The Maryland State Fair, the state’s largest celebration of all things agriculture, opens its annual three-weekend run on Thursday. More than a half-million people are expected to attend. But there are at least two visitors that Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin M. Atticks insists should not be admitted at all — and he has given standing orders about them.
The first is named H5N1, and the other is Lycorma delicatula. Marylanders are likely more familiar by their common names — the avian flu virus and the spotted lanternfly. The emergence of both in Maryland this year has farmers on alert. Avian flu has been a threat to the poultry industry, of course, but this year, for the first time, there’s the added danger that dairy cows will become infected with their milk. That doesn’t pose a danger to consumers — high-heat pasteurization takes care of that — but there is some concern that farm workers and others who have incidental contact with the cows could become ill. Maryland farmers have yet to report a single case this year, but precautions are in place: Cows headed to the Maryland State Fair from out-of-state must be tested for the virus.
As for those pesky lanternflies? Here, the order is much simpler. Atticks asks that everyone who makes the trip to Timonium first check their vehicles to prevent hitchhikers (a common way for the bugs to get around) and then stomp on the invaders when they see them. It’s the most straightforward and safest response. Again, lanternflies don’t pose any real risk to humans, but the sap-feeders pose a serious threat to farmers, particularly those who grow fruit. Grape growers, in particular, must find ways to counter them. One popular remedy is, for example, to spray grape vines with corn oil.
None of these are meant to take the bloom off the rose of the celebration in Timonium. Agriculture remains a too-often overlooked $8 billion cornerstone to Maryland’s economy, providing jobs for more than 350,000 people. Notably, when the Francis Scott Key Bridge fell, one of the industries most quickly affected was farming and the ability to get crops to market. The state is famous for its poultry production thanks to the presence of Salisbury-based Perdue Farms and others. Still, it’s also home to significant corn, soybean and dairy producers — and several other commodities, including hay and wheat.
Maryland farmers have seen better years, Atticus admits. Drought conditions have been the chief culprit, but there have been wide variations, particularly as rain has often been spotty, with some areas getting hefty storms and others not. Grain farmers have likely been hit hardest, particularly on the Eastern Shore. But drive in the opposite direction, and it’s not difficult to find cattle farmers in Western Maryland who have struggled to deal with parched grazing land. Yet, even in this misery, there is hope. Remember those grape growers at war with lanternflies? Dry conditions are especially good for certain varieties. Just ask any wine enthusiast. Less rainfall often results in sweeter, more desirable fruit.
Farming has never been easy. The mere presence of wild birds — perhaps on their annual fall migration — poses a risk if they pass avian flu to local chickens. And then there’s this year’s controversy over building additional power lines to feed a growing hunger for electricity for, among other things, data centers and electric vehicles. Farmers in Frederick, Carroll and Baltimore counties along the path of the 70-mile-long proposed Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project have spoken out strongly against it. And don’t forget the perennial threat of urbanization. The Maryland Farm Bureau reports the state lost about 12,000 acres of farmland between 2017 and 2022 with much of it going to residential development.
So whether you are a parent who sees the Maryland State Fair as a welcome sign that school will soon be back in session, or perhaps you are a younger, more adventurous soul who wants to ride the rides, attend a concert, or watch the races (Swifty Swine Racing Pigs are always a favorite), you might want to offer a kind word or just a tip of the hat to any farmer you happen to run across. They’ve definitely earned it in 2024.
Baltimore Sun editorial writers offer opinions and analysis on news and issues relevant to readers. They operate separately from the newsroom.
