Farmers Given Ten Days and Hearing During Milking Time on Far-Reaching Nutrient Management Regulations

Farmers Given Ten Days and Hearing During Milking Time on Far-Reaching Nutrient Management Regulations

Annapolis, MD – Office of Senator Barry Glassman 

Northern Harford County State Senator Barry Glassman, R-35, says the short notice for the State legislature’s AELR review of new nutrient management regulations is typical of the legislature’s disrespect for the State’s agricultural community. The Joint Committee on Administrative Executive & Legislative Review, (AELR), sent the July 9th, 4:00 p.m. hearing notice on June 29th, before the July holiday week. Glassman alerted the Democratic leadership of the short notice, and the fact that the timing was right during a dairy farmer’s evening milking, notwithstanding the travel time to Annapolis. “I am really disappointed that the leadership would do this to our Maryland farmers. It shows the disconnect between the agricultural community and those trying to regulate it out of business in Maryland. Most of these folks are more concerned about betting parlors than milking parlors, and casino financing rather than stream fencing,” stated Glassman. The Department of Agriculture has a public briefing scheduled in Harford County for local farmers at around the same time as the AELR hearing. The new regulations include far reaching new restrictions on storage and time of application of nutrients, and a controversial requirement to force farmers to fence all stream banks from livestock. During the 2012 Legislative Session, the State’s farmers testified that the new regulations would continue to phase out livestock production operations in Maryland where livestock population numbers have already fallen fifty percent since the 1980’s For additional information Senator Glassman may be reached at 410-440-9267 Senator Glassman is beginning his second term in the Maryland Senate and served previously as a Harford County Councilman and Maryland State Delegate.