Agriculture and Food Systems

Looking for help on your farm?  Take a look at A Guide To Custom Operators. If you are a custom operator and would like to be added to our resource guide, please fill out our Custom Operators form.

Land Rental Rates - USDA, National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) Cash Rental Rates.

Lease Agreements

Maryland FarmLink is a website that helps Maryland farmers buy, sell, and lease farmland as well as connect with other farmers. This website is run by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission.

Sources of Technical Assistance, Education, and Support for Farmers in Frederick County Maryland

Frederick County Extension Ag Facebook page

University of Maryland

• Agriculture Law
• Farm Bill Tools
    University of Illinnois
    Texas A&M University
    Oklahoma State University

University of Maryland Extension

• Agriculture and Food Systems (AgFS)
• Annie's Project
• Beginning Farmer Success
• Certified Water Testing Labs
• Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
• Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
• Lease Agreements
• Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center (MREDC)
• New Farmer FAQ's
• Nutrient Management
• Pesticide
• Produce Safety - view the latest newsletter and find upcoming webinars
       Food Safety Newsletter For Maryland Farmers - past newsletters

Frederick County Government

• Frederick County Office of Agriculture - The Office of Agriculture is dedicated to preserving farmland through conservation easements, supporting agricultural operations with business support and technical assistance, and promoting local farms through initiatives like Homegrown Frederick, ensuring a vibrant and diverse agricultural community. Our mission is to preserve our farming heritage, assist farmers in their endeavors, and promote a thriving agricultural sector. 
• Frederick County Office of Economic Development - The Office of Economic Development works to increase the overall economic health of Frederick County by attracting new businesses and help existing businesses be more successful. Since agriculture is one of the key industries in the county, the Office of Economic Development assists farmers with promoting agriculture and walking through regulations for items such as zoning and value-added products. Homegrown Frederick, a website and annual magazine that promotes local farms, is published by the Office of Economic Development.
• Frederick County Agricultural Land Preservation Program - The Agricultural Land Preservation office administers a variety of local, state, and federal land preservation programs focused on protecting agricultural lands. These preservation programs provide many opportunities to the farmers of Frederick County to protect the future of their farmlands and promote natural resource industries.
• Frederick County Weed Control - 301-600-1586 Frederick County Weed Control operates through a joint partnership between the county government and the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Weed Control enforces the State Weed Control Law which regulates johnsongrass, shattercane, and thistles. They also provide technical assistance to landowners for initiating noxious weed control programs.
• Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Frederick County Office - The Environmental Health Services Division of the MDH oversees regulations dealing with wells, septic systems, food service facilities, farmers markets, cottage food businesses, and value-added products.

Frederick Soil Conservation
The Frederick County Soil Conservation District promotes and implements a range of local, state, and federal programs including land preservation, USDA-NRCS programs including the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, and Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program (MACS). The Frederick County Soil Conservation District develops soil conservation and water quality plans and provide assistance to landowners to install best management practices. Assisting livestock operations is one of our priorities along with providing assistance for the implementation of Farm Bill programs. We encourage new cooperators and livestock operations and implement the environmental provisions of the Farm Bill.

Future Harvest Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture (Future Harvest CASA)
Future Harvest CASA provides education, networking, and advocacy to help build a sustainable Chesapeake foodshed; protect our land, water, and air; and provide healthy, nutritious food that sustains the region’s communities and cities. Future Harvest CASA offers field days, meetings, conferences, as well as a Beginning Farmer Training Program.

Hay and Straw for Sale

• Maryland Hay Connection - Facebook 
• MDA Hay & Straw Directory

Homegrown Frederick
Homegrown Frederick is a place where you can find local products, Farmers' Markets, learn about area farms and what is going on in the Ag community.

Maryland Agricultural & Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation
MARBICO is a quasi-public economic development organization that helps Maryland’s farm, forestry, and seafood businesses achieve sustainability and profitability. They offer loan and grant programs for farmers and rural business owners, land preservation programs, partnerships with commercial lenders, and business resources and planning tools for rural entrepreneurs. 

Maryland Department of Agriculture

• Food Quality Assurance
• Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
• Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
• Farming For Healthy Soil Program (application)
• Pesticide Regulation
• Nutrient Management

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

• Forestry Division - The Forestry Division of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources can assist landowners with the establishment, management, and harvesting of trees on their property.
• Wildlife Division - The Wildlife Division of DNR manages the wildlife in the state. They handle complaints dealing with wildlife damage to crops and issue control permits and work with landowners to develop wildlife management plans.

Maryland FarmLink
Maryland FarmLink is a website that helps Maryland farmers buy, sell, and lease farmland as well as connect with other farmers. This website is run by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission.

Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA)
2020 Legal Services Directory

Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit
Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative. They offer farm, home, and land loans, as well as crop insurance. Farm Credit also has a Beginning Farmer Program and an AgBiz Masters Program for young and beginning farmers.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

• Farm Service Agency - The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. FSA handles the government cost-share and price support programs, as well as low-interest loans. Disaster programs for drought, freeze, and hail are also handled by FSA.
• Grants and Loans
• Natural Resources Conservation Service - The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance for installing farm practices that reduce soil erosion and benefit water quality. These practices include grass waterways, diversions, crop strips, ponds, watering troughs, manure pits, cover crops, stream buffers, and many more. NRCS also writes conservation plans, which are plans for the implementation of conservation practices on the farm.
• New Farmer Website - USDA has a section of their website dedicated to new farmers, women in ag, young farmers, and veterans. Information on how to start a farm, business resources, and grants and loans are available on this website

Here are some quick FAQs regarding nutrient vouchers and certified farm operators (CFOs).

Q: How do I know if my nutrient voucher is still valid?
A: Each voucher holder should have a card with an expiration date on it, and MDA will also send out expiration notices in the mail.

Q: Can I look up if my nutrient voucher is still valid?
A: There is no online way to look them up, however voucher holders may contact MDA's regional offices or headquarters directly to look up that information or email nminfo.mda@maryland.gov.

Q: Where is the list of voucher training courses?
A: MDA Nutrient Management Training webpage

Q: What should a farmer do when attending nutrient voucher training to ensure his/her voucher is updated?
A: The host of the meeting will have sign-in sheets, make sure you sign in (this includes winter meetings for which voucher certification is offered).

Q: What is a certified farm operator (CFO)?
A: A CFO is a farmer who is certified to write their own nutrient management plan for their operation.

Q: I want to write my own plan, how do I become a CFO?
A: Sign up for a class!

Q: How many nutrient management CEUs do I need to keep my CFO certification valid?
A: You will need 2 credits within the first year, and 6 credits every 3 years thereafter.

Q: How do I know when my CFO certification needs to be renewed?
A: Each CFO should have a card with an expiration date on it, and MDA will also send out renewal notices in the mail.

Q: What do I do when I receive a renewal notice?
A: You will need to report qualifying CEUs that you received over the past 1 year/3 years and send the notice back to MDA. If you are unsure of when you received CEUs, you can contact MDA's regional offices or headquarters to find out. Good recordkeeping is your best bet.

Q: Where can I find out more about Nutrient Management?
A: University of MD Extension Agriculture Nutrient Management Program