HB 540

Agriculture - University of Maryland Extension - Urban Farmer Assistance

Sponsor: Delegate HensonCommittee: AppropriationsSubject: AgricultureStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 172 (as of Nov 15, 2022)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the University of Maryland Extension to hire an extension agent dedicated to urban farm production methods and crop management and an extension agent dedicated to urban farm and agribusiness management; requiring the agents to perform certain applied research and provide certain education to urban farmers; and requiring the Governor to annually include $300,000 in the annual budget bill for the extension agents hired under the Act.

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Testimony (25)

MGA witness list

FAV 24FavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Robinson, Elizabeth	Anne Arundel and Prince George’s County Urban Agriculture Working Group	Written (PDF)
FAV	Clark, Robin Jessicalobbyist	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Tana, David	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	jones, linda	Elements of Nature Urban Farm	Oral
FAV	Strauss, Mariya	Farm Alliance of Baltimore	Written (PDF)
FAV	McHenry, Steve	MARBIDCO (Maryland Ag/RBI Development Corp.)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Tulkin, Joshlobbyist	MD Sierra Club	Written (PDF)
FAV	Younts, Diana	MLC Climate Justice Wing	Position only
FAV	Nelson, Jen	Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ferguson, Colby	Maryland Farm Bureau	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Bruskin, Heather	Maryland Food System Resiliency Council	Written (PDF)
FAV	Adams, Doug	New Brooklyn Farms	Written (PDF)
FAV	Palmer, Harrison	Prince George's County Farm Bureau	Written (PDF)
FAV	Darcey, Steven	Prince Goerge's Soil Conservation District	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Matthews, Dakota	Rural Maryland Council	Written (PDF)
FAV	Beyrouty, Craig	University of Maryland, College Park	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Cardin, Nina	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Henson, Delegate Hensonlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Grinnell, William	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Henson, Delegate	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Maryland, Prince George's County	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ranson, Emilylobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wells, Atiya	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wilson Randall, Claudia	Individual	Position only
INFO	Wilkins, Barbara	Individual	Written (PDF)