MARYLAND AT A GLANCE

AGRICULTURE

[photo, Baltimore Farmers' Market, Holliday St. and Saratoga St., Baltimore, Maryland]

Aquaculture

Calendar of Maryland Harvests

Baltimore Farmers' Market, Holliday & Saratoga Sts., Baltimore, Maryland, September 2017. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

[photo, Hog, Kinder Farm Park, Millersville, Maryland]

Hog, Kinder Farm Park, Millersville, Maryland, April 2019. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Agriculture has played an important role in Maryland since its founding in 1634. While tobacco then was the main crop, wheat, corn, fruits and vegetables also were farmed. By steadily supplying flour to the Continental Army, Maryland's Eastern Shore earned the title, "Breadbasket of the Revolution" during the American Revolution. Later, grains became the primary crops in Maryland and were an important and valuable export for the State. By the late 19th century, as agriculture spread throughout the expanding United States, Maryland no longer was a primary supplier of grains for the nation. Today, agriculture in Maryland is diverse and includes not only crops, but also dairy and livestock, honey, horticulture and nurseries, poultry, and wineries and vineyards.

Sassafras, Maryland's state soil, is one of the first and oldest soil series in the nation, having been established in 1901, and is designated as a Benchmark and Hall of Fame series. It is found across much of the State, nearly 500,000 acres, and is categorized as prime farmland soil due to its productive value. Aside from agriculture and forestry, Sassafras is also one of the best soils for use in construction and recreation.

Baltimore Farmers' Market, Holliday & Saratoga Sts., Baltimore, Maryland, August 2012. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

[photo, Cow Judging, Maryland State Fair, Timonium, Maryland]

The Department of Agriculture is responsible for marketing, animal industries, and consumer services; plant industries and pest management; and resource conservation. Data relating to the production and marketing of agricultural products, agriculture prices and income, and other statistics pertinent to agriculture and agribusiness is compiled and published by the Maryland Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

To teach the public about agriculture in Maryland, the Department of Agriculture has partnered with Maryland Public Television to create a weekly series, Maryland Farm & Harvest.

Cow Judging, Maryland State Fair, Timonium, Maryland, August 2014. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

[photo, Barn and brick silo, Sabillasville (Frederick County), Maryland]

Agriculture is the largest commercial industry in Maryland, employing some 350,000 people, including nearly 6,000 full-time farmers, and contributing some $8.25 billion annually to the economy. Agriculture also remains the largest single land use in the State, 2 million acres, or roughly 32 percent of total land area used for farming in 2019. While the majority of Maryland's farmland lies in the north central part of the State and the upper Eastern Shore, about 20 urban farms thrive in Baltimore City. In 2019, some 12,400 Maryland farms averaged 161 acres each. According to the 2017 Census, 96% farms are family owned.

Barn & brick silo, Sabillasville (Frederick County), Maryland, July 2007. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

The main agricultural commodities in Maryland in 2019 were poultry and eggs, grain, horticulture, milk production, cattle and calves, and vegetables and melons.

In Fiscal Year 2019, some 114 farms were certified organic in Maryland.

Near the Chesapeake Bay and near Maryland farm lands, sea levels are rising at double the world's average rate. Along with climate change, farms on Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore increasingly are affected by saltwater intrusion, or the movement of saltwater towards land that occurs when too much freshwater is removed from aquifers, and the settling of the land itself. Saltwater, whether through aquifer intrusion or tides, has increasingly encroached into farm fields, leaving the soil's salt content too high to grow crops and causing more farmland acres to be left unplanted. The General Assembly ordered the Department of Planning, along with the Departments of Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources, to devise a plan to adapt to saltwater intrusion and update it every five years (Chapter 628, Acts of 2018).

Created in 1977 within the Department of Agriculture, the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation is one of the first programs in the nation dedicated to the preservation of agricultural lands by purchasing easements that restrict any future development of farmlands or woodlands. By the end of Fiscal Year 2019, the Foundation had preserved some 318,215 acres on 2,347 properties. By 2022, the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation and its State and local government partners seek to preserve 1,030,000 acres of agricultural land, including farmland, wooded areas, and open space. As of June 30, 2019, some 662,923 acres toward that total, or 64%, have been preserved.

Silos, Easton, Maryland, May 2017. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

[photo, Dairy cows, Long Green Road, Glen Arm, Maryland]

In 2018, gross cash income from commodity (crop & animal) receipts and other farm-related work was approximately $2.5 billion, while net cash income was about $561 million, or $45,317 per farm. Total production expenses were nearly $2.2 billion, while net farm income exceeded $539 million. The market value of all agricultural products totaled over $2.2 billion. Per farm expenses averaged $176,032, while income averaged $43,486.

In 2015, Caroline County was ranked the top agricultural county in Maryland by a federal census taken every five years. Caroline led all other counties in barley, wheat, and vegetables. Queen Anne's County was first in its harvest of corn, wheat, and soybeans, while Frederick County led in milk production, with its dairy herds accounting for one third of the State's total.

Dairy cows, Long Green Road, Glen Arm, Maryland, August 2017. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

[photo, Waverly Farmers' Market, 32nd St. and Barclay St., Baltimore, Maryland]

Along with raising crops and animals, Maryland farmers earn income from agricultural tourism. In 2017, some 300 farms made 9% of their income through these services.

In 2018, the Federal Government's direct farm program payments were approximately $39 million, down from $58 million in 2017.

CROPS
In 2019, field crops were harvested from 1.35 million acres with a value of $688 million. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2017 Census, grain sales were valued over $575 million.

Waverly Farmers' Market, 32nd St. & Barclay St., Baltimore, Maryland, August 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Corn. In 2019, corn to be used for grain averaged 161 bushels per acre. From 460,000 acres, 74 million bushels of corn were harvested with a value of $318.5 million. Corn for silage averaged 22 tons per acre for a total of 880,000 tons harvested from 40,000 acres.

Hay. Hay production, including alfalfa, yielded 2.68 tons per acre, with 507,000 tons harvested from 189,000 acres worth $86 million in 2019.

[photo, Tractor exhibition, Cecil County Fair, Fair Hill, Maryland]

Soybeans. The soybean yield averaged 44 bushels per acre in 2019, with a total production of 21 million bushels from 475,000 acres worth $173.5 million.

Wheat. In 2019, winter wheat produced 75 bushels per acre, with 12.4 million bushels harvested from 165,000 acres worth $105.8 million.

Barley. Barley production increased to 1.45 million bushels in 2019, averaging 85 bushels per acre with 17,000 acres harvested worth $4.48 million.

Tractor pull event, Cecil County Fair, Fair Hill, Maryland, July 2000. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

[photo, Pumpkin vines with flowers, Baltimore, Maryland]

Selected fresh market vegetables and melons, including sweet corn, watermelons, snap beans, and cucumbers, were harvested from 29,339 acres and were valued at $71.3 million in 2017. In 2018, potatoes were harvested from 2,200 acres and amounted to 510,000 hundredweight worth $5.97 million.

Fruits, Tree Nuts, & Berries. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, orchards in Maryland covered some 4,183 acres and were worth $23.7 million. Apples (1,793 acres) and grapes (1,170 acres on 187 farms) became the most productive crops. In 2018, some 39.6 million pounds of apples were harvested.

Pumpkin vines with flowers, Baltimore, Maryland, September 2016. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

[photo, Thresher, south of Hughesville, Maryland]

In the fall after summer crops have been harvested, cover crops, including rye, barley, and other cereal grains, are planted. Cover crops control soil erosion and run-off, and improve the health of soil for later crops. To help with expenses associated with cover crops, the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program offers grants. For the 2019-2020 Program, $22.5 million in grants will be awarded. Between 2018 and 2019, some 362,976 acres of traditional cover crops were planted in Maryland using $17.1 million in grants.

Thresher, south of Hughesville, Maryland, November 2017. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

[photo, Cow, Kinder Farm Park, Millersville, Maryland]

DAIRY & LIVESTOCK
Maryland milk production in 2019 totaled 840 million pounds and the average per cow was 19,535 pounds. In 2019, the number of dairy farms was 350 and the number of milk cows was 43,000.

Cattle. As of January 1, 2020, the total number of cattle in Maryland was 179,000, including 68,000 calves. In 2017, market value for cattle and calves was over $75 million. Also as of January 1, 2020, there were 47,000 beef cows in Maryland.

Cow, Kinder Farm Park, Millersville, Maryland, January 2019. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

[photo, Silos on Kilby Cream Farm, 129 Strohmaier Lane, Rising Sun, Maryland]

To showcase the dairy industry and its contributions, and educate the public about farming, the Department of Agriculture each summer promotes the Maryland's Best Ice Cream Trail, a tour of nine dairy farms that runs more than 290 miles across the State. The dairies include Broom's Bloom Dairy (Harford County); Chesapeake Bay Farms (Worcester County); Keyes Creamery (Harford County); Kilby Cream (Cecil County); Misty Meadows Farm Creamery (Washington County); Prigel Family Creamery (Baltimore County); Rocky Point Creamery (Frederick County); South Mountain Creamery (Frederick County); and Woodbourne Creamery (Montgomery County).

Alpacas & Llamas. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, there were 1,660 alpacas and 168 llamas on 146 and 43 farms, respectively.

Bison. In 2017, there were 43 bison on 5 farms in Maryland.

Silos on Kilby Cream Farm, 129 Strohmaier Lane, Rising Sun, Maryland, July 2015. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

[photo, Goat mountain, Maryland State Fair, Timonium, Maryland]

[photo, Sheep, Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, Maryland]

Goats & Sheep. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, approximately 3,848 milk goats, 9,263 goats for meat and other purposes, and 23,399 sheep and lambs were in Maryland.

Goat mountain (left), September 2015, Maryland State Fair, Timonium, Maryland. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

Sheep (right), Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, Maryland, May 2008. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

[photo, Hogs at Maryland State Fair, Timonium, Maryland]

Hogs. As of December 1, 2019, the total number of hogs in Maryland was 20,000. Cash receipts for hogs sold in 2018 were $6.8 million.

HEMP
The Maryland Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program was launched in 2019 to encourage research of industrial hemp and its growth, harvest, production, and sale for agricultural objectives. Under the Program, farmers must partner with the Department of Agriculture or a university in order to grow the hemp for research purposes only. In its first year, 66 farmers partnered with 7 universities on hemp research.

Hogs, August 2014, Maryland State Fair, Timonium, Maryland. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

[photo, Honeybees in a honeycomb, Crownsville, Maryland]

HONEY
As of July 16, 2019, some 15,498 honeybee colonies in Maryland are maintained by 2,098 beekeepers in 2,639 locations. These colonies produce upwards of 100,000 pounds of honey per year. In 2018, honey was valued at $957,000 in cash receipts.

Honeybees not only produce honey and beeswax, but also pollinate nearly 40% of the food that we eat, including some $40 million of Maryland's crops. Due to the shortage of bees, Maryland farmers rent 5,000 colonies each year and beekeepers send their colonies to out-of-state growers.

Honeybees in a honeycomb, Crownsville, Maryland, September 2014. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

According to the Bee Informed Partnership, between April 2017 and 2018, beekeepers surveyed in Maryland lost an average of 64% their colonies. These colonies are vital to Maryland's agriculture since nearly all of the State's wild bee have died. The Department of Agriculture's Apiary Program offers help and inspections to keep Maryland's bees and their hives healthy. In 2018, 1,438 and 1,864 colonies were inspected by people and dogs, respectively. In an effort to curb bee deaths in Maryland, the General Assembly passed the Pollinator Protection Act of 2016 (Chapter 662, Acts of 2016). Since 2018, retail establishments are prohibited from selling neonicotinoid pesticides to consumers, making Maryland the first state in the nation to protect bees by banning these pesticides.

[photo, Clydesdale, Maryland State Fair, Timonium, Maryland]

HORSE INDUSTRY
Maryland has 10.5 horses per square mile, more than any other state in the nation. Some 101,457 horses live on 705,000 acres, or one quarter of the State's agricultural land, of which 88,000 acres are preserved through conservation programs. Over 16,000 equine facilities and 745 licensed stables operate in Maryland. Annually, the horse industry adds more than $1.3 billion to the State's economy and supports 21,532 jobs, according to the 2018 Economic Impact Study from the American Horse Council.

Horse racing, the largest of the industry's sectors, has a significant impact on the Maryland economy. Racing, which includes thoroughbred and harness racing, adds $365 million in value to the economy as well as supports 5,214 jobs. There are more than 260 live racing days held at Maryland's five racetracks each year, which has a $572 million economic impact on the State. At Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, the Preakness Stakes brings in more than $30 million each May.

Clydesdale, Maryland State Fair, Timonium, Maryland, September 2015. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

Other areas of the horse industry include competition, recreation, and therapy. Horse competitions, such as horse shows, add $162 million in value to Maryland's economy, as well as 3,346 jobs, while recreation, including riding lessons, add another $234 million and 4,971 jobs. Horse, or equine, therapy brings in $8.4 million and 189 jobs at more than 30 facilities. Combined, these areas have a total economic impact of more than $650 million. There are also over a dozen organizations that rescue and rehouse horses, including retired racehorses. Overall, the horse industry, including owners, participants, and organizations, has an economic impact of more than $2 billion on Maryland.

The Maryland Horse Industry Board oversees and supports Maryland's horse owners and industry. The Board publishes a Guide to Maryland Horse Trails as well as Saddle Up Maryland, a directory of trail-riding stables and guided rides. The Board also provides information on horse parks, history trails, and horse discovery centers.

The Thoroughbred is Maryland's State Horse.

[photo, Bumblebees and a honeybee alight on a sunflower, Baltimore, Maryland]

HORTICULTURE & NURSERIES
In 2017, horticulture, which includes nurseries and greenhouses, made up 9% of all agricultural items that were sold. Nurseries used over 36,000 acres of land, including over 800 acres of greenhouses. There are over 25,000 people employed in the horticultural industry. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, the market value for nursery, greenhouse and floriculture was approximately $230.5 million in 2017. In 2018, the Maryland Nursery Inspection Program licensed 311 nurseries and 1,469 plant sellers and certified over 9,230 stock acres and 11,823 square feet of greenhouse space.

Bumblebees & a honeybee alight on a sunflower, Baltimore, Maryland, July 2014. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

POULTRY
In 2018, the number of broilers, or chickens raised for their meat, decreased from 306.7 million birds to 289.4 million produced. Their production value was $970 million and 1.73 billion pounds, while turkeys brought in some $13.7 million. Perdue Farms, located on Maryland's Eastern Shore, is the third-largest poultry producer in the nation.

Rooster, Annapolis, Maryland, August 2003. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Egg production in Maryland was to 792.6 million eggs in 2019, with each of the 2.7 million birds laying about 295 eggs annually. Most chicken operations have fewer than 3,000 birds, and, of these, 500 "small flocks" produce about 9.6 million eggs each year, while nine operations with more than 3,000 birds produce the rest. Market value for egg production is $60.7 million.

FARM RESOURCES
For farmers and others involved in agriculture, the University of Maryland Extension offers scientific expertise and resources through its network of county extension offices. The Extension is a statewide education system of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources within the University of Maryland, College Park.

Baltimore Farmers' Market, Holliday St. & Saratoga St., Baltimore, Maryland, August 2013. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

[photo, Boordy Vineyards, Long Green Pike, Hydes, Baltimore County, Maryland]

WINERIES, BREWERIES & DISTILLERIES
During Prohibition from 1920 to 1933, Maryland, seeing the 18th Amendment as a violation of states' rights, was the only state that refused to enforce the federal law banning the production, sale, and transportation of alcohol. Following Prohibition's repeal, the industry prospered for some years, but eventually businesses ceased operations; however, in recent years, Maryland has seen a rapid increase in the number of wineries, breweries, and distilleries that have opened. Currently, 168 businesses produce craft beverages with a total gross output of $591 million. In 2018, wineries, breweries, and distilleries employed 1,280 people.

Boordy Vineyards, Long Green Pike, Hydes, Baltimore County, Maryland, August 2014. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

Wineries. Each Maryland county has at least one vineyard and most have a winery as well. In 2019, wineries sold 201,000 cases, or 461,000 gallons, of wine. They employed 2,000 workers and had a $200 million economic impact on the State. Commercial growers grew nearly 1,000 acres of grapes in Maryland in 2019. Sales in 2018 were approximately $50 million. Together, some 100 wineries throughout the State produce over 500 wines. Wine trails across the State offer regional wines with distinctive flavors. Wineries and vineyards may be eligible for the Wineries and Vineyards Tax Credit (WVTC) .

The Governor's Advisory Commission on Maryland Wine and Grape Growing seeks to support Maryland's wineries and vineyards. The Commission advises the Secretary of Agriculture on the distribution of money from the Maryland Wine & Grape Promotion Fund, a grant program that encourages production of wine and its grapes throughout the State. In Fiscal Year 2019, the Commission recommended that 10 project applications (3 from the Maryland Grape Growers Association & 7 from the Maryland Wineries Association) for grants worth $181,877 be approved.

Breweries. Over 100 licensed breweries operate throughout Maryland. In Fiscal Year 2018, they sold 8 million gallons, or 52 million bottles, for $100 million. In August 2018, Guinness opened a brewery and taproom in Halethorpe, Baltimore County, its only brewery in the United States. The University of Maryland Extension, in partnership with Flying Dog Brewery, produced the "Maryland Hop Growers Guide: A Progress Report on the 2016-2017 Growing Season and Summary of Best Practices for Growing Hops in Maryland."

Distilleries. As of July 2019, Maryland has 27 distilleries which produce bourbon, gin, and rye, as well as other spirits, with many businesses using local ingredients.

University of Maryland Extension
Maryland State Drink
Maryland Government
Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
Maryland Departments
Maryland Independent Agencies
Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
Maryland Universities & Colleges
Maryland Counties
Maryland Municipalities
Maryland at a Glance

MARYLAND AT A GLANCE

AGRICULTURE

Maryland Manual On-Line

Search the Manual
e-mail: mdmanual@mdarchives.state.md.us

MARYLAND AT A GLANCE

AGRICULTURE

Maryland Manual On-Line

Search the Manual e-mail: mdmanual@mdarchives.state.md.us

Search the Manual
e-mail: mdmanual@mdarchives.state.md.us