March 12, 2020

Department Recognizes Outstanding Employee of the 2019 Fourth Quarter

ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 12, 2020) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture honored employee Deborah Hayes, nursery inspection administrative officer for the department’s Plant Protection and Weed Management Program, with an outstanding performance award for the fourth quarter of 2019. Maryland Agriculture Secretary Joseph Bartenfelder recognized Deborah at the department’s staff meeting yesterday afternoon.

“I take pride in the employees that work at the Maryland Department of Agriculture and serve our great state,” said Sec. Bartenfelder. “Deborah has consistently demonstrated an outstanding performance in her time at the department and shown amazing initiative in her role as new responsibilities were added. Congratulations to Deborah on receiving this well-deserved award and thank you for all you do for the department’s Plant Protection and Weed Management Program.”

Deborah Hayes was nominated by her supervisor for this recognition. In the past few months, Deborah has taken the lead on several new priority projects for the Plant Protection and Weed Management Program, such as developing agreements to assist licensed business with their sales and developing standards for a regulated industry in Maryland. She has executed each task with a high level of productivity and strong diligence. When faced with difficulties, Deborah has approached each situation in a very professional and consistent manner. Her strong work ethic and incredible time management have been critical to advancing the goals of the program and the department.

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March 11, 2020

Department Launches 2020 Manure Happens Public Education Campaign

ANNAPOLIS, MD –The Maryland Department of Agriculture has launched its 2020 Manure Happens public education campaign to teach Marylanders how and why farmers recycle manure as a natural crop fertilizer and soil conditioner. The 2020 campaign focuses on best management practices used to prevent runoff and control odors when spreading manure, and the science behind nutrient management. The ads will run in local newspapers, on websites, and on social media throughout March.

“Today’s educated consumers are passionate about where their food comes from and how it is produced,” said Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Joseph Bartenfelder. “The Manure Happens campaign helps Marylanders understand why farmers use manure as a crop fertilizer and how the nutrient management practices farmers follow protect the health of nearby waterways. As our hard working Maryland farmers start to prepare their fields for spring planting, let us recognize all they are doing to improve the health of their soil and the Chesapeake Bay.”

Maryland farmers are required to follow nutrient management plans when fertilizing crops and managing animal manure. These science-based plans specify how much fertilizer, manure, or other nutrient sources may be safely applied to crops to achieve yields and prevent excess nutrients from impacting waterways. Farmers are prohibited from spreading manure on their fields in winter or when the ground is frozen. March 1 was the first opportunity for most farmers to recycle manure generated over the winter as a crop fertilizer and soil conditioner.

To further protect water resources, Maryland’s Phosphorus Management Tool (PMT) regulations are helping farmers protect local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay from phosphorus runoff.

The public education ads direct viewers to the department’s Manure Happens website. In addition to providing citizens with information on how farmers recycle manure resources, the website offers resources for farmers who use commercial fertilizers and want to switch to manure, and to farmers who already use manure to build healthy soils. The page provides links to important farmer resources including the department’s new and improved grants to haul poultry manure, grants to “inject” liquid manure below the soil surface to reduce odors and protect against runoff, tax credits, nutrient management regulations, technical guidance, and scientific research on the benefits of manure as a crop fertilizer and soil conditioner.

The department’s 2020 education campaign includes three ads with different themes. The Attitude is Everything ad focuses on ways farmers work to protect local streams and reduce odors when spreading manure. The Go the Distance ad highlights the science behind managing poultry manure and its nutrients. In addition, the campaign’s namesake ad, Manure Happens, has been updated. To see all of the department’s manure education ads over the years, visit the Manure Happens website.

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March 10, 2020

2020 Maryland Farmers Market Conference Postponed

ANNAPOLIS, MD – In light of public health concerns related to COVID-19 and out of an abundance of caution, the Maryland Department of Agriculture has decided to postpone the 2020 Maryland Farmers Market Conference, originally scheduled for March 18. The department is planning to offer webinars at a later date and will reach out to those who have already registered for the event. Registration fees will be refunded.

For questions regarding the conference, please contact Weida Stoecker at 410-841-5776. For more information on COVID-19, please visit the Maryland Department of Health’s website.

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March 5, 2020

Federal Administration Agrees to Release Additional H-2B Visas to Help Maryland’s Seafood Industry

Announcement Comes After Weeks of Hogan Administration Urging Federal Action

ANNAPOLIS, MD—After weeks of urging federal officials to take action, Governor Larry Hogan today praised the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s announcement that it will release an additional 35,000 visas through the H-2B Nonimmigrant Temporary Worker Program. This will help protect Maryland’s $355 million seafood industry and supply chain, particularly ahead of the start of the blue crab harvest season on April 1.

On January 21, Governor Hogan wrote to federal administration officials urging them to release these critical visas, and calling for a long-term permanent solution to provide certainty to rural Maryland and in particular the Eastern Shore.

“I am pleased to report that our efforts to make additional H-2B visas available to help our state’s seafood industry have again proven successful,” said Governor Hogan. “While we still urgently need a long-term solution to this problem, this announcement is welcome relief for our state’s iconic crab processing houses and seafood industry.”

Maryland’s Best Seafood, a marketing program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture, released a survey earlier this week measuring the economic impact of the state’s crab industry and the importance of the federal H-2B temporary visa program.

• All eight crab processors surveyed agreed that the current lottery system for awarding temporary visa requests creates uncertainty that hurts their businesses, and that limiting the number of available H-2B visas hurts Maryland’s seafood industry as a whole.
• Seven of the eight crab companies indicated that they would not open for the 2020 crab season without adequate H-2B workers. The shuttering of these processors would severely impact the supply of “True Blue” Maryland crabmeat, as well as the livelihoods of American workers who rely on the industry for employment, including commercial watermen, restaurants, and local businesses.
• Without these seasonal workers, the survey showed that income for watermen would drop by $12.5 million; processors would lose $37-$49 million in sales; Maryland would lose 914-1,367 jobs; and the overall hit to the state’s economy could be $100-$150 million.

This is the third straight year Governor Hogan has been successful in pushing the federal government to release additional visas through the H-2B program.

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Maryland Agricultural Fair Board Meeting on March 19 Cancelled

ANNAPOLIS, MD – In light of public health concerns related to COVID-19, the department has cancelled the Maryland Agricultural Fair Board Meeting previously scheduled for Thursday, March 19.

For more information, contact Jessica O’Sullivan at [email protected] or 410-841-5882.

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March 4, 2020

Protect Local Waterways by Following Maryland’s Lawn Fertilizer Law

Lawn Fertilizer Blackout Dates End March 1

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Department of Agriculture reminds lawn care professionals and homeowners to follow the state’s lawn fertilizer law as warmer weather approaches. Fertilizer products containing nitrogen and phosphorus may be applied to lawns beginning March 1 as long as the ground is not hard frozen or snow-covered and heavy rain is not expected.

Maryland’s Lawn Fertilizer Law is designed to prevent excess nutrients from entering the Chesapeake Bay and local waterways, and requires that lawn care professionals be licensed and certified by the department to apply fertilizer. Nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, are key ingredients in lawn fertilizer. When it rains, fertilizer applied to lawns can wash into nearby storm drains and streams that flow into the Chesapeake Bay. Once in our waterways, nutrients contribute to algae blooms that block sunlight from reaching bay grasses, rob the water of oxygen, and threaten underwater life.

Best management practices for the health of your lawn and the Chesapeake Bay:

• Skip the spring fertilizer, especially if your lawn is healthy. Fertilizing lawns in spring promotes excessive top growth at the expense of roots.
• Sharpen lawnmower blades. A dull blade tears and weakens the grass, opening it up to disease. Many local hardware stores or garden shops can sharpen your blade for you.
• Raise the cutting height of the mower. Taller grass shades out weeds and needs less water. A three-inch cut length is ideal for most lawns.
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn. They provide free fertilizer all season long.

If fertilizer is necessary:

• Follow the directions on the fertilizer bag.
• Learn about soil testing. For seasonal and yearly fertilizer recommendations, visit: extension.umd.edu/hgic/plants/lawns
• Do not apply phosphorus to lawns unless a soil test indicates that it is needed.
• Clean up any fertilizer on sidewalks or other impervious surfaces.
• Keep fertilizer applications 10 to 15 feet away from waterways.
• Do not apply fertilizer if heavy rain is expected.

The lawn fertilizer law applies to urban sources, including golf courses, parks, recreation areas, businesses, and home lawns. Citizens can verify that their lawn care provider is certified by visiting the department’s website. For more information, visit mda.maryland.gov/fertilizer.

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March 2, 2020

Survey Shows Impact of H-2B Visa Program on Maryland Seafood Industry

Crab Processors Emphasize Need for Reliable Access to Seasonal Workers

Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Maryland’s Best Seafood, a marketing program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture, today released a survey measuring the economic impact of the state’s crab industry and the importance of the federal H-2B temporary visa program. Secretary Joe Bartenfelder joined the Chesapeake Bay Seafood Industry Association at an event on Hoopers Island to discuss the results of the survey and the critical role the seafood industry plays in many Maryland communities. 

“Blue crabs are an integral part of our state’s heritage and our economy,” said Secretary Bartenfelder. “The world-class crabmeat produced by Maryland processors relies heavily on the availability of seasonal labor via the H-2B visa program. This survey reinforces what we have learned in previous years: a lack of reliable access to H-2B workers poses a major threat to the future of this iconic industry.”

Maryland’s Best Seafood contracted Market Solutions, LLC, to survey the state’s eight largest crab processors to determine the industry’s economic impact and how it is affected by the availability of H-2B workers. All eight crab processors surveyed agreed that the current lottery system for awarding temporary visa requests creates uncertainty that hurts their businesses, and that limiting the number of available H-2B visas hurts Maryland’s seafood industry as a whole. 

Seven of the eight crab companies indicated that they would not open for the 2020 crab season without adequate H-2B workers. The shuttering of these processors would severely impact the supply of “True Blue” Maryland crabmeat, as well as the livelihoods of American workers who rely on the industry for employment, including commercial watermen, restaurants, and local businesses. Without these seasonal workers, the survey shows that income for watermen would drop by $12.5 million; processors would lose $37-$49 million in sales; Maryland would lose 914-1,367 jobs; and the overall hit to the state’s economy could be $100-$150 million.

In 2019, the survey participants bought more than 14 million pounds of crabs from 416 local watermen at a value of $19 million, and directly employed 123 American workers. These businesses supplied crabmeat to 243 restaurants, 94 food service distributors, 182 retailers, and 2,300 consumers directly, for a combined $36.7 million in total sales. 

The full report, “Impacts of the H-2B Visa Program for Seasonal Workers on Maryland’s Seafood Industry and Economy,” is available on the department’s website. 

“Without these temporary workers, and without an end to the arbitrary lottery system, local seafood processors will be unable to open for business or be forced to significantly reduce their operations,” said Governor Larry Hogan in a January 21 letter to federal officials requesting an increase in H-2B visas in support of the industry. “Another year of hardship could permanently damage Maryland’s sustainable seafood industry.”

The H-2B visa program is capped at 66,000 visas per year, though the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is authorized to release up to 64,716 additional visas at the secretary’s discretion. 

After a shortage of H-2B visas in 2018, Maryland’s Best Seafood partnered with Maryland Public Television to produce “Maryland Crabs: Tradition & Taste.” The film is available here.

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