Current Legistative issues

Agricultural producers in Montgomery County will be facing many challenges in the coming years.  Our goal is to keep our members, the agricultural community and the general public informed about these issues through this section of our web site.

We have set up an easy way for you to contact your elected officials.  Just a few clicks and you’ll be connected to all of their contact information.

The following is a copy of the testimony that MAP submitted to the Montgomery County Council at the Public
hearing on January 15, 2015. This is in reference to Bill 52-14 that purposes a ban of certain Non-Essential
Pesticides in Montgomery County. MAP is opposed to this legislation for the reason stated in our testimony.

The Honorable George Leventhal, President
Montgomery County Council
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland      20856                                                        January 15, 2015

RE:         Montgomery Agricultural Producers Written Testimony:
Bill 52-14 Pesticides-Notice Requirements-Non-Essential Pesticides-Prohibitions

On behalf of Montgomery Ag Producers, please accept this correspondence as MAP’s testimony in opposition to Bill
52-14, - Pesticides – Notice Requirements – Non- Essential Pesticides – Prohibitions.   MAP is an organization of
agricultural producers that range from grain to table top foods to equestrian and livestock producers here in the
county.   This legislation addresses the banning of certain pesticides that are currently used and approved for use
by the EPA and the State of Maryland on Montgomery County properties.

While Bill 52-14 currently provides for an agricultural exemption, if this legislation is adopted, nothing prevents a
future Council from amending the law to prohibit the use of certain pesticides on agricultural land despite being
approved for use by State and Federal Government agencies.  This is our concern with this bill.

This potential outcome is of great concern to the agricultural community.  We in partnership with Montgomery
County have worked to make the County’s Ag Reserve a cherished resource.  Our county’s farmers utilize pesticides
as a tool on a regular basis throughout the growing season to protect our crops from insects, disease and weed
competition.  It is the availability and use of these products that allow us to produce a safe and abundant food
supply while protecting the Chesapeake Bay.

We take the safety of our citizens and especially the children seriously and commend you for your concern in this
regard.  We believe that properly tested and approved pesticides when used according to their label are safe.  
Those who apply agricultural pesticides are required to be trained to obtain a license and must partake in continuing
education to maintain that license.  Every product that we use is extensively tested as part of the approval process
by the Environmental Protection Agency.  

We are concerned about the term “Non-essential Pesticide.”  Who in the county has the expertise to decide which
pesticides are non-essential and what criteria will be used to make these decisions?  What are the proposed
alternatives and will they truly be safer?  We believe that, in order to have a fair and open discussion about banning
certain pesticides, this legislation needs to be very specific about exactly which pesticides will be banned and where
they would be banned.  How will our parks and road departments continue their battle with noxious and invasive
weeds including Canada thistle, Johnson grass, bamboo, ailanthus tree, mile-a-minute and kudzu?

While the bill’s sponsors cannot guarantee what the future may hold for this legislation, and its impact on agricultural
land, we can say with great certainty that the prohibition of products approved for agricultural use by the EPA and
the State of Maryland could have devastating effects on the county’s agricultural producers.  For these reasons we
suggest that this legislation be tabled until it can be studied further.

We in the Agricultural community have always appreciated the Council’s support of farmers in the Agricultural
Reserve. We’ve invited you to our farms so you can better understand farming and will continue to do so in the
future. Your support is paramount in making it possible for us to continue to protect the Agricultural Reserve through
modern farming practices.  We hope that the Council will think of MAP as a leading source of information about
Farming in Montgomery County.

Respectfully submitted,




Eric Spates
Montgomery Ag Producers board member