{"id":25272,"date":"2021-02-28T12:41:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-28T17:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=25272"},"modified":"2021-03-22T12:42:16","modified_gmt":"2021-03-22T16:42:16","slug":"theres-never-a-slow-day-at-the-maryland-department-of-agriculture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/mda-blog\/2021\/02\/28\/theres-never-a-slow-day-at-the-maryland-department-of-agriculture\/","title":{"rendered":"There\u2019s Never a Slow Day at the Maryland Department of Agriculture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"MD<\/a>Published in the Feb. 28, 2021 edition of Lancaster Farming<\/em><\/p>\n

By: Secretary Joe Bartenfelder<\/p>\n

From Maryland\u2019s 2021 Legislative Session to virtual events honoring Maryland farm<\/span> families, just like on the farm<\/span>, there\u2019s never a slow day at the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA).<\/p>\n

Legislative Update.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Following an unprecedented 2020 legislative session that ended 11 days early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly convened on January 13 with lawmakers sitting behind seven-foot-tall plexiglass barriers, wearing face masks, and waving to their colleagues from a distance.<\/p>\n

Though this year\u2019s 90-day session looks much different in Annapolis, one thing remains the same, our department\u2019s commitment to tracking and providing feedback on the bills that impact Maryland agriculture, our farmers<\/span>, and the constituents we serve.<\/p>\n

While much of the focus of this year\u2019s session will continue to be on the COVID-19 pandemic, our department has submitted two pieces of legislation designed to further our ability to promote installation of conservation practices and to better address weed management priorities.<\/p>\n