January 7, 2026

Queen Anne’s County Control Area Released

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                                                                CONTACT:  Lauren Moses, 410-841-5889

Queen Anne’s County Control Area Released

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 7, 2026)– The Maryland Department of Agriculture has announced the release of the control area within Queen Anne’s County, MD. The previously infected premise remains under quarantine, but all other farms in the former control area, provided they are not located within another active control area, are no longer subject to movement or placement restrictions and are no longer required to conduct enhanced surveillance testing specific to the control area.

Routine HPAI surveillance continues statewide. Farms that placed birds prior to the release of the control area are still required to complete biosecurity audits if those audits have not already been completed.

Currently, there are no active control areas on Delmarva; however, this does not mean the threat of HPAI is not present, especially with the migratory season still upon us. Maintaining strong, consistent biosecurity practices remains essential.

What Does it Take to Release a Control Area?  

The following conditions must be met to release a Control Area:

• The infected flock has been depopulated, and the compost piles must be capped. 
• Initial virus elimination must be completed for the infected premises. 
• Required surveillance testing for commercial and backyard flocks must be completed. Routine surveillance will continue throughout the state. Even though these control areas have been released, any farm in a control area that did not complete a biosecurity audit and had chicks placed before the control area was closed will still need to do so. 

Avian influenza is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that spreads quickly among birds through nasal and eye secretions and manure. The virus can be spread from flock to flock, including flocks of wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, equipment, and the clothing and shoes of caretakers. This virus affects poultry, like chickens, ducks, and turkeys, and some wild bird species, such as ducks, geese, shorebirds, and raptors.  

If You Have Sick Poultry Or Experience Increased Mortality 

• Commercial poultry producers should notify the company they grow for when they notice signs of disease.
• Backyard flock owners who notice any signs of HPAI in their flock should not take dead or sick birds to a lab to be tested or move them off-site. To report any unusual or sudden increases to MDA Animal Health Program at 410-841-5810.

For more information on High Path Avian Influenza in Maryland, please visit: https://mda.maryland.gov/Pages/AvianFlu.aspx. 

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January 23, 2025

Maryland Value-Added Producer Matching Grants Now Available From Marbidco

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 28, 2025) – The Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) has announced a grant funding opportunity, the Maryland Value-Added Producer Matching Grant (MVAPG) to encourage Maryland’s agricultural producers to engage in value-added activities and pursue financial support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Value-Added Producer Grants Program (USDA-VAPG). The USDA-VAPG is a highly competitive nationwide grant program with approximately $30 million available for distribution in 2025. 

These federal grant funds can be used for planning (up to $75,000) or working capital expenses (up to $250,000) in accordance with USDA regulations. Eligible purposes include feasibility studies or business plans, and working capital for producing and marketing value-added agricultural products.

USDA is making the grants available under the Value-Added Producer Grants program. The grants help farmers and ranchers generate new products, create marketing opportunities, and increase their incomes through value-added activities. Electronic applications will be accepted via the VAPG application portal until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 17, 2025. The VAPG Application Portal User Guide (PDF) can be found here. Additional information is available on Grants.gov or by contacting your local USDA Rural Development office.

Eligible applicants must be independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer or ranch cooperatives, or majority-controlled producer-based business ventures (all defined terms under federal regulations). In addition, applicants must be making a product that is “value-added”.  

• A product that is Value-Added is described as follows by USDA-VAPG: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2019-title7-vol15/xml/CFR-2019-title7-vol15-sec4284-902.xml
• USDA Value-Added Producer Grant application, fact sheet, and more information: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/value-added-producer-grants 
• USDA “What does this program do?”:  https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/fact-sheet/508_RD_FS_RBS_VAPG.pdf 

Applicants seeking to receive MARBIDCO MVAPG funds for the USDA VAPG must submit an application to MARBIDCO at least two weeks prior to the federal deadline. The MVAPG electronic application deadline is 4:00 p.m. on April 1, 2025. 

Applications received in the mail with a March 29, 2025, postmark will also be accepted. Applicants must attach a completed copy of their federal application form as part of the application submission including all required attachments. 

All MVAPMG applicants meeting the MARBIDCO requirements will receive a commitment letter of matching funds to be included with their federal applications. The MVAPMG commitment amount cannot exceed 15% of the required non-federal match, and it may be for a lesser amount depending on the quantity of MVAPMG applications that are received and the pool of available MARBIDCO funds. MVAPMG monetary awards will only be provided to those applicants who are successful in obtaining USDA VAPG awards. 

MVAPG Conditions

• Maximum Amount of Grant: $11,250 for Planning Grants; $25,000 for Working Capital Grants
• The maximum cumulative amount of grant funding a single applicant may receive from all MARBIDCO Core grant incentive programs is $50,000.
• Disbursement of Funds: A commitment letter will be provided to qualified applicants approximately seven days in advance of the federal deadline. Funds will only be disbursed to applicants that are actually awarded 2025 USDA Value-Added Producer Grants
• Send Completed Applications to: MARBIDCO Programs, 1410 Forest Drive, Suite 21, Annapolis, MD 21403. Send electronically to [email protected] 

All applicants who meet the MARBIDCO requirements will receive a commitment of matching funds letter to be included with their federal USDA-VAPG application. An MVAPMG monetary award from MARBIDCO will only be provided to an applicant who is selected to receive USDA-VAPG funding.    

Once the USDA-VAPG application has been determined to be eligible, the application will be competitively rated in a nationwide competition.  Projects or ventures must be determined to be economically viable and sustainable.  The applications will then be screened for the technical feasibility of the value-added activity, the overall ability to operate efficiently, improvement to the rural economy, qualifications of personnel performing the proposed task and a demonstrated track record of performing similar activities, and a plan of work that incorporates the appropriate tasks to meet the stated objective.  The USDA VAPG applications with the highest ratings will be funded first.  

Questions regarding the USDA-VAPG can be addressed to the Maryland/Delaware Office of USDA-Rural Development at 302-857-3629 or visit USDA’s website for more information. Questions regarding the MARBIDCO matching grant may be addressed to Brittany Rawlings at [email protected] 

Please visit the MARBIDCO website for more information and download the MVAPMG application form: https://www.marbidco.org/maryland-value-added-producer-matching-grant-usda-option 

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MARBIDCO was established 18 years ago by the Maryland General Assembly to help enhance the sustainability and profitability of the State’s agricultural and resource-based industries in order to help bolster rural economies, support locally produced food and fiber products, and preserve working farm and forest land. MARBIDCO is a nimble, quasi-governmental financial intermediary organization that has a mission to serve exclusively the commercial farming, forestry, and seafood industries of Maryland. Young and beginning farmers are a special focus for MARBIDCO, as is farm operation diversification. In delivering its financing programs, MARBIDCO works cooperatively with commercial banks and farm credit associations, as well as a host of federal, State, regional, and local government agencies, and universities. Since 2007, MARBIDCO has approved some 1,410 financings totaling more than $111 million for food and fiber business projects located in all Maryland’s counties – and in the process has leveraged more than $236.1 million in commercial lender financing. For more information about MARBIDCO’s programs, please visit: www.marbidco.org

Three New Members Named to Maryland Horse Industry Board

Top to Bottom: Dr. Kathleen Anderson, Genevieve Macfarlane, and Carolyn Mackintosh

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 6, 2025) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture announced the appointment of three new members to the Maryland Horse Industry Board. Each member is appointed by the Governor of Maryland to serve a four-year term. 

“The Maryland Horse Industry Board plays a critical role in strengthening the state’s horse industry and honoring the dedication of the thousands involved,” said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks. “I extend my congratulations to the new members and look forward to your leadership.”

Established by the General Assembly in 1968, the Maryland Horse Industry Board was created to oversee equine welfare and license public riding stables. In 1998, its mission expanded under the Maryland Department of Agriculture to include promoting the equine industry and fostering economic growth. Today, the board licenses, inspects, and regulates over 800 public riding and lesson stables while actively supporting all facets of Maryland’s equine sector. By State law, its 12 members represent diverse segments of the industry, ensuring a well-rounded approach to its oversight and advocacy.

The new members of the board include:

Dr. Kathleen Anderson (Equine Veterinarians) graduated from Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986 and has practiced in the Mid-Atlantic region since then, focusing on Thoroughbred racehorses and elite equine athletes. She is the Equine Medical Director for Fair Hill Training Center and served as the 2016 Past President of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). Dr. Anderson has held numerous volunteer leadership roles in the equine industry, including with the AAEP On Call program and was recently appointed to the HISA Veterinary Advisory Committee. She brings nearly 40 years of experience and a passion for horses to the Maryland Horse Industry Board, working as a racehorse practitioner from yearling sales through retirement and second careers; eventers and beloved riding horses.  Kathleen has a menagerie at home of 5 horses, 2 wild corgis and 2 barn cats that keeps her grounded in reality and sensitive to the challenges facing horse owners and caretakers!

Genevieve Macfarlane (General Public) is a partner at the Law Offices of Stevens Palmer, LLC, located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Her legal practice encompasses real estate transactions, land use and zoning, and equine-related legal matters. A lifelong equestrian, Macfarlane grew up riding in Maryland, which fostered a strong and enduring connection to the state’s vibrant equine community. She earned her undergraduate degree from Washington College and her Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law. Since law school, she has been focused on building a successful practice while combining her work with her passion for the equine industry. Macfarlane serves as the President of the Queen Anne’s County Bar Association and sits on the Land Use Institute Committee for the Maryland State Bar Association. Macfarlane is an avid foxhunter and a member of the Wicomico Hunt Club.

Carolyn Mackintosh (Horse Council) is the owner of Loch Moy Farm and the organizer of the Maryland Horse Trials, Maryland International FEI CCI 1/2/3/4*, USEA Horse Trials, and USDF Dressage shows. She also hosts Bred to Event and unrecognized events, providing opportunities for horses and riders at the grassroots to the FEI level of equestrian sports. Traveling to international events to learn more about competitions and management, while fostering growth in Maryland’s competitive equestrian scene, is a true passion of hers. Carolyn Mackintosh is on the board of the Maryland Horse Council.

Current board members, Sheila Curry – Chair (Organized Shows & Events), Dr. Amy Burk – Vice – Chair  (Equine Academic Community), Adrian Ford III (Licensed Stables), Connie Sawyer (Trade & Support Industries), Jennifer Sulin (Trails & Recreational Riding), Jenile Tapscott (Thoroughbred Sector), Lisa Watts (Standardbred Sector), Erin Ochoa (Humane Societies)

Cassie Shirk, assistant secretary for marketing, animal industries and consumer services of the Maryland Department of Agriculture, represents the department on the board.

For further information about the Maryland Horse Industry Board, contact Anne Litz [email protected]

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January 22, 2025

MARBIDCO Certified Local Farm and Fish Food Aggregation Grant Fund Now Open    

***PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING RELEASE FROM THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE-BASED INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION***

MARBIDCO Certified Local Farm and Fish Food Aggregation Grant Fund Now Open            

ANNAPOLIS (January 21, 2025) – The Maryland Agriculture and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) has announced it is offering the Certified Local Farm and Fish Food Aggregation Grant Program for Certified Local Farm Enterprises and Certified Chesapeake Invasive Species Providers. The aggregation grant program opens on January 21, 2025. The establishment or expansion of local farm food aggregators in Maryland can help provide a link between the small farmer and the large-scale buyer such as a wholesaler or large institution that is looking to purchase locally grown food.

In 2023, the Maryland General Assembly altered the original Certified Local Farm Enterprise Program to become the Certified Local Farm and Fish Program; expanding the purpose of the program to include food from certified Chesapeake Invasive Species Providers in the overall percentage goal of 20% of State institutions total dollar value for certain food procurement contracts; and altering the Certified Local Farm Enterprise Food Aggregation Grant Fund to be the Certified Local Farm and Fish Food Aggregation
Grant Fund.

MARBIDCO’s grant program is designed to stimulate increased market access for small Maryland farmers who wish to sell to wholesale and institutional buyers. Maryland law encourages State agencies (including public four-year universities) to achieve an overall goal of purchasing 20% of food from certified local farm enterprises and certified Chesapeake Bay invasive species providers.

• A grant of between $25,000 and $100,000 is available.
• Applicants for the small-scale farmer-led aggregation grant must include at least four Certified Local Farm Enterprises or consist of one Certified Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider. For projects with a Certified Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider, they should be sourcing invasive species from at least four licensed commercial watermen.
• Applicants must provide at least a 20% match of private funds in the project.
• An example of a small-scale aggregation entity could include an Agricultural Product Aggregation and Distribution Entity, an entity (including a farming operation aggregator)working with at least 4 farms (or 3 if the applicant is a farm) that can expand to meet institutional/wholesale demand. Another example of a small-scale farmer aggregation entity could be a legally organized farm cooperative.
• The applicant must provide evidence that it will be selling a certain quantity of product to a wholesale or institutional buyer. This evidence could be in the form of a contract or letter of commitment specifying that it will purchase a certain amount of product.

Grant funds could be used to purchase cold storage equipment or construct an indoor processing facility in order to better handle products moving to wholesale and institutional buyers.

Public Sector Aggregation Project

• A grant of between $150,000 and $300,000 is available.
• Applicants for the public sector aggregation grant will be a public entity such as a county government, municipality, community college, university, county school system, or rural regional council.
• The grant is for public projects that plan to be primarily aggregation centers for wholesale and institutional distribution.
• If the applicant is the buyer, it would need to provide a commitment to purchase from at least four Certified Local Farm Enterprises or three Certified Local Farm Enterprises and one Certified Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider and include what it plans to purchase and the amount of each product.
• If the applicant is facilitating the aggregation, it would also need to provide evidence that it will aggregate produce from at least four Certified Local Farm Enterprises or three Certified Local Farm Enterprises and one Certified Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider and provide a commitment from a wholesaler or institutional buyer to purchase from the aggregation center.
• The grant requires at least a 20% match of funds in the project. A project of this size might also require a partnership of multiple entities and funding sources.

Grant applications must be submitted to MARBIDCO by February 28, 2025. Applications can be found at https://www.marbidco.org/certified-local-farm-fish-food-aggregation-grant. For more information about the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) Certified Local Farm and Fish Program or to become certified visit https://mda.maryland.gov/maryland_products/Pages/certified-local-farm.aspx.

Send completed grant applications and all attachments to MARBIDCO Local Farm and Fish Food Aggregation Grant Program, 1410 Forest Drive, Suite 21, Annapolis, MD 21403 or email to [email protected] . For more information contact Sierra Criste, Financial Programs Specialist, at [email protected] or call 410-267-6807.

October 18, 2024

Emergency Regulations Take Effect for Food Processing Residuals

ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 18, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture has announced that the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR) has approved emergency regulations to establish a new permit program for food processing residuals (FPRs) and make corresponding amendments to the Maryland Nutrient Management Manual.

Food processing residuals are generated during the production and processing of food products such as milk and poultry. New legislation, which took effect July 1, 2024, requires the department to oversee the transport, storage, and land application of food processing residuals on Maryland farms as a nutrient source. People who engage in these activities must first obtain a permit from the department. The new rules are designed to ensure that FPRs are managed to protect air and water quality.

“With the passage of House Bill 991 and Senate Bill 1074, the department has been granted the authority to establish a permit program for FPRs. The new requirement aims to address citizen complaints while still allowing the land application of this important nutrient source, following Maryland’s nutrient management regulations,” said Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks.

In 2023, Maryland joined a growing list of states regulating FPRs by requiring direct injection or same-day deep incorporation of FPRs on all cropland except hay fields. But residents in several Maryland counties have asked for stronger regulations and new permit requirements which are now in place.

If you are a Maryland farmer who uses FPRs, here’s what you need to know and do.

• A Food Processing Residuals Utilization Permit is required if you plan to transport, store, or land apply FPRs on Maryland farmland.
• A separate permit is required for each activity (transport, storage or spreading).
• Permit holders are required to post a bond to ensure compliance.
• Applications for transport and storage received by November 15 to be issued by January 1.
• Farmers who have submitted their applications by November 15 may continue to transport or store FPRs until the permit determination has been made
• Applications for land application of FPRs are due to the department by January 15. Permits will be issued by March 1, when land application of nutrient sources resumes.
• All FPRs must be applied to fields following Maryland’s nutrient management regulations. Nutrient management staff will be making site and field inspections to ensure compliance.

For more information on the new regulations, please visit mda.maryland.gov/conservation. To request a permit application, please contact:Dwight Dotterer, Administrator, Nutrient Management Program, Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401, Phone: 410-841-5877 | Email [email protected]

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