Read more about the article Federal Funding Freeze – NACo Webinar Tomorrow (Jan 29)
Agriculture / Courts / Economic Development / Education / Elections / Emergency Management / Environment / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues / Public Safety and Corrections / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works
Federal Funding Freeze – NACo Webinar Tomorrow (Jan 29)

President Trump has announced a "freeze" on a very wide range of federal grant and loan funding. This has potentially major effects on the operation of county-level facilities and services nationwide. Specifics are not yet clear. However, the National Association of Counties (NACo) will take up this topic and other federal-relations matters on tomorrow's "First 100 Days" Zoom Webinar. The President's order, nominally effective at close-of-business today (January 28), has cast a stunning pause on…

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January 28, 2025
Read more about the article Agritourism on the Rise: Ensuring Safe and Sustainable Farm Venues
Agriculture / County News / Health and Human Services / Winter Conference
Agritourism on the Rise: Ensuring Safe and Sustainable Farm Venues

As agritourism transforms farms into hubs for entertainment and education, legal and compliance questions remain.  Agritourism is evolving as farms increasingly diversify their offerings to include entertainment and educational activities to boost income while preserving rural character. However, legal definitions and tax considerations are being examined as agritourism expands beyond traditional activities like hayrides and petting zoos to include weddings, concerts, and other ventures that blur the line between agriculture and commercial use. Experts discussed…

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November 18, 2024
Read more about the article USDA Opens $7.7B to Support Climate-Smart Practices on Agricultural Lands
Agriculture / Environment
USDA Opens $7.7B to Support Climate-Smart Practices on Agricultural Lands

Earlier this month, the USDA announced up to $7.7 billion is available to help agricultural and forestry producers adopt conservation practices on working lands. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced up to $7.7 billion in assistance for fiscal year 2025 to help agricultural and forestry producers adopt conservation practices on working lands. This includes up to $5.7 billion for climate-smart practices, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, and $2 billion in Farm…

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October 16, 2024
Read more about the article Sept 23 Hughes Center Hosts Riparian Buffers Research Webinar
Agriculture / Environment
Sept 23 Hughes Center Hosts Riparian Buffers Research Webinar

On September 3rd, the Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology is hosting a webinar on riparian buffers research.  Join the Hughs Center for Agro-Ecology for a webinar at noon on Monday, Sept. 23, when environmental and resource economist Dr. David Newburn of the University of Marland (UMD) College of Agriculture and Natural Resources will review his Hughes Center-funded research project, “Evaluating the Effectiveness of Economic Incentives to Enhance Riparian Buffer Adoption and Environmental Benefits for Water Quality and…

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September 17, 2024
Read more about the article Celebrate World Rivers Day: Discover Ways to Keep Your Waterways Healthy!
Agriculture / Environment / News You Can Use
Celebrate World Rivers Day: Discover Ways to Keep Your Waterways Healthy!

September 22 is World Rivers Day, serving as a reminder of the vital role waterways play in Maryland communities. To celebrate and learn more, explore the "How Your Watershed Works" Learning Module from Protect Local Waterways. This interactive resource highlights how community activities on land impact local water quality. It also explains how precipitation and water flow affect neighborhoods across Maryland and emphasizes the benefits of maintaining healthy waterways. With this knowledge, residents can help…

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September 12, 2024
Read more about the article Gov Honors Rural Legacy Program for 25 Years of Land Conservation
Photo by Patrick Siebert, Maryland Office of the Governor
Agriculture / County News / Economic Development / Environment
Gov Honors Rural Legacy Program for 25 Years of Land Conservation

Maryland’s Rural Legacy Program is celebrating 25 years of active land preservation across the state this year. Since its inception, the program and its partners have protected more than 125,000 acres of ecologically valuable properties, productive farms, and forests, representing a public investment of more than $405 million. In recognition of this milestone, Governor Wes Moore presented a Citation to Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz during the August 28, 2024 Board of Public Works…

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August 29, 2024
Read more about the article EPA Releases Plan to Protect 900 Endangered Species from Herbicides
Agriculture / Environment
EPA Releases Plan to Protect 900 Endangered Species from Herbicides

EPA recently released a first-of-its-kind strategy to protect 900 endangered species from herbicides.  Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its final Herbicide Strategy, an unprecedented step in protecting over 900 federally endangered and threatened (listed) species from the potential impacts of herbicides, which are chemicals used to control weeds. EPA will use the strategy to identify measures to reduce the amount of herbicide exposure to these species when it registers new herbicides and…

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August 27, 2024
Read more about the article From Field to Fork at #MACoCon
Agriculture / Environment / Summer Conference
From Field to Fork at #MACoCon

During MACo's Summer Conference Rural Counties Breakfast, industry representatives briefed county leaders on food processing residuals, commonly known as DAF.  DAF, also known as food processing residuals, has become an increasingly controversial component in modern agriculture. On the one hand, the substance offers a way to reuse a waste product to boost agricultural productivity, but on the other hand, DAF produces an incredibly noxious aroma that leads to serious community health dangers. MACo’s Rural Counties…

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August 20, 2024
Read more about the article DNR Sec. Shares Progress on New Chesapeake Bay Restoration Strategy
Agriculture / County News / Economic Development / Environment / Health and Human Services / News You Can Use
DNR Sec. Shares Progress on New Chesapeake Bay Restoration Strategy

It has been one year since Gov. Wes Moore announced that Maryland was shifting its Chesapeake Bay cleanup strategy to align with the latest science, which recommends focusing water quality improvement efforts on increasing shallow water habitat and living resources, such as fish and crab populations. According to Sec Josh Kurtz, "At the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), we’ve made significant strides during the past 12 months to shift from a strategy that I’ve often…

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August 8, 2024
Read more about the article Carroll County Honored with Special Achievement in GIS Award
Agriculture / County News / Economic Development / Environment / Information Technology / News You Can Use
Carroll County Honored with Special Achievement in GIS Award

Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, presented the Carroll County Government with the Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award on July 17, 2024, at the annual Esri User Conference (Esri UC). Carroll County Government received the award for its innovative use of mapping and analytics software, as well as leadership in the field of Technology Services. Their staff was recognized for their achievement in the ESRI Roadmap Workshop program which helped identify needs within the…

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August 8, 2024
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