Drafting Conservation Easements for Agriculture

1

Statewide Plan for Agricultural Policy and
Resource Management
Doug Green, Maryland Agriculture Commission Kevin
Schmidt, American Farmland Trust November 15,
2006
2
Maryland Agriculture is Important!

• 1.5 billion direct sales annually from farming,
  750 million direct from forestry
• Covers more than 2 million acres (33 percent) of
  state land area
• Well-managed farms support the health of the Bay

3
Why Was the Plan Conducted?

• To address the many challenges farmers face
• Fragmentation
• High land prices
• Foreign competition
• Difficulty gaining access to markets
• Environmental regulations

4
How Was the Plan Funded?

• First, needed to secure funding to conduct the
  strategic plan
• Decided that a consultant was needed to complete
  in time
• Initial estimate of 200,000 needed (plus another
  110,000 in-kind)
• Approached conservation foundations and
  agricultural organizations
• Raised 163,000 for project

5
Who Conducted the Plan?

• Governor Ehrlich asked Secretary Riley for policy
  recommendations
• Secretary Riley asked the Maryland Agriculture
  Commission to develop a statewide plan
• Agriculture Commission appointed an Advisory
  Committee to coordinate a strategic planning
  process, report, and recommendations for next
  steps

6
How Was the Plan Conducted?

• Stakeholder surveys
• Listening sessions
• Conference calls with experts
• Governors Agricultural Forum

7
Stakeholder Surveys

• In May 2005, MDA conducted mail survey of 126
  agricultural and 53 conservation leaders (35
  percent response rate).
• Survey was divided into four topic areas
• - Profitability
• - Land use and management
• - Value-added, diversification and alternative
  enterprise opportunities
• - Bio-security

8
Listening Sessions

• Agricultural Commission called for farm
  community input
• Organized 7 listening sessions
• gt600 farmers other community members attended
• Participants expressed concerns made
  recommendations

9
Conference Calls with Experts

• 13 conference calls with small groups of experts
  
• To refine issues, identify current programs and
  activities develop draft recommendations

10
Governors Agricultural Forum

• Held in February 2006
• Participants included 300 farmers, key ag and
  conservation leaders
• Purpose was to provide opportunity to
• Review and give feedback on draft plan
• Prioritize recommendations
• Discuss preparing for the unexpected

11
What Were the Planning Criteria?

• Vision General recommendations that serve all
  agriculture
• Horizon Next 10 years, with specific actions to
  take in 5 years or less
• Scale and scope Both large-scale commodity
  agriculture smaller-scale specialty
  value-added enterprises

12
What Were the Planning Criteria?

• Chesapeake Bay To stay viable, agriculture must
  be environmentally sound
• Next generation Encourage the next generation of
  Maryland farmers and ensure their success
• Prepare for the unexpected Help farmers be ready
  for potential negative events positive
  opportunities

13
What Were the Major Issue Areas?

• Enhance profitability
• Ensure an adequate base of well-managed
  agricultural land
• 3. Advance research, education advocacy of
  agriculture

14
Enhance Profitability

• Improve marketing access to markets  
• Provide business development assistance  
• Reduce the costs of production
• Clarify, harmonize and improve regulations to
  encourage profitable agriculture
• Reduce the tax burden on agriculture

15
Ensure an Adequate Base of Well-Managed
Agricultural Land

• Stabilize the land base  
• Encourage agricultural stewardship
• Strengthen protect Right-to-Farm
• Advance forestry as an agricultural enterprise

16
Advance Research, Education Advocacy of
Agriculture

• Advance research and education for future
  viability of Maryland agriculture
• Advocate for agriculture
• Support encourage the next generation of
  farmers

17
Where Are We Now?

• Plan released in June 2006
• All documents posted on MDA Web site
• Public outreach piece developed and inserted in
  agricultural publications in July and October
  2006
• Implementation Committee currently being formed
  by MDA, to start in December 2006