DAVIDSONVILLE, MD – Today, March 24th, the Maryland Farm Bureau (MDFB) celebrates National Ag Day, highlighting the resilience and success of our state’s farmers. While the industry remains Maryland’s largest commercial industry, farm families are navigating a gauntlet of economic and local pressures to keep food on our tables.

According to the latest American Farm Bureau Federation Market Intel, farmers and ranchers now receive just 5.8 cents of every food dollar after accounting for expenses, a decline from 5.9 cents in the previous year. For crop producers, the share dropped even further to just 2.5 cents. While the "marketing bill"—covering processing, transportation, and retail—continues to expand, the value added at the farm level is being squeezed.

Beyond the balance sheet, Maryland farmers are fighting a battle for the land itself. Farmers in our state currently face unique land-use challenges that threaten the future of local food production, including the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP) and large-scale commercial solar development on ag land.

“On National Ag Day, we’re left with a sense of optimism for our state’s farmers,” says Jamie Raley, President of the Maryland Farm Bureau. “Despite facing unique hardships, our farming community continues to work hard everyday to produce the food, fuel, and fiber that sustain our state.”

Despite these hurdles, Maryland’s agricultural community is proving to be uniquely resilient. While the latest USDA Census of Agriculture showed a national trend of decline, Maryland was one of only five states in the country to see an increase in the number of farms.

Even as total acreage decreased, the rise in farm numbers serves as a powerful testament to the surge of small and first-generation farmers in the state. These producers are finding innovative ways to remain viable, often through smaller-scale direct-to-consumer sales.

Maryland also continues to lead the nation in environmental stewardship, ensuring the land remains viable for the next generation. The state’s farmers have achieved widespread adoption of sustainable practices, including no-till and cover crops. Maryland farmers planted nearly 500,000 acres of cover crops in 2024, consistently boasting some of the highest cover-crop participation rates in the U.S., protecting the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

MDFB invites all Marylanders to support their local farmers this week by seeking out Maryland-grown products and supporting farmer-friendly legislation in Annapolis.