Mid-Atlantic State Ag Secretaries and Commissioners Meeting in Annapolis

(From left) Joe Bartenfelder, Maryland Secretary of Agriculture; Ed Kee, Delaware Secretary of Agriculture; Todd Haymore, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; and Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Acting Secretary.

(April 23, 2015) – Agriculture Secretaries and Commissioners from five Mid-Atlantic States met in Annapolis on Earth Day (April 22) to discuss mutual interests and goals of their respective farming communities.  Key participants included:  Joe Bartenfelder (Maryland Secretary of Agriculture), Ed Kee (Delaware Secretary of Agriculture), Todd Haymore (Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry), Russell Redding (Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Acting Secretary) and Mike Teets (West Virginia Department of Agriculture Director of Eastern Operations.

The group discussed the financial health of agriculture in each state, nutrient management, water quality and the Chesapeake Bay, the Food Safety Modernization Act, avian influenza, state medical and recreational marijuana legislation and how it could impact each ag agency, and alternative energy use on farmland and land in agricultural preservation programs.

“I thank our neighboring colleagues for recognizing the importance of making the trip for our meeting today.  Our states are the closest to the Chesapeake Bay and it is essential for us to work in a cooperative fashion to help us reach one of

our biggest shared goals – to protect and restore our national treasure, the Chesapeake Bay. We look forward to working together.” – Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Joe Bartenfelder

More photos of attendees can be found on the MDA Flickr account.