LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 173
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Chapter 173
(Senate Bill 437)
AN ACT concerning
Agriculture – University of Maryland Extension – Urban Farmer Assistance
FOR the purpose of 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; requiring the Governor to annually include certain funding in the
annual budget bill for the extension agents hired under this Act; and generally
relating to providing assistance to urban farmers.
BY adding to
Article – Agriculture
Section 2–401 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 4. Urban Farmer Assistance”
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Agriculture
SUBTITLE 4. URBAN FARMER ASSISTANCE.
2–401.
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.
(2) “URBAN AREA” MEANS AN AREA DELINE ATED AS AN URBAN ARE A
BY THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU.
(3) “URBAN FARMER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO FARMS IN AN
URBAN AREA.
(B) (1) THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION SHALL HIRE AN
EXTENSION AGENT DEDI CATED TO URBAN FARM PRODUCTION METHODS AN D CROP
MANAGEMENT .
Ch. 173 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(2) THE AGENT HIRED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION
SHALL:
(I) PERFORM APPLIED RESEA RCH ON URBAN FARM
PRODUCTION METHODS A ND CROP MANAGEMENT ; AND
(II) SPEND A MAJORITY OF T HE AGENT’S TIME PROVIDING
EDUCATION TO URBAN F ARMERS ON URBAN FARM PRODUCTION METHODS A ND
CROP MANAGEMENT .
(3) THE EDUCATION PROVIDE D UNDER PARAGRAPH (2)(II) OF THIS
SUBSECTION MAY INCLU DE:
(I) PLANNING AND SCHEDULI NG CROP PLANTING AND
HARVESTING IN URBAN AREAS, INCLUDING OU TDOORS, INDOORS, IN
GREENHOUSES , AND IN HIGH TUNNEL P RODUCTION SYSTEMS ;
(II) PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR CONTRO LLED
ENVIRONMENT AGRICULT URE SYSTEMS;
(III) GROWING TRIALS AND PR ODUCTION METHODS FOR CROPS
GROWN IN URBAN AREAS , INCLUDING SPECI ALTY CROPS SUCH AS H ERITAGE
VEGETABLES , ETHNIC VEGETABLES , HERBS, MICROGREENS , AND CUT FLOWERS ;
(IV) PROPAGATION AND TRANS PLANT PRODUCTION ;
(V) TRAINING ON AND CERTI FICATIONS FOR GOOD
AGRICULTURAL PRACTIC ES;
(VI) TRAINING ON ORGANIC C ERTIFICATIONS; AND
(VII) ANY OTHER TOPIC REGAR DING URBAN FARM PROD UCTION
METHODS AND CROP MAN AGEMENT THAT THE AGE NT, IN CONSULTATION WITH
URBAN FARMERS AND FA RM SERVICE PROVIDERS LOCATED IN URBAN ARE AS,
DETERMINES IS NECESS ARY.
(C) (1) THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION SHALL HIRE AN
EXTENSION AGENT DEDI CATED TO URBAN FARM AND AGRIBUSINESS MAN AGEMENT.
(2) THE AGENT HIRED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION
SHALL:
LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 173
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(I) PERFORM APPLIED RESEA RCH ON URBAN FARM AN D
AGRIBUSINESS MANAGEM ENT; AND
(II) SPEND A MAJORITY OF T HE AGENT’S TIME PROVIDING AND
COORDINATING EDUCATI ON FOR URBAN FARMERS ON URBAN FARM AND
AGRIBUSINESS MANAGEM ENT.
(3) THE EDUCATION PROVIDE D UNDER PARAGRAPH (2)(II) OF THIS
SUBSECTION MAY INCLU DE:
(I) ACCOUNTING AND FINANC IAL MANAGEMENT ;
(II) IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND BUSINE SS
DEVELOPMENT ;
(III) MARKETING;
(IV) HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGE MENT;
(V) DIFFERENT BUSINESS TY PES AND STRUCTURES ;
(VI) LAND ACQUISITION ;
(VII) INSURANCE;
(VIII) LICENSING AND PERMITTING ; AND
(IX) ANY OTHER TOPIC REGAR DING URBAN FARM AND
AGRIBUSINESS MANAGEM ENT THAT THE AGENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH URBAN
FARMERS AND FARM SER VICE PROVIDERS LOCAT ED IN URBAN AREAS , DETERMINES
IS NECESSARY.
(D) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFT ER, THE
GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL AN APPROPRIA TION OF
$300,000 TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION FOR THE EXT ENSION
AGENTS HIRED UNDER T HIS SECTION.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shal l take effect June
1, 2022.
Approved by the Governor, April 21, 2022.