Hello MoCo Food Farmers!
I hope you’ve been enjoying the cooler weather! Check out below for updates on events, funding, resources, and more, from the Montgomery County Food Council, and the Montgomery County Office of Agriculture.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Submit Comment by August 26 on Proposed Plan to Reorganize USDA
Join many other voices in responding to the proposed plan to reorganize USDA, which includes closing the FNS headquarters; relocating most of its staff out of the Washington, D.C. area; and reducing the regional offices from seven to five and relocating these to new hub areas within two years. This shift will have a long-lasting, negative impact on the agency’s ability to administer nutrition and agriculture programs in an effective and timely manner. Deep concern regarding the USDA’s planned reorganization have also been raised by House Agriculture Committee Member April Delaney (MD-06) and other Agriculture Committee Democrats in a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.
Food System Advocacy Call with Congresswoman April Delaney, 8/27, 1-2pm
Join us for the Montgomery County Food Systems Advocacy Call on August 27th, from 1-2pm. Our featured speaker is Congresswoman April McClain Delaney. Congresswoman Delaney represents Maryland’s Sixth Congressional District and serves on the House Agriculture Committee. She will speak on the impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on food security, look ahead to issues facing the food system in the near future, and take questions from community partners. Register for the call and submit a question in advance.
Incubating Farmer Success Gathering, 9/17, 10am-12pm
You’re invited to a special meeting of the Montgomery County Food Council’s Equitable Land Access Working Group! Join us for a discussion of Incubator Farms and breaking down barriers for beginning farmers. Including a Beginning/Aspiring Farmer Panel; Assessing a Path to an Incubator Farm in MoCo, and sharing resources to aid beginning and small to mid-sized farmers. Wednesday, September 17, 10:00am-12:00pm, Agricultural History Farm Park, Derwood, MD (multipurpose room) Contact lorien@mocofoodcouncil.org with questions. RSVP here.
Future Harvest, Small Tools and Equipment Demo, 8/23, 10am-1pm, in DC
Join Farm Manager Autumn Herbert and Johnny’s Seeds Territorial Representative Lauren Kendall Shane to learn all about small tools and equipment. They will conduct demonstrations of various tools, with plenty of time for questions and for you to try tools yourself. This includes and intro to the BCS walk behind tractor as well. Register here.
UME 2025 Maryland State Fair
The 2025 Maryland State Fair is back for three weekends of fun! The dates are August 21-24, August 28- September 1, and September 4-7. 2200 York Road, Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093 Info here.
Farm Alliance of Baltimore, First Aid for Farmers workshop, 9/2, 5:30-8pm, Baltimore
Designed specifically for those working in fields and gardens. You’ll learn practical, life-saving skills for common farm-related injuries and emergencies, equipping you to respond confidently and calmly when accidents happen. Register here.
USDA NRCS, Cover Crop Crash Course, 9/4, 6-7:30pm, Baltimore
Dana Rushovich of the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service, our Cover Crop Crash Course will focus on cover crop strategies and soil care for urban farms, community gardens, and other small growing spaces. Register here.
USDA Webinar; One Big Beautiful Bill: Highlights of the Agriculture Tax Provisions
August 27, 2025, 3:00-4:30pm. Presenters: JC Hobbs, Oklahoma State University and Adam Kantrovich, Clemson University Register for the Webinar
UME Ag Integrated Pest Management Web Series, 9/18, 12-1pm, via Zoom
Weeds, diseases, and insects are often a major concern for growers in Maryland. Integrated pest management (IPM) programs incorporate multiple pest management strategies into their production practices. Join us monthly for timely topics to help manage pests on the farms. Hosted via Zoom, these free, one-hour sessions are both informative and interactive, providing an opportunity for participants to learn and engage with specialists in the field. Info here.
UME Summer Vegetable Twilight Tour, 8/27, 5-7:30, Queenstown MD
A twilight tour at Wye Research and Education Center. Featuring an insecticide study on tomatoes, weed management on watermelon test plots, ginger production, and drone work in a sweet corn field. The event is free to attend. Info here.
2025 Women in Ag Fall Farm Tour, October 2
Women in Ag and Annie’s Project enthusiasts come together to tour the Upper Eastern Shore area. $25.00, includes lunch. All-day bus tour departing from Millington, MD, 10/2. More info here.
2025 Montgomery County Farm-to-Table Symposium, Monday November 10, 2025
Montgomery County Council member Laurie-Anne Sayles is organizing a Farm-to-Table Symposium to connect local farmers, restaurant owners, and food system stakeholders to discuss building a resilient, local food economy in Montgomery County. They will explore challenges and opportunities in connecting local agriculture with the culinary world, covering topics like seasonal sourcing, crop diversification, and market demand. You are invited! RSVP here.
Future Harvest Conference, 2026
SAVE THE DATE: January 22-23, 2026 at The Silver Spring Civic Center. More than 40 sessions on a range of topics for advanced and beginning farmers, agtivists and educators, two keynote addresses, farmer-to-farmer chats & more! Info here.
MARBIDCO: Maryland Producer Cold Storage Grant
The Maryland Producer Cold Storage Grant Program will help farmers and watermen purchase necessary cold storage equipment for their operations. MARBIDCO will match up to 50% of the cost of the project purchase, with a maximum grant award amount of $2,000. Application will be accepted on a rolling basis, and the deadline is August 27, 2025. More info or apply here.
MarketLink’s Grants for Free SNAP Equipment, free platform to accept online payments
MarketLink is offering funding to enable farmers and farmers markets to accept SNAP, providing SNAP equipment and online sales platforms. The SNAP Equipment Grant is designed for Direct Marketing Farmers (DMFs) and Farmers Markets (FMs). More info and apply here.
From MDA: Free Handwashing Stations
Need a Handwashing Station for the farmers market? Contact MDA Food Quality Assurance Program. Fill out and submit this form by 9/30/25.
Rodale Institute, Free Consulting on Organic Farming
Rodale Institute Organic Consulting helps farmers navigate organic transition by providing services that simplify the process. Participating farmers will receive the following support: site visit by an experienced consultant to discuss farm goals and challenges; Up to 15 hours of technical agronomic services from the same Consultant; group learning / networking events. To get involved, email or call Rodale Institute at 610-683-1416 or consulting@rodaleinstitute.org
Rural Tax Education from Utah State Extension. Tax Info for farmers: It’s never too early to start to plan for taxes. See Ruraltax.org.
Register to sell farm product to the State of Maryland
The State of Maryland is gearing up for more opportunities for farms to sell to government institutions. They want to register farms that will want to make product offers to sell so they are ready. Maryland Department of General Services invites you to register as a vendor in the Agricultural Producers for the Local Food Exchange System Supplier Database. See: emma.maryland.gov