TASK FORCE ON MARYLAND'S DAIRY INDUSTRY

Lewis R. Riley, Co-Chair
Dennis C. Westhoff, Ph.D., Co-Chair

Staff: S. Patrick McMillan (410) 841-5886

The Task Force on Maryland's Dairy Industry
was created within the Department of Agriculture
in 1995 (Chapter 274, Acts of 1995). The Task
Force is assessing the condition and long-term
viability of Maryland dairy farming, and allied in-
dustries and services. Trends in production, proc-
essing, marketing, and land use that affect the dairy
industry also will be evaluated. The Task Force is
to recommend ways to improve Maryland's dairy
industry, preserve farmland, and promote the con-
sumption of dairy products. It also will review State
law and regulations setting "sell-by" limits on dairy
products. By January 1997, the Task Force will
report to the Governor, the Senate Economic and
Environmental Affairs Committee, and the House
Environmental Matters Committee.
The Task Force has seventeen members. Nine
are named by the Governor, two by the Senate
President, two by the House Speaker. Four serve ex
officio. Authorization for the Task Force ends June
30, 1997 (Code 1957, Art. 41, sec. 18-307).

BOARD OF REVIEW
Roger L. Richardson, Chair, 1999
(410) 841-5882

The Board of Review hears and determines ap-
peals from any decision of the Secretary of Agricul-
ture or agency of the Department subject to judicial
review under the Administrative Procedure Act.
Appointed by the Governor with Senate advice
and consent, the Board's seven members serve three-
year terms. The Governor names the chair (Code
Agriculture Article, secs. 2-401 through 2-405).

MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION
A. Orrell Saulsbury III, Chair, 1996
Laurie Adelhardt, Executive Director
(410) 841-5882

The Maryland Agricultural Commission was
formed in 1961 as the Agricultural Advisory Board
(Chapter 470, Acts of 1961). The Board was re-
named the Maryland Agricultural Commission in
1968 (Chapter 552, Acts of 1968). The Commis-
sion's chief function is to advance Maryland agri-
culture and advise the Secretary of Agriculture on
agricultural matters. The Commission proposes ag-
ricultural improvements, promotes State agricul-
tural industries and products, and reviews
legislation for its impact on agnculture.
The Commission consists of twenty-four mem-
bers. Twenty-three are appointed by the Governor
for three-year terms. One serves ex officio (Code
Agriculture Article, secs. 2-201 through 2-205).

DEPUTY SECRETARY

Henry A. Virts, D.V.M., Deputy Secretary

50 Harry S Truman Parkway
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 841-5881

The Deputy Secretary oversees Aquaculture De-
velopment and Seafood Marketing, and Marketing
and Agricultural Development. The Deputy Secre-
tary also directs coordination of Chesapeake Bay
Agricultural Programs.

CHESAPEAKE BAY AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS
Thomas W. Simpson, State Coordinator
(410) 841-5865

With the Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 1987,
states in the Bay region will reduce nutrient load-
ings of phosphorous and nitrogen into the Bay by
40 percent by the year 2000. Working in tandem
with farmers in Maryland, agricultural and natural
resources agencies have developed a plan to curb
nutrient runoff from farmland. The plan sets forth
goals and actions needed to meet the commitments
of the Bay Agreement.
Agriculture also is significant in the tributary
focus of the Bay cleanup. The Department and its
agricultural partners work with farmers across the
State on nutrient reduction strategies for ten key
tributary basins within the Chesapeake watershed.

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT
& SEAFOOD MARKETING
Bradley H. Powers, Director

50 Harry S Truman Parkway
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 841-5724

Aquaculture, in Maryland, is an agricultural ac-
tivity—the controlled cultivation and harvest of
aquatic plants and animals. Aquaculture crops in
the State include hybrid striped bass, tilapia, catfish,
trout, crawfish, oysters, and soft-shell crabs.
The National Aquaculture Act of 1980 set forth
the federal policy of encouraging development of
an aquaculture industry. In 1988, the Department
of Agriculture was designated to promote develop-
ment of aquaculture and coordinate State efforts in
this field (Chapter 534, Acts of 1988).
The Office of Aquaculture Programs was estab-
lished by the Department in 1988 to coordinate the
aquaculture programs of the Department of Agri-
culture, the Department of Natural Resources, and
the University of Maryland System. In 1992, the
Office was reorganized as Aquaculture Develop-
ment and Seafood Marketing.
Seafood Marketing began in 1976 as an office
within the Division of Economic Development
under the Department of Economic and Commu-
nity Development In 1987, the Office of Seafood
Marketing was transferred to the Department of