October 10, 2025

Reserve your space now at both of these fall events
(Click on the images below for full details):

Annual Meeting - October 20, 2025
Online Reg closes on Monday, October 13th!

Fall Banquet - November 11, 2025
Online Reg closes on Tuesday, October 28th

Awards for Ag Innovator and Distinguished Service - details below
Nominations due by Monday, October 20th!

Submit Your Silent Auction Donation Items*
Online form closes on Monday, November 3rd

* You may bring the actual donation items on the evening of the banquet, however please submit your item details ahead of time so we can prepare.

Due Oct 20th! Agriculture Innovator and Distinguished Service Award
Nominations Being Accepted

It's time to send in your nomination forms for the BCFB Ag Innovator and Distinguished Service Awards. These are truly prestigious awards that BCFB has the honor of awarding at the BCFB Annual Banquet. Please take a moment to complete the short application for a worthy nominee.

Ag Innovator award recipients will have achieved the following:

Owned or taken significant leadership role in a business that is recognized as a successful leader within the agriculture community.
Has implemented practices or procedures that have been recognized as innovative and beneficial to the agriculture community and/or public perception of agriculture.
Has given substantial help and time to a charitable organization(s) within or outside of the agriculture community.
This award is not necessarily an annual award.

Distinguished Service award rules and qualifications:

The BCFB's award for distinguished service is given in recognition of outstanding service in the interest of Farm Bureau and agriculture.
Nominations for the award may be made by members in good standing of BCFB. Current officers and employees of Farm Bureau are not eligible for nominations. The award will not be presented posthumously, nor will it be presented to an organization.
Nominees must be BCFB members who have contributed to the betterment of the organization and the industry at the county, state, or national level.
The nomination should include name, address, phone number, and qualifications for the nominee and the individual nominating.

Award winners will be selected only from nominations made in the current year, however, nominations made in previous years may be resubmitted. Please submit your completed nomination forms to Vanessa Finney at bcfbmd@gmail.com by October 20, 2025.

New! H-2A Updates: DOL Issues IFR on Agricultural Wages

Matt Mika of AmericanHort shares an update on H-2A:

Following court challenges, the Department of Labor (DOL) has suspended enforcement of its 2024 rule aimed at expanding H-2A guest worker protections and has proposed rescinding it entirely. Concurrently, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a new rule, effective October 2, 2025, to streamline the H-2A filing process. Read the proposed rescission details at Federal Register.
AmericanHort commends DOL, DOL Secretary Chavez-DeRemer, USDA, and the Trump Administration on putting this rule forward, listening to AmericanHort and our growers on the high cost and burdensome regulations associated with the AEWR and H-2A program. You can download a PDF of the rule and a breakdown of the new rates, provided by JPH Law.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Matt Mika: MattM@AmericanHort.org

The Baltimore County Division of Agriculture is excited to host the Farmers Fair at the Baltimore County Ag Center on:

Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Tuesday, January 13, 2026

These one-day events will bring together county, state, and federal agriculture service providers and organizations, serving as a one-stop shop for farmers to update certifications and access valuable local, state, and federal resources. The events are open to all farmers, regardless of county of residence or type of farming operation.

This winter we will give farmers two opportunities to visit the Farmers Fair and explore resources available to them. Complete the Agency Registration Form. To ensure your organization’s inclusion in the event program, please complete the registration by September 15, 2025.

For questions or additional assistance, please contact:

Tracy Brooks
Baltimore County Division of Agriculture
📧 tbrooks4@baltimorecountymd.gov
📞 (410) 887-7947

Save-the-Date for Maryland Farm Bureau's 110th Annual Convention & Meeting of Delegates will take place on December 7th through the 9th, with December 6th serving as the NextGen Summit, a celebration of the states Young Farmers & Ranchers. Join MFB at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina in Cambridge, Maryland for a few fun days rooted in education, policy discussions, and networking! Share this news with your friends on social media and stay tuned for more announcements coming soon.

MDFB is Hiring: Operations Coordinator Want to MDFB's team? They're hiring an Operations Coordinator to drive member engagement and strengthen their presence at the county and state level. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with a passion for Maryland farms and who wants to become more involved with agriculture in our state. Learn more about this opportunity by clicking here, and please share with any of your friends or colleagues who may be interested in applying.

MARBIDCO Offers Two Maryland Resource-Based Industry Financing Fund (MRBIFF) Options MARBIDCO's popular “MRBIFF” Loan Program now offers a Participation Loan option in addition to its traditional Direct Loan option. Under the Participation Loan option, the senior lender holds and services the MARBIDCO below-market-rate portion of the commercial debt financing. MARBIDCO typically finances between 30-49% of the debt capital that is needed. The Participation Loan option is currently offered through Horizon Farm Credit and Colonial Farm Credit. MARBIDCO welcomes other lenders to adopt this lending approach. If interested, please contact the MARBIDCO office.

Learn more and apply for the MRBIFF Program

New! Irrigation Management Survey The Precision Agriculture Lab at the UME is conducting a survey of all farmers in Maryland on irrigation management practices and expertise. They are asking for your help distributing an important survey on irrigation management practices and knowledge to as many farmers in Maryland as possible. This survey will help to collect data to better address the needs in the state and develop irrigation management resources. They would sincerely appreciate your assistance in this endeavor by completing this survey: Irrigation Management Survey

Any questions or comments can be directed to PI Dr. Hemendra Kumar (hemendra@umd.edu) or Dr. Cara Peterson (cmpeters@umd.edu)

New! Landscape and Nursery IPM Reports Read the most recent report from October 3, 2025. For information on how and where to send submissions and guidelines for sending photos, please see the notice sent out on March 4, 2025.

The Baltimore County Agribusiness Incubator Initiative is a business development program for new, beginning, and historically underserved farmers in Baltimore County. The Agribusiness Incubator: Greenhouse Program supports farmers launching their Agribusiness, and gives them the opportunity to rent table space in the greenhouse at the Baltimore County Agricultural Center. Apply for the program. View the flyer. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications for initial selection ninety days prior to the start of the next growing season. For additional questions or assistance completing the application, please contact the Baltimore County Division of Agriculture: agriculture@baltimorecountymd.gov