ANNAPOLIS, MD—Federal laboratory testing has confirmed a case of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI) on a Maryland poultry farm. Following an investigation by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed a Cecil County sample tested positive for HPAI. The Maryland case comes one week after a HPAI positive […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan this week urged members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation to take immediate action in raising the cap on H-2B guest worker visas. The letter comes in response to a newly released study that shows the impact that these workers have on Maryland’s iconic seafood industry and the state’s economy. “Maryland’s seafood industry is part of what […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Maryland Department of Agriculture on Friday expanded its spotted lanternfly quarantine to include the following counties: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, and Washington, as well as Baltimore City. This quarantine is effective immediately, and restricts the movement of regulated articles that might contain the spotted lanternfly in any of its life stages, including […]
ESSEX, MD—The Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability is preparing to treat a small, targeted area of Back River next week as proof of concept that helicopter application is a feasible option for controlling nuisance midge populations. The department expects to spray a naturally-occurring bacterial larvacide from a low-flying helicopter during daylight hours on or about Tuesday, November […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Maryland Board of Public Works this week approved 12 new Maryland Agricultural Preservation Foundation (MALPF) easements. These easements will permanently preserve an additional 1,483 acres of prime farmland in Allegany, Baltimore, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Queen Anne’s, and Worcester counties for an investment of more than $5.3 million in state and local funding. “Keeping farming viable in Maryland […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan has declared August 1-7 as Maryland Farmers’ Market Week. The event recognizes the 105 farmers markets across the state that have continued to provide citizens with access to fresh, local produce and other Maryland-made items. Residents are encouraged to celebrate Maryland Farmers’ Market Week by visiting a nearby market and buying local products. A nearby market […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan on Friday proclaimed July 17-25 “Maryland Buy Local Week” to support Maryland farms and seafood operations that continue to provide Marylanders with fresh, local products. Throughout the week, Marylanders are encouraged to participate in the Buy Local Challenge by incorporating at least one locally grown, produced, or harvested product into their meals each day. “We are […]
NOTTINGHAM, MD—Growing tired of all the noise? Good news…the Brood X periodical cicadas are hitting peak emergence in many parts of the state, according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture. This means millions of fully-grown winged adults are flying and blundering into things (and us), “singing” as loud as they can, and starting to mate. The male cicadas are now […]