NEW POSTINGS AND UPDATES SINCE LAST DISTRIBUTION OF THIS BULLETIN ARE IN GREEN FONT
This bill essentially revises the current Black Fly Management and Control procedures to apply to Nuisance Insects, in general -- for the purpose of authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to implement, under certain circumstances, a program to control or eliminate nuisance insects in the State; authorizing the Secretary to carry out a certain project to control or eliminate nuisance insects if the county or municipality in which the nuisance insects are located agrees to pay a certain portion of certain costs; establishing the Nuisance Insects Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; requiring the Secretary to remit certain payments to the Comptroller for deposit to the Fund; requiring the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee to administer the Fund; specifying the contents of the Fund; specifying the purpose for which the Fund may be used; repealing certain provisions of law relating to black fly management and control; authorizing the Secretary to adopt certain regulations; stating a certain finding of the General Assembly; defining certain terms; and generally relating to controlling or eliminating nuisance insects in the State.
Hearing
– not yet scheduled
MaGIC Position
– none; informational only
Outcome
: To Be Determined
Another repeat bill that failed to make it through the General Assembly in 2018, this bill defines Ag Education in Maryland public schools and encourages county school programs to adopt and use this definition in their existing Ag Education Programs or when they are creating new Ag Education Programs. Each county board of education is encouraged to implement an Agricultural Education Program that prepares students for:
Hearing date: House 2/14; Senate 2/13
Proposed MaGIC position: Supportive
Outcome
: Received unfavorable report in Senate committee
SB546 /
HB 904 –
Agriculture – Nutrient Management – Monitoring and Enforcement
Requiring a person who holds a certain certificate or license to comply with certain reporting requirements and deadlines related to implementation of the Phosphorus Management Tool and the submission of certain soil test phosphorus levels; requiring the Department of Agriculture to establish a voluntary certification program for certain commercial manure haulers and brokers…effective October 1, 2019.
Hearing date: Senate 2/27; House 3/6
Proposed MaGIC Position
: Informational only, as this bill does not really impact the nursery industry, other than to adjust penalties for failing to file or violating one’s nutrient management plan.
HB 808 –
Weed Control – Noxious Weeds – Regulations and Penalties
This bill takes the list of noxious weeds out of statute and gives MDA the authority to set the list through regulation. It also allows MDA to pursue civil penalties with fines and a “three-strikes” method before pursuing criminal charges for violations of the noxious weed law. All fines are to be directed to a fund for noxious weed eradication.
Background
: Currently, the noxious weed list is in statute and requires legislation to change. MDA can only pursue criminal violations. Additionally, there is not much, if any, funding available for noxious weed control, especially at the county level.
Hearing date: House – 2/27
MDA supports this bill
Proposed MaGIC position: Support
Outcome
: Favorable report in Committee
HB 511 –
Maryland Commercial Fertilizer Law – Definition of Soil Conditioner – Alteration
This bills seeks to expand the definition of soil condition to include the capitalized words, as follows: “Soil conditioner” includes but is not limited to materials such as compost, peat, vermiculite, [or] perlite, OR DIGESTATE PRODUCED BY ANAEROBIC DIGESTION that are incorporated into the soil.
Hearing date: House 2/27
Proposed MaGIC position: Neutral; no position; to membership as Informational Only
HB 275
and
SB 270
(identical bills) pick up after last year’s failed attempt to ban the use of chlorpyrifos (perhaps better known in the industry under the name Dursban), including insecticides containing chlorpyrifos and seeds treated with chlorpyrifos effective January 1, 2020. Please let me know if your business has reliance on this chlorpyrifos and your thoughts on the use of chlorpyrifos. Please provide back-up to your response; we have to have examples of how passage of the bill would be detrimental to your business in order to draft purposeful response to the bill.
Hearing dates: House 2/13; Senate 2/27
Proposed MaGIC Position: Opposed, on the basis that although not heavily used by the industry, when needed, it is a very effective pesticide and industry would like to have access to its use. Members will be present to testify on hearing dates.
