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<section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="2-401" title_number="2" title_name="Department of Agriculture" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Urban Farmer Assistance">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Urban area” means an area delineated as an urban area by the U.S. Census Bureau.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Urban farmer” means an individual who farms in an urban area.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The University of Maryland Extension shall hire an extension agent dedicated to urban farm production methods and crop management.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The agent hired under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Perform applied research on urban farm production methods and crop management; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Spend a majority of the agent’s time providing education to urban farmers on urban farm production methods and crop management.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The education provided under paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection may include:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Planning and scheduling crop planting and harvesting in urban areas, including outdoors, indoors, in greenhouses, and in high tunnel production systems;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Production management practices for controlled environment agriculture systems;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Growing trials and production methods for crops grown in urban areas, including specialty crops such as heritage vegetables, ethnic vegetables, herbs, microgreens, and cut flowers;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Propagation and transplant production;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Training on and certifications for good agricultural practices;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>Training on organic certifications; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>Any other topic regarding urban farm production methods and crop management that the agent, in consultation with urban farmers and farm service providers located in urban areas, determines is necessary.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The University of Maryland Extension shall hire an extension agent dedicated to urban farm and agribusiness management.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The agent hired under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Perform applied research on urban farm and agribusiness management; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Spend a majority of the agent’s time providing and coordinating education for urban farmers on urban farm and agribusiness management.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The education provided under paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection may include:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Accounting and financial management;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Identifying potential customers and business development;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Marketing;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Human resource management;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Different business types and structures;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>Land acquisition;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>Insurance;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="viii">
        <text>Licensing and permitting; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ix">
        <text>Any other topic regarding urban farm and agribusiness management that the agent, in consultation with urban farmers and farm service providers located in urban areas, determines is necessary.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>For fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $300,000 to the University of Maryland Extension for the extension agents hired under this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
