Agriculture Secretary Addresses Maryland Farm Bureau’s Annual Convention

Governor O’Malley offers praise and commitment to farm industry in Chesapeake Bay restoration, land preservation and economic profitability

ANNAPOLIS, MD (Dec. 8, 2009) –  Maryland Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance today brought a message of optimism for the opportunities before the agricultural community today and a call to action on environmental accountability and reporting to the nearly 500 attendees of the Maryland Farm Bureau’s Annual Convention in Ocean City, Maryland.  Hance, who served as president of the statewide organization until three years ago, followed a pre-recorded video presentation by Governor Martin O’Malley.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address you today and to share with you my continued commitment to Maryland agriculture,” said Governor O’Malley.  “A prosperous and thriving agricultural industry is so very important to our shared priorities of strengthening our family farms and businesses and to improving the health of our families and the Chesapeake Bay for a smart, green and growing future.”

“Agriculture is, in my mind, the best way of life and the best way to make a living.  As we know, it is constantly changing with new technology, consumer demand and political pressures.  As research continues to show improved agricultural practices, it is our responsibility to provide you with the technical and financial resources to implement them,” said Sec. Hance in his keynote address. “Renewed regulatory pressure and accountability for cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay in aggressive two-year increments is here now and is not going away.  We need everyone to pull together to report all on-farm conservation practices, not just the ones installed using government funding, so that the agricultural sector gets credit for all the reductions it has accomplished.  We know there is a lot more on the ground than we have information about now. We also know that we are being asked to do more to meet the clean up goals.  To that end, as farmers, we need to be more open about how we run our operations.  People—policy makers as well as our neighbors—need to understand that we are doing things right and we are doing our part.

One of the highlights of the past few years is the growth in consumer demand for local products and the opportunity it gives farmers.  Grocery stores, restaurants, schools and hospitals are now making it a priority to buy local.  In fact, the National Restaurant Association reports that local food will be the hottest trend for 2010.
Ten years ago, we saw the surging interest in farmers’ markets begin, and 25 years ago we saw the first Chesapeake Bay clean up policies and the birth of our water-quality cost share program.  These movements offered a glimmer of what was to come regarding local purchasing and conservation activities. We want to look forward to the next 10 or 15 years to help us plan as an industry for the future.  Governor O’Malley and the Agriculture Commission are hosting the Governor’s Agriculture Forum in February. This is an important opportunity for each of us to help guide policy.  The first Governor’s Agriculture Forum has shown great results with over 100 of the 109 recommendations from farmers and other stakeholders already completed or underway.  I ask each of you to please join us in our planning for a smart, green and growing future for agriculture.”

During his remarks, Governor O’Malley praised the farm community for its conservation leadership and for producing the high quality food products we enjoy.  He reiterated that even in these tough budget times, he is providing full funding for farmland preservation programs and is committed to strong funding for conservation cost-share programs including cover crops to help farmers reach the Bay goals. He reiterated his demand to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson for fair and equal treatment in its animal feeding operation and other environmental regulatory programs.

The Governor illustrated his strong support for the economic well-being of the agriculture community by asking for assistance from Congress for our dairy farmers and others struggling economically. Finally, Governor O’Malley drew attention to the success of the buy local campaign in raising sales and consumption of local products at schools, restaurants, institutions, farmers’ markets as a way to improve the health of our residents and the profitability of farmers.

To see the Governor’s presentation, visit www.mda.state.md.us/videos/gov_fb_2009.swf 

The three day conference is the annual event during which the farm organization sets its policies on a vast array of issues facing agriculture and elects its officers.