State Agencies

PLANT PROTECTION SECTION

This Section is responsible for administering
programs relating to nursery inspection, plant
protection and quarantine programs, integrated
pest management, nuisance bird control, forest
pest management, certified plant production, in-
spection and registration of honey bee colonies,
and administration of the Interstate Pest Control
Compact.

The Chief of this Section provides general su-
pervision to the programs and currently serves as
the State Plant Pathologist. Personnel in this Sec-
tion serve as the State's authority on plant pests
and agricultural quarantines and provide liaison
for the Department with other state and federal
regulatory officials (Code Agriculture Article,
secs. 5-301 through 5-313; 5-501 through 5-507;
and 1976 supplement secs. 5-701 through 5-716,
and 1977 supplement secs. 5-801 through 5-805).

GYPSY MOTH CONTROL SECTION

The gypsy moth is the most destructive forest
pest of the eastern United States. In addition, it
causes serious problems in wooded residential
areas, parks, and recreation areas, and is the sub-
ject of a national and international quarantine
program. This pest has been present in Maryland
since 1971, but as a result of effective control
measures there has been no damage to date in the
State. A cooperative local, State, and federal pro-
gram to manage the gypsy moth is coordinated
out of the Annapolis Office.

PESTICIDE APPLICATORS LAW
SECTION

This Section is responsible for regulating the
use of pesticides in the State. The program pro-
vides for the licensing of businesses engaged in
the commercial application of pesticides, training
and certification of certain pesticide applicators,
the enforcement of the Pesticide Applicators Law
and Regulations, and for providing technical in-
formation relating to the proper and effective use
of pesticides.

The supervisor of this program provides overall
guidance and serves as the State's authority on
matters relating to pesticide use and application
(Code Agriculture Article, secs. 5-201 through
5-211).

Agriculture/131

TURF AND SEED SECTION

The objective of this Section is to assure the
availability of sufficient quantities of certified turf
and seed by directing and conducting certification
programs in which turf and seed are produced to
meet certain standards such as purity, variety, ger-
mination, and other quality factors. Seed or sod
not meeting certification standards is rejected as a
result of field inspections or laboratory analysis.

The program is conducted in cooperation with
the Maryland Foundation Stocks Program
through the Maryland Crop Improvement Asso-
ciation. The supervisor of this program serves as
the State's authority on certified turfgrass and
seed.

The Section also provides regulatory controls
to assure accurate and complete labeling of seed
and sod at the time of marketing, thus enabling
the consumer to determine what he is purchasing
prior to planting or installation. A State Testing
Laboratory is operated for both service and regu-
latory testing to assure compliance with label
claims. The regulatory phase involves inspection,
testing, reporting results, and corrective actions
for each turf and seed lot found to be in non-
compliance with the provisions of the seed law
(Code Agriculture Article, secs. 9-101 through
9-110; 9-201 through 9-213; 9-301 through
9-307).

WEED CONTROL SECTION

The primary goal of the Weed Control Section
is to control and prevent the spread of the nox-
ious weed Johnsongrass within the State. The
Johnsongrass Control Program is basically
designed to assist landowners in bringing John-
songrass under control through their own efforts
and through the joint efforts of the county and
State as provided for in cooperative agreements
with the various counties. Landowners are en-
couraged to file Johnsongrass Control Plans with
the Department outlining methods and proce-
dures for controlling Johnsongrass on their land.
The Department is authorized to take regulatory
actions against landowners who allow Johnson-
grass to set seed on their property.

The Secretary of Agriculture has legislative au-
thority to declare other noxious weeds and place
them under a control program.

The program supervisor serves as the State's
authority on weed control matters (Code Agricul-
ture Article, secs. 9-401 through 9-405).