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ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor Ch. 289
Preservation Foundation over and above any other funding the Foundation receives
from other sources. Additionally, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the
Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation be permitted to use this
additional funding for its existing easement acquisition program, the Critical Farms
Program, a Priority Preservation Areas Program, or an installment purchase
agreement program. It is also the intent of the General Assembly that any funding
not used in a given fiscal year not revert back to the general fund.
SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, to the extent that funds
are available, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the Governor provide
$5,000,000 in annual funding to capitalize the Maryland Agricultural and
Resource Based Industry Development Corporation's loan programs. It is also the
intent of the General Assembly that the Governor provide $5,000,000 annually for 2
consecutive fiscal years for the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry
Development Corporation to develop a Next Generation Farmland Acquisition
Program.
SECTION 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, to the extent that funds
are available, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the Governor provide an
additional $2,000,000 in annual funding over the fiscal 2006 legislative appropriation
for the Maryland Cooperative Extension at the University of Maryland. It is the
intent of the General Assembly that this funding be used to support additional staff to
provide enhanced technical assistance on best management practices to farmers and
to reestablish a soil testing laboratory in the State. It is also the intent of the General
Assembly that the funding for the Maryland Cooperative Extension not be reduced by
the University of Maryland.
SECTION 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, to the extent that funds
are available, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the Governor provide an
additional $2,500,000 in annual funding over the fiscal 2006 legislative appropriation
for the 23 Soil Conservation Districts in the State to increase staffing levels to 110
field personnel.
SECTION 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, to the extent that funds
are available, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the Governor provide at
least $150,000 annually in general funds for the Maryland Agricultural Education
and Rural Development Assistance Fund. Any funds that may be provided to the
Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund from the
Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund may count toward satisfying the intent
of this section.
SECTION 9. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the General Assembly
strongly supports the promotion of agricultural education throughout the State. The
General Assembly encourages the University of Maryland, College Park to provide a
greater focus on agriculture and extension education, and to establish a unique major
in this area.
SECTION 10. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the University System
of Maryland shall use existing budgeted resources to conduct research to:
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