Maryland Receives Federal Crop Disaster Designation for

10 Counties due to Vomitoxin Contamination of Grain Resulting from Wet Weather

ANNAPOLIS, MD (Nov. 17 2009) – Governor Martin O’Malley received notification from U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack that Maryland’s request for a disaster designation for crop losses due to vomitoxin contamination resulting from wet weather that occurred in May and June 2009 has been approved.  Vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol toxin), may be produced in wheat and barley grain infected by the fungus, Fusarium head blight (FHB) or scab. The Nov. 13 letter stated that there were sufficient production losses in Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s, Talbot and Washington counties to warrant a Secretarial disaster designation.

“Because farmers throughout most of Maryland experienced significant crop losses, we requested a disaster designation and thank Secretary Vilsack for granting it,” said Governor O’Malley.  “It is our hope that the designation will provide relief to the farmers who need it and help them prepare for the next growing season.”

“Persistent spring rain throughout most of the State caused significant contamination in wheat and barley harvest in the form of vomitoxin, which can make the crop unmarketable or unusable as feed,” said Buddy Hance, secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture.  “Farmers in the disaster designation areas experienced market value losses ranging from 30 to 55 percent.”

This designation makes farm operators in the 10 primary counties as well as contiguous counties – Allegany, Anne Arundel, Caroline, Dorchester, Frederick and Prince George’s counties – eligible to be considered for assistance from the USDA Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met.  This assistance includes FSA emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program which was approved as part of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.