Roger Richardson, Maryland Secretary of Agriculture

"The governor sends his regrets," Richardson told a roomful of fair board members and state and local agriculture officials during lunch at the fairgrounds. "He was tied up with budget issues yesterday."

O'Malley announced Tuesday a package of cuts and tax increases to address the state's $1.5 billion deficit.

Richardson said it's no secret O'Malley is interested in agriculture sustainability in Maryland.

"It's still true that if you make a profit, you'll stay on the farm. If not, the farm might be turned into development," he said.

Richardson said O'Malley signed into law four agriculture-related bills earlier this year to make it easier for landowners to preserve farmland, support young farmers, and encourage the use and study of alternative renewable fuels in Maryland.

Richardson applauded The Great Frederick Fair on its 145th anniversary and for keeping agriculture as the the focal point.

Richardson said the state is spraying 50,000 acres to combat a gypsy moth infestation. He expects that number to increase to 100,000 acres in 2008. Richardson said 300,000 acres have been approved for plantings to help improve the state's waterways.

Agriculture must be concerned about the environment as well as being profitable, Richardson said.

"We get criticized unjustly sometimes. People need to understand that we have to care about the economics of agriculture as well as the environment," he said.

More comments were directed at Richardson than he gave in his brief remarks.

Gareth Harshman, Frederick County Farm Bureau president, said he was proud to see Richardson come to the western part of the state.

"He's from the eastern part. It's his first opportunity to come here as the MDA secretary. His actions up to now have been very favorable to agriculture," Harshman said.

Richardson took over from Lou Riley, the former agriculture secretary, who was pro-agriculture, Harshman said.

"He's just taken off from where Lou stopped. We in Western Maryland didn't know this man but he's been an asset so far," Harshman said.

Evelyn Wilcom, chairwoman of the Maryland Farm Bureau Women and a Frederick County Farm Bureau director, called Richardson "a very learned man."

"Being in agriculture for a long time, I know he and Buddy Hance (deputy secretary) will do everything to support agriculture," she said.

Hearing Richardson speak was a first for fair board member Joseph Free, who emceed the luncheon.

"He knows agriculture and has been involved with the farm bureau for years. I was impressed," Free said.

Ag issues

Maryland Farm Bureau spokeswoman Valerie Connelly said O'Malley may call a special session of the Maryland General Assembly on his budget measures, which include a 1 percent sales tax increase.

The farm bureau wants to ensure that agriculture is exempt from the sales tax, Connelly said.

She said the Farm Bureau is working to develop a Green Fund that will assist farmers to exercise the best management practices on farms to help clean the Chesapeake Bay. She said the Green Fund initiative "got amended to death in Annapolis and never passed last year."

On the federal level, Connelly said the Maryland Farm Bureau is hopeful that the Farm Bill being discussed in Washington will be approved.

"If you get a chance to meet Sens. Cardin and Mikulski, tell them to give farmers a bill they can count on for the next five years," Connelly said.

Frederick County 4-H royalty attended the luncheon.

"I got to know some history today, I'm glad I got the chance to meet everybody and to know that agriculture is in good hands," said Tim Ketterman, 4-H King.

4-H Queen Brittany Hyland was surprised by the number of people.

"I didn't know so many people were involved. I'm glad to see that agriculture is alive and well," Brittany said.