Annual Report

The Leading Voice of Maryland Agriculture

2017-2018

Maryland Farm Bureau

Board of Directors

Officers

PresidentChuck Fry

1st Vice PresidentWayne Stafford

2nd Vice PresidentJohn Draper

Executive DirectorValerie Connelly

District Directors

District 1Larry Howard | Billy Bishoff

District 2Jason Myers | Paula Linthicum

District 3Jamie Tiralla | James Raley, Jr.

District 4Cricket GoodallJonathan Quinn

District 5Tom Mason | Tom Jackson

District 6Mary Lou Brown

Larry Thomas

Committee Chairs

Women’s LeadershipChris Catterton

Young Farmers Marshal Cahall

PAGE 1

MEET OUR STAFF

Valerie ConnellyExecutive Director

Colby FergusonDirector of

Government Relations

Trish BucciRegional Director,

Eastern Shore

Cathy KaptainDirector of

Accounting

Tonya Kennedy-MeachemDirector of

Member Services

Emily SolisCommunications

Specialist

Lisa StormAssistant Director of

Member Services

Parker WelchDirector of

Organization

Ryan ZimmermanRegional Director,Western Maryland

FOLLOW US!

Welcome to the Maryland Farm Bureau Annual Report - our chance to share successes from the past year. We are happy to report the value of Farm Bureau remains strong among our members. Our ability to deliver legislative success and savings programs has increased, along with our outreach to consumers, beginning farmers, and grassroots members.

As the umbrella that covers farms of all sizes, production methods, and commodity types, we are proud to have implemented programs with a wide range of impact in 2018. We partnered with state agencies on the roadside Harvest Season Caution Campaign; a permanent Farm Tire Recycling program; new deer harvest permits; and a myriad of resource conservation, marketing, and livestock production issues.

Our Board of Directors worked diligently to manage the resources of the organization, while still delivering the united voice of farmers. Our compassion was evident as we reached out to farmers in need in Puerto Rico, the midwest, and in the Carolinas. We also crafted a strategic plan to see us through the next three years.

Our county Farm Bureaus defended members on the front lines in battles over solar arrays, electric transmission lines, poultry house locations, ag education programs, and crop protection products. At the national level, Farm Bureau was at the table - often in the White House - on weighty discussions over trade, foreign labor, and farm policy.

We are proud of our volunteer members and their activities in 2018. The Women in Ag tours, Policy DevelHOPment, Miss Maryland Agriculture, and other leadership training programs were vital. We are also proud of our staff, who worked not only on Farm Bureau priorities, but were also dedicated volunteers in their communities, working with young people and raising funds for philanthropic causes.

One of the factors that made all of this possible is our sponsorship of Nationwide. Nationwide offers quality insurance and investment products to farmers, and strong financial support for our Farm Bureau. While the terms of our partnership transformed this year, the commitment to mutual support is as strong as it has been for over 100 years.

In the year ahead, Maryland Farm Bureau will continue to provide a strong legislative and regulatory voice in Annapolis. We will also focus on increasing our base with outreach to landowners and farmers in developing markets. Look for regional consultative sales training workshops and new recruitment events in early 2019.

We appreciate your membership.

Chuck Fry, Valerie Connelly,President Executive Director

PAGE 2

A MESSAGE FROM LEADERSHIP

PAGE 3

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SY O U N G F A R M E R S & R A N C H E R S C O M M I T T E E

W O M E N ’ S L E A D E R S H I P C O M M I T T E E

P O L I T I C A L A C T I O N C O M M I T T E E

This was an exciting year for the Young Farmer program. We are proud to say that we had strong participation in our competitive events with 12 members competing in the state Discussion Meet contest and Wade and Shelby Hampton earning 4th place in the Excellence in Agriculture competition at the AFBF Annual Convention in Nashville, TN. We also sent two Collegiate members to compete in the Collegiate Discussion Meet competition at the Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference. Seeing the increased interest and participation in Young Farmers across the state has been great. As always, the Dairy Bar at Maryland State Fair was a big success, grossing over $55,000 for the 11 days! We look forward to increasing participation and programming to encourage Young Farmers in the Maryland.

The Women’s Leadership program had another successful year as we continue to be a progressive advocate for women in agriculture within the state of Maryland. We had many representatives from the Women’s Leadership program at the AFBF Annual Convention in Nashville, TN this past year. In addition, we continued our tradition of giving back to the community by visiting and donating to the Ronald McDonald House, the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, and numerous locations throughout the state. We also worked with and encouraged our Miss Maryland Agriculture contestants to visit local schools to promote agriculture education. We continue to strive to incorporate the next generation of women in agriculture in our program so our voice in Maryland agriculture remains strong for years to come.

The Political Action Committee (PAC) worked hard this year to prepare for the upcoming election. The PAC Board made 107 endorsements for the Primary Election and 97 endorsements for the General Election. We are very happy to announce that we had an 88% success rate of endorsed candidates making it onto the November ballot. In an effort to share these endorsements with members and make the voting process easier, a “Voter’s Guide” was sent to every Maryland Farm Bureau member. We are proud to be part of the Farm Bureau tradition of electing farm-friendly candidates to public office.

Chris Catterton, Chair

Michael Calkins, Chair

Marshal Cahall, Chair

The Maryland delegation at the YF&R Conference in Reno, NV.

The Women’s Leadership Committee volunteering at the American Cancer

Society Hope Lodge of Baltimore, where bags of trail mix were made

for cancer patients.

The “Voter’s Guide” sent to all Maryland Farm

Bureau members.

PAGE 4

MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS BENEFITS

3 N E W M E M B E R D I S C O U N T S

7 0 , 0 0 0 + D I S C O U N T S L I S T E D O N T H EM E M B E R S AV I N G S A D VA N TA G E A P P

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W W W. M D F A R M B U R E A U . C O M / M E M B E R - S AV I N G S - A D VA N TA G E /

26,934 MEMBERS 7,166 VOTING19,768 ASSOCIATE

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*COUNTIES IN GREEN MET THEIR MEMBERSHIP GOAL FOR THE YEAR

PAGE 5

Agriculture Education

Agriculture Viability

Cost-Share Programs

FINANCIALS

M e m b e r s h i p D u e s

5 3 %R o ya lt i e s

2 3 %

S p o n s o r s h i p

1 4 %

C o n v e n t i o n s

6 %

Y o u n g F a r m e r s

2 %O t h e r

2 %

M e m b e rs e r v i c e s

3 9 %

A d M i n i s t r at i o n & F a c i l i t i e s m a n a g e m e n t

3 8 %

1 1 %P u b l i c P o l i c y

C o m m u n i c at i o n s

6 %

A F B F D u e s

6 %

TOTAL INCOME: $2,237,905

TOTAL EXPENSES: $1,749,279

* F i g u r e s o n t h i s p a g e h av e n o t b e e n a u d i t e d

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE

W W W . M D F A R M B U R E A U . C O M

Visit us at:

Find our current policy handbook, top trending initiatives, scholarship opportunities, county

information, and more!

PAGE 6

TOP PRIORITY ISSUES

Agriculture Education

Agriculture Viability

Cost-Share Programs

• Maintained record levels of cover crop funding;• Protected current funding for conservation practices and best

management practices;• Recommended reinstatement of GO Bond funding for the Maryland

Ag Cost Share program;• Advocated for increases in the Farm to School program funding;• Held the State Highway Administration and other agencies

accountable for proper maintenance of state-funded roadside trees.

• Secured new options to limit wildlife damage on farms;• Protected the Sales and Use Tax exemption for farmers;• Advocated for the Maryland Dairy Farmer Emergency Trust Fund;• Strongly opposed the use of eminent domain;• Worked dilligently to improve the Right to Farm law;• Encouraged viable urban agriculture;• Promoted assistance programs for urban and rural farm viability;• Defended the use of protection products for farm crops.

• Provided more support to ag education programs; • Advocated for high school ag education in every county and for all

elementary schools to schedule field trips to a farm or agricultural business;

• Worked to increase funding for ag education teachers during the summer months when school is out;

• Developed partnerships between Farm Bureau and ag education programs while promoting the University of Maryland’s newly formed Ag Education 4-year degree to help address the growing need for new ag teachers in Maryland schools.

YOUR VOICE IN ANNAPOLISOur government relations team worked hard during the 2018 legislative session to make sure agriculture’s voice was heard. This year, Parker Welch joined Colby Ferguson and Valerie Connelly in Annapolis, as part of our “all hands on deck” effort at the Maryland General Assembly.

PAGE 7

B i l l s M o n i t o r e d ( 2 2 5 )B i l l s T e s t i f i e d O n ( 7 5 )

B i l l s o p p o s e d : 1 7B i l l s D e f e a t e d : 1 7

TOP ACTION ALERT ADVOCATES

1 . C e c i l2 . F r e d e r i c k3 . M o n t g o m e r y4 . P r i n c e G e o r g e ’ s5 . C a r o l L

Farm Bureau is all about taking action when needed. Below are the top 10 counties that responded to action alerts sent out on the state and national levels.

6 . B a l t i m o r e7 . A n n e A r u n d e l8 . K e n t9 . C a r o l i n e1 0 . W a s h i n g t o n

B i l l s s u p p o r t e d : 5 6B i l l s p a s s e d : 3 2

5 7 %S u c c e s s

1 0 0 %S u c c e s s

PAGE 8

2018 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

PRIORITY BILLS THAT PASSED:

• HB 646/SB 1069 – Gross Vehicle Weight – Ag Products. This bill created a 5% GVW tolerance on trucks hauling grain and other ag crops from the field during harvest season.

• HB 515 – Palmer Amaranth Summer Study. This bill requires MDA to conduct a study to assess the adverse financial impact of Palmer Amaranth on the ag industry in the state; determine the actions each stakeholder must take to reduce the impact of Palmer Amaranth; and evaluate the cost of each action.

• SB 185 – The Maryland Budget. Within this bill, the Maryland Ag Cost Share Program was funded at $8 million, MALPF was fully funded, and the Next Generation Ag Land Acquisition Program (Next Gen) was funded at $2.5 million. In the Budget Reconciliation bill, the Next Gen program was authorized to be funded for 3 additional years at $2.5 million per year.

PRIORITY BILLS THAT WERE DEFEATED:

• HB 1221 – Agriculture – Nutrient Management Plans – Protection of Personal Information. If passed, the bill would have reduced protection for identifying information in nutrient management plans.

• HB 116/SB 500 – Pesticides – Use of Chlorpyrifos – Ban. If passed, this bill would have banned the use of Chlorpyrifos in Maryland.

• SB 747 – Wildlife Management – Shooting at Nighttime. If passed, this bill would have removed the ability for DNR to authorize the shooting of deer under a Deer Management Permit or a Deer Cooperator Permit at night.

• HB 26/SB 133 – Community Healthy Air Act. If passed, this bill would have mandated air quality monitoring on all concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in the state.

Maryland Farm Bureau thanks all of our members who testified, called, or emailed their legislators on bills this session, along with ag-friendly members of the Maryland General Assembly for making sure the state’s largest industry was heard and protected.

PAGE 9

MARYLAND ON THE NATIONAL LEVELOur members are truly the backbone of our organization. Their dedication to Maryland agriculture, their desire to grow, and their use of innovation in uncertain times are what make our members great. We would like to recognize the members who used their talents to represent our state on the national level in 2018!

Grace Brinsfield (top) and Becky Jones (bottom) competed in the

Collegiate Discussion Meet in Reno, NV.

Jamie Tiralla and her “PALs” were a part of AFBF’s Partners in Advocacy

(PAL) Program.

Wade and Shelby Hampton placed 4th in the Excellence in Agriculture Award

in Nashville, TN.

Kayla Griffith represented Maryland in the YF&R Discussion Meet in

Nashville, TN.

Chuck Fry serves on AFBF’s Board of Directors and the Executive

Committee.

Jennifer Cross represents the Northeast on AFBF’s Women’s

Leadership Committee.

PAGE 10

THIS YEAR IN WASHINGTONTRADE

* A s o f 1 0 / 1 1 / 1 8U p d at e s f r o m A F B F

the deal. There are also some indications that a trade agreement with China could happen within the next year. We are very appreciative of the work the Administration has been doing, and we continue to advocate for trade, not aid.

FARM BILL

Farm Bill progress continues to push along as legislators work to get the bill across the finish line. AFBF is proud of how the process has been handled so far and how both the House and Senate have moved their versions of the bill to conference. AFBF President Duvall has stressed to Congress that farmers are facing the perfect storm with mounting debt, growing tensions over trade, and a shrinking workforce. Farmers need the Farm Bill passed to provide some certainty in these uncertain times. AFBF will continue pushing for progress until the final 2018 Farm Bill is passed.

IMMIGRATION REFORM

AFBF staff dedicated much of their time working to resolve the trade issues farmers are facing. We are proud to say we have seen success with Mexico, Canada, and Korea. Our farmers need a glimmer of hope in the midst of our trade wars, and these agreements have provided just that. The USDA’s Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue was incredibly generous to organize several meetings with Vice President Pence and Farm Bureau leaders. Vice President Pence indicated there would not be an agreement with the European Union if there was not an agricultural element to

Farm labor reform has been long overdue. We are supportive of Rep. Goodlatte’s current bill for reform. Rep. Goodlatte is retiring, and it is not clear who else will carry the torch for immigration reform when he leaves office. Farm Bureaus across the country worked together to deliver 100 cosponsors of the immigration reform bill during the 115th Congress.

WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES

AFBF led the charge to ditch the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule, and they are still calling for clean water and clear rules. There is an open line of communication between Farm Bureau and the EPA as the new rule is being written. Several AFBF staff members have been working with EPA daily to make sure the new rule provides clarity for our farmers as they operate on their land. A federal district court recently struck down on the WOTUS delay, and the law has now taken effect in 22 states, including Maryland. AFBF is working to have the implementation delay upheld in those states as a new rule is written.

PAGE 11

MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS

8 7 6 , 5 0 0 Reached

1 2 , 6 5 0Followers

SOCIAL MEDIA

2 1 , 9 0 1Members Reached

2 1 Newsletters Sent

1 0 5MEDIA Mentions

PAGE 12

NATIONWIDEThe Nationwide-Maryland Farm Bureau partnership was forged more than 100 years ago. Throuhgout this time, Nationwide offerings have changed and improved to protect what matters most to a changing population. This year, Nationwide re-focused its discount programs to support farmers and other voting members of Maryland Farm Bureau.

Through our partnership, goals are developed each year o manage the effectiveness of the Natioinwide-Maryland Farm Bureau relationship. This year,

YTD AG FINANCIAL SERVICES ACTIVITY (AS OF 9/2018)Includes newsletter articles, Land As Your Legacy seminars, and training Land As Your Legacy Champions

YTD FARM OWNERS NEW PACKAGE QUOTES (AS OF 9/2018)

80%

88%

12

389

we worked towards educating our members about farm transitions services, while promoting discussions between farmers and farm certfied agents. Our established goals are measured on the calendar year. We are on target to meet each of our goals for 2018.

In addition to working towards our partnership goals, Nationwide and Maryland Farm Bureau have worked together to share valuable information and experiences. In August, Nationwide provided a sales training focused on selling Farm Bureau memberships confidently and effectively. In September, the Nationwide Board Council visited Maryland to learn more about the Maryland agriculture and aquaculture industries.

We thank Nationwide for their valued and continued support of Farm Bureau.

J.M. Clayton Seafood Hutchison Brothers Farm Friendship Farms

1 2 , 6 5 0Followers

PAGE 13

LOOKING FORWARD: OUR STRATEGIC GOALSOur Strategic Planning Committee recently evaluated the core values of our organization - family, credibility, responsibility, and innovation - and developed the following goals to guide our work over the next 3 years.

M E M B E R S H I PAttract, enroll, and retain engaged members.

L E A D E R S H I PIdentify, develop, and support members for leadership roles.

G O V E R N M E N T R E L A T I O N SInfluence public policy to benefit Maryland agriculture.

Secure and implement a reliable and stable funding model.

F I N A N C I A L S TA B I L I T Y

Increase public support for agriculture through education and advocacy.

O U T R E A C H

Our Mission: To protect and grow Maryland agriculture and preserve rural life.

PAGE 14

MARYLAND FARM BUREAUTHE UNITED VOICE OF MARYLAND AGRICULTURE

“To protect and grow Maryland agriculture and preserve rural life.”

From our farms that feed us to the nurseries, greenhouses, and landscaping operations that beautify our communites, Maryland Farm Bureau has always championed our rural roots.

We strive to increase net farm income and improve the quality of life for farmers by providing a legislative voice, increasing public understanding, and promoting member involvement.

As a private, non-profit grassroots organization, our strength comes from the active participation of over 26,000 member families that belong to our state’s 23 county Farm Bureaus.

More than half of our members are just like you. They do not farm for a living, but they care about protecting and preserving our farms and rural roots while ensuring that safe, fresh food from right here in Maryland is always available to feed our families.

We are proud to be the united voice of Maryland agriculture. Using this platform, we are able to:

1. Help protect Maryland’s natural resources and rural landscape.

2. Support family farms that are passed down from generation to generation.

3. Supply access to local food, farmers markets, and on-farm activities.

4. Ensure a safe food supply and the humane treatment of animals.

MEMBERS

23CouNties

12,200Farms

26,900

WWW.MDFARMBUREAU.COM

MArylandFarm Bureau @MDFArmBUREAU @Farmbureaumd

MArylandFarm Bureau