The Water Quality Cost-Share Program reduces
water pollution caused by nutrient and sediment
erosion, animal wastes, or agricultural chemicals.
The program provides financial assistance to indi-
viduals and landowners installing agricultural best
management practices.

The Agricultural Water Management Program
protects water quality through oversight of the de-
sign, construction, operation, and maintenance of
agricultural drainage projects by public drainage
associations. Financial aid is made available to
public drainage associations through drainage
maintenance cost-share agreements.

STATE CHEMIST SECTION

David A. Tibbets, Chief
Kenneth K. Kelly, State Chemist

0233 Chemistry Bidg.
University of Maryland
College Park 20742 Telephone: 454-2721

Formerly under the Office of Animal Health
and Consumer Services, the State Chemist Section
was transferred to the Office of Plant Industries
and Resource Conservation in 1987. The State
Chemist Section registers, examines the labels of,
samples, and chemically tests and analyzes com-
mercial fertilizers, feeds, pesticides, soil condition-
ers, and liming materials sold in the State. This is
done to determine if they conform to standards
established under Maryland laws governing quali-
ty, contents, and labeling. Appropriate measures
are taken to protect the consumer and the dealer
from unscrupulous or careless manufacturers.

The Section cooperates with the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration in the inspection of feed
manufacturing facilities that produce medicated
feeds. To implement the federal Insecticide, Fun-
gicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Section
also works with the U.S. Environmental Protec-
tion Agency. Additionally, Section lab technicians
analyze meat and toxicology samples for the Of-
fice of Animal Health; test fruits, vegetables, com-
mercial feeds, and soils for chemical residues; and
make other determinations as required by the De-
partment (Code Agriculture Article, sees. 5-101
through 5-114; 6-101 through 6-117; 6-201
through 6-220; 6-301 through 6-310).

TURF AND SEED SECTION

Malcolm L. Sama, Chief

50 Harry S. Truman Parkway
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 841-5960

The Turf and Seed Section works to assure the
availability of sufficient quantities of certified turf
and seed. It directs and conducts certification pro-
grams by which turf and seed are produced to
meet standards of purity, variety, germination,
and other quality factors. Seed or sod not meeting
certification standards is rejected as a result of
field inspections or laboratory analysis.

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 is being purchased.
A State testing laboratory is operated for both ser-
vice and regulatory testing to assure compliance
with label claims. The regulatory phase involves
inspection, testing, reporting results, and correc-
tive actions for each turf and seed lot found to be
in noncompliance with the provisions of the Seed
Law (Code Agriculture Article, sees. 9-101
through 9-110, 9-201 through 9-213, 9-301
through 9-307).

WEED CONTROL SECTION

Jesse J. Crook, Chief

50 Harry S. Truman Parkway
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 841-5871

The primary goal of the Weed Control Section
is to control and prevent the spread in Maryland
of the nuisance weeds Johnson grass, thistles, and
multiflora rose. The Weed Control Program helps
landowners bring nuisance weeds under control
through their own efforts and through joint efforts
of county and State as provided for in cooperative
agreements with the various counties. The De-
partment encourages landowners to file Nuisance
Weeds Control Plans, outlining methods and pro-
cedures for controlling these weeds on their land.
The Department is authorized to take regulatory
actions against landowners who allow specific nui-
sance weeds to set seed on their property.

The Secretary of Agriculture has legislative au-
thority to declare other weeds noxious and place
them under a control program. The Section Chief
serves as the State's authority on weed control
matters (Code Agriculture Article, sees. 9-401
through 9-405, 9-701 through 9-705).