Final Draft. Volume 1 Issue 2 October 2022

AGRICULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS
Agriculture
Governor Larry Hogan just announced the launch of a Small Acreage Cover Crop Program to support
small farm producers and urban agriculture. The pilot program is operated by the Maryland Department
of Agriculture (MDA) and aimed at helping historically underserved farmers and communities build
healthy soils, increase yields, sequester carbon, and improve local water quality. Financial assistance for
this program is capped at $1,000 per grower, per year. For more information contact Bill Tharpe,
Program Administrator at bill.tharpe@maryland.gov or 410-841-5869.
The Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) is
offering a new Maryland Producer Cold Storage Grant Program to assist farmers and watermen with
purchasing cold storage equipment needed for their operations during the fall of 2022. Matching grants
of up to $1,000 are now available. For more information, www.marbidco.org.
University of Maryland Extension Updates
The University of Maryland (UMD) is partnering with the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA)
and USDA to create a four-module online training course, Maryland Farming Success. The online
training course is separated into four modules designed around preparing farmers for success by
providing information about available USDA programs and creating the ability for participants to have
a successful business plan, including - mission and goals, enterprise budgeting, risk management,
and legal risk management.
UME will be holding several training and recertification events this Winter & Spring for those who
need pesticide and nutrient credits.
For more information please either contact the Dorchester County Extension office (410-228-8800)
or visit the website at https://extension.umd.edu/
Maryland Farm Bureau PAC Endorses Legislative Candidates
As Elections near, MDFB encourages going to the polls informed on farming interests.
The Maryland Farm Bureau Political Action Committee (PAC) announces its endorsement
of candidates for the Maryland General Assembly. Each election, the Maryland Farm Bureau
(MDFB) PAC looks at incumbent voting records, reviews candidate questionnaires, and solicits
recommendations from county Farm Bureau organizations to determine candidates who are
friends of Maryland agriculture.
Early Voting begins on October 27th and runs through November 3rd.
The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is November 1st.
In Legislative District 37A and 37B, PAC endorses the following candidates:
State Senator Johnny Mautz
House of Delegates District 37A, Sheree Sample-Hughes,
District 37B, Chris Adams and Tom Hutchinson
Statewide Offices Attorney General, Anthony Brown and Comptroller, Barry Glassman