SB 597

Agriculture - Cost-Sharing Program - Fixed Natural Filter Practices

Sponsor: Karen Lewis Young (District 3)Committee: Education, Health, and Environmental AffairsSubject: AgricultureStatus: Enacted under Article II, Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution - Chapter 305 (as of Nov 6, 2020)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prohibiting the use of certain cost-sharing funds to fund a conservation practice that does not meet certain requirements; authorizing certain cost-sharing funds to be made available for certain fixed natural filter practices; prohibiting basing a reduction in certain cost-sharing rates on tons of soil saved or an amortization formula; requiring that cost-sharing rates for the planting of multiple species of cover crops equal or exceed the rates paid for the planting a single species of cover crop; etc.

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Testimony (22)

MGA witness list

FAV 19FavorableUNF 2UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Fisher, Eriklobbyist	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Position only
FAV	Schnabel, Rob	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Kalm, Shelby	Fair Farms	Written (PDF)
FAV	Fry, Matt	Fair Hill Farms	Written (PDF)
FAV	Vaughn, Carrie	Future Harvest	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hill, Trey	Harborview Farms	Written (PDF)
FAV	Matanoski, Vince	Ladybrook Farm	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Alexandro, Ben	MDLCV	Written (PDF)
FAV	Tulkin, Joshlobbyist	Maryland Sierra Club	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ballentine, Tom	NAIOP	Written (PDF)
FAV	Barnet, Mary	Open Book Farm	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Glen, Greg	Rocklands Farm	Position only
FAV	Sewell, Craig	SMADC	Position only
FAV	Gifford, Judy	St. Brigids Farm	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gordon, Ellen	Sugarloaf	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Kramer, Daniel	Sweet Bay	Written (PDF)
FAV	Johnson, Dale	University of Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Devlin, Bernard	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Young, Senator Younglegislator	Individual	Position only
UNF	Porter, Hollylobbyist	DPI	Written (PDF)
UNF	Thompson, Lindsaylobbyist	MASCD	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Shirk, Cassie	MDA	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Chesapeake Bay FoundationFAV 2

DPIUNF 1

Fair FarmsFAV 1

Fair Hill FarmsFAV 1

Future HarvestFAV 1

Harborview FarmsFAV 1

Ladybrook FarmFAV 1

Maryland Sierra ClubFAV 1

MASCDUNF 1

MDAINFO 1

MDLCVFAV 1

NAIOPFAV 1

Open Book FarmFAV 1

Rocklands FarmFAV 1

SMADCFAV 1

St. Brigids FarmFAV 1

SugarloafFAV 1

Sweet BayFAV 1

University of MarylandFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVFisher, ErikChesapeake Bay FoundationRegistered for: Chesapeake Bay Foundation

FAVTulkin, JoshMaryland Sierra ClubRegistered for: Sierra Club Maryland Chapter

UNFPorter, HollyDPIRegistered for: Delmarva Chicken Association

UNFThompson, LindsayMASCDRegistered for: Alliance to Prevent Legionnaire's Disease; American Farmland Trust; CropLife America; Delaware-Maryland Agribusiness Association; Denali Water Solutions; Horizon Farm Credit…