April 6, 2007
Bill to promote agricultural tourism moving
forward
By Maryland Senator Roy Dyson
I am proud to represent our strong agriculture
community in Southern Maryland and have fought
for their interests since I was first elected to
public office in 1974.
This year’s General Assembly Session has been
good for farmers and the agricultural industry.
It will get even better if House Bill 621 –
Admissions and Amusement Tax – Exemption for
Activities Related to Agricultural Tourism,
sponsored by Delegate Paul Stull (R-Frederick),
passes and is signed into law.
House Bill 621 authorizes a county or municipal
corporation to exempt from the admissions and
amusement tax gross receipts from any admissions
and amusement charge for activities related to
agricultural tourism. Delegate Stull’s
legislation – which I strongly support –
recognizes the hard work of the farmers and
offers them a special tax exemption on
“agro-tourism” activities.
Baltimore, Harford and Howard counties have
already set the standard by offering this tax
exemption. If passed, this bill would be
applicable to every county in the state which
would go a long way toward protecting and
promoting farms and agriculture in Maryland.
Currently, a county or municipality is
authorized to charge an admissions and amusement
tax. This bill would reverse that authorization.
Maryland’s rich history has long fueled a
vibrant market for tourism. Why shouldn’t it? By
the time the rest of the nation was forming,
Maryland had well-established farms and
plantations.
While watermen on the Chesapeake Bay, Patuxent,
Potomac, Wicomico and other state waterways were
making the Blue Crab a symbol of our Maryland
Heritage, legislators in Annapolis were forming
the statute of the day and paving the way for
growth and further stability for our state and
her natural resources.
As Maryland’s agriculture continues to evolve,
so did the economy and a deeper reliance on
import-export relationships with other states
and countries.
Over this time, this affected Maryland’s
agriculture in a way that had Marylanders
relying less on its own farmers. Since that
time, Maryland’s leaders, lawmakers and farmers
have been working together to devise ways in
which the timeless tradition of farming and
agriculture in Maryland can continue.
This tradition remains alive through a fresh and
exciting concept called “agro-tourism.” In
recent years, corn mazes, “haunted” barns,
pumpkin patches and various fun family
activities have allowed farmers to bring in some
sorely needed revenue to their farms. They have
wisely exploited their resources and land to
provide a unique service to the community while
continuing to promote the heritage of the
Maryland Farm.
Discussion about promoting agro-tourism came up
several times during meetings of the Maryland
Agriculture Stewardship Commission last year.
This Commission, of which I served as a member,
was established by law to bolster the importance
of the agricultural committee.
What came out of the Maryland Agriculture
Stewardship Commission was the establishment of
the Agriculture Task Force in 2006. I am pleased
to be the co-chair of this very important Task
Force which will continue to address
agricultural issues and will give me the
opportunity to stand up for the interests of the
industry.
Because of the Maryland Agriculture Stewardship
Commission and the Agriculture Task Force, good
bills like House Bill 621 should come to
fruition with strong support.
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