Maryland Farm Bureau’s Annual Convention talks agritourism, protecting farms
CAMBRIDGE, Md. – Farmers and farming officials meeting in Cambridge Monday. They discussed the year in farming they’ve had, and the resources they’re going to need to survive moving forward; including an expanded role for the Department of Agriculture.
“Our goal is to make farming as profitable as possible. And that’s going to mean helping farmers transition into new crops, helping them open up value-added operations,” said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks.
Atticks tells 47 ABC WMDT that means making it easier for farmers to turn apples into cider, grains into beer served at breweries on the premises, or pumpkins into fall harvest festivals. The idea is to keep those events and sales on the farm and tap into an urban demographic from over the bridge, leaning into agritourism.
Atticks says the sector has exploded in recent years but can come with steep entry barriers.
“Each of those things comes with a whole level of regulation that your average farmer is not necessarily used to, so we’ve provided support, we’ve got someone on staff whose job it is to help folks get into those businesses,” Atticks said.
Atticks also stressed that the agency would also be updating its website, and staffing to make that support available online and in-person.
Also speaking at the event were members of the Maryland Farm Bureau (MFB). The collective of Maryland farmers help to organize their interests and petition the Department of Agriculture, or the legislature, to help the industry.
Worcester County Farmer and MFB member Far Nasir says they are looking for regulatory relief on land use, from nutrient management to solar power.
“We are looking at some policy changes on chemical energy, the solar specifically to, you know, allow more farmers to do solar for their use, that would help the Maryland agriculture sector,” Nasir said, adding they are pushing for more rights for farmers across the board.
But the event wasn’t just about protecting farmers. It was also about giving them a solid basis for businesses, as seen in a new proposal from the Department of Agriculture. The proposal would see statewide agencies, departments, and institutions have a 20% quota of purchasing come from local farms and businesses.
Atticks says that boost in margins can help make sure family farms continue to move forward, despite rising costs, and the value of the land those farms operate on.
“[Farmers] sell their land to development and it’s gone, and in that respect, you know, we are running out of time, so we need to do everything we can to make farming more profitable,” Atticks said.
Atticks adds that includes opening up restrictions on the cultivation of hemp, increasing land easements to keep farmland protected, and keeping farms with agritourism and value-added products taxed at the agriculture rate, rather than the substantially higher commercial level.
