(Bel Air, MD – March 15, 2010) – - The week of March 14th through the 20th is National Ag Week, and Harford County farmers are again marking the occasion by visiting classrooms to educate students about agriculture.
This year, members of Harford’s agricultural community will be visiting a total of 18 schools and speaking to over 3,300 students. The visits are coordinated by the Harford County Farm Bureau, in cooperation with the Harford County Division of Agriculture and the Board of Education.
“These classroom visits allow our children to connect with local farmers, and to learn first-hand what is involved in agriculture,” stated Jay Rickey, President of the Harford County Farm Bureau. “As both an educator and a farmer, I know that it’s something that both the farmers and the students look forward to.”
“Harford County is a leader in the state of Maryland when it comes to Ag ...Continue Reading
Annapolis, MD – Northern Harford County State Senator Barry Glassman spent a good deal of time over the summer meeting with representatives of local farmer’s markets, market producers, and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), and the Maryland Department of Agriculture to streamline some of the regulations related to Producer Mobile Farmer’s Licenses.
Last week the Maryland Senate voted unanimously for SB 198 – Farmer’s Markets – Raw Agricultural Product Sale – Producer Mobile Farmer’s Market Licenses and SB 199 – Seasonal Farmer’s Market Producer Sampling Licenses.
The Producer Mobile Farmer’s Market License will permit producers who currently obtain an on-farm home processing license to also obtain a mobile license at the same time. The bill also spells out that a license or permit is not required to deliver pre-packaged foods to fill an order of a customer. ...Continue Reading
The entirety of Harford County’s delegation to the Maryland General Assembly has signed on to co-sponsor a bill aimed at reviewing state property tax assessment procedures, the assessment appeals process, and producing a report on those findings by 2011.
House Bill 204, which is sponsored by Del. Wayne Norman and co-sponsored by the remainder of the Harford delegation – Dels. Rick Impallaria, Mary-Dulany James, J.B. Jennings, Susan McComas, Pat McDonough, Dan Riley, and Donna Stifler, would establish “a Task Force to Review Property Tax Assessment Procedure and the Assessment Appeals Process; establishing the composition of the Task Force; requiring the Governor to designate the chair of the Task Force; providing for the staffing for the Task Force; prohibiting a member of the Task Force from receiving specified compensation; requiring that the Task Force issue a report by January 1, 2011; and providing for the termination of the Act.”
ANNAPOLIS, MD (Nov. 24, 2009) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) Pesticide Regulation Section reported the following local enforcement activity between Oct. 1, 2008 and Nov. 23, 2009.
Blenheim LLC, Havre de Grace – On Feb. 27, MDA received payment of a $100 civil penalty against the company and William Lewis for record keeping violations.
Hillside Lawn Service, Inc., Darlington – On Nov. 10, 2008, MDA received payment of a $360 civil penalty against the company or pesticide misuse and record keeping violations.
In 2009, MDA’s Pesticide Regulation Inspectors conducted 1,200 inspections resulting in 372 businesses and/or individuals being cited for violations of the Pesticide Applicator’s Law and Regulations. Additionally, MDA’s Pesticide Section cited 32 pest control businesses for operating without a license, investigated 31 consumer complaints and assessed 33 civil penalties totaling $10,360.
For more information, or to file a complaint, call MDA’s Pesticide Regulation ...Continue Reading
(Bel Air, MD – October 7, 2009) – - Now that the leaves have started to turn, and with Halloween right around the corner, Harford County Executive David R. Craig and the Division of Agriculture are urging all county residents to visit local farms this autumn season.
“Fall is the best time of year to experience agriculture in Harford County, and we have many farms that offer a variety of fun, family-oriented activities,” stated County Executive David R. Craig.
“Ag tourism is a very important part of our Division of Agriculture’s ‘Buy Local’ campaign,” added Craig. “I encourage Harford County families to visit at least one of our farms this fall to pick pumpkins, go on a hayride, and buy local products like mums and apple cider. It’s an affordable and fun opportunity that’s close to home, and it shows support for the local farming community.”
Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) Superintendent Robert M. Tomback, accompanied by County Executive David R. Craig, will recognize ‘Farm to School Week’ on Wednesday, September 16th, at Fountain Green Elementary School.
Dr. Tomback and the County Executive will join students during lunch, which will include locally-grown produce. A ‘Farm to School’ display will be setup for students.
For more information, contact the HCPS Food and Nutrition Department at 410-638-4078.
When: Wednesday, September 16, 2009
10:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Superintendent Tomback will be at the school from 10:50 – 11:15 a.m.)
Where: Fountain Green Elementary School
517 Fountain Green Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
What do hermaphroditic amphibians, a moonlighting comedian, and a symbolically-snapped ear of corn have in common?
Because no sane person could ever have guessed, I’ll just come out with it: each was involved in the Harford County Council’s Comprehensive Rezoning public hearing held Thursday evening at North Harford High School.
Perhaps one-third of the 100-or-so attendees addressed the county council during what was the third and final public hearing on the Comprehensive Rezoning review.
The Facts:
- In total, 34 people spoke = 26 were in opposition to upzoning requests and 8 supported upzoning requests.
- The meeting ran from 6:30 p.m. to 8:20 p.m.
- County Council President Billy Boniface announced the county council would introduce its amendments during the August 4 council meeting and expected to vote on the Comprehensive Rezoning during its August 11 session.
The Highlights:
- A Darlington man produced a dried ear of corn from a brown paper bag and symbolically snapped ...Continue Reading
(Bel Air, MD – July 14, 2009) – - The week of July 18-26 is “Buy Local Challenge Week” in Maryland, during which all Marylanders are encouraged to eat at least one local product every day of the week.
Begun two years ago by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission, the Buy Local Challenge is now a statewide activity. Governor Martin O’Malley will host a cookout featuring food from local producers from around the state to kick-off the challenge at Government House on Thursday, July 16. For the second year in a row, Deer Creek Beef will be providing hamburgers for the event.
“Our farmers grow the highest quality products, and they offer the same fresh and healthy food that they feed their own families,” stated County Executive David R. Craig. “I encourage all Harford Countians to not only participate in Maryland’s Buy Local Challenge Week, but to also continue to buy ...Continue Reading
Ongoing Campaign to Support Harford’s Farming Community
(Bel Air, MD – June 25, 2009) – - It is with great excitement that the Harford County Economic Development Agricultural Advisory Board announces the completion of the latest initiative in the Division of Agriculture’s Buy Local campaign.
In an advertising project reminiscent of the days when barns were used to promote everything from chewing tobacco to the local five & dime, two barns in Harford County were recently painted to feature the County’s ag logo, the slogan “Support Harford’s Farms – Buy Local,” and the County’s ag marketing website, www.HarfordFarms.com.
The purpose of the Buy Local campaign is to raise the public’s level of awareness about the availability of locally-grown food and other agricultural products. “In these tough economic times, it’s so important that as many of our hard-earned dollars as possible stay right here in Harford County,” stated Ag Advisory Board chairman Richard Holloway, ...Continue Reading
(Bel Air, MD – April 2, 2009) – - Spring has finally arrived, and that means the opening of Harford County’s Farmers’ Markets is just around the corner. The first to open will be Bel Air’s Saturday Market, which opens April 11 at its location in the parking lot of the Mary Risteau Building at the corner of Thomas and South Bond Streets. The hours of the market are 7am to 11am, and it will be held every Saturday through November.
“This is always an exciting time of year both for our farmers and for those of us who love to buy locally-grown Ag products,” stated County Executive David R. Craig. “The Farmers’ Markets are an important part of our ‘Buy Local’ efforts, and the Bel Air Market always has a great variety of products and a fun atmosphere.”
“By shopping at the Bel Air Farmers’ Market you not only are getting ...Continue Reading
