2008 MDA Annual Report - Maryland Department of Agriculture

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| Ma r k e t i n g, An im a l In d u s t r i es a n d Co n s u m e r Services |Maryland Horse Industry BoardThe Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) consists ofthe Secretary of Agriculture and 11 members who areappointed by the Governor to four-year terms. Chapter416, Acts of 1998 defined six statutory duties of the MarylandHorse Industry Board. Those duties are to: create public awarenessof the value of equine activities as they relate to the preservationof greenspace and agricultural land; promote the developmentand use of horses in Maryland; support research related to equinehealth and related issues; advise the Maryland Department ofAgriculture (MDA) regarding matters affecting the horse industry;carry out the licensing, inspection, and enforcement of stablelicensing in Maryland; and develop and disseminate informationconcerning the equine industry, including the history and traditionof breeding and the role of horses in recreational activities.The MHIB continues to conduct projects for the benefit of thehorse industry utilizing a specially funded source. The boardcontinues to achieve all of its legislatively mandated functions.Projects slated for the benefit of the Maryland horse industry inthe near future include:• The review, analysis, dissemination and promotion of theequine results of the Maryland Agricultural Census, andpossibly conducting an economic impact report on thosefindings.• A 2009 Maryland Horse Forum to be held in August whichwill serve as a follow up to the 2004 Maryland Horse Forum.Industry leaders will lay out strategic plans for the future ofthe Maryland horse industry.• Finalizing the Maryland Horse Park Project, through theselection of a final location.• Initiating a new marketing campaign for the industry focusedon increasing business for all sectors of the industry.The main challenges the Board faces in the next year are:• Retaining and growing the entire industry in Maryland untilsuch time as slot machine revenue is realized in the state.• The limited budget for the promotion of the Maryland horseindustry. With a budget of less than $120,000 (includingstaffing), of which approximately $115,000 is brought in asfunds directly from the horse industry (this does not includerevenue generated from the Maryland horse industry by othersections of the MDA), the board was forced to stop fundingof all projects not related to stable licensing due to a lack ofsufficient funding.As the commodity board for the Maryland horse industry, theboard hopes to continue to grow the success of the recreationalhorse industry and to work to re-establish the prominence of theMaryland horse racing and breeding industries. To that end theboard endeavors to find new sources of revenue to support itsactivities.Key Accomplishments in 2008Completed the feasibility study of an international import andexport facility for horses.As international marketing efforts continue to attract foreignbuyers to the Maryland market and as the popularity of Marylandhorse competitions increases, there is a greater need to improve thequarantine and transportation options in the mid-Atlantic region.The installation of an animal export and import facility associatedwith the Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)would enhance the potential for the equine industry by reducingtransportation costs, enhancing the marketability of Marylandhorses to foreign buyers, and improving access to in-state events,all of which contribute to the viability of this industry. The studyfound that the project would be feasible if coupled with anotheroperation such as a state laboratory, due to the seasonality of theimportation of horses.Licensed 518 horse stables in FY 2008.The number of licensed stables has increased by 55 since FY 2006,but declined by 10 since FY 2007. The overall rise in facilitylicenses is attributed to the work of the stable inspectors, theexecutive director and administrative assistant, the continued useof an Oracle database to monitor licensed and unlicensed stables,improved records being supplied to stable inspectors, and theinstallation of civil penalties to allow the MHIB to pursue illegallyoperating stables more effectively. As of reporting time there weremore than 550 licensed stables for FY 2009.Assisted the Maryland Agricultural Land PreservationFoundation (MALPF) to draft guidelines for the acceptance ofequine operations into the easement purchasing program.Over the previous two years the MHIB has worked with MALPFto better define what types of equine uses would be acceptableon preserved agricultural land. Funds are used to purchase thedevelopment rights from farms in order to allow those farmfamilies to remain on the land and slow development. Equineboarding, training and breeding stables are now clearly acceptableuses of preserved properties.36
| Ma r k e t i n g, An im a l In d u s t r i es a n d Co n s u m e r Services |Continued to disseminate the information from the initialFeasibility Study of the Maryland Horse Park.A horse park would create a new large scale market for Marylandequine goods and services as well as an attraction for increasedbusiness, media attention, and marketability of Maryland’s equineindustry. If located in Central Maryland the establishment of aMaryland Horse Park would generate more than $123 milliondollars per year in economic impact to the local and stateeconomy, more than 1,900 new jobs, and millions of dollarsin annual tax revenue from tourists. This project was one ofthe original missions of the MHIB and will remain a highpriority until its completion. The project was highlighted inthe Governor’s transition report as an important project for thefuture of the industry. While the MHIB selected not to pursue along-term lease on the property in Gambrills, the board intendsto work on its establishment at another as yet undetermined site.Currently, a number of counties including Harford, Howard andWicomico have publicly expressed interest in the project. TheMHIB has also been approached by interested parties located onthe Eastern Shore, Central Maryland and in Southern Marylandregarding the potential for the project in those areas.Continued meetings of the MHIB – Health AdvisoryCommittee.The Health Advisory Committee was established to advise theMHIB on matters of equine health and disease in the state; ensurethe establishment and implementation of effective industry andcommunity communication vehicles; and review and adviseon a variety of Maryland policies and protocols. These includereportable diseases; Maryland statutes and regulations relatingto equine health; interstate health requirements; capabilities ofthe Maryland State Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratories; andemergency preparedness protocols. Many of the efforts of thecommittee have had positive results including the acquision ofpolymerese chain reaction equipment that enables Maryland tomore quickly analyse diagnostic samples, including those fromequine. This capability enables the MDA to resolve a potentialdisease outbreak in a matter of hours or days as opposed to weeksand to better protect horses and the industry.Assisted the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s HorseOutreach Workgroup in its grant applicaions for theinstallation of conservation best management practices atMaryland equine farms.The grant applications resulted in $1.3 million dollars in newfunding to assist operators of Maryland equine farms in theirefforts to improve their conservation practices that protect theChesapeake Bay and its tributaries.(LEFT) Jim and Christine Steele with a mare and foal at Shamrock Farms in CarrollCounty. (RIGHT) Pam Saul with a horse at Rolling Acres Farm riding stable inMontgomery County.37
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2008 MDA Annual Report - Maryland Department of Agriculture

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