ADDRESSES, MESSAGES, AND STATEMENTS
OF GENERAL INTEREST

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture, if no longer dominant, is still a vital force in
the Maryland economy. With some 25, 000 farms covering
approximately 50 per cent of the State's land area, the prob-
lems of the Maryland farmer command the attention of the
State's leaders. His own background in a small, farming
community made Governor Tawes especially aware of the
needs of rural residents. A major undertaking of his first
term was a study of Maryland agriculture followed by the
creation of the Agricultural Advisory Board to give repre-
sentation to the State's farmers in agricultural policy-making.
Emphasis also was placed on increased agricultural research
and on direct assistance to farmers in dealing with pest
control, drainage, irrigation and related problems.

GREETINGS, MARYLAND FARM BUREAU BANQUET

BALTIMORE
January 13, 1961

I want to thank the Maryland Farm Bureau for asking me to be
with you this evening, it is a pleasure for me to extend to you best
wishes from Government House.

Maryland, which is a State of variety as far as topography is con-
cerned, is no less diverse in its agriculture. Here, we are fortunate to
have home-grown products of many types available in our consumer
markets. Maryland also is fortunate in having an energetic farming
community, men and women anxiously seeking means to improve
what they produce.

It is gratifying to me to observe the work of the Maryland Farm
Bureau and its affiliated organizations. A perusal of past reports
shows that your conventions are working conventions. The talks and
papers delivered at your meetings are reassuring evidence that Mary-
land agriculture realizes the magnitude of the job it faces in these
challenging years of growth. And more important than just realizing

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