ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced the formation of a new 17-member Eastern Howard County Agricultural Task Force, with the signing of Executive Order 2026-07.
Historically, a majority of agricultural programs and support systems in Howard County have been designed to serve western Howard County, where most of our county’s active farms are located. However, with continued development in our eastern portion, along with advances in technology and urban farming practices, there is a growing opportunity to expand agricultural activity in eastern Howard County. Through this Task Force, we aim to support agriculture in the eastern half to not only strengthen our county’s overall agricultural industry but to also provide valuable educational and community engagement opportunities by bringing farming closer to our county’s more densely populated areas.
The establishment of the Task Force comes following the Howard County Council's request to the Agricultural Preservation Board (APB) that it review the County's Agricultural Land Preservation Program (ALPP) and consider how it could be applied to eastern Howard County. While the APB agrees that greater support for agriculture in the eastern part of the county is needed, higher land prices and smaller parcel sizes in this area make the current ALPP unsuitable for many farmable properties in the east. While the APB discussed potential solutions to better support agricultural viability in eastern Howard County, including establishing farm-specific grant programs, tailored land preservation initiatives, and land purchase loan programs, it recommended the creation of a dedicated task force to explore the issue further.
Now through October 2026, the Task Force will meet monthly to review, discuss, and better understand:
- The challenges associated with farming in eastern Howard County;
- Review existing agricultural programs, including the Agricultural Land Preservation Program (ALPP), and evaluate their effectiveness for eastern Howard County farmers; and
- Examine current zoning regulations in eastern Howard County and assess their impact on agricultural activities.
The Task Force will present its findings and recommendations for enhancing programs and/or creating new initiatives to better support agriculture in the county’s eastern part to the County Executive and Howard County Council by November 1, 2026.
The Task Force will be comprised of the following voting members:
- Leslie Bauer, President, Howard County Farm Bureau
- Norma Broadwater, Resident
- Nelson Cruz, Resident
- Jake Franz, Frank’s Produce
- Cathy Hudson, Chair, Howard County Agricultural Preservation Board
- Ann Jones, Resident
- Erica Jones, Resident
- David Liker, Gorman Farm
- Jonathan McKinney, Operations Director, Community Ecology Institute – Freetown Farm
- Jarmonay Nelson, Resident
- Robin Shipman, Resident
The Task Force will also consist of the following six non-voting staff and ex-officio members:
- Sheryl Bennett, County Extension Director, University of Maryland Extension – Howard County
- Kathy Johnson, Director of Agricultural Business Development, Howard County Economic Development Authority
- Joy Levy, Executive Secretary, Agricultural Land Preservation Program
- David Plummer, District Manager, Howard Soil Conservation District
- Hannah Weber, Planning Specialist, Department of Planning and Zoning
- James Zoller, Administrator, Office of Agriculture
Today with more people wanting to know where their food comes from, I look forward to working with the community to lower barriers for Agriculture in the east and finding more ways to involve people in the production, education, and celebration of Agriculture.
While Howard County’s western portion remains largely rural, much of the County’s eastern area is urban. Like its rural agricultural counterpart, urban agriculture too provides important benefits to communities by: increasing access to fresh, locally grown foods; creating opportunities for agricultural education; and helping residents better understand how food is produced.
“Agriculture has long been a defining part of western Howard County’s identity and economy, but with farmland steadily disappearing across the country, it is becoming even more important to explore new ways to support both traditional and urban agriculture,” said James Zoller, Administrator, Office of Agriculture. “Expanding agricultural opportunities in more developed areas of the county could strengthen local food systems while also fostering community engagement and environmental stewardship. Furthermore, preserving and strengthening local food production is not only essential for food security, but also for maintaining the strong connection between farmers and the community.”
Currently, the County’s Office of Agriculture’s New and Beginning Farmer Program, located at West Friendship Park, currently serves 11 farmer cohorts, with seven participants residing in the county’s eastern end. Many of these aspiring farmers have faced challenges finding or affording farmland in the eastern portion of the county. Exploring policies and initiatives that support urban and small-scale agriculture could create new pathways for these individuals to establish farming operations within eastern Howard County.
Additionally, with the growing emphasis on “Food Is Medicine” initiatives, urban farms are uniquely positioned to play an important role in improving community health. By increasing access to fresh, locally grown produce in more densely populated areas, urban agriculture can support nutrition, preventative health efforts, and partnerships with healthcare and community organizations. Expanding urban farming opportunities in eastern Howard County could help align local agricultural development with broader public health and food access goals.