{"id":12055,"date":"2014-11-07T14:00:29","date_gmt":"2014-11-07T19:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=12055"},"modified":"2014-11-10T15:48:42","modified_gmt":"2014-11-10T20:48:42","slug":"statement-from-the-maryland-department-of-agriculture-on-the-release-of-the-economic-impact-study-of-the-phosphorus-management-tool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2014\/11\/07\/statement-from-the-maryland-department-of-agriculture-on-the-release-of-the-economic-impact-study-of-the-phosphorus-management-tool\/","title":{"rendered":"Statement from the Maryland Department of Agriculture on the Release of the Economic Impact Study of the Phosphorus Management Tool"},"content":{"rendered":"

ANNAPOLIS, MD<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The Economic Impact Study on the Phosphorus Management Tool\u00a0(PMT)\u00a0was released today.\u00a0The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA)\u00a0commissioned the study to\u00a0better understand the economic impacts the PMT will have on farmers\u00a0and on Maryland\u2019s economy. MDA\u00a0provided a copy of the report to the\u00a0General Assembly\u2019s\u00a0House and Senate Budget Committees; the Senate Education, Health, Environmental Affairs Committee; as well as the House Environmental Matters Committee\u00a0for review and a 45-day comment period.<\/p>\n

The study\u00a0assessed\u00a0all available economic and financial data and information related to the proposed PMT implementation,\u00a0including the\u00a0potential costs, potential benefits, and other related decision-points, from the\u00a0perspective of all interested stakeholders.\u00a0While there is no one single figure representing the economic impact, the study considers specific variables at various levels resulting in a range of both costs and benefits. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Statement Attributable to MDA Secretary Buddy Hance:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMDA is\u00a0analyzing\u00a0all information this widely-anticipated comprehensive study contains. The study provides valuable insight as we consider next steps related to the phosphorus management tool. MDA does not intend to make any further comments on the study until our analysis is complete.\u00a0We appreciate the work of Dr. Memo Diriker and his team of advisors on this highly informative study. We will continue to work to understand the findings and balance the need to restore the Bay with reasonable protections for Maryland family farms.\u00a0MDA has set up an email address PMTinfo.mda@maryland.gov<\/a> for anyone who has questions about the report.\u201d<\/p>\n