Portal Navigation Links (Level 1):
Residents |
Government |
Business |
Culture
Portal Navigation Links (Level 2):
Portal Navigation Links (Level 1):
Residents |
Government |
Business |
Culture
Portal Navigation Links (Level 2):
News
County Executive
County Council
Departments
I Want To ...
Services & Info.
Online Services
County Cable 6
New! Seniors
Education
Volunteers
Careers
Contact Us
English-Spanish translation
Ride-On
Agricultural Services Navigation Links:
| AG Preservation |
| AG Facts |
| AG Initiatives |
| Applications |
| Publications |
| Farmers Markets |
| AG Services Division |
| Farm Tour |
| Boards/Committee |
| Soil Conservation |
| Cooperative Extension |
"The Pride of Montgomery County Agricultural Products" logo is used on agricultural products that originate in Montgomery County. Stickers of this logo and the Agricultural Reserve are available from the Agricultural Services Division for schools, 4H groups, and others interested in promoting local agriculture.
"The Pride of Montgomery County Agricultural Producer" logo is used to promote local agricultural businesses in the County. Metal signs measuring 30"x 36" with this logo and a space for the individual farm's name are available from the Agricultural Services Division.
Agricultural Zoning Notification Requirements
Do you live near a Farm? If you’re planning to buy or sell a home in a rural area or near farmland, a new notification requirement may apply to you.
In an effort to promote the primary land-use of agriculture and farming in the Agricultural Reserve, the County Council passed Bill number 12-07, Real Property – Agricultural Zones - Disclosure effective January 14, 2008 (pdf). The purpose of Bill 12-07 is to inform and educate potential residents in agriculturally zoned areas that agriculture is the preferred land-use and farming operations are permitted at all times. Residents and other occupants of property within or near land in agricultural zones should be prepared to accept the effects of usual and customary agricultural operations, facilities, and practices, including noise, odors, dust, smoke, insects, operation of machinery, storage and disposal of manure, unusual hours of operation, and other agricultural activities.
Bill 12-07 states, “if any real property is located in, adjoins, or confronts an area zoned agriculture…the seller must disclose to each prospective buyer, before the buyer signs a contract for the sale of the property, that existing County and State law is intended to discourage owners of real property adjacent to agriculture-zoned land from filing certain lawsuits against an owner or operator of an agricultural use in those areas.”
“Welcome to the Agricultural Reserve” Signs
In a continuing effort to educate the general public on the importance and presence of agriculture within the County, a new Agricultural Reserve Signage program has been created. These Agricultural Reserve signs will help to inform the residents when they are entering the Agricultural Reserve and will serve to further promote this valuable economic and environmental resource. There are six locations along State Roads where the Agricultural Reserve Signs will be located. They are as follows: Routes 27, 28, 97, 108, 109, and 112 (River Road).
On June 4, 2008, Council President Mike Knapp, the representative of District 2 in the northern and western parts of the County that encompass much of the Agricultural Reserve; Councilmember George Leventhal (at large); and members of the Agricultural Services Division of the County’s Department of Economic Development (representing County Executive Isiah Leggett) unveiled the sign along Route 28 north of Darnestown.
Jeremy Criss from the Agricultural Services Division, Councilmember George Leventhal, and Council President Mike Knapp unveil the new sign. Also pictured: Greg Stone of the Agricultural Advisory Committee.
Top of Page
Agricultural Emergency Assistance Program (Ag. EAP)
The lack of normal rainfall during the 1990's created tremendous economic hardship on County farmers. The droughts of 1997 and 1999 will be recorded as some of the worst during the 21st Century. In an attempt to provide financial assistance to farmers, Montgomery County created the first County funded Drought Assistance Program in the nation.
In 1997, the County approved $500,000 which was distributed to 67 farmers covering over 26,254 acres. In 1999, $1.0 million was approved and these funds were distributed to 94 farmers covering over 36,590 acres.
2007 brought another drought, and losses projected to exceed $13 million. The County approved $1.5 milion for distribution to impacted farmers. Producers who had both a current Nutrient Management Plan (if required) and a Soil Conservation Plan or District Cooperators Agreement on record were eligible for assistance based on the crop produced and acreage farmed.
For the 2007 program, $1.446 million dollars was distributed to 85 producers, covering 30,418 acres impacted by the drought.
Crop
Acres
Funds Distributed
% of Funds
% of Acres
Ag EAP Payment
Per Acre
Sweet Corn/Fruit/Veg.
456.29
$127,761.20
8.84%
1.84%
$280
Sod
465.14
$130,239.20
9.01%
1.87%
$280
Other*
3
$840.00
0.06%
0.01%
$280
Corn for Grain/Silage
8,897.13
$554,030.35
38.32%
35.81%
$55-65
Soybeans FS/DC
8,931.78
$426,505.13
29.50%
35.95%
$34-55
Pasture
2,377.68
$95,107.18
6.58%
9.57%
$40
Hay
3,713.06
$111,402.02
7.70%
14.95%
$30
Total for crops**
24,844.08
$1,445,885.08
100.00%
100.00%
*Other includes tobacco and Christmas trees
**An additional 2,855.23 acres met criteria but were not covered due to payment cap.
An additional 2,718 acres had yields reduced by less than 20% and were not covered.
Total eligible acres: 27,699.31
Eligible plus ineligible acres: 30,418.01
The AgEAP program was administered by DED agricultural services and serves as an example of Montgomery County's commitment to preserve both farmland and the business of farming. Many farmers would not be in business today if the County Government had not created this critical program to help farmers in their time of need.
The Agricultural Services Division assists County farmers in marketing their agricultural products through diverse initiatives such as the Farm Tour, Farmers Markets, and the Farm Directory. The Division wants to help farmers connect with retail and wholesale customers in the region as part of its continuing effort to improve agricultural viability in Montgomery County.
Annual Farm Tour & Harvest Sale: This initiative helps to promote the sale of agricultural products from farms located primarily Up County, including farms located in the Agricultural Reserve.
Farmers Markets: This initiative helps to promote the sale of agricultural products to residents in Down County population centers where people live and work.
Regional Wholesale Buyers (92 kb/PDF)
Farm DirectoryCSAs in Montgomery County (21 kb/PDF)
In response to a 2004 landowner survey revealing the increasing environmental, health, safety and economic problems caused by the overpopulation of white-tailed deer, Montgomery County DED and other County departments developed and implemented new deer-related initiatives and expanded existing deer monitoring and management programs. The Agricultural Services Division is working in conjunction with M-NCPPC, the Deer Management Work Group, Montgomery Soil Conservation District, Maryland Cooperative Extension and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as part of this County-wide deer management effort.
Deer Management Workshops and the Deer Donation Program
Two new initiatives are helping farmers overcome the problems caused by white-tailed deer. Deer Management Workshops are designed to educate farmers and hunters about effective deer management on private property. The Deer Donation Program encourages farmers and hunters to harvest more deer in a responsible manner by providing a local, minimum-hassle deer collection site. It is administered in partnership with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, a nonprofit organization that coordinates the collection, processing and donation of venison to the nation's hungry. Download the FY10 Deer Donation Program - Poolesville Area (96 kb/PDF) flyer or the FY10 Deer Donation Program - Laytonsville Area (96 kb/PDF)flyer to find out how to donate deer in Montgomery County.
Deer Donation Program - Deer Collected and Pounds of Venison Donated
2004-2005 Season
39 deer
1,560 pounds
2005-2006 Season
51 deer
2,040 pounds
2006-2007 Season
85 deer
3,400 pounds
2007-2008 Season (through January 7, 2008)
197 deer
7,880 pounds
2008-2009 Season (through February 4, 2009)
150 deer
6,000 pounds
2009-2010 Season (through mid-October, 2009)
50 deer
2,000 pounds
County Weapons Law
The Division was involved in an attempt to conform County Weapons Law – Chapter 57 to existing State law regarding distance requirement for the discharge of a weapon. County law required shooters to be a greater distance from buildings and roads than did State law, making the control of deer logistically prohibitive on many smaller farm parcels. Bill 43-05 was approved by the County Council on December 04, 2007. The County now has greater flexibility in the management of deer on private and public lands in Montgomery County.
Sunday Hunting
The combined efforts of the County’s agricultural community and County government encouraged the 2008 Maryland State Legislature to pass into law that Montgomery County be removed from the list of jurisdictions in which hunting on Sundays is completely prohibited. One Sunday of bow hunting and one Sunday of firearms hunting have been added to the County’s hunting season, and it is estimated that these two extra days of hunting may increase the deer harvest by as much as 15%, providing farmers another valuable tool in managing the deer on their properties.
The agricultural industry consumes large quantities of energy, and the rising cost of fuel, propane, electricity and the associated energy taxes threaten the economic viability of County agriculture. The Agricultural Services Division administers Fuel-Energy Tax Program for Certified Agricultural Producers, through which qualified agricultural producers pay the County's energy tax at a lower residential rather than an industrial rate. Any producer with property encumbered by an AEP, MALPF or RLP farm preservation easement or enrolled with one or more specified County, state or federal programs or agencies is eligible for this reduced fuel-energy tax rate.
Information on the Certified Agricultural Producers Program (128 kb/PDF)
Technical Assistance with the Regulatory and Legislative Process
The Agricultural Services staff provide technical assistance to farmers and agricultural business owners who need to obtain necessary approval and permits to expand farming operations. This assistance also includes the representation of farmers as part of the regulatory and legislative process. Agricultural Services helps to represent the needs and interests of farmers in County government.
The Agricultural Services Division also works to educate the public and the government about County agriculture so that each remains sensitive to the challenges of farming in a largely urbanized county. Through education, the Division also promotes rural economic development opportunities in the County's Agricultural Reserve.
The rising cost of traditional energy is creating a demand for alternative fuel-energy sources. An opportunity is evolving for County agriculture to participate more fully in the production of bio-fuels from crops such as soybeans, corn and other agriculturally-derived oil products. Bio-fuels have multiple environmental and economic advantages over petroleum-based fuels, and give farmers an additional market for their products. Increasing the production of bio-fuels will provide the United States with a reliable, renewable domestic energy supply while providing alternatives to foreign oil.
Ethanol E-85 Program
The Maryland Grain Producers Association cooperated with the Montgomery County Department of Public Works and Transportation to establish an Ethanol E-85 Program for County fleet vehicles and the general public. The use of ethanol fuel furthers public policies that mandate the reduction of air pollution and the creation of alternative markets for grain products. The constant demand for ethanol represents a future market opportunity for farmers who grow corn, the crop that is used in production of this alternative fuel. For information on the County's public-use ethanol filling station, please visit the Department of Public Works and Transportation.
Bio-Diesel
Montgomery County is exploring a public/private partnership to invest County resources in feasibility studies for the production and distribution of bio-diesel fuel in northern-central Maryland. Locally-produced bio-diesel can provide an alternative market for County soybeans and other oil products (animal and vegetable oils), give farmers more options in the purchase of fuel-energy for farm equipment, and further the County’s reputation as a forward-thinking, economic leader.
The Use of Fertilizers in the State of Maryland
Between 1960 and 2003, Maryland experienced a loss of 1.67 million acres of farmland. At the same time, the population increased by over 2 million people. Population trends show no sign of slowing; farm acreage loss also continues. New state residents are living on land that was once in agriculture. In correlation, overall fertilizer use for the state of Maryland has shown a general upward trend. Even as farmers, working from scientifically established nutrient standards, have learned to grow more on less land through a judicious application of fertilizers, the use of fertilizers by the general populace has increased noticeably.
All residents of the State contribute to the waste streams that flow to the Chesapeake Bay. Until we get our arms around the management and use of urban fertilizers, we will not make appreciative gains in the improvement of water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. It is inappropriate to continue blaming farmers for poor water quality, particularly since nutrient management goals are not being achieved even as farmers continue to come into compliance with the nutrient management laws of the State, and the farm use of fertilizers trends downward.
Review Maryland Fertilizer Use Trends (63 kb/PDF)
Equine operations have evolved into a major component of the agricultural industry, with more than 700 operations stabling about 12,000 horses in Montgomery County. Horses represent a tremendous opportunity for farmers and agricultural supply dealers because of the equipment, services and products needed to support the horse population, which exceeds the population of all other livestock combined. The growing hay industry in Montgomery County is directly proportional to the growing number of horses. As an added benefit, traditional livestock producers have access to high quality veterinarians that provide services to horses.
In 2001, the County completed a comprehensive study on the importance of horses and their economic contribution as part of the County's Agricultural Industry. This study was conducted in cooperation between the Montgomery Soil Conservation District and the Department of Economic Development - Agricultural Services Division.
In 2008, the County completed a second survey of equestrians and stable owners in cooperation with the Department of Economic Development - Agricultural Services Division, Montgomery Soil Conservation District, Maryland Cooperative Extension - Montgomery County, Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, Equestrian Partners in Conservation (EPIC) and others. This effort helped County agencies better understand this growing demographic of the agricultural community and determine ways to better serve its members.
NEW! Montgomery County 2008 Equestrian & Stable Survey (647 kb/PDF)
Montgomery County Horse Study - Final Report (972 kb/PDF)
Weeds such as Johnsongrass, shattercane, thistle and multiflora rose pose a danger to the productive capability of all non-forested lands, and three of these four weeds have been classified as noxious and prohibited by State law. Landowners are obligated to control these weeds on any lands they own or operate in the State of Maryland. In cooperation with the Agricultural Services Division and the Maryland Department of Agriculutre, Montgomery Weed Control, Inc. provides a service to farmers and other landowners in need of control options for these noxious weeds.
Request for a Comprehensive Tree Trimming Program
Through the DED Agricultural Services, a Tree Trimming Survey was conducted by the County's Agricultural Community. The results indicated the need for the County Government to reinstitute a County wide tree-trimming program. Public roads, whether urban or rural, need to meet the needs of the citizens and businesses that use them each day. A comprehensive tree-trimming program reduces the costs incurred from damaged vehicles, school buses, fire trucks and farm equipment and it demonstrates the County's concern for safety for everyone using County roads. Tree trimming is a recurring maintenance need due to the growth rate of local vegetation, and will remain a high priority in the Agricultural Reserve.
In September of 2008, the Rustic Roads Advisory Committee, the Agricultural Advisory Committee, and the Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board held a joint meeting with representatives from the County's Department of Transportation to discuss tree trimming on rural and rustic roads. As a result of this meeting, a joint letter will be sent to County Executive Ike Leggett and Council President Phil Andrews outlining the requests of the three groups regarding the need for more extensive tree trimming on rural and rustic roads.
In order to streamline the process of submitting requests for tree trimming on specific sections of roads that impact you, please submit your request to Jeremy Criss at jeremy.criss@montgomerycountymd.gov with a detailed description of the problem and the specific section of which roads you would like to see trimmed.