On Wednesday, May 27, Governor Wes Moore formally requested a Secretarial Disaster Declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). If approved, the designation would make a range of federal assistance programs available to impacted producers, including: 

• Emergency Credit Access: The Farm Service Agency is able to make low-interest emergency loans available to cover production costs, replace essential equipment or refinance certain debts while revenue from the current year’s harvest is absent.

• Specialized Crop Recovery: Orchards and vineyards can access cost-share assistance to help replant or rehabilitate trees through the Tree Assistance Program.

• Regulatory Flexibility: A formal designation can allow for flexibility in existing USDA programs, allowing farmers to be eligible for ad hoc disaster programs passed by Congress.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture will request recovery assistance from USDA in the form of a block grant agreement to help producers recover from the April freeze event and ongoing drought. 

On Friday, May 29, Governor Wes Moore directed the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to implement a coordinated and urgent response to address the significant crisis facing producers as a result of the late April freeze and ongoing drought.  

The “Directive on State Response to Impact of Late Spring Frost on Crops” directs the following:

MDA shall:

• Waive the 51% Maryland crop or 20-acre minimum requirement for Class 4 Limited Wineries as authorized under the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article §2–206; 

• Facilitate distribution of all available federal disaster funds and programming*; 

• Develop an irrigation task force for agricultural producers;

• Develop a producer education and risk management task force to elevate existing Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency program;

• Instruct the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) to consider modifications to enhance opportunities within their programs that support farmers and watermen impacted by the natural disaster incidents; and 

• Encourage all Maryland institutions, organizations, food banks and consumers to purchase local products whenever possible to support our farms and value-added agricultural businesses.

MDE shall:

• Prioritize and streamline applications for water appropriate permits for agricultural production.

The Governor’s Intergovernmental Commission on Agriculture shall:

• Assess how state and local regulatory agencies can better support affected agricultural sectors. 

*The Maryland Department of Agriculture will request recovery assistance from USDA in the form of a block grant agreement to help producers recover from the April 2026 freeze event and ongoing drought.