Worcester County Agritourism bill could impact farmers, heading to P&Z commission for next vote

WORCESTER COUNTY, Md.- Farming, it’s a big deal here on the Eastern Shore.

But an Agritourism bill recently talked about in a commissioner meeting in Worcester County could impact farmers.

“Hopefully, it will have a positive impact on the farmers that choose to do those,” Joe Mitrecic, President of the Worcester County Commissioners, said.

The bill would make it easier to get activities approved on their property by the county.

This could include a wedding, corn maze, or even festival.

“A lot of the items they can do now with the special exception, they will be able to do with this agritourism bill without having to go to planning and zoning,” Mitrecic said.

The bill would also increase the set back distance, so that there would be more space between the events and other farms.

The Worcester County Commissioner President said this bill could be a plus for farmers.

“Some of them are struggling, so this gives them an alternative use of their property to like I said help them make their farms viable,” Mitrecic said.

President Joe Mitrecic also said there is a possibility if a farm does participate in agritourism, it could infringe on a neighbor’s property even with increased set backs.

Virgil Shockle, a worcester County farmer who was also a county commissioner for 16 years in the County agrees.

“So, if I’m doing whatever I’m doing on my farm and 100 foot setback from my neighbor who also happens to be a farmer who happens to be spreading lime that day, who happens to be spreading fertilizer that day, who happens to be combining corn that day, so beans that and kicking up all kinds of dust the first thing that’s going to happen is they are going to call and complain,” Shockley said.

Shockley added that the way the bill is written now is too broad.

He thinks it should be more specific, but he did say there are parts of the bill that did needed to be changed.

Joe Mitrecic said the next steps for this bill is to go to the planning and zoning committee

He added at the end day they are not looking to take away any agricultural rights.