As reported by the Maryland Department of Agriculture on November 19:

The Governor’s Intergovernmental Commission for Agriculture (GICA) has developed a draft “tool kit” to help Maryland Counties support local farmers.  The tool kit, “Understanding and Responding to the Changing Face of Maryland Agriculture: A Resource for Local Communities,” aims to inform communities and local officials about the current context within which their farmers operate.  The document outlines the most pressing concerns of farmers, as voiced in a 2010 survey presented at the Governor’s Agriculture Forum, held earlier this year, and lays out the importance of the industry to Maryland.  It also provides contacts and potential policies that can help facilitate both profitable agriculture and a high quality of life.  Click here to view the draft document.

GICA is a public-private and interagency workgroup that is ideal for the task, as it seeks to promote better collaboration across state agencies and with citizens in an effort to support Maryland’s agricultural sector.  As a result, the toolkit was able to gain broad-based input from a wide variety of contributors, to present a comprehensive look at the industry. GICA members will review the draft and welcome public comments.