On Friday, September 9th, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack came to visit Maryland to celebrate farmer’s voluntary conservation efforts in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The day kicked off with a round-table discussion at Maryland Farm Bureau offices with NRCS officials and commodity group leaders discussing critical conservation issues, including the new farm bill. Secretary Vilsack encouraged commodity and conservation groups to continue to work together to show the power of voluntary conservation. Maryland Grain Producers Association was proud to have three of our board members participate in the discussions – Chip Bowling, Eric Spates, and Jason Scott.
Following the round-table discussion was a press event at the Scible Family’s “Y Worry Farm” in Davidsonville. Secretary Vilsack, NRCS Chief Jason Weller, Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Joe Bartenfelder, and Jason Scott all spoke commemorating farmers for the difference that they have made in the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Secretary Vilsack boasted that 99% of the watershed’s cultivated acres have at least one conservation practice in place, and that this statistic was “an extraordinary achievement unmatched anywhere in the United States.” Thank you Chip, Eric, and Jason for being the voice of Maryland Farmer’s at this event, Maryland has a lot to be proud of!
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