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Vision and Mission:
Formulate and make proposals for the advancement of Maryland agriculture by serving as an advisory body to the Secretary on matters pertaining to agriculture.
Primary Function:
The Maryland Agriculture Commission is appointed by the Governor of Maryland and serves as an advisory body to the secretary and deputy secretary of agriculture. The commission consists of 30 members representing various commodities across Maryland, and includes both a consumer and a University of Maryland (ex officio) representative.
The commission currently pursues the following priorities and activities
Encouraging the agricultural community to be more pro-active on issues affecting agriculture and rural life.
Evaluating farm/agriculture industry labor and regulations.
Increasing public awareness of food safety.
Supporting the department's efforts to promote agriculture.
Statutory Authority: 2-201-205 of the Maryland Annotated Code.
Each member is appointed to a three-year term, and is eligible to serve two consecutive terms. Members are chosen to represents various agricultural sectors including dairy, food processing, turf, farm market, agirtourism, etc.
Commodity
Representative
Ag Education
Dr. Melissa Welsh
Agribusiness
Vacant
Agritourism
Janna Howley
Aquaculture
Johnny Shockley
At Large Ag Service
Frank Allnutt
Stefanie Reiser
Bio-Fuel
Rajneesh (Raj) Kathuria
Consumer
Kellie Hinkle
Dairy I
Dairy II
Direct Farm Market
Amy Crone, Vice Chair
Equine
Ann Merryman
Farm Bureau
Paula Linthicum
Field Crops
Chris Rhodes
Food Processing
Nikita Bocharov
Forestry
Hunter Pusey
Hemp
Matthew Levi Sellers
Horticulture
Livestock
Sean Hough
Nursery I
J. Kelly Lewis, Chair
Nursery II
John Murphy
Organic Farming
Emma Jagoz
Poultry I
Zach Evans
Poultry II
State Grange
Richard Stonebreaker
Tobacco
Turf
Gordon Kretser
UMD
Dr. Darren Jarboe
Vegetable
Russell Shlagel
Veterinary
Dr. Marianne Bailey
Viticulture
Rachel Lipman
Young Farmers Advisory Board
Jennell Eck McHenry, Edward Goodman
The Commission meets on the second Wednesday of January, March, June, September, and December. The Committee's of the Commission meet in February, April, August, and November.
The Commission conducts spring farm tours in May and fall tours in October, educating members on different agricultural operations across the state and elevating regional challenges and successes to the Commission's attention. All 23 counties and Baltimore City host the Commission within a 5-year schedule.
50 Harry S. Truman ParkwayAnnapolis, MD 21401
