Governor Moore Issues Directive For Immediate State Action To Address Agricultural Crisis From April’s Severe Statewide Freeze

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ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Wes Moore today issued a directive to the Maryland Department of Agriculture and Maryland Department of Environment to implement a coordinated and urgent response to the late April freeze, which resulted in a significant crisis for Maryland’s agricultural community and ongoing drought designation that is affecting the majority of Maryland counties. This directive builds upon the formal request Governor Moore sent earlier this week to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for federal disaster aid, requesting emergency loans and supplemental relief programs be made available to Maryland producers without delay. 

“Maryland relies on our agricultural industry for economic prosperity, culture and food security,” said Governor Wes Moore. “The devastating damage caused by the severe statewide freeze requires a unified and coordinated response to restabilize our farming community. I am dedicated to alleviating the impacts of this crisis and fortifying our systems for the next growing season.”

The severe statewide freeze on April 21, 2026, caused catastrophic damage to commodity and perennial crops, resulting in historic losses in fruit and grape yields. The damage requires a multi-year recovery cycle for vines and orchards, while producers continue to bear routine labor and maintenance costs without the benefit of revenue from the 2026 harvest. Concurrent drought conditions have further strained the State's grain, forage and livestock sectors, placing a cumulative burden that threatens the long-term viability of multi-generational family farms.

In the directive issued today, Governor Moore outlined a course of action for Maryland’s Department of Agriculture, Department of the Environment and the Governor’s Intergovernmental Commission on Agriculture to prioritize farmers’ economic wellbeing despite environmental uncertainty. Pursuant to the directive: 

The Department of Agriculture shall:

• Waive the 51% Maryland crop or 20-acre minimum requirement for Class 4 Limited Wineries as authorized under the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article §2–206;
• Facilitate distribution of all available federal disaster funds and programming;
• Develop an irrigation task force for agricultural producers;
• Develop a producer education and risk management task force to elevate existing Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency programs;
• Instruct the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation to consider modifications to enhance opportunities within their programs that support farmers and watermen impacted by the natural disaster incidents; and
• Encourage all Maryland institutions, organizations, food banks and consumers to purchase local products whenever possible to support our farms and value-added agricultural businesses.

The Department of the Environment shall:

• Prioritize and streamline applications for water appropriation permits for agricultural production.

The Governor’s Intergovernmental Commission on Agriculture shall: 

• Assess how state and local regulatory agencies can better support affected agricultural sectors. 

“This freeze not only devastated harvestable crops, but producers are still facing millions of dollars in expenses to maintain their land for future growing seasons without the income they would normally generate from their harvest,” said Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks. “The actions outlined in this directive reflect Maryland’s commitment to providing the support, flexibility and resources needed to help our farmers recover, remain viable and continue feeding our communities.”

Agencies are directed to encourage Maryland vendors to support local farmers, elevating existing Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency programs, and streamlining application processes for water permits used in agricultural production. 

“On behalf of Maryland's farming community, we are grateful for Governor Moore's commitment to directing state resources toward farmers impacted by the recent frost,” said Parker Welch, executive director of the Maryland Farm Bureau. “Agriculture does not pause for uncertainty, and this action from the Moore administration signals that Maryland stands behind its farmers. We will continue working with partners at every level of government to ensure our producers have the support necessary to recover.” 

“The impact from this loss to our sector is generational in scale, and we appreciate the state’s responsiveness and support,” said Janna Howley, executive director of the Maryland Wineries Association. 

Governor Moore remains dedicated to supporting agriculture as the cornerstone of Maryland’s economy. This directive and the request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for federal disaster aid highlight Governor Moore’s commitment and urgent need to prioritize agricultural stability and fortify the long-term resilience of Maryland’s food system.  

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