Maryland Agricultural Commission Fact Sheet
Official Name:
Maryland Agricultural Commission
Statutory Authority:
'2-201-205 of the Maryland Annotated Code.
Entity's Vision and Mission:
Formulate and make proposals for the advancement of Maryland agriculture by serving as an advisory body to the Secretary on matters pertaining to agriculture.
Primary Function:
The Maryland Agriculture Commission is appointed by the Governor of Maryland and serves as an advisory body to the secretary and deputy secretary of agriculture. The commission consists of 30 members representing various commodities across Maryland, and includes both a consumer and a University of Maryland (ex officio) representative.
The commission currently pursues the following priorities and activities
- Encouraging the agricultural community to be more pro-active on issues affecting agriculture and rural life.
- Evaluating farm/agriculture industry labor and regulations.
- Increasing public awareness of food safety.
- Supporting the department's efforts to promote agriculture.
Entity's members:
Each member is eligible to serve two, 3-year appointed terms.
|
Member | Group Representing |
|
| Vacant | Direct Farm Marketing
| |
| Matthew M. Hoff
| Dairy
| |
| John Marshall
| Nursery |
|
| Allen Davis
| Field Crops |
|
| Paul Stull
| Maryland State Grange
| |
| Dr. Richard P. Streett, Jr.
| Veterinary |
|
|
Paul Chesnik | Poultry |
|
|
Scott Youse | Dairy |
|
|
Ronald S. Green | Equine |
|
| Thomas G. Hartsock
| Livestock
| |
| Vacant
| At Large/Farm Credit |
|
| Thomas R. Shelton, Chair
| Viticulture |
|
| Milly Welsh
| Farm Bureau |
|
|
Martha A. Clark | Agri-tourism |
|
|
Dr. Cheng-I Wei | University of Maryland (ex officio)
|
| Gary Marx
| Consumer |
|
| Vacant
| Food Processing |
|
| Allen Swann
| Horticulture |
|
| Vacant
| Poultry |
|
| Rachel Pieper
| Ag Education |
|
| Michael Phipps
| Tobacco |
|
| Doug Lechlider
| Turf |
|
| Eddie Taylor
| Organic
| |
| Kathi Levan
| At Large/Ag Services |
|
| Vacant
| Vegetables |
|
John Foster
| Forestry |
|
Vacant
| Aquaculture |
|
Henry Schmidt
| Agribusiness |
|
Vacant
| Biofuels |
|
| John Marshall
| Nursery
| |
Primary Contact for the Public:
Rachel Melvin
c/o Maryland Department of Agriculture
50 Harry Truman Parkway
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-841-5882
rachel.melvin@maryland.gov
Entity's Meeting Schedule:
The Commission meets the second Wednesday of each month throughout the year, except during the months of April and October. The Commission conducts spring (April) and fall (October) farm tours.
The tours educate Commission members on the different types of agriculture
operations in Maryland. In addition to the tours, the Commission sponsors a
public meeting where local farmers, citizens and elected officials are given
the opportunity to express their concerns about agriculture issues impacting
the industry. All 23 counties host the Commission every five years.
|
