Mid-Atlantic State Ag Leaders Hold 2nd Annual Earth Day Meeting in Annapolis

(ANNAPOLIS, MD) — Agriculture Secretaries and Commissioners from five Mid-Atlantic States held their 2^nd annual Earth Day meeting in Annapolis on April 22 to discuss mutual interests and goals of their respective agricultural communities. Agenda topics included: the financial health of agriculture in each state, nutrient management, water quality goals and the Chesapeake Bay, manure transport, the Food Safety Modernization Act, Zika virus, high path avian influenza, and international trade issues.

Key participants included: Joe Bartenfelder (Maryland Secretary of Agriculture), Ed Kee (Delaware Secretary of Agriculture), Sandy Adams (Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services), Russell Redding (Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture) and Jerry Ours (West Virginia Department of Agriculture Poultry and Environmental Specialist).

“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 cooperatively to help us reach one of our biggest shared goals – to protect and restore our national treasure, the Chesapeake Bay. We look forward continuing our work together.” – Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Joe Bartenfelder

PHOTO ID (L-R): Charles Green (Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Deputy Commissioner), Greg Hostetter (Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary), Jerry Ours (West Virginia Department of Agriculture Poultry and Environmental Specialist), Karl Brown (Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Executive Secretary), Sandy Adams (Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Commissioner), Jim Eichhorst (Maryland Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary), Joe Bartenfelder (Maryland Secretary of Agriculture), Russell Redding (Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture), Ed Kee (Delaware Secretary of Agriculture), Mike Smith (Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Executive Deputy Secretary), Sam Towell (Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Deputy Secretary)