By MARK POWELL

1/18 Farmland preservation, a license plate supporting ag education, the state nutrient management law and ag biotech all are expected to be issues for Maryland lawmakers meeting in Annapolis for the 2000 session.
Emily Wilson of Maryland Farm Bureau, said her organization has three principles to be guided by in its lobbying efforts this year. First, ensuring farmers’ economic viability. Second, working for better natural resources management and better state agency accountability. And, third, promotion of agricultural awareness and education.
Wilson said she expects there to be legislation calling for a repeal of the state inheritance tax, which Farm Bureau supports. The inheritance tax, primarily the federal version, is a major concern for farmers because it can lead to the breakup of farms as heirs attempt to pay the taxes after the death of a parent.
There also will be legislation from the Maryland Department of Agriculture to address some of ag group’s concerns with the state’s new nutrient management law. The Republican lawmakers also were discussing last week the possibility of calling for a repeal of the nutrient management law. Eastern Shore State Sen. Rich Colburn, a member of the Republican Caucus, said, “It’s never been proven that chicken manure causes pfiesteria. In fact, there’s evidence to the contrary.”
Annapolis observers say such a move by the Republicans would be largely symbolic in a Democrat-dominated legislature and with Gov. Parris Glendening holding veto power. Glendening was the force behind the mandatory nutrient management law, which he said was needed to control pfiesteria, a microorganism found in some Eastern Shore rivers. MDA also is introducing legislation aimed at changing the development densities allowed on land in the state farmland preservation program. Currently, the density is 1 in 20, with a cap of 10 homes. In other words, with 200 acres in the program, you would be allowed to build 10 homes. The proposed density would be 1 in 50, with a cap of four. With the same 200 acres, you could build four homes. Although at presstime, there was no bill filed, it is expected that some lawmakers will pursue labeling of food containing genetically modified organisms.
On another issue, the Forum for Rural Maryland will meet with the Rural Caucus of legislators this week to present recommendations to fund a $3.5 million budget request from the Maryland Food Center Authority to build a facility in Jessup. That facility would provide services to aid producers in processing of food, adding value to their farm products. The Jessup facility, according to the Forum’s director, Steve McHenry, would be the “hub” for a series of local facilities which could work directly with farmers throughout the state.