Photo courtesy of Governor Wes Moore’s Photo Gallery
Governor Wes Moore has taken a step aimed to strengthen Maryland’s agricultural economy by signing an executive order that expands the Governor’s Intergovernmental Commission for Agriculture. The updated commission is designed to foster greater collaboration across state and local agencies and industry organizations, ultimately enhancing the profitability and sustainability of Maryland’s farming sector.
“For our state to succeed, our farmers need to succeed,” said Governor Moore during the signing ceremony at Boordy Vineyards in Hydes, Maryland. “This order expands a commission that’s been the key forum for Marylanders to develop new solutions to challenges in agriculture for twenty years.” The revised commission will prioritize stronger partnerships and more measurable economic growth while promoting a unified, flexible approach to supporting the state’s agricultural community.
The executive order broadens the commission’s mission, and also doubles its membership, adding six new agencies to the table, including the Maryland Energy Administration, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Education. It tasks the Maryland Department of Agriculture with leading a coordinated strategy focused on reducing regulatory barriers, promoting agricultural literacy, and opening new economic opportunities for farmers across the state.
Ahead of the signing, Governor Moore and Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks hosted a roundtable with farmers to hear firsthand about the challenges they face. “I welcome the addition of these agencies to the commission and look forward to continuing the important work GICA does,” said Secretary Atticks, who emphasized the administration’s ongoing commitment to agricultural progress in Maryland.
