O’Malley promises support to Maryland farmers against activists’ attacks

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has assured his state’s farmers — the men and women who populate its No. 1 industry — that he will stand guard with them in assaults by eco-environmental activists.
In response to a hastily-gathered Maryland Farm Bureau petition signed by 200 farmers and ag leaders and an accompanying letter from MFB President Pat Langenfelder, O’Malley wrote that his administration is aware that “farmers are invaluable partners in protecting the environment and our treasured Chesapeake Bay.”
Citing the successes of Maryland farmers in reducing nutrient loads, Langenfelder had urged the Governor, in the drafting of the Total Maximum Daily Load criteria for Bay’s Watershed Implementation Plan, “to resist the sensational efforts by so-called ‘senior scientists and policy leaders for the Bay’ to mislead Maryland citizens about the causes of Bay pollution.”
O’Malley responded that “we recognize that farmers have made significant contributions in environmental stewardship efforts to date and we support the efforts of Maryland farmers toward reducing nutrient pollution to the Bay.”
The Governor assured Langenfelder that his administration is continuing to work with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson “to make sure Maryland is treated fairly.”
O’Malley said he also had reached out to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack “to make sure the federal resources are there to provide farmers with technical and financial assistance.”
“Even in these difficult times,” O’Malley continued, “we have fully-funded agricultural land preservation, cover crop, and cost-share programs. The budget also makes available $9.5 million for best management practices to improve water quality, in addition to $15 million for cover crops.
“And farmers continue to respond positively to these programs. Fifty-seven percent more Maryland farmers are now enrolled in conservation programs that were enrolled five years ago. We applaud farmers for their more than $14 million investment over the past 25 years to match nearly $100 million in public funding to install and maintain over 20,000 best management practices.”
O’Malley said that farmers alone should not have to “carry the (TMDL) burden.”.
“This is why my administration has invested in upgrades for state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plants, implemented programs to restore our native oyster population, and tightened restrictions on storm water management.
“It will not be easy for any of us, but a strong agriculture industry and a healthy environment should not be mutually exclusive,” the O’Malley letter concluded.