protecting the Chesapeake Bay. This year's budget is just another example of the governor's ongoing support for our agricultural and rural communities.
The MALPF program will also be eligible to apply for federal matching funds with the passage of Senate Bill 885- Condemnation of Land Under Easement. This bill will bring MALPF in line with the industry standard of compensation for condemned properties, and expands the potential to receive additional funding for preservation easement acquisitions.
Three more bills are making their way through the legislative process that will have a positive impact for the MALPF program:
- SB 571/HB 1229 –Use of Land – Signs and Outdoor Advertising Displays– Would allow easement holders to place certain signs on their property, including no trespassing signs.
- SB 1140-Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation- Lot Release– Would allow MALPF to include stepchildren as eligible recipients of child lots. This is a sensible update to the program which would view stepchildren as children of the landowner who originally sold the easement.
· HB 1351- Agriculture – Easements – Special Occasion Events- Would allow landowners to use up to two acres of land on their property for special occasion events for commercial purposes. The MALPF board of directors must approve the event and the easement has to be enrolled in the MALPF program for more than 10 years.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture worked closely on all of these bills with a number of agricultural stakeholders and elected officials. It is important we continue to push for agricultural land preservation and state cost-share programs that provide our farmers with the resources they need to maintain viable farm operations.
Celebrating Maryland Agriculture
As we wrap up Maryland Agriculture Week (March 18-24), I wanted to take a moment to thank all of our farm families for their continued commitment to our industry and our rural communities. As generations of Marylanders become further removed from the farm, it is critical for all of us to spread the word about the great things our Maryland farmers are doing to provide food and fiber while helping protect our natural resources.
When I travel across the country and meet folks from other states, I have found that Maryland is often looked to as a blueprint for sustainable farming practices. Our state has led the way in on-farm conservation efforts and it is starting to pay off. Bay health is steadily improving, and that is due in part to the efforts of our farmers who plant cover crops during the winter and employ a variety of best management practices on their farms year-round.
Agriculture is a huge part of our everyday lives that is sometimes taken for granted. I want you to know, on behalf of the Hogan-Rutherford administration, we appreciate all that you do to provide fresh, safe and affordable food to people throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond!
February 17, 2018
Supporting Maryland's Farmers and Families
Published in the February 17, 2018, edition of Lancaster Farming
When Governor Hogan took office in 2015, he promised Maryland's agricultural community a seat at the table – and he has kept that promise. The governor has been a steadfast ally of our rural communities, and we are seeing a renewed sense of optimism amongst our farmers for the first time in years.
Recently, there has been some unfortunate misinformation spread about the Maryland Farms and Families Act that has sought to call into question the Hogan's administration commitment to Maryland's farming community. As secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture and a lifelong farmer, I can affirm that our administration is 100 percent committed to this vital community, and would like to clarify some misconceptions about this program.
Feeding Maryland's hungry and supporting our farmers are certainly two worthy causes that any Marylander would support. The Farms and Families Act was passed by the General Assembly during the 2017 legislative session, creating a program that would match every dollar of federal nutrition benefits spent at farmers markets. While this is an innovative concept on its face, there are a number of factors that must be considered before state funding is allocated to the program.
Currently, the Maryland Department of Agriculture already has federal funding and resources dedicated to programs that help low-income families buy fresh food at farmers markets, including the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. Last year, WIC recipients used just 43 percent of the 130,000 checks issued by the program. It is our responsibility to make sure we are using all available funds before we dedicate additional funds to a supplemental, and potentially duplicative, program.
Additionally, we must ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and in a manner that will do the most good for the greatest number of Marylanders. The Maryland Farmers Market Association has asked for $500,000 to fund the Farms and Families Act – 30 percent of which would go to salaries and administrative overhead. This is a significant amount of taxpayer money that would not go directly to farmers or needy citizens, particularly given this program duplicates existing programs and that the funds available through these programs are not being fully utilized.
Another mischaracterization is that the decision not to fund this program harms Maryland farmers. This again fails to acknowledge existing, duplicative programs. Last year, the Farmers Market Nutrition Program paid nearly half a million dollars to farmers who provided food to low-income families.
Governor Hogan has provided historic support for our farm families in his current budget proposal. The governor's proposed Fiscal Year 2019 budget includes $6 million for the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund, which funds the Rural Maryland Council. This year's funding is double the amount of last year, and would make Governor Hogan the first governor in Maryland history to fully fund this critical program. The Rural Maryland Council embraces holistic solutions for rural issues and strives to help communities grow by bringing together stakeholders from agriculture and natural resource-based industries, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and government agencies. This includes numerous initiatives that help farmers and low-income families.
Governor Hogan has also included $8.5 million in his budget proposal for the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) program, which provides grants to farmers for installing best management practices on their farms to prevent soil erosion, manage nutrients and safeguard water quality in streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. This an increase of $500,000 for a program that has helped our farmers stay viable while protecting our natural resources.
While the Maryland Farms and Families Act was passed with good intentions, we need to find a better way to fully utilize funding that already exists for programs that accomplish the same goal. Maximizing available resources is ultimately in the best interest of our farmers, our needy families, and our taxpayers.
I am very proud of the work this administration has done to protect and promote Maryland agriculture, and the Maryland Department of Agriculture welcomes the opportunity to work together with all stakeholders to achieve our shared goal of providing locally grown, nutritious food for all Marylanders.
January 27, 2018
Celebrating Century Farm Families
Published in the January 27, 2018, edition of Lancaster Farming
Last week, I was honored to join Governor Larry Hogan at the State House as we inducted nine families into the Century Farm Program. This program recognizes families who have owned and farmed their land for more than 100 years. These families are great examples of the kind of dedication and hard-work that makes agriculture the state's most important industry.
This year's honorees included:
- Farm at the Pines (Carroll County)
- Generation Farm (Carroll County)
- RockNel (Carroll County)
- Louisa's Place (Cecil County)
- Transquaking Farms (Dorchester County)
- Forrest Hall Farm (St. Mary's County)
- Perdue Family Farm (Wicomico County)
- Shockley Farms (Worcester County)
- William Watson Farm (Worcester County)
Since the program started back in 1994, we have recognized 182 farms. That represents about one percent of Maryland's 12,200 farms.
The best agricultural preservation program is an economically healthy agriculture industry. Farming has formed the foundation of our nation's economy for hundreds of years. Our Century Farm families are stewards of the land who have maintained family traditions and a continuity of agriculture important to our communities and our economy.
On behalf of the Hogan-Rutherford administration, I want to reiterate how much we appreciate these families and their commitment to our state's rural heritage.
Legislative Update
During the Legislative Session, the Maryland Department of Agriculture follows many bills that may impact the agency and the constituents we serve. We will regularly post a synopsis of the bills the department is tracking and a hearing schedule that is updated from the Department of Legislative Services website. If we provide a PowerPoint presentation or written testimony for any bill, it will be posted on our website after the hearing, if not sooner.
Earlier this week, my team and I briefed the Maryland Senate Education, Health & Environmental Affairs and House Environment & Transportation committees on a number of issues and provided status updates on several key initiatives here at the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
As far as the department's legislative priorities, we have submitted a departmental bill to establish a statewide definition of agritourism (House Bill 252).
The definition was drafted by the Governor's Intergovernmental Commission for Agriculture (GICA), and would define agritourism as "an activity conducted on a farm that is offered to a member of the general public or to invited guests for the purpose of education, recreation, or active involvement in the farm operation."
The bill also includes a list of activities to be included in this definition. For more information, visit the Maryland General Assembly's website.
To view presentations and all of our 2018 Legislation information, visit www.mda.maryland.gov.
December 23, 2017
A Look Back at Maryland Agriculture in 2017
By Joe Bartenfelder
Published in the December 23, 2017 issue of Lancaster Farming.
When I was sworn-in as Secretary of Agriculture, I laid out three main goals to continue the growth of our industry and support our rural communities: diversify and expand agricultural businesses; serve as a resource to the agricultural community; and work directly with elected officials and legislators to promote the importance of agriculture. As 2017 comes to a close, this column will focus on some of the things we are doing at the department to help achieve these goals.
Diversify and expand agricultural businesses
The main driver behind our success in this area is our Maryland's Best marketing program. We maintain a website at MarylandsBest.net that helps connect consumers with local producers across the state. The program also buys advertising and sponsors/hosts events to raise awareness of local goods.
A great example of this is the Maryland's Best Buyer-Grower Expo – an annual event where growers and producers have the opportunity to showcase their products for buyers from grocery retailers, restaurants, schools, food distributors and other venues. In 2017, we had more than 60 farms participating with more than 300 buyers in attendance. The next expo will be held on January 24 and if you're a grower or a buyer, we encourage you to attend.
Now in its 5th year, the Maryland's Best Ice Cream Trail has become one of our most popular promotions. The trail includes nine on-farm creameries from Washington County to Ocean City. This year, we kicked off the season with events at Rocky Point Creamery and Woodbourne Creamery.
This year marked the 10th annual Governor's Buy Local Cookout. We had 19 dishes prepared by teams of local chefs and producers, and wide range of local craft beverages. This event launches Buy Local Challenge Week, which challenges all Marylanders to include at least one local grown product in each meal.
In September, I visited Crellin Elementary School in Oakland (Garrett County) to celebrate Homegrown School Lunch Week. This great program not only helps farmers open new markets, but provides our kids with fresher, more nutritious options in the cafeteria. While I was at Crellin, I toured their on-site Sunshine Farm operation. It was great to see these young kids with so much knowledge and experience, and it really reinforces the importance of ag education.
Serving as a resource to the agricultural community
When Governor Hogan took office, he declared that the war on rural Maryland was over. We have been working with farmers to make sure they know that we appreciate their hard work and dedication. For the first time since 2007, the Governor hosted a Century Farm ceremony recognizing 34 families, including one Tri-centennial and two Bicentennial farms. Governor Hogan is continuing that tradition with a ceremony to honor the newest Century Farm families in January. I also had the pleasure of joining Governor Hogan as he inducted the Millburn family of Millburn Orchards farm family as the 48th members of the Governor's Agriculture Hall of Fame.
An important part of my job as Secretary is being a resource to all farmers. I've learned something new about farming every day since I took this position, and the Maryland Agricultural Commission has been a big part of that. Back in the spring, we toured a variety of operation in Dorchester and Wicomico County including: J.M. Clayton Seafood Company (Cambridge), Double Trouble Farm (Rhodesdale), Marshall's Riverbank Nurseries (Salisbury), and Wright's Market (Mardela Springs). In the fall, we visited a handful of operations in Allegany & Garrett Counties: Working H Meats and Market (Friendsville), High Country Creamery & Market (Grantsville) and Walnut Ridge Farm (Flintstone). There's no better way to learn about different operations than to get on out there and see them for yourself.
Keeping with the theme of education, it has been a priority of mine to promote agriculture education in schools—especially in areas that are often overlooked. Last year, I visited Frederick Douglass High School in West Baltimore for a ribbon cutting ceremony for their new hoophouses. This year, we returned to the school on National Ag Day with Lt. Governor Rutherford and Mayor Pugh to help the students plant flowers so each of them could take home for Mother's Day.
To help promote MAEF's Ag Literacy Campaign, I visited the third class at Beltsville Academy to read this year's official book, Hatching Chicks in Room 6. There, I was joined by Director the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Director Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy.
Work directly with elected officials and legislators
The biggest hurdle facing us as farmers is the risk of harmful, restrictive legislation from our General Assembly. In an effort to prevent this, I have been engaging our legislators and promoting the importance of agriculture by showing them the real effects of bills that are passed in Annapolis. We continued our legislative tours this year, taking lawmakers to farm operations in Montgomery, Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties. This is our third year doing these tours, and I've found that it has helped legislators gain a better grasp of the issues facing Maryland agriculture.
Another thing we have found helpful is inviting legislators to visit our lab wing at the department's headquarters. Our department regulates a variety of areas that most people may not realize – mosquito control, weights and measures, pesticide regulation, state chemist, and more. These tours help us emphasize the importance of work, especially as it relates to serving our agriculture industry.
In closing, I just want to highlight at couple of big events on the horizon. You should be receiving a survey for the USDA 2017 Census of Agriculture. I cannot stress how important it is for all of us to participate in this survey—this is the most complete set of agricultural data available and is used as a baseline for decisions by lawmakers, businesses, financial institutions, etc. The other thing I want to emphasize is how important it is for all farmers to be active during the upcoming legislative session. It's important for lawmakers to hear directly from you.
It's an honor for me to serve as Maryland's Secretary of Agriculture. I wish you all the best this holiday season and a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!
November 25, 2017
Looking Forward and Giving Thanks for Maryland Farmers
By Secretary Joe Bartenfelder
Published in the November 25, 2017 issue of Lancaster Farming
With the recent Thanksgiving holiday, I wanted to take a moment to recognize our Maryland farmers. Not only do you work year-round to provide a safe, nutritious supply of food, but your continued commitment to protecting our waterways and the Chesapeake Bay is second to none.
In FY 2017, the state exceeded its Watershed Implementation Program (WIP) assessment goals for phosphorus and sediment reduction, and continued to close the gap on our nitrogen goals. This is due in large part to our farmers' voluntary use of Best Management Practices (BMPs), and the implementation of Phosphorus Management Tool (PMT) in 2015.
As a farmer, I know firsthand that this has not always been an easy transition; but, as your Secretary of Agriculture, it gives me great pride to see Maryland's sense of commitment and innovation held up as the blueprint for other states' efforts in resource conservation.
On behalf of the Hogan/Rutherford Administration, I can assure you that your efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we will continue to fight on your behalf here in Annapolis. In Maryland, we are fortunate to have Governor Larry Hogan who is dedicated and determined to serve agriculture and who understands that farmers were the original environmentalists and stewards of the land, and we will continue to be. Governor Hogan also recognizes that Maryland's family farms are businesses that are a major contributor to the vitality and economy of our state.
New Season of Maryland Farm & Harvest Released
Maryland Public Television's (MPT) popular original series Maryland Farm & Harvest, returned for its fifth season earlier this month. Each week, Maryland Farm & Harvest takes viewers on a journey across the state, telling stories about the farms, people, and technology required to sustain and grow Maryland's number one industry: agriculture. Over the past year, MPT's production team has filmed stories at more than four dozen farms for this season. Maryland's rich agricultural heritage, the importance of bees, and growing crops in the face of changing weather patterns are among themes covered in depth during upcoming episodes.
We are very pleased that this is MPT's highest rated, locally produced show – with nearly 5 million viewers since the series first aired (not including on demand or online views). The series has visited more than 200 farms in its first four seasons, covering every Maryland county, as well as Baltimore City and Washington, D.C. A new episode premieres every Tuesday at 7 p.m. on MPT. You can watch all of the episodes on the show's website: www.mpt.org/farm
2017 Census of Agriculture
In just a few weeks, farmers across the country will have the opportunity to make a positive impact on their communities and industry by taking part in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. I cannot stress how important it is for all farmers to stand up and be counted. Your answers to the census have a far-reach impact on farm programs and rural services that support your community. The census is conducted every five years and compiles the most complete set of data on the agriculture industry, which is used to make decisions on policy, agribusiness and financial issues.
The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service will mail surveys at the end of this year. NASS has also extensively revised the online census questionnaire at www.agcounts.usda.gov to make it more convenient for producers. Farmers can either mail in their completed census form or take advantage of new time-saving features by responding online.
FSMA Produce Grower Trainings – November 27, 30
The University of Maryland, University of Maryland Extension, and Maryland Department of Agriculture will host two Produce Safety Alliance Grower Trainings this fall. The first is scheduled for Monday, November 27 at the Cecil County Extension office in Elkton, and the second is scheduled for Thursday, November 30 at the Charles Soil Conservation District Office in Waldorf. These trainings are critically important for any operation that will be effected by the new FSMA rules going into effect. More information and registration forms are available on the department's website.
Farms are critical to Maryland's economy and priceless rural heritage. As a department, we are continuing efforts to:
- Help farmers to diversify their businesses and to capitalize on expanding marketing opportunities arising from the growing consumer demand for local agricultural products and desire to better understand where their food comes from;
- Serve as a resource to the agricultural community; and
- Work with elected officials, policy makers and the general public to ensure they know about the importance of Maryland agriculture to our quality of life and the overall economy.
As always, we invite your feedback on how we may improve our services to you, the agriculture community. I am grateful for the hard work and dedicated efforts of our farmers who work each day to provide food and fiber for us all. I wish everyone a happy, healthy holiday season.
October 28, 2017
The Importance of Bringing State and County Lawmakers to the Farm
Published in the October 28, 2017 issue of Lancaster Farming.
By Secretary Joe Bartenfelder
Since being appointed by Governor Hogan as the Secretary of Agriculture, I have made it a priority to advocate and educate our policy makers about the wide range of issues our farmers encounter on their farming operations. With the 2018 General Assembly right around the corner, we held our third round of legislative farm tours before the 2,000 or more bills are introduced in Annapolis. I want to ensure that when bills affecting farmers and the agricultural sector are introduced, our lawmakers understand their impact. I want them to see firsthand the effects that current regulations are having on farming operations.
This year, we partnered with Montgomery, Anne Arundel and Prince George's county governments to highlight the diverse agriculture operations in each county and invited local and state officials to join us. The focus of the tours was on how Maryland farmers continue to place conservation practices and diversify their operations to either keep the farm in production and viable for the next generation. These farm tours offered a great opportunity for dialogue between lawmakers, regulators, farmers and advocates to discuss a number of issues and concerns and how to address problems and find possible solutions.
I'm proud to say that agriculture is still the number one industry in our state. Yet, with each generation, our nation is growing further from its agricultural roots. Many people today – including our elected officials – have never been on a farm, do not know a farmer, or know where their food originates. That is why it is critical to inform our lawmakers on how potential laws or burdening regulations can harm businesses and not allow farms to be viable. Our farmers face many challenges that are out of their hands from the weather and other economic pressures; they need to have assurance that their elected officials understand their livelihood.
During the tours, we visited 10 farms that offered a broad range of size, type, growing methods and means of selling their products. Showcasing the agricultural economy at a county level with a local point of view for our legislators highlights the importance of our farmers. Some key facts we shared on the tours included that 73 percent of the Prince George's County is zoned for agriculture for a variety of rural and small urban farms. Also, agriculture contributes over $287 million to the Montgomery County economy. And with the newly-passed agritourism bill in Anne Arundel County, businesses like En-Tice-Ment Meats may now sell their products directly on their operation. The facts of our farmers doing more for their community and the environment are too countless to mention, but showcasing them is very important.
I think it is fair to say that everyone who joined the tours not only enjoyed a first-hand look at Maryland farming but also learned more about the difficulties and challenges facing our farmers and the great successes farmers have every day. They understood even more the diversity, the breadth and the critical importance of the agricultural industry to our state's overall economic health.
My thanks to all the legislators and staff members, as well as local county representatives who spent their valuable time with us. I hope that more lawmakers will be able to join us next time.
And, of course, my deep thanks to the farms who opened their doors to our tours and showed the group how they do business and shared their thoughts about this industry, including: Waters Orchard, Sunny Ridge Farm LLC, Waredaca Brewing and Equestrian Facility, Hopewell Farm, Greenstreet Gardens, En-Tice-Ment Meats, the Vineyards at Dodon, Edgewood Farm, Villa De Alpacas Farm and Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards.
My thanks also to the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO), Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit, Maryland Farm Bureau, Maryland Grain Producers, Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC), University of Maryland Extension, Maryland Soil Conservation Districts, Grow and Fortify, Rural Maryland Council, Eco-City Farms, Prince George's Food Equity Council, Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, Honey Harvest Farm, and Skipper's Pier Restaurant.
To see some photos of the tour, visit the Department's Flickr page at: https://www.flickr.com/MdAgDept
September 30, 2017
Maryland Celebrates 10th Annual Homegrown School Lunch Week
Secretary Joe Bartenfelder
Published in the September 30, 2017
Fall harvest is well underway in Maryland, and we are wrapping up the peak summer season of produce. Because we continue to see strong consumer demand for local food products, it's the perfect time to take a moment and recognize the success of Maryland's Farm to School program and the 10th annual Homegrown School Lunch Week (September 25-29, 2017). This week I had the pleasure of joining students and teachers at Crellin Elementary School in Garrett County to kick off the statewide celebration.
Homegrown School Lunch Week encourages school districts to provide locally grown products in at least one school meal every day for a week and continue year-round. Maryland was the first state in the nation to have every public school system participate in Homegrown School Lunch Week. And this year 60 farmers participated in the program.
The larger Farm to School program was signed into law in 2008 as a new program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Through this program, we work with school districts throughout the year to find ways to bring fresh products from local farmers into school cafeterias. "Farm to School" also strives to provide students with hands-on learning activities such as farm visits, producers visiting schools, school gardening, and culinary classes; and to integrate food-related education into the standards-based classroom curriculum.
Our goal is to see even more local, fresh food in school lunches, not only to improve childhood health but also to help them learn about the importance of our farms to our environment and daily lives. We are excited to see schools increasing their local sourcing of meat, cheese and seafood in their school meals. Homegrown School Lunch week not only provides effective learning activities, it can be an economic opportunity for Maryland farmers and it's fun for students and other participants.
In Maryland, there are more than 2 million acres in farmland and more than 12,000 farms. More than 70 million lunches and 24 million breakfasts are served in Maryland schools annually. Maryland Farm to School is not the federally funded Childhood Nutrition Programs, but locally sourced Maryland foods can be a part of the Breakfast, School Lunch, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Summer Meals, Maryland Meals for Achievement, etc.
Maryland schools spent $18 million on local food served in schools, according to a recent USDA Farm to School Census. Of those schools that purchase local foods, 96% purchase vegetables, 100% purchase Maryland fruits, 59 % milk and 22% meat or poultry. Moreover, 52% of those schools indicated an interest in increasing local food purchases in the future.
At the Homegrown School Lunch Week event at Crellin Elementary, I was joined by USDA Food Nutrition Services Mid-Atlantic Regional Office Special Nutrition Programs Director Roberta Hodsdon, Garrett County Public Schools Superintendent Barbara Baker, and Principal Dr. Dana McCauley. We spoke with about 150 students about the connection between farms and food to enhance student understanding of where their food comes from, how it is produced, and the benefits of a healthy diet. We encouraged all of them to consider careers in agriculture. Students and teachers from each grade highlighted for us their role at the school, their agricultural studies and how it ties back to the state mandate. The students led guests on a tour of the school's "Sunshine Farm," where they experience hands-on work with crops and livestock in their barns, orchard, garden and greenhouse. Students also had the opportunity to explore the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation's "Maryland Ag Products" mobile science lab.
After the tour and brief presentations from federal, state and local officials, the invited guests joined students in the school cafeteria to enjoy a lunch that featured local products. The menu included hamburgers from a cow raised by Kane Edwards, 4th grader at Crellin Elementary, purchased at the Garrett County Fair and donated to Crellin by Railey Mountain Vacation Rentals. The Butcher Block in Oakland processed the meat, which was also supplied to other Garrett County schools. Cherry tomatoes from Garrett Growers were also served.
Garrett County Board of Education Food & Nutrition Services Program Manager Scott Germain said "We have worked hard over the past several years to increase our farm to school week from one item to eight items on our menu. Some of those items have found their way onto our menus at other times throughout the year. It is great to work with the local suppliers. The students really enjoy all of the items."
Each county is unique in how it offers Homegrown School Lunch. This year, we saw schools offering a wide range of local products, from apples, peaches, tomatoes, watermelon and green beans to local cheeses, meats and even seafood. Many school districts have planned various activities to celebrate 2017 Homegrown School Lunch Week. In Caroline County, Lockerman Middle School students will enjoy local blue catfish donated by Congressional Seafood and oysters donated by Madhouse Oysters, and pork sourced from the school's agricultural class and had it butchered, and the culinary arts students will prepare pork recipes for the taste testing. In Southern Maryland, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties purchased hamburgers, hot dogs, spicy hot dogs and cheese burgers from Hoffman Meats in Hagerstown.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture's Farm to School program was one of 65 projects across 42 states and Puerto Rico to receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm to School Grant Program. The $97,662 grant will engage all of Maryland's 24 school systems to expand the amount of locally-grown foods procured in the Summer Meals program and increase enrichment programming activities. Statewide activities will include a local food market feasibility study of supply chain partners in Summer Meals, Harvest of the Month summer campaign, technical assistance training, a rural culinary school vegetable processing pilot, and agriculture and nutrition-based activities with a focus on farmers markets and on-site gardens.
For more information about Maryland's Farm to School program, including educational materials, menus, places to find local products, brief video soundbook with photos and interviews, plus much more for parents, teachers, and food service staff, visit: www.marylandfarmtoschool.org.
August 26, 2017
Welcome to the Maryland State Fair
By Secretary Joe Bartenfelder
Published in the August 26, 2017 Issue of Lancaster Farming
As the season comes to an end, I invite you all join us as we celebrate "The 11 Best Days of Summer!' The 136th Maryland State Fair will run from August 24 until September 4 at the State Fairgrounds in Timonium.
As Secretary of Agriculture, I am honored to represent the most important industry in this State. I have been able to visit and meet with a number of farmers and producers across the state, but I particularly want to invite those families and residents who haven't spent much time on a working farm to visit us at the fair. As farmers, we want to help you understand what we do, how we do it and why we are so proud to be a part of the agricultural industry. Many of the farmers who have brought their animals and exhibitions to the fair have spent many days and long hours getting ready for this week. Unlike any place else, the Maryland State Fair gives everyone an opportunity to see cows being milked, pigs being born, horses racing, livestock being shown, and a wide array of agricultural exhibits.
I also invite all of you to bring your families to visit the Maryland Department of Agriculture at our new location in the Cow Palace this year to get a glimpse of the many diverse services we provide. We do more than just work with farmers to ensure sound farmland management practices. We also help ensure responsible use of fertilizers and pesticides by homeowners and lawn care professionals; monitor the accuracy of gas pumps and grocery scales; control mosquito populations; protect animal health ; and much more.
At the State Fair, we have different interactive games and displays rotating each day throughout the fair that you and your children can play together while learning about different aspects of agriculture. For instance, the kids can learn how to make slime and snow from our State Chemists, spin the Wheel of Knowledge and win prizes for answering questions about Maryland agriculture, or play "Track Down the Farm Animals"–a game that shows how farmers protect water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. As a special treat, on September 4, we will have demonstrations on how to shuck an oyster and how to properly pick a crab every 30 minutes.
Horseland – an exhibit that started last year under the tent – will highlight the diversity of Maryland's horse industry. If you're interested in riding, racing, breeding or just petting a horse, you'll want to mosey on over.
In the Farm and Garden Building, the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board will bring back its popular remote-controlled race car track in the center of the building and fairgoers can learn more about ethanol fuel. The Maryland Soybean Board will host an interactive biodiesel information kiosk and displays on innovation in agriculture technology, food and how it is grown in Maryland. The State Fair will also feature a butterfly tunnel in the building.
Along the Midway, of course, are rides, food, entertainment and many other displays. While you enjoy exploring the Maryland State Fair, I hope you remember the true meaning of this event: a celebration of our state's agriculture industry and its positive impact on our economy, environment, culture and quality of life.
For more information, visit www.marylandstatefair.com.
See you at the Fair!
July 22, 2017
Upcoming Events Recognize Local Agriculture
Secretary Joe Bartenfelder
Published in the July 22, 2017 issue of Lancaster Farming
Our summer celebration of local products continues next week with the Buy Local Challenge (July 22-30) and moves right into a watermelon promotion at the world's largest crab feast August 4 and Maryland Farmers Market Week (August 6-12). We hope you will join in the fun!
Buy Local Challenge
Some of us take the Buy Local Pledge every chance we get, but not everyone does. Governor Larry Hogan has officially declared July 22-30 as Buy Local Challenge Week to raise awareness about the benefits of local farms and food so that Marylanders will become more familiar and more frequent consumers of fresh, local agricultural and seafood products. I join the Governor in encouraging all Marylanders to take the pledge and eat well the week of July 23.
Buying and eating local is more than just enjoying fresh, delicious, nutritious food that tastes better – although that's good enough reason for me. Local food is better for the environment. It keeps land open, in production and requires less fuel for transportation and therefore less pollution. Local produce is also better for you since food that travels less time and distance holds more of its nutrients. Eating local food also supports local farm families, local economies and local communities. Buying local helps preserve open space, especially in rural areas where growing development pressures put both the environment and our quality of life at risk.
In its 2012 Policy Choices Survey, the University of Baltimore Schaefer Center for Public Policy found that more than 78 percent of Marylanders said they want to buy produce grown by a Maryland farmer. The Buy Local Challenge gives them an opportunity to do just that.
The Buy Local Challenge was created by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission and has since become a statewide program. The Buy Local Challenge Week is always the last full week of July. Take the Buy Local Pledge here: http://buylocalchallenge.com
To promote and kick off the Buy Local Challenge Week, Governor Larry Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan hosted the 10th Annual Buy Local Cookout at Government House on July 20. Recipes for the event showcased the many ways local Maryland ingredients can be used in all kinds of ways. Recipes were submitted by teams of Maryland chefs and producers and selected based on their availability of ingredients, geographic representation, maximum use of local ingredients and creativity. The Buy Local Cookout also featured grocery store chains, distributors, restaurants and institutions that support farmers.
Each year, the department publishes a cookbook of all the recipes submitted for the cookout. They can all be downloaded for free from our website at: http://mda.maryland.gov
All recipes include wine, beer or spirits pairing recommendations from the Maryland Wineries Association, Brewers Association of Maryland and the Maryland Distillers Guild.
Ask for Maryland-grown products whenever possible – while shopping for weekly groceries, eating at a Maryland restaurant, visiting children's schools and cafeterias, even while visiting someone in the hospital. Ask where the local products are and if there aren't any, ask them to stock some.
And don't forget, there are nine dairy farms on Maryland's Best Ice Cream Trail. Enjoying a nice scoop of farm fresh ice cream counts as buying local as well!
The Buy Local Challenge and Buy Local Week helps residents – many of whom have had no connection or contact with a real, working farm – realize how delicious local products are. Once they do that, we are certain they will continue to seek out and demand more avenues for obtaining fresh, local food.
So take the pledge, take the challenge, eat well, preserve the environment, and support your local farmers – all at the same time!
Maryland Farmers Market Week
We hope that after purchasing at least one local product each day during Buy Local Challenge Week, Marylanders will continue the practice every day of the year. To encourage consumers to continue supporting Maryland agriculture, Governor Larry Hogan has designated August 6-12 as Maryland Farmers Market Week. During this week, many markets will offer food preparation demonstrations, music and children's activities along with an assortment of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, wine tastings, and more.
Many fruits and vegetables are now in season, and Maryland farmers are offering their freshest products at more than 145 farmers' markets across the state. Every county and Baltimore City has at least one market and the demand for local products continues to grow. We are working hard to connect local producers with local consumers, and we invite everyone to check our searchable database at www.marylandsbest.net to find local products and markets nearby.
Purchasing locally grown products strengthens our local economies, the health of our environment and our families, and also keeps land open and productive. Farmers markets also connect urban, suburban and rural communities. By talking with farmers, consumers can learn about fresh produce as well as how to prepare and store it, while developing a bond of trust in the integrity and accountability of our growers.
Mar-Delicious Watermelons at World's Largest Crab Feast
The Maryland Department of Agriculture together with the Mar-Del Watermelon Association will participate in the world's largest crab feast on August 4, at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis to highlight the economic and nutritional value of watermelon. Mar-Del watermelon farmers will be on hand along with National Watermelon Queen Madison Laney, Mar-Del Watermelon Queen Connor Vincent and other state queens to hand out fresh, cool watermelon slices and fun giveaways. Maryland and Delaware are significant growers and suppliers of watermelons, which are in their prime in August.
This special event, hosted by the Rotary Club of Annapolis, is not only the world's largest crab feast but also a major fund-raiser that benefits local community and cultural organizations. Nearly 2,500 people are expected to attend and finish off 350 bushels of crabs, 3,400 ears of corn, 100 watermelons, 100 gallons of crab soup, 1,800 hot dogs, 150 pounds of beef barbeque, and hundreds of gallons of soft drinks and beer. If you are in the Annapolis area on Friday, August 4, join the fun at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Tickets are available online at: www.annapolisrotary.org/crabfeast
Fair and Show Season
With fair and show season in full swing, we want to re-emphasize the importance of practicing strict biosecurity when handling show pigs. Follow the link below for more information. In light of the devastating effects of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV), there is increased awareness about the need for strict biosecurity, especially when pigs come together at events such as shows and weigh-ins. With the animals being commingled at an exhibition, sale or during a weigh-in event, spreading disease is a known risk, but it can be minimized by following proper biosecurity procedures. Visit www.pork.org/show-pigs for more information on how to minimize the risk of contracting or spreading PEDV.
And for anyone who works with poultry, either in the commercial flocks or backyard flocks, I encourage you to keep taking extra biosecurity precautions so that those safety practices become habit when the risk for High Path Avian Influenza increases this fall. For more information about avian influenza and how to protect your flock, visit: www.mda.maryland.gov/Avianflu
June 24, 2017
Cover Crops and Ice Cream Trails
By Joe Bartenfelder
Published in the June 24, 2017 issue of Lancaster Farming
Summer is always a busy time for Maryland farmers, but I wanted to take a moment to give you an update on a few things happening here at the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
Cover Crop Program
The signup period for the department's 2017-18 Cover Crop Program will run from June 21 to July 17 at soil conservation district offices statewide. This popular program provides grants to help farmers offset seed, labor, and equipment costs to plant cover crops on their fields this fall. Governor Hogan has allocated approximately $22.5 million for this year's program.
There are several important changes to this year's cover crop program. As a cost-saving measure, farmers who choose to harvest their cover crops will no longer receive payment through this program. Farmers may enroll all eligible acres and decide later which acres will be harvested. There also are several exciting new program changes for farmers—legume mixes now qualify for early planting incentives, cover crop mixes containing up to three species (small grains, legumes, forage radish) are now eligible for grants, and the aerial seed planting deadline has been extended to October 7.
Maryland farmers are leaders when it comes to protecting water quality and caring for our precious soil resources. Adding cover crops into a cash crop rotation makes good sense for our farmland and our waterways. I urge all farmers to visit their soil conservation districts to sign up for cover crop grants during the enrollment window. This will be your only opportunity to apply for grants to plant cover crops on your fields this fall.
Ice Cream Trail
The Maryland's Best Ice Cream Trail season officially started on May 26. The trail is made up of nine Maryland dairies that produce and sell their ice cream directly to consumers. The trail stretches more than 290 miles from Ocean City in the east to Washington County in the west. The purpose of the trail is to highlight the important contributions of Maryland's 414 dairy farms which accounted $164 million in sales in 2016; and to increase the public's general understanding of dairy farming.
Since June is National Dairy Month, Deputy Secretary Jim Eichhorst and I started our journey through the trail at Rocky Point Creamery in Tuscarora and Woodbourne Creamery in Mt. Airy on June 13. Our goal is to hit all nine creameries before the season ends on September 25.
GICA – Defining Agritourism
Earlier this month, the Governor's Intergovernmental Commission for Agriculture (GICA) held its first meeting of 2017. The meeting included a presentation from Grow & Fortify detailing how counties and the state can help promote value-added agriculture and agritourism. There was also a presentation from State Fire Marshall Brian Geraci on inspection guidelines for on-farm venues.
Kirk Engle of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygeine gave a presentation on his department's work with dairy farmers to ensure that they are in compliance with state and federal laws. Lastly, Exuctive Director Charlotte Davis of the Rural Maryland Council shared information on grants available through the council.
The Commission also voted to adopt an official definition for 'Agritourism' as: a series of activities conducted on a farm and offered to the public or to invited groups for the purpose of education, recreation, or active involvement in the farm operation. These activities may include, but are not limited to, farm tours, hayrides, corn mazes, seasonal petting farms, farm museums, guest farms, pumpkin patches, "pick your own" or "cut your own" produce, classes related to agricultural products or skills and picnic and party facilities offered in conjunction with the above.
Copies of the presentations and meeting minutes will be available on the GICA website.
Buy Local
As we move into July, I want to remind all Marylanders of the many different ways to buy local products throughout the state. Farmers' market season is in full-swing, and there are a variety of U-Pick operations offering fresh produce.
Another way to support local producers is to buy fresh Maryland seafood. Maryland is home to some of the best seafood in the world: blue crabs, rockfish, oysters, etc. The relationship between farmers and watermen goes back to the beginning of our state's history, and summer is the perfect time to enjoy all of the fresh, local products available statewide.
Visit MarylandsBest.net to find a farmer or producer near you!
2017 Census of Agriculture
I want to close out this month's column by encouraging all Maryland farmers to participate in the upcoming Census of Agriculture. USDA-National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) compiles this report once every five years, giving us the most credible agricultural data available. The information obtained by Census of Agriculture will help to inform everyone from farmers to lawmakers and will surely have an impact on the agriculture industry in our state. I urge all Maryland farmers to participate in the surveys so we can make sure that everyone is working with the most accurate data possible.
May 20, 2017
Spring Ag Commission Tours Dorchester, Wicomico Farms
By Joe Bartenfelder
Published in the May 20, 2017 issue of Lancaster Farming
Last week I joined the Maryland Agricultural Commission for their spring agricultural tour, which featured Dorchester and Wicomico counties. We covered the Lower Shore's major commodities: Poultry, seafood, nurseries, and fresh market produce. The commission is an advisory board to the Secretary of Agriculture, which represents all major commodities in Maryland.
J.M. Clayton Seafood Company
The tour started at J.M. Clayton Seafood Company in Cambridge, which has been in its current location since 1921 along the Choptank River. A family business now operated by the 5th generation, J.M Clayton is the oldest working crab processing plant in the world. Co- owner Jack Brooks walked the group through the processing plant from unloading crabs on the dock, to cooking 400 pounds (10 bushels) at a time in each of their two heavy duty steel steamers, to the picking, processing and packing rooms. Perhaps the thing that made the greatest impact on the group was the labor that goes into getting a pound of crab meat from the Chesapeake Bay to final market. The department is excited to have the state's seafood marketing program officially return to Agriculture from the Department of Natural Resources in July.
Double Trouble Farm
The group then toured the Murphy family's Double Trouble Farm – the first Maryland poultry operation to install cutting-edge technology that converts poultry litter to energy. The Maryland Department of Agriculture awarded about $1 million from the Animal Waste Technology Grant Fund to Biomass Heating Solutions, Inc. (BHSL) for the Rhodesdale project.
It's exciting to see Maryland farmers finding alternative uses for manure to address environmental issues while improving the farm's bottom line. The Ireland-based BHSL system utilizes poultry litter as a feedstock by converting it to energy to heat the farm's chicken houses and generate electricity. The system is projected to generate 526 megawatts of electricity per year. Adding heat to poultry houses has been proven at other sites to improve the flock growth rate and overall bird health. The Murphys are working with BHSL to explore markets for the high-phosphorus ash by-product including Maryland fertilizer companies.
Marshall's Riverbank Nursery
Our third stop highlighted the second largest ag sector in Maryland – horticulture – which in 2014 accounted for $251 million (about 10 percent of total farm cash receipts). John Marshall, former Commission member, led the group on a tour of his 60 acre irrigated nursery that houses 400 hoop houses and continues to expand acreage. He also highlighted one of his biggest challenges is finding people willing to do the manual labor required in nursery work. His Salisbury-based business focuses on a mix of re-wholesalers, garden centers and landscape contractors from Northern Virginia to Massachusetts and west to Pittsburgh and Ohio.
Wright's Market
At our final stop, Charles Wright IV, along with his wife Michelle, explained the family's farming business in their 13,000 square foot retail market in Mardela Springs. Wright's Market offers fresh local produce, eggs meat, seafood, ice cream, bakery items, gifts, home and garden items and Amish-made furniture. Their Longhorned cow Zorro – and the goats that keep him company – are a big attraction for visitors. Additionally, the family grows poultry, grain, processing vegetables and retail produce. In the spring, they offer pick-your-own strawberries and in the fall, they host agritourism activities for the public and about 2,000 local students for field trips.
Ice Cream Trail Opens May 26
The 2017 Maryland's Best Ice Cream Trail will kick-off on May 26. I hope all Marylanders will visit a local farm or two and enjoy some delicious local ice cream this Memorial Day weekend (and continue on the trail this summer). The trail includes nine dairy farms that produce and sell ice cream directly to consumers. The Ice Cream Trail stretches more than 290 miles from Ocean City in the east to Washington County in the west. The purpose of the trail is to highlight the important contributions of Maryland's dairy farms and to increase the public's general understanding of dairy farming.
You can pick up an Ice Cream Trail Passport at any of the creameries (or online at www.marylandsbest.net). Everyone who returns a completed Ice Cream Trail passport by visiting each of the nine farms on the trail and answering a question from each creamery between now and September 25 will be entered into a drawing to be named the 2017 Ice Cream Trailblazer. The grand prize includes a $50 gift certificate to a favorite creamery; a DVD set of the latest season of Maryland Public Television's number one show – Maryland Farm and Harvest; a signed copy of "Dishing Up Maryland," a cookbook by Lucie Snodgrass; and statewide bragging rights!
April 28, 2017
Impact of the 2017 Legislative Session on Maryland Agriculture
Published in the April 22, 2017, issue of Lancaster Farming
Throughout the 90-day session as the Maryland General Assembly gathered in Annapolis we focused on educating legislators about Maryland's number one industry and a number of bills that would have had a direct negative impact on the agriculture industry and the operational and fiscal functions of the department.
We also continued with our outreach to inform legislators about the Department of Agriculture and services we provide to the industry, consumers and the general public. I personally participated in two agricultural briefings to various committees on the status of Maryland's agricultural community and the department's function as a state agency, in addition to countless individual meetings with legislators and their staff to ensure they understand the importance of Maryland's agriculture industry to the economy and rural life.
The Department put forward three departmental bills this session that were adopted by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Larry Hogan. We are particularly excited about HB 120 – Seafood and Aquaculture Product Marketing, which transfers the marketing responsibility for Maryland seafood products to the Maryland Department of Agriculture from the Department of Natural Resources. Seafood marketing will join the current Agriculture Marketing and Development Program, which will be renamed Agriculture & Seafood Marketing and Development.
Along with the marketing program, HB 120 moves approximately $190,000 in special funds from fees collected on commercial watermen and processing licenses by the Department of Natural Resources. The department will pursue further funding from USDA and other grants to support the new program, as well. Our department's marketing program has made great strides in supporting and promoting local agriculture products, and I am confident that we can have the same success with the state's seafood and aquaculture industry.
Governor Hogan signed two additional departmental bills into law that focused on promoting Maryland agriculture products and streamlining processes identified by industry and county governments. These bills include:
- HB 130 – Maryland Wine and Grape Promotion Fund – creates a more efficient review and approval process for applications submitted to the Maryland Wine & Grape Promotion Fund
- HB 155 – Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation- Easement Termination – streamlines the easement termination process by having the county conduct its review and hearing and deciding whether the request should be approved or denied. If the county denies the request, the request fails and does not move forward to the Foundation, resulting in the Foundation not expending time and effort on termination applications that it cannot approve. If the request is approved, it moves forward to the Foundation to determine whether the land may be farmed profitably.
Governor Hogan continued to show support for Agriculture in his budget. He increased the funding for the Maryland Ag Cost Share Program (MACS) from $6 million to $8 million to help offset the lost funding from last year. This program provides farmers with grants to cover up to 87.5 percent of the cost to install conservation measures known as best management practices on their farms to prevent soil erosion, manage nutrients and safeguard water quality in streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.
The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation and the other land preservation programs received full funding this year along with $2.5 million in funding for MARBIDCO's Next Generation Ag Land Preservation Program.
The Governor included an additional $2.5 million in his supplemental budget to pay for the record 560,000 acres of cover crops acres planted by farmers last fall. Cover crops are one of the most cost effective practices and environmentally sustainable ways for farmers to help the State reach its Chesapeake Bay clean up goals. During budget deliberations, the legislature cut the funding for this important program. The department is looking at other funding sources to ensure farmers who participated in the program are compensated for their certified planted acres.
The General Assembly also passed the following legislation of interest to the agricultural community:
SB 422 – Keep Antibiotics Effective Act of 2017– after being severely amended, prohibits the administration of a medically important antimicrobial drug to cattle, swine, or poultry solely for the purpose of promoting weight gain or improving feed efficiency. The Maryland Department of Agriculture must annually collect, and report on, specified publicly available data on the use in the State of medically important antimicrobial drugs in cattle, swine, and poultry. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to impose an administrative penalty for a violation of the bill's provisions and may adopt regulations to carry out the bill. As amended, this bill conforms to the federal rule that went into effect on January 1, 2017.
HB 1063 – Maryland Healthy Soils Program – establishes the Maryland Healthy Soils Program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture. The primary function of this bill is to assist and educate farmers on how to improve their soil health. The key objective of this bill is to improve soil quality. The removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, also known as carbon sequestration, will also be reviewed and studied through the program.
HB 1035 – Motor Vehicles – Seasonal Exceptional Milk Hauling Permit – re-establishes the Exceptional Milk Hauling Permit that was allowed to sunset last October. This bill would make permanent the annual permit to allow up to 88,000 pounds on a 5-axle truck during the "spring flush," which includes the months of March through June.
SB 917- Motor Vehicles – Gross Weight and Axle Load and Exceptional Hauling –establishes an Exceptional Hauling Permit for hauling live poultry within the nine Eastern Shore counties. This permit would be similar to the Exceptional Milk Hauling Permit and allow up to 88,000 pounds on a 5-axle truck. However, the permit is only valid for six months of the year (November through April) and has a five-year sunset. Additional data and reporting requirements must also be sent from the poultry haulers to the State Highway Administration.
SB 416 – Income Tax Credit – Qualified Farms – Food Donation Pilot Program – creates a pilot program for a state tax income credit of up to $5,000 for qualified farms donating food to authorized organizations. The program, which goes into effect on July 1, 2017, would be limited to Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's and St. Mary's counties.
The department will continue to work with a wide-range of various stakeholders, commissions, and advisory boards, after the session to address any possible legislative issues or policy developments.
Mid-Atlantic State Ag Leaders Hold 3rd Annual Meeting in Annapolis
Agriculture Secretaries and Commissioners from five Mid-Atlantic States held their 3rd annual meeting in Annapolis on April 25 to discuss mutual interests and goals of their respective agricultural communities. Agenda topics included: federal-state partnerships, water quality goals and the Chesapeake Bay, nutrient management, manure transport, the Food Safety Modernization Act, Zika virus, high path avian influenza, and international trade issues.
Key participants included: Cecil Rodrigues (EPA Region III Administrator), Joe Bartenfelder (Maryland Secretary of Agriculture), Michael Scuse (Delaware Secretary of Agriculture), Sandy Adams (Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services), Kent Leonhardt (West Virginia Secretary of Agriculture Poultry), and Greg Hostetter (Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of Agriculture) and Kelly Shenk, EPA Region III, Chesapeake Bay Program Office Agriculture Lead.
"I thank EPA Region III for their partnership in working together with agriculture and our neighboring colleagues for recognizing the importance of making the trip for this meeting. Our states are the closest to the Chesapeake Bay and it is essential for us to work cooperatively to help us reach one of our biggest shared goals – to protect and restore our national treasure, the Chesapeake Bay. We look forward continuing our work together." – Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Joe Bartenfelder
PHOTO ID (L-R): Greg Hostetter (Pennsylvania Dep. Secretary of Agriculture), Joe Bartenfelder (Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary of Agriculture), Michael Scuse, (Delaware Secretary of Agriculture), Cecil Rodrigues (EPA Region 3 Administrator), Sandy Adams (Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Commissioner), and Kent Leonhardt (West Virginia Department of Agriculture Secretary).
March 28, 2017
Celebrating Maryland Agriculture Week
Published in the March 25, 2017, issue of Lancaster Farming
We just celebrated the 44th National Agriculture Day (March 21), which recognizes the contributions of agriculture to American society and thanks our farmers for providing us with life's necessities – food, fiber, clothing and shelter. To coincide with this national celebration, Governor Larry Hogan declared March 19-25 as "Maryland Agriculture Week."
There are 2.1 million farms in the United States, a country with nearly 319 million people. Agriculture products remain the nation's top export. Each American farmer today feeds more than 155 people – a dramatic increase from 25 people in the 1960s. American agriculture is doing more – and doing it better. As the world population soars, there is an even greater demand for the food and fiber produced in the United States.
From the mountains of Western Maryland with its dairy farms and hay to Central Maryland with its greenhouse and livestock industries to the Eastern Shore's acres of corn and poultry – Maryland truly grows something for everyone. Our vibrant agricultural industry is a critical component of our state's economy, and our farmers go above and beyond to provide fresh, quality food that is accessible, affordable, and safe for our citizens. That's a lot to celebrate during Ag Week!
Frederick Douglass High School New Ag Program
I spent National Ag Day with Mayor Catherine Pugh and Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford and students at Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore City, where the department has been working with the school leaders, Maryland Nursery Landscape and Greenhouse Association, Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation and other industry and community leaders to bring hands-on agricultural experiences to the students. The school has created a Garden Club and developed an Urban Agriculture class with 24 students involved this inaugural year.
Thanks to the many partnerships and generous support of the industry, two new hoop houses were erected last fall. The Lt. Governor and I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the hoop houses during a statewide kick-off event for Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week at the school last September.
On National Ag Day, we helped students transplant begonias into larger pots. These are the first plants to be grown in the school's new hoop houses, and will give each student in the school an opportunity to take home a flower on Mother's Day weekend that was grown by Frederick Douglass students.
Hopefully in the future, we can start a FFA chapter at the school. Next year, we hope the school will be able to grow plants in the hoop houses and hold a plant sale to raise money for the school's agriculture program.
Ag Literacy Campaign
Next month, I will join Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Dr. Craig Beyrouty, University of Maryland Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, to visit third grade classrooms at Beltsville Academy Elementary School. We will be reading the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation 2017 Ag Literacy Campaign book "Hatching Chicks in Room 6" by Caroline Arnold. This book teaches children about the life cycle of a chicken, incubating eggs, watching them hatch, and raising the chicks until they are old enough to return to the chicken coop.
This is the seventh year for Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation's annual Ag Literacy Program. This Ag in the Classroom program seeks to instill the importance of agriculture in student's daily lives.
You can be a Literacy Volunteer and set up a time to visit in a nearby school and read to students in grades K-3. Following the reading of the book, volunteers conduct an activity with the students and share their experiences in agriculture. The book is then left in the classroom or media center with a book plate indicating the donor.
Lesson plans and ideas for many activities can be found at www.maefonline.com. To order hardback copies of the book for $10 each, or for more information, visit maefonline.com, or contact Jeanne Mueller 410-848-4745 or email@example.com.
2017 Ag Census
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service just launched the 2017 Census of Agriculture in conjunction with National Ag Day. This data is so important on a number of levels, and there is strength in numbers.
As a farmer, I encourage you to participate in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. It is our voice, our future, and our opportunity to shape American agriculture – its policies, services, and assistance programs – for years to come.
If you are new to farming or did not receive a Census of Agriculture form in 2012, there is still time to sign up to receive the 2017 Census of Agriculture report form by visiting www.agcensus.usda.gov and clicking on the 'Make Sure You Are Counted' button through June.
Spring Means Farmers' Markets
Spring also means farmers markets will be opening up across the state. Farmers' markets provide an important source of income for farmers. They also serve as integral links between urban, suburban and rural communities. By talking one-on-one with farmers, consumers can learn about fresh produce including preparation and storage tips. Consumers also develop a bond of trust in the integrity and accountability of our growers.
In preparation for the season, the department will hold its annual farmers' market conference with nearly 100 participants on April 10. This conference provides participants an opportunity to network and connect with experts on farmers' market issues in Maryland and nationally. It will also introduce market managers to prospective farmers and vendors. We look forward to a great season!
February 25, 2017
Eastern Shore Tours with Governor Hogan and Legislative Update
Published in the Feb. 25, 2017, issue of Lancaster Farming
Governor Larry Hogan made several key agricultural stops on February 13, during a day-long visit to the Eastern Shore of Maryland and I had the privilege of joining him.
Animal Waste Technology
Last week, the Governor and I toured the first Maryland poultry operation to install cutting-edge technology that converts poultry litter to energy at the Murphy family's Double Trouble Farm in Dorchester County.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture awarded a $970,000 animal waste technology grant to Biomass Heating Solutions, Inc. (BHSL) for the manure-to-energy project and an additional $139,000 to monitor its operation for one year.
This project has the following benefits:
- Reduced environmental impact: A reduction in the potential environmental impact of manure resources
- Lower energy costs: A reduction in energy costs through using heat from the manure as a source for heating poultry houses
- Improved animal welfare: Improved animal welfare, with improved health and reduced risk of diseases
- Improved performance: Faster growth – poultry reaching target weight more quickly
- Additional revenue: Potential expansion of revenue streams – earnings from the sale of excess electricity and a fertilizer by-product
Projects like this can help to improve water quality, increase energy independence, improve animal waste management, and ensure sustainability of animal agriculture in Maryland – all while improving the farm's bottom line.
The Murphy farm and its new technology were featured on Maryland Public Television's Maryland Farm & Harvest show on January 24. The show is available to watch online at www.mpt.org/farm.
Maryland's Animal Waste Technology Fund is a grant program that provides seed funding to companies that demonstrate innovative technologies to manage or repurpose manure resources.
To date, the program has approved $3.7 million in grants to six projects.
The next operational project we plan to feature will be Planet Found Energy Development project at Millenium Farms in Pocomoke City. Planet Found received a $676,000 state grant for the project, which uses an anaerobic digester to convert chicken litter into methane gas which, in turn, is used to produce electricity (26 kilowatts/hour plant producing an estimated 100,000 kilowatts/year). The system will send excess electricity not used on the farm to the grid. Excess heat generated may be used to offset propane costs for poultry house heating
Also, CleanBay Renewables, which received a $1.4 million state grant, is ready to break ground for the first of four regional facilities to convert poultry litter to energy. They should be operational in Somerset County by 2018 and will be starting one other facility in Maryland and two in Delaware.
Moving Seafood Marketing to MDA
We also toured J.M. Clayton – the world's oldest crab processing facility – in Cambridge in support of House Bill 120, which would move the state's seafood and aquaculture marketing program from the Department of Natural Resources back to the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
There's a reason there is a farmer and a watermen on our State seal. This bill is an important step toward recognizing the bond between farmers and watermen.
During the visit, Governor Hogan unveiled a new logo concept for "Maryland's Best Seafood." We all know that Maryland is home to the best seafood, and with a strong marketing plan from the Department of Agriculture, Maryland will be open to new markets and opportunities for our watermen.
The industry would benefit from established relationships with distributors, restaurants, grocery chains and other institutions, in addition to the department's experience in promoting products to international buyers through the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA).
HB120 will move approximately $190,000 in special funds from fees collected on commercial watermen and processing licenses by the Department of Natural Resources. In addition to this funding, the department will be able to pursue further funding from USDA and other grants to support the new program.
The House Environment and Transportation Committee held a hearing on February 8 where the departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources and industry leaders testified in support of the bill with no opposition.
Legislation of Interest
HB 130 – The bill creates a more efficient review and approval process for applications submitted to the Maryland Wine & Grape Promotion Fund. The bill repeals the definition of the Maryland Wine and Grape Promotion Council and the Council. It requires the Governor's Advisory Commission on Maryland Wine and Grape Growing to advise and recommend to the Secretary of Agriculture for approval the allocation of specified funds for specified projects in the Maryland Wine and Grape Promotion Fund.
HB 155 – Provides a process correction. Currently, if a landowner submits a request to terminate the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation's easement, the statutory process requires separate, simultaneous review processes by the county receiving the request and the Foundation. If the county denies the termination request, the Foundation cannot approve it, however, the Foundation is statutorily compelled to complete its review and conduct its own hearing. This requires expenditure/s up to or in excess of $10,000 in expert fees, and a substantial amount of personnel time and resources, all of which may be unnecessary should the county find through its own process that the easement termination cannot be approved.
The proposed legislation segments the termination process by having the county conduct its review and hearing and deciding whether the request should be approved or denied. If the county denies the request, the request fails and does not move forward to the Foundation, resulting in the Foundation not expending time and effort on termination applications that it cannot approve. If the request is approved, it moves forward to the Foundation to determine whether the land may be farmed profitably.
HB602 / SB422 – Antibiotics bill – will prohibits cattle, swine, or poultry premises from administrating antimicrobial drugs without a prescription or Veterinary Feed Directive order issued by a veterinarian licensed in Maryland. The Maryland Department of Agriculture opposes the legislation as written because it is duplicative and incomplete compared to the national effort by FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine to place the use of medically important antibiotics in feed and water under veterinary oversight.
For the latest information, positions and testimony on 2017 legislation impacting Maryland agriculture, visit our website.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, need additional information or would like to arrange an interview, please contact:
Julie Oberg
Director of Communications
Telephone: 410-841-5888
Jason Schellhardt
Public Information Officer - Media Relations
Telephone: 410-841-5744


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Fairfax Criminal Lawyer explains law: video simulations, purported to depict a version of an accident, incident, or event
While each case differs in terms of complexity, one question to note by our Fairfax criminal lawyer arises from time to time concerns the use of video simulation evidence. This article is not intended to address actual video evidence – such as dash camera footage in a DUI or DWI case – rather, video simulation evidence.
For example, in the event of a charge or lawsuit stemming from a motor vehicle accident, one or both sides may wish to help the jury understand what is alleged to have happened. Can the prosecutor of defense show the jury a video simulation (not an actual video of the accident) that purports to depict what happened, according to their version of events? The answer is, and as explained by our Fairfax criminal lawyer, is…maybe.
There are several rules and legal theories to consider. The main question is: is a video simulation of an event (accident, assault, etc.,) proposed to be used by a plaintiff, prosecutor, or defense attorney admissible in Virginia, in order to explain to the jury their version of the facts ? A secondary question is, what is the purpose of the video simulation evidence? Is it offered as a version of fact, or is it meant to help the jury understand a hypothetical allegation?
First: What is video simulation evidence?
Second: What are the rules and case law governing admissibility of video simulation evidence?
Fairfax criminal lawyer explains: What is video simulation evidence?
Video simulation evidence could theoretically be relevant in a wide variety of cases. Admissibility is another question.
In one traffic accident case, several people were killed when a train collided with their vehicle. One of the main issues for the jury to decide was whether the driver drove around the cross-gate, or, if the cross-gate failed to lower. The car was struck by the train and was discovered by a authorities hundreds of meters from the collision site. Based on the angle of the vehicle and how it was apparently pushed down the track, the case required expert testimony and one party sought to introduce simulation evidence of what allegedly occurred.
Tip: video simulation can be helpful to explain to a jury what may have happened. The problem with video simulation evidence is that it can also be highly prejudicial, or, misleading to the jury, and courts take this concern seriously!
Another example: in a criminal prosecution or a civil wrongful death suit, for example, one side may seek to introduce a video simulation of a stabbing. Depending on the organs damaged, the angle or force of the infliction may be a major issue for the jury to assess.
The bottom line according to our Fairfax Criminal Lawyer: when, if ever, is video simulation evidence admissible (allowable) for one side of either a criminal case or civil lawsuit, to show a jury?
Rules and case-law governing admissibility of video simulation evidence
Can the proponent (party hoping to show the video simulation) lay a proper foundation?
To "authenticate" means to convince the court the evidence is authentic. "Demonstrative" evidence means evidence that demonstrates something.
In order to authenticate a demonstrative exhibit, the proponent must make a showing of personal knowledge about the creation of the exhibit. Needham v. White Laboratories, Inc., 639 F.2d 394 at 403 (7th Cir. 1981) ("Before a summary is admitted, the proponent must lay a proper foundation as to the admissibility of the material that is summarized and show that the summary is accurate."); see also Virginia Rules of Evidence, 2:602. Generally, the exhibit must be brought forth by way of "the witness who supervised its preparation." United States v. Bray, 139 F.3d 1104, 1110 (6th Cir. 1998).
In other words, our Fairfax criminal lawyer opines that a prosecutor who wants to show a jury a video simulation of what it would look like to stab a person should have also prepared or directed the production of the video, based upon the data/reports/statements provided to him or her, and based specifically from the incident in question.
Laying a Foundation
The first thing when it comes to admissibility of evidence is whether or not the proponent (the side hoping to show it to the judge or jury as evidence) can "lay a foundation." Another word for this is "authentication." For example, if an attorney wishes to show a random picture to a judge or jury, how is the court supposed to know whether or not the picture depicts what it is supposedly offered to show? Personal knowledge is one way — when it comes to photographs — but what about video simulation?
According to our Fairfax criminal lawyer, video simulations are generally offered by a party along with expert testimony who can properly explain what it shows to a jury or judge. An expert witness is a witness who does not possess personal knowledge of the event or accident, but who has the ability and expertise to render an opinion that would be helpful to the trier of fact (the judge or jury).
If an expert is "qualified," he or she may, in theory, produce a video simulation of an event. For example, if an expert in the field of accident reconstruction studies the scene or related data from an accident scene, he or she could potentially direct or produce a video to show the jury his or her opinion as to what happened. Assuming he or she did prepare the video simulation, the next question is whether or not it is potentially misleading (more on that below).
As you can probably infer, there are multiple hurdles: first, an expert must be "qualified" to testify as an expert (which is the subject of another article). Second, the expert must have personal knowledge or in essence, be responsible and involved with the preparation, or creation of the video simulation. There is yet another hurdle…
Would the video simulation would mislead the jury?
Recognizing the potential danger, the Tenth Circuit advised courts should "carefully and meticulously examine proposed animation evidence" to ensure that it is truly relevant and not unduly prejudicial. Robinson v. Missouri Pacific R. Co., 16 F.3d 1083 (10th Cir. 1994).
Would the video simulation be more prejudicial than probative?
The Federal Rules of Evidence (403) allows parties to object and therefore, seek to exclude evidence, if it poses a risk of being more prejudicial than probative. "Prejudicial" means, basically unfairly harmful or misleading, or to have a tendency to be unjustly misunderstood. "Probative" means helpful or relevant.
Virginia Rules of Evidence 2:403 is extremely important as it affords the judge discretion to evaluate whether the probative value of the offered evidence is "substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury."
As a result of its potential theatrical power, judges should carefully examine any potential video simulation for not only proper foundation, but potential for undue prejudice. Generally, the trial judge should review the video outside of the jury's view. Brandt v. French, 638 F.2d 209, 212 (10th Cir. 1981).
What if the proponent does lay a proper foundation, and the trial judge rules that it is not more prejudicial than probative, nor potentially misleading?
The final consideration when it comes to video simulations is a limiting instruction. What is a limiting instruction? Our Fairfax criminal lawyer describes a limiting instruction as follows: A limiting instruction is a way in which the judge can advise a jury that proposed evidence should be observed in a theoretical or perhaps hypothetical manner.
In one seminal case, the Court held that courts allowing such video simulation evidence must make it "clear to the jury that even though there is not similarity to the events of the accident that the information is received on a theoretical basis for the limited purpose for which it is offered."). Gilbert v. Cosco, Inc., 989 F.2d 399, 402 (10th Cir. 1993).
In Conclusion: Final word by our Fairfax Criminal Lawyer
Our Fairfax criminal lawyer sums up his views on admissibility of video simulation evidence as follows:
Video simulation evidence is admissible, or otherwise may be played for a jury if certain requirements are met. First, the video simulation must not be more prejudicial than probative, and it must not be likely to mislead the jury. Second, video simulation evidence must be prepared by an expert witness. Third, the expert witness must be qualified as indeed being an expert in his or her respective field. Finally, if the trial judge believes the video simulation passes these tests, then the jury must be instructed not to take the video simulation as precise evidence as to what occurred, but rather, a theoretical or hypothetical scenario suggested by one party.
Brent Vincenzes
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The department of Radiology in NorthWest General Hospital & Research Centre Peshawar is well-equipped with the latest machines to cater variety of patients and their radiology procedures. Radiology department has been recently recognized by College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan (CPSP) for postgraduate training. The department also provides learning and clinical practice environment the affiliated for BS Radiology training as well. Round-the-clock services fulfill the needs of inpatients, outpatients and outside referrals by providing the best possible and modern diagnostic facilities in the main radiology unit. The department provides vital support services across the spectrum of clinical specialties, and as leaders in the diagnostic services we initiate and promote change. The Department of Radiology is licensed by Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA). Renewal of the license is linked with the Radiation Protection regulation compliance which PNRA checks and recognizes through periodic annual inspections. We are also ISO 9001: 2015 certified that further guarantees that we deliver high quality health care that meets international standards. Our highly trained and experienced team of consultant radiologists with specialized training in diagnosing and treating diseases using medical imaging techniques and radiology technicians are trained to ensure that the images are competently taken. We also ensure best reporting to give you fast and accurate results.
Radiology Services Includes:
X-rays (x-radiation) are a type of radiation known as electromagnetic waves. When directed towards the body, the waves are able to produce black and white images of the body based on absorption. All range of x-rays that are performed at our radiology department. Our radiology department provides X-rays services with the following latest machines:
1. DR System
2. CR System
3. Portable X-ray Machines
Fluoroscopy is a type of clinical imaging that involves the passage of x-ray beams through the body to produce real time moving images of the internal parts of the body. The image is transmitted to a monitor so the movement of a body part or of an instrument or contrast agent ("X-ray dye") through the body can be seen in detail. Radiology department at NWGH possess latest fluoroscopic machine that is used in a wide variety of examinations and procedures to diagnose or treat patients, including but not limited to, a view of the gastrointestinal tract, to direct the movement of a catheter through blood vessels, bile ducts or the urinary system, placement of devices within the body to open up narrowed or blocked blood vessels and to view blood vessels and organs.
Ultrasound imaging uses high-frequency sound waves from a probe (transducer) to look at organs and structures inside the body. Jelly is spread over the skin area of the body being examined. The transducer detects the reflected sound waves to generate detailed images that are captured in real time displayed on a computer monitor. Our specialist Sonologist performed variety of ultrasound cases that includes:
1. General Ultrasound - Musculoskeletal
2. Pediatrics
3. Obstetrics (Pregnancy ultrasound)
4. 2D & 3D Doppler
5. Ultrasound guided biopsies - and some specialized studies i.e
a) Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS),
b) Transvaginal ltrasound (TVUS)
c) Penile Doppler
d) DVT assessment
e) Carotid US and many more
CT Scan
A Computerized Tomography or CT Scan produces a series of x-rays. A computer then arranges these pictures in a series that give detailed, cross-sectional pictures of the body, from different angles. Our Radiology department is equipped with latest advance CT scan machine of GE and Toshiba. TWO 16-Slices CT scanners perform all range of contrast imaging and without contrast imaging that includes:
1. 3D CT imaging,
2. High Resolution CT (HRCT),
3. CT Angiographies,
4. CT Colonoscopy,
5. CT Guided Biopsies,
6. CT Urograms,
7. CT Pelvimetry and
8. Drainage procedure.
Scan Magnetic resonance imaging uses a powerful magnetic field and a series of radio wave energy pulses to produce detailed images of the organs and structures within the body. An MRI does use x-rays or radiation. The MRI scan produces cross sectional images of the body called slices. These help in examining the internal parts of the body to assess for any medical conditions or diseases. MRIs are very useful for examining the brain, spinal cord and many more. Our radiology department is equipped with 0.35 T Open MRI machine which is suitable for claustrophobic patients (these are patients afraid of close space). Furthermore, we have a plan for installation of an advance 1.5 T MRI machine in the future.
Mammography (Breast Imaging)
A mammogram is an x-ray of either one or both the breasts to help in the screening for breast cancer in women. We provide following mammography services on CR (HOLOGIC SYSTEM):
1. Screening Mammography
2. Diagnostic Mammography
3. Ductography
4. Needle Localization
5. Service is provided by dedicated female Technologists under supervision of a female Radiologist
Interventional Radiology:
Interventional radiology, sometimes known as vascular and interventional radiology, is a medical specialty which provides minimally invasive image-guided diagnosis and treatment of diseases. These procedures have less risk, less pain and less recovery time in comparison to open surgery.
In NWGH, we offer services for:
1. Hepatobiliary procedures, - Urology Intervention,
2. TACE to patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma,
3. Ultrasound Guided FNA and core biopsies,
4. Percutaneous gastrostomy tubes,
5. Other non- vascular and Vascular Procedures
6. Abdominal drainage catheters and dedicated breast biopsies.
DEXA Scan (Bone Densitometry)
A DEXA scan is a special type of X-ray that measures bone mineral density (BMD). DEXA stands for "dual energy X-ray absorptiometry". A DEXA (DXA) scan is a quick and painless procedure that involves lying on your back on an X-ray table so an area of your body can be scanned. At our radiology department we have installed Hologic bone densitometer machine which assesses the bone strength and fracture risk.