Gov. Moore Issues Directive to Address Agriculture Impacts from Statewide Freeze

MARYLAND – Governor Wes Moore today issued a directive on Friday to the Maryland Department of Agriculture and Maryland Department of Environment to implement a coordinated and urgent response to the late April freeze.

Last month’s freeze occurred statewide and was followed by ongoing drought designation affecting the majority of the State’s counties, resulting in a significant crisis for Maryland’s agricultural community. Officials say April’s freeze caused catastrophic damage to commodity and perennial crops, resulting in historic losses in particularly fruit and grape yields. The damage requires a multi-year recovery cycle for vines and orchards, while producers continue to bear routine labor and maintenance costs without the benefit of revenue from this year’s harvest.

The new directive builds upon the formal request Governor Moore sent earlier this week to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for federal disaster aid, emergency loans and supplemental relief programs to be made available to Maryland producers without delay.

“Maryland relies on our agricultural industry for economic prosperity, culture and food security,” said Governor Moore. “The devastating damage caused by the severe statewide freeze requires a unified and coordinated response to restabilize our farming community. I am dedicated to alleviating the impacts of this crisis and fortifying our systems for the next growing season.”

In Governor Moore’s directive, he instructed state agencies to do the following:

The Department of Agriculture shall:

• Waive the 51% Maryland crop or 20-acre minimum requirement for Class 4 Limited Wineries as authorized under the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article §2–206;
• Facilitate distribution of all available federal disaster funds and programming;
• Develop an irrigation task force for agricultural producers;
• Develop a producer education and risk management task force to elevate existing Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency programs;
• Instruct the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation to consider modifications to enhance opportunities within their programs that support farmers and watermen impacted by the natural disaster incidents; and
• Encourage all Maryland institutions, organizations, food banks and consumers to purchase local products whenever possible to support our farms and value-added agricultural businesses.

The Department of the Environment shall:

• Prioritize and streamline applications for water appropriation permits for agricultural production.

The Governor’s Intergovernmental Commission on Agriculture shall: 

• Assess how state and local regulatory agencies can better support affected agricultural sectors.

Agencies are directed to encourage Maryland vendors to support local farmers and streamline application processes for water permits used in agricultural production. 

To read Governor Moore’s directive in full, click here.