Maryland Agricultural Statistics (annually)
Maryland Agri-Facts (bi-monthly)
Weekly Crop and Weather Report
Weekly Delmarva Broiler Report

ANIMAL HEALTH SECTION
Roger E. Olson, D.V.M. , State Veterinarian
(410) 841-5810

Duties of the Animal Health Section began in
1884 when the position of veterinary inspector first
was created to suppress disease in livestock and
prevent epidemics (Chapter 157, Acts of 1884).
Today, the Section works to control and eradicate
livestock and poultry diseases that have a significant
economic impact on producers or pose a threat to
human health due to their transmissibility from
animals to people (Code Agriculture Article, secs.
3-101 through 3-503).
The Section's work is carried out in five labora-
tories located in Centreville, College Park,
Frederick, Oakland, and Salisbury.

EGG INSPECTION, GRADING, & GRAIN
Deanna Baldwin, Supervisor
(410) 841-5769

In 1992, the Grading Services and Egg Inspec-
tion Section merged with the Grain Laws Section
to form Egg Inspection, Grading, and Grain. The
Section oversees three separate programs of inspec-
tion, certification, and licensing.
The Grading Services Program conducts a volun-
tary certification program for producers and proc-
essors of numerous agricultural commodities,
including poultry, eggs, fruits, vegetables, soy-
beans, and grain. The Program uses standards de-
veloped by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for
quality, size, labeling, and packaging. Samples of
agricultural commodities are evaluated for con-
formity with these standards. Graders supervise the
official identification of commodities meeting the
established criteria (Code Agricultural Article, secs.
10-501 through 10-909).
The Egg Inspection Program enforces the Mary-
land Egg Law. Inspections performed at the proc-
essor, wholesale, food service and retail levels
ensure that eggs sold in Maryland comply with
standards for quality, size, labeling and record-
keeping. Wholesalers and packers of shell eggs must
register annually with the Program. The Program
coordinates enforcement of the Salmonella enteri-
tidis regulations jointly adopted by the Department
of Agriculture and the Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene. Through a cooperative agree-
ment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the
Federal Egg Law controlling the movement of
inedible and restricted eggs also is enforced by the
Program. Restricted eggs are those not suitable for
consumption due to cracks, blood spots, leaks, or

other problems (Code Agriculture Article, secs.
4-301 through 4-312).
The Grain Laws Program licenses grain dealers,
as defined by law. The practice dates at least to 1888
when licenses were granted to Baltimore grain
brokers (Chapter 416, Acts of 1888). Now, grain
dealers annually must meet financial and insurance
requirements. Each year, the Section also publishes
the Directory of Grain Dealers.

WEIGHTS & MEASURES SECTION
Louis E. Straub, Chief
(410) 841-5790

The first Maryland law to regulate measures was
enacted in 1641 (Chapter 2, Acts of 1641). At that
time, the county sheriff was entrusted with the
responsibility. The Weights and Measures Section
continues to maintain and safeguard the State's
primary standards as well as secondary standards
and equipment for the enforcement of Maryland's
Weights and Measures Law. The Section's Metrol-
ogy Laboratory provides a wide variety of highly
sophisticated measurements and calibrations in
mass, volume, length, and thermometry.
The Section supervises the use and production
of weighing and measuring devices, weights and
measures, and packaged commodities offered for
sale, sold, or in use in the State. This supervision
extends to the methodology used to obtain accu-
rate measurement and provides a means for value
comparisons for consumers.
The Section licenses and tests personnel who
determine butterfat content for dairies and milk
cooperatives and personnel who calibrate farm milk
tanks. It administers and enforces State laws for
ensuring accuracy, equity, and the prevention of
fraud in the sale and measurement of quantities,
commodities, goods, or services (Code Agriculture
Article, secs. 11-101 through 11-509).

OFFICE OF PLANT INDUSTRIES
& PEST MANAGEMENT

Charles W. Puffinberger, Ph.D., Assistant
Secretary for Plant Industries & Pest Management

50 Harry S Truman Parkway
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 841-5870

The Office of Plant Industries and Pest Manage-
ment originated in 1972 as the Division of Plant
Industries. It became the Division of Plant Indus-
tries and Pest Management in 1980, and the Office
of Plant Industries and Pest Management in 1984.
The Office was reorganized in 1987 as the Office
of Plant Industries and Resource Conservation and,
in 1990, resumed its earlier name.
The Office of Plant Industries and Pest Manage-
ment supervises programs concerned with plants,