MDA Annual Report by Marylands-Best

Maryland Department of Agriculture | FY2023 Annual Report

Governor Wes Moore

Lt. Governor Aruna Miller

Secretary Kevin Atticks

Dept. Secretary Steven A. Connelly

Mission Statement To provide leadership and support to agriculture and the citizens of Maryland by conducting regulatory, service and educational activities that assure consumer confidence, protect the environment, and promote agriculture.

Vision Statement To achieve excellence in programs and in services that preserve and protect agricultural resources and the environment, promote profitable agriculture and consumer confidence, and enhance the quality of life for all Marylanders.

Wayne A. Cawley, Jr. Building 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, Maryland 21401-7080 Baltimore/Annapolis (410) 841-5700 Washington Metro Area (301) 261-8106 MD Relay Service (TTY Users) (800) 735-2258 Toll Free (800) 492-5590 Fax (410) 841-5914 www.mda.maryland.gov mda.news@maryland.gov On Facebook www.facebook.com/MdAgDept On Twitter @MdAgDept On Instagram @MdAgDept Find us on Linkedin

Secretary’s Message Greetings from the Maryland Department of Agriculture! On behalf of Governor Wes Moore and Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, it is my great pleasure to present the department’s FY 2023 Report. Despite the challenges we’ve faced in the last couple of years, such as the Spotted Lanternfly and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreaks, Maryland’s agriculture industry is thriving. Be assured that the department’s commitment to provide leadership and support to Maryland agriculture continues to be steadfast as we celebrate this 50th year of the agency’s commencement and look ahead into the future. During visits to farms in every county of the state this year, I had the opportunity to hear farmers’ concerns in person and took immediate action. We organized a Deer Summit to address the issue of deer damage to crops and convened a Nutrient Management Advisory Board to address changes to the Nutrient Management Program. I personally enjoyed participating in the Governor’s Buy Local Cookout, attending county fairs, and even completing all 9 stops on the Ice Cream Trail. Delicious!

In addition, I am happy to report that a record number of acres are being managed under Soil and Water Conservation Plans, thereby reducing run-off into the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. And urban farms are getting a boost from the department by the offering of new grant programs specifically for smaller farms. We are also excited that we now have an Equity and Climate Initiatives Coordinator on staff to bring focus to environmental justice and climate resilience initiatives. I take pride in the administration’s and department’s many accomplishments, and am grateful for the opportunity to serve you as your Secretary of Agriculture.

Kevin Atticks DCD Maryland Secretary of Agriculture

Winter SpringSummer F a l l Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter - The department welcomed Kevin Atticks as its 10th Secretary in the 50-year history of the agency. The Governor’s Hall of Fame award went to the Fritz Family from Carroll County. Secretary Atticks began visiting farms -eventually visiting farms in every county of the state.

Spring - High Path Avian Influenza is still a threat and Spotted Lanternfly pests hatched and spread. MDA held successful events - Farmer’s Market Conference, Weights and Measures Week, and Deer Summit.

Summer events were Nutrient Management Plan Writing Meetings, Ice Cream Trail Adventures, Governor’s Buy Local Cookout, County and State Fairs and a Conference in El Salvador.

Fall happenings included Maryland Homegrown School Lunch week, Horse Month, Apple Month, preserved farmland topping 355,000 acres, over 802,000 acres managed under Soil and Water Conservation Plans and Long Service Awards for 69 employees.

Office of the Secretary Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation’s purpose is to preserve land to provide for the continuing production of food and fiber for the citizens of Maryland. This is accomplished by purchasing agricultural preservation easements that forever restrict development on prime farmland and woodland. In FY 2023, the program preserved 7,513 acres, which is about the size of the city of Hagerstown. And since the inception of the program, 355,674 acres have been preserved nearly the size of Baltimore County!

Office of the Attorney General This year, the Office of the Attorney General continued to assist the department in implementing the many programs it administers programs that directly affect Maryland agriculture and the public, such as the Animal Health Program and the programs that fall under the Office of Resource Conservation, such as the Nutrient Management Program, the Cost Sharing Program, and Healthy Soils Program. Similarly, the office continued to assist the many boards within the Department to meet their statutory missions, including the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, and the Maryland Horse Industry Board. The assistance provided to programs and boards within the department was wide-ranging and included answering questions relating to: (a) the Open Meetings Act; (b) the Public Information Act; and (c) the Department’s authority in taking certain enforcement actions. The office also drafted legislation, regulations, and contracts and represented the department in legal actions. In addition, the office assisted many of the 24 soil conservation districts in the State and the Maryland Rural Council. Government Relations During every legislative session, the government relations team tracks bills that may affect the department. Two bills of special interest this year were HB 389/SB 34 and HB 950/SB 836. The first bill added a State Specialist for Value-Added as a point person for citizens who request assistance with a value-added agricultural operation. The second bill created the “Maryland Natives” program to help promote the sales of Maryland native plants at retail outlets. Both bills became law and a State Specialist for Value-Added has already been added to the department’s team.

Human Resources - This section reduced the number of vacancies in permanent positions, bringing the vacancy rate from 12.6% to 6%. This was achieved two months prior to October 31st, 2023, which was the target date set by the Wes Moore Administration.

Communications and Public Information Office This office serves as the department’s liaison to the media and the general public, with the goal of disseminating information to a variety of audiences and promoting engagement with department initiatives. The office grew the department’s Facebook page from 300 followers in 2013 to nearly 22,000 followers today! The office also posts content on X (formerly known as Twitter) and Linkedin. Administrative Services The Office of Administrative Services manages all technical and support services for the department and is comprised of four sections: Fiscal Services - This section handles the department’s budget. Please see the chart at the end of the report.

related to agriculture. The commission has new members and is excited to be meeting in January of 2024. National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) The Maryland office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) collects data about the production of most crops and livestock raised in the state. In FY 2023 Maryland agriculture generated more than $3.3 billion in cash receipts for the state’s farmers, not accounting for the additional impact provided by related jobs and services. This is the first time that cash receipts have topped the three billion mark. For more information about Maryland Agriculture USDA/NASS 2022 State Agriculture Overview for Maryland.

Emergency Management - This section prepares for and responds to any hazard or emergency affecting the agricultural community in Maryland in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Emergency Management. Central Services - This section manages the facilities, including the motor fleet, procurement and the mailroom. The motor pool maintains, repairs and inspects the department's 268 vehicles, which includes four newly-acquired Hybrid Electric Vehicles.

For more information on NASS’s censuses and surveys USDA - National Agricultural Statistics Service - About NASS - Agency Overview.

Maryland Agricultural Commission and the Maryland Young Farmers Advisory Board The Maryland Agricultural Commission is a 30-member advisory group to the Maryland Secretary of Agriculture. In FY 2023, during its meetings and tours, the Commission offered its industry perspectives to the newly-appointed Secretary. The Maryland Young Farmers Advisory Board is an 11-member advisory group to the Maryland Secretary of Agriculture and the Maryland Agricultural Commission. In FY 2023 the Board met to engage in discussions about the next generation of agriculture. Governor’s Intergovernmental Commission for Agriculture The Governor’s Intergovernmental Commission for Agriculture was established by Executive Order in 2006 to promote the economic profitability of agriculture in the state by ensuring that all appropriate state agencies work in a cooperative, coordinated manner on issues

Office of Marketing, Animal Industries, and Consumer Services Agriculture Marketing and Development The goal of the department’s Marketing Program is to develop markets for Maryland agricultural products and to connect farmers, watermen, and food producers to those markets. Maryland’s Best’s Agriculture and Maryland’s Best Seafood Maryland’s Best is the department’s agricultural marketing program, which promotes farm products using in-store promotions, farm visits, and an annual Maryland’s Best Expo. This year the program’s messages reached over 3 million consumers through advertising and the Maryland’s Best website had over 72,000 website visits.

The Maryland’s Best Seafood Program works to increase market share and consumer demand for Maryland seafood products using promotional events and advertising. In 2023 Maryland’s Best Seafood messages reached over 4 million consumers through advertising and connected with over 100,000 consumers and wholesale buyers through special events. Maryland Farm to School Program This was the 15th year of the Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week, an element of the Maryland Farm to School Program, which is administered by the department and the Maryland State Department of Education. The program aims to bring locally-produced foods into schools and provide hands-on experiential learning to students about the benefits of local foods. This year the kids really enjoyed a taste-testing of locally-grown callaloo in a new Tropical Somerset Salad at Princess Anne Elementary in Somerset County and, in a Washington County Public School, the kids enjoyed a farm-themed cafeteria decorating contest.

Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is a USDA funded nutrition grant program which provides checks to low-income participants that are a part of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children or the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. Checks can be used to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, cut fresh herbs and honey (Seniors only) at Maryland farmers markets and farm stands. Eligible Women, Infants, and Children participants receive $30 and eligible seniors receive $50. In 2022, recipients purchased over $520,000 of fresh produce.

USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program During FY 2023, the department awarded $442,000 to projects that enhanced the competitiveness of specialty crops. One of the funded projects is food safety programs discussed below in the Food Quality Assurance section of this report. Certified Local Farm and Fish Program The Certified Local Farm and Fish Program encourages state agencies and public universities to achieve an overall goal of purchasing 20% of their food from certified local farms and to purchase invasive fish such as the Blue Catfish. In 2023, the number of producers participating grew from 73 to 114.

Farms and Families Program In FY 2023, the department awarded $100,000 in funding from the Maryland Market Money Program, which increases the buying power of limited-resource citizens at farmers markets by matching federal benefits programs, including Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. And an additional $300,000 will be awarded in the upcoming year!

Disease Response: The program works closely with the poultry industry and state and federal agencies to control Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and other diseases. Notably, this year the department was awarded funds to purchase the nation’s first mobile vehicle disinfection gate, which is a portable washing device for large vehicles and equipment.

International Marketing The International Marketing Program represents Maryland’s farmers, breeders, processed food companies, and nurseries in the Southern United States Trade Association. In 2023, International Marketing traveled to help promote Maryland companies and participated in trade shows in China, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Agriculture Mediation The Maryland Agricultural Conflict Resolution Service helps keep farmers out of court by providing voluntary mediation services. For real-life examples of issues that this programs has resolved, please visit our webpage. Animal Health Program The Animal Health Program prevents and controls infectious diseases in Maryland livestock and poultry with emphasis on diseases that pose a threat to public health, food supplies, or the economic security of the animal industries. The program includes the following areas:

certain capital expenses. From 2014 to the end of FY 2023, the program has funded over 200 projects, which have provided over 110,000 free spay and neuter procedures across Maryland, and consequently reducing the intake of animals to shelters by 27% and the euthanasia rates by 62%. Maryland Horse Industry Board The board promotes and serves as an economic development incubator for the horse industry, as well as licenses and regulates public equestrian operations. In FY 2023, in addition to licensing 797 stables,

The program is excited to showcase this cutting-edge technology to the USDA and other partners in the near future. Animal Disease Traceability Program: This program is acclaimed for its proficiency in animal tracing exercises and its exceptional service in processing of Certificates of Veterinary Inspection, which are required for interstate and intercounty animal movement and more. Over 43,000 certificates were processed in FY 2023.

This year, the program graded 190 million pounds of poultry, 12.9 million dozen of shell eggs, 15.2 million pounds of meat, 12 million pounds of vegetables, and over 264,000 metric tons of grain. As well, the department completed its seventh year of assisting growers with compliance of the federal Produce Safety Rule. The department worked cooperatively with the University of Maryland Plant Sciences

Inspection, Investigations, Accreditations and Lab Testing: In FY 2023, program staff inspected over 10,000 animals, including those at 38 fairs and shows. Additionally, they conducted 17 disease investigations resulting in quarantine placement, and provided accreditation to 37 newly-licensed veterinarians in Maryland. Labs in Salisbury and Frederick collectively performed over 42,000 lab tests and conducted 550 necropies in FY 2023. This extensive work plays a crucial role in safeguarding animal health in Maryland. State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners licenses, registers and inspects veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary hospitals, and humane organizations. The board also investigates consumer complaints and determines whether action will be taken. In FY 2023, Board staff became up to date on investigations and veterinarian licensing applications! There had been a backlog on both, created by the pandemic's disruption to normal operations, but this year staff completed all FY 2022 and prior year projects. Spay and Neuter Grants Program The Spay and Neuter Grants Program provides grants to government and nonprofit entities that provide free spay and neuter services to pets of low-income Marylanders, feral/community cats, and for

the board supported the Maryland Horse Park System by the following: · Sponsorship/Participation at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill and the 5 Star Washington International Horse Show, · Support/Sponsorship for the new Maryland Horse Library and Education Center, and · Promoting the third annual October Horse Month. Horse Discovery Centers and public outreach – The 42 Horse Discovery Centers, located in 18 counties, held events impacting over 250,000 Marylanders in 2022. These events included Open Barns, Trail Rides, Horsemanship Lessons, Yoga with Horses, Holiday Events, etc. Additionally, 62,500 attendees found a connection to horses at public events such as the Horseland exhibits at the State Fair, the 5 Star events, county fairs, parades and more. Touch of Class Award – In FY 2023, the board’s Touch of Class Awards honored several who won national and international recognition, including racehorse Aloha West (Chanceland Farm), harness racer Desperate Man (Winbak Farm), U.S. gold medalist Aviva Nebesky, U.S. Eventing Hall of Fame inductee Trish Gilbert, and champion jousters Isabel Worthy, Emily Trawick, Ian Flaherty and Brad Enfield. Additionally, several Prince George’s County representatives were recognized with

Food Quality Assurance inspects and certifies the quality, weight, production practices, processing practices and/or labeling of agricultural commodities (eggs, meat, grain, etc.), offers organic certification through the Maryland Organic Certification Program, licenses Grain Dealers, inspects produce operations for risk of microbial contamination, and enforces the Maryland Egg Law.

Farmers Market Directory Maryland Farmers Market Directories were distributed to the public at various locations. This directory includes all the farmers markets in the state recognized by the department. The online version of the directory is also available on the department’s website and Maryland’s Best website.

Touch of Class rewards for their work in bringing a 5 Star event to Maryland. Grants and Sponsorships – In FY 2023, the board provided $30,500 in grants and $40,000 in sponsorships to support horse-related activities including some at therapeutic riding centers and at events such as the Celebration of the Horse on the Eastern Shore. Diversity Initiatives – The board has an international representative who arranged for a booth at the Gaithersburg Chinese Lantern Festival where 20 students were signed up for riding lessons. In addition, the board sponsored the EquestrAsian Sports Association gathering at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill and a group ride at Full Moon Farm in Finksburg.

Department, University of Maryland Extension, and the University of Maryland Agricultural Law Education Initiative to provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to Maryland fruit and vegetable growers to assist them in compliance with the rule. The program has reached over 1,600 fruit and vegetable producers. Weights and Measures The department’s Weights and Measures Program ensures that consumers receive fair and accurate measurements when making purchases, whether it is a gallon of gasoline, a truckload of gravel, or a pound of crab meat. Purchases that require measurement affect every resident in the state and involve millions of transactions annually. In FY 2023 the program’s team of eighteen inspectors tested and certified over 20,000 weighing and measuring devices in commercial use, which is one-third of all existing such devices in the state of Maryland. Additionally, the program registered fifty-three new Cannabis Dispensaries and ensured the accuracy of the 217 scales housed within them. One of the program’s top priorities is to investigate consumer complaints, with a majority of them involving the sale of gasoline. In the past year, during inspections of gasoline meters, staff discovered that 19% of them did not meet specification and tolerance requirements. Maryland Agricultural Fair Board The Maryland Agricultural Fair Board supports agricultural fairs and shows that provide education about the agriculture industry. The board administered over $1.1 million in grants to agricultural fairs and shows across the state. See the “Maryland Agricultural Fairs & Shows Brochure” online!

Greenhouse The Greenhouse received crucial infrastructure updates that continued to support multiple programs including plant diagnostic, regulatory and biocontrol initiatives.

Office of Plant Industries and Pest Management

staff. Three apiaries were found with American foulbrood - a regulated disease that requires complete destruction of the hives.

Spotted Lanternfly Program The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) program continued with trapping, surveying, treatment, and outreach. In 2023 Calvert, Charles and Garrett counties were confirmed as positive in addition to 17 other counties and Baltimore City previously confirmed. Outreach included online advertising with multiple media outlets, billboards, print ads, and presentations.

Entomology Lab One noteworthy species collected in 2023 was the Florida predatory stink bug, which has only sporadically appeared in survey samples since it was first collected in Maryland in 2008. It ranges from Pennsylvania to Florida, and south to Costa Rica. This year seven adults were collected of this large, handsome species, which is a generally a beneficial predator that feeds on many pest insects, such as cutworms and loopers.

Plant Pathology Lab The Plant Pathology Lab received more than 110 plant samples from department staff, which led to about 200 individual diagnoses of plant diseases. The lab also assisted with the Oak Decline survey and other surveys.

Federally-funded surveys: CAPS (Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey) and Farm Bill Surveys Exotic plant pest surveys included inspecting soybean plants and nursery stock and looking for the exotic woodboring beetle. There were eighteen insect pests and one plant disease surveyed during the 2023 season and none were found. There was also an imported fire ant survey which focused on tropical plants brought into Maryland from southern states. This federally-quarantined pest was not found this year.

Nursery Inspection Program The Nursery Inspection Program serves the nursery industry with the primary goal to control the spread of disease and pests in nursery stock. Every year the program licenses over 300 nurseries, as well as over 1,500 plant dealers and plant brokers. This year over 11,000 acres of nursery stock and over 14 million square feet of greenhouse space was certified as disease free. The conclusion from the inspections is that the health of Maryland nursery stock is very good. Unfortunately, though, rose mosaic virus was discovered at two large wholesale nurseries and over 24,000 roses with visible symptoms were destroyed to stop the spread of the disease.

Biocontrol Program The Biocontrol Program reared over 8,000 knotweed psyllid and released 1,800 of the insects in an initial effort to establish them as ontrol for invasive Japanese knotweed throughout the state. Presently the program is dealing with a loss of funding and is actively applying for grants, in hopes of continuing with the effort.

Apiary Program The Apiary Program works with beekeepers to control honey bee diseases, parasitic mites and other pests, in order to maintain healthy colonies for the pollination of Maryland crops. The program has two trained inspection dogs - Mack and Tukka. In FY 2023, over 3,000 hives were inspected by the disease detector dogs and nearly 500 by other

Additionally, growers and plant dealers should be aware of the increase in positive sites for vascular streak dieback, which is a condition associated with a fungus occurring on redbuds, maples and dogwoods.

Plant Protection & Weed Management has the following programs: Noxious Weed Program The Noxious Weed Program works with growers throughout the state to manage all noxious weeds. Currently a lot of effort is being put into outreach materials on Palmer Amaranth and Waterhemp, in addition to enforcement letters and noxious weed advisory notices. Ginseng Management Program The Ginseng Management Program provides permits to ginseng collectors and license dealers per federal guidelines and this year noted that permit requests for wild-simulated and wood- grown ginseng surpassed that for wild ginseng, indicating a continued effort by forest farmers to protect this valuable natural resource.

Forest Pest Management The Forest Pest Management Program develops and implements environmentally sound pest management practices by conducting surveys to identify the population size, movement and potential of forest pests and diseases across the state. The program’s experts also provide valuable information to the public and are invaluable partners to other agencies. In 2022, the staff visited over 5,000 properties! Lymantria Dispar Dispar Program This insect is formally known as European gypsy moth and the most serious threat to oak forests in the United States. The annual survey and suppression program identifies potential damaging infestations and conducts an aerial suppression (spray) operation to treat the infested areas. In the 2022-23 survey season, the program conducted over 8,000 spongy moth egg mass surveys across the state representing over 452,000 acres of oak dominated forests. In the spring of 2023, the program managed an aerial suppression effort on over 6,000 acres on the eastern shore, as shown on the map below.

Legend Final Spongy Moth Suppression Blocks

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Program The Hemlock woolly adelgid effort protects the hemlock forests of Maryland from the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid through monitoring surveys, suppression treatments, and the release and redistribution of biocontrol agents. In the winter of 2022-23, over 75 separate hemlock stands were surveyed for the presence and level of this insect and subsequently over 7,000 trees were treated. During that same time period, adelgid predators, Laricobius nigrinus and 520 Laricobius osakensis predatory beetles (over 4,000 in total), were released. Both biocontrol agents have been established in hemlock forests across the state and are helping to combat the Hemlock woolly adelgids. In addition, 4,592 Laricobius nigrinus beetles were collected from the instate wild insectary at Rocky Gap and redistributed to other sites in-state and out-of-state.

Legend Laricobius nigrinus Laricobius osakensis Scymnus coniferarum Scymnus sinuanodulus Sasajisycmnus tsugae Treated Hemlock Stands

Emerald ash borer program The Emerald ash borer program conducts limited treatments of ash trees on public lands with the goal of protecting specimen trees and preserving a seed bank for rare ash species. The program also utilizes biocontrol by releasing several Emerald Ash Borer parasitoids throughout the state. As parasitoid populations become established, they will help control future Emerald Ash Borer infestations. In the 2022 treatment season 236 ash trees were treated in state parks and wild areas and over 3,600 parasitoids were released at Savage River State Forest and Millington Wildlife Management Area. Legend EAB Treatment Locations EAB Adult Traps EAB Parasitoid Release Locations

In addition to the forest pest activities discussed above, the program also annually conducts forest pest trapping surveys for the detection and or monitoring of forest damaging pests. In 2023, detection trap surveys were conducted for the red bay ambrosia beetle (no targets found), the Sirex woodwasp (no targets found), and the emerald ash borer (one new county confirmed, Wicomico). Monitoring traps were set for the Southern Pine beetle (low numbers found), spongy moth (numbers increasing) and the walnut twig beetle (numbers low in quarantined areas). Forest health surveys are also conducted to detect new pathogens and determine causal agents of forest decline. In 2023, the program conducted 408 beech leaf disease and beech bark disease surveys throughout the state. Beech leaf disease was found in Maryland for the first time and there are 8 positive counties. Beech bark disease was found in the same counties it had been confirmed in previously. Oak decline surveys were conducted at 27 sites in 2022 and several causal agents were identified. Phytophthora ramorum stream bait surveys were conducted at 10 sites across the state with no positives detected. Saltwater intrusion damage is identified and mapped annually - 67,266 acres of damage were found in 2022.

Legend Saltwater Damage Areas Oak Declined Sample Locations BLD Positive Counties BLD 2023 Point Surveys

The program also conducted surveys funded by the USDA in 2022. One was an Asian defoliating moth survey looking for new invasive moths at sites along shipping channels and ports of entry and none were found. An oak commodity survey was also conducted at high-risk sites for new oak pests and none were found. And a Thousand Cankers Disease/walnut twig beetle detection survey was conducted across the state with one new area detected in 2022 in St Mary’s County.

Legend Asian Defoliator Oak Commodity Walnut Twig Beetle

Mosquito Control Program The program safeguards public health and enhances quality of life for residents in over 2,000 communities in Maryland. This is accomplished through mosquito-borne disease surveillance and mosquito abatement efforts, which include aerial and ground-based spraying, biological control agents and water management projects. Participation in the program is voluntary, with funding provided through cooperative agreements with local governments and local communities. Exemptions from spraying are available to all citizens through the department website. In a notable development this year, there was one report of a Maryland resident contracting malaria locally in the National Capital Region. The program responded promptly by spraying for mosquitoes in the affected area, after which there were no additional malaria cases reported. Additionally, for the past five years, the rates of West Nile virus in Maryland have been consistently lower than the neighboring states of Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and Ohio. The number of West Nile virus cases this year reported in Maryland stands at seven cases.

State Chemist The State Chemist Section protects the public and the environment by ensuring that pesticide products distributed within the state are properly formulated and labeled. In FY 2023 the section added the convenient online renewal option for registrations for six commodities: pesticides, animal feeds, fertilizers, fertilizer-pesticides, soil conditioners, and liming materials. Additionally, the section’s commitment to supporting the National Honey Bee Survey continues into its seventh year. The section analyzes bee pollen to detect pesticides, and this data is used to improve bee colony health through the use of informed management practices.

Pesticide Regulation The Pesticide Regulation Section is responsible for regulating the use, sale, storage, and disposal of pesticides. In FY 2023 alone, the section performed 950 inspections and investigated 37 complaints. In addition, every year the section licenses and certifies thousands of pesticide businesses, public agencies and pest control applicators and reviews hundreds of recertification courses. New this year is that all applicator exams are now also available online! The department is also excited about its re-commitment to FieldWatch - an innovative suite of programs that includes DriftWatch, a pesticide sensitive crop locator database, and BeeCheck, a honeybee colony locator database. These tools allow growers, bee-keepers and pesticide applicators to work together to protect specialty crops and apiaries through the use of mapping programs. For more information or to sign up, please visit our website at https://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/Pages/pesticide_regulation.as px or visit https://md.driftwatch.org/.

Nutrient Management Program Authorized by Maryland law, the Nutrient Management Program protects water quality in the Chesapeake Bay by utilizing the following two programs:

Office of Resource Conservation The Office of Resource Conservation partners with Maryland farmers to plan and implement conservation measures that balance production with the need to protect natural resources. The office also supports the work of the State Soil Conservation Committee. Its strategic plan prioritizes Chesapeake Bay restoration, climate resilience, and environmental justice. As part of this strategy, in FY 2023, the program hired a new Equity and Climate Initiatives Coordinator to integrate these priorities into conservation programs.

The Agricultural Nutrient Management Program administers the Maryland law which requires most farming operations to follow nutrient management plans when fertilizing crops and managing animal manure to prevent excess nutrients from entering waterways. In January 2023, the program implemented new regulations affecting how food processing residuals are applied to farmland. The new rules aim to reduce farm odors and complaints while ensuring these products are used based on their nutrient content. In June 2023, the program began assessing and evaluating the nutrient management plan writing process to increase farmer participation and compliance.

Turf and Seed The Turf and Seed program inspects and certifies seeds, enforces seed and sod labeling laws and conducts lab tests on seed for purity, weed seeds and germination. The program also registers farmers who grow hemp - out of the 47 that registered, there are nine new to hemp farming.

manage manure, and plant trees to protect local streams and capture carbon from the atmosphere. In addition, the Small Farm and Urban Agriculture Program provided financial assistance to support small-scale agricultural operations in more urban areas in order to increase access to healthy foods. This program expanded to include the Urban Agriculture Water and Power Infrastructure Grants Program and the Small Acreage Cover Crop Program. District Operations This program provides operating funds and staffing support to the state’s 24 soil conservation district offices to promote soil conservation and water quality programs to the agricultural community. FY 2023 activities include:

The Turfgrass Nutrient Management Program administers the Lawn Fertilizer Law, which requires both homeowners and lawn care professionals to obey fertilizer application restrictions, observe designated fertilizer blackout dates and use best practices when fertilizing lawns. Staff continued contacting fertilizer applicators that failed to renew their certification and license for professional applications as well as inspecting business locations. More license holders utilized the Maryland OneStop online program to complete their annual fertilizer application reports electronically. Conservation Grants The Conservation Grants Program manages and distributes grants to Maryland farmers who install best management practices on their farms to address natural resource concerns and promote environmental sustainability. The program is funded through a variety of sources, including federal and state sources. This year, the program provided $35 million in conservation grants to help farmers control erosion,

Soil Conservation and Water Quality Plans: Technical staff, including 133 new staff, worked one-on-one with farmers to develop Soil Conservation and Water Quality Plans to protect natural resources on farms. In FY 2023, a record number of 802,492 acres of agricultural land were managed under these plans. Best Management Practices can be installed to manage natural resources, control soil erosion, and protect water quality. Examples include grassed waterways, cover crops, and waste storage structures. During the year, technical staff helped farmers install 2,262 Best Management Practices on their farms. Additionally, a targeted outreach program for horse farms cataloged existing conservation practices and promoted pasture management and stream protection practices, including exclusion fencing, alternative water sources, and streamside buffers. Enforcement: Complaints concerning on-farm water pollution are handled jointly by the department and the Maryland Department of the Environment. Together, they investigate farm management complaints and act against polluters when warranted. In FY 2023, the program investigated 19 complaints concerning odors, livestock, manure, sediment, wetlands/stream disturbance, and pond issues. All of the complaints were corrected or closed. Agricultural Water Management: On the Eastern Shore, District Operations coordinates the activities of public draining associations to ensure that over 800 miles of drainage ditches are in good working order and protecting water quality. Permitting and Compliance Assistance: Program staff help farmers comply with the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Animal Feeding Operation permit requirements. In FY23, staff prepared 71 Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans and secured cost-share assistance to install BMPs.

Program Planning and Evaluation This section plans, develops, and coordinates new programs and services, facilitates program advisory committees, works with conservation partners to achieve excellence in program delivery and oversees all accounting and reporting toward environmental goals. The section manages four programs. The Animal Waste Technology Fund provides grants to companies that demonstrate new on-farm technologies and provide new strategies for managing animal manure. In FY 2023, the program initiated a comprehensive review of the Animal Waste Technology Fund in collaboration with a grant awarded to the University of Maryland. The Maryland Healthy Soils Program funds projects that improve the health and yield of soils, and increase the soil carbon sequestered. In FY

Maryland Envirothon (pictured above): The State Soil Conservation Committee and soil conservation districts are the primary sponsors of the Maryland Envirothon. This environmental education competition challenges high school teens to solve complex environmental issues. Students are trained and tested in aquatics, forestry, soils, and wildlife. In

FY 2023, a team from Harford County won the Maryland Envirothon competition, beating teams from 13 other counties. The Harford team went on to finish 10th at the National Envirothon.

2023, the program introduced a Healthy Soils Competitive Fund and during its first year the fund provided $650,000 in grants to support 16 soil health and agroforestry projects.

toward the goals of several key conservation practices, such as exclusion fencing and agricultural stormwater management. In addition, the Field Verification Team evaluated a record number of conservation practices and have now reported the status of over 24,000 conservation practices through June 2023.

Geographic Information System (GIS) staff provides updated datasets, maps, and technical assistance to multiple programs in the department. In FY 2023 the program re-established the department’s GIS Committee to facilitate interagency discussion of projects, best practices, and training needs. The Watershed Implementation Program provides direction and leadership to carry out the agricultural sector’s commitments included in Maryland’s Watershed Implementation Plan to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay, as required by the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load. During FY 2023, strong implementation progress was made

Conservation Education This program develops informational and educational materials to promote the department’s conservation programs and services to various audiences, including traditional farmers and urban and small farmers. These materials include annual reports, brochures, displays and more. In FY 2023, staff produced six new conservation videos on topics ranging from tree plantings to grassed waterways and how to fertilize lawns responsibly. To date, 14 produced videos have been watched by more than 6,500 viewers.

Budget Allocations For FY 2023

General Funds 40,496,082

Opera�ng Capital

Special Funds 106,080,262

Federal Funds

Bonds

7,812,788

154,389,132

72,203,328

MACS Program Grand Total

40,496,082

178,283,590

Total

7,812,788

2,000,000

228,592,460

Long Service Awards Long Service Awards The department recently honored 69 employees for their years of dedicated service to the department and to the State of Maryland during an awards ceremony. Of the employees honored, three have 30 or more years of experience; and one has 40 years of experience. All together, these 69 employees represent over 1.3 million hours worked.

Charlotta (Susan) Winebrenner – 35 years

Charles Bradford – 10 years

Heather Harmon-Disque – 10 years

Aaron Shurtleff – 10 years

Robert O’Ferrall – 5 years

Kaitlyn Fox – 5 years

Bonita Brown – 25 years

Misti Wilson – 10 years

Shawn Smith – 15 years

Della Penn – 10 years

Mark Freese – 25 years

Alison Wilkinson – 5 years

Marcia Solomon – 10 years

Brian Galbreath – 25 years

David Mister – 35 years

Thomas Fagan – 40 years

Kimberly Lambert – 10 years

Robin Culver – 15 years

Anthony De Witt – 20 years

Steve Szelestei – 5 years

Shankar Mondal – 5 years

Stephen Goff – 5 years

Samarakoon Yapa – 15 years

Anthony Riggi – 25 years

Mark Powell – 20 years

Tong Hsu – 10 years

Richard Shepard – 25 years

Deborah Freburger – 15 years

Sarah Zastrow – 10 years

Daniel Polite – 25 years

Kim Macfarland – 15 years

Amber North-Staves – 5 years

Christopher Burch – 15 years

Marla Stevens – 20 years

Scott Larzelere – 5 years

Matthew McMahon – 25 years

Melissa Edmonds – 25 years

Tina Stevens – 25 years

Keith Potter – 25 years

Anthony Calao – 25 years

Nancy Larochelle – 5 years

Kenyon Hooker – 5 years

Sara Lewis – 15 years