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Prince George's County Farm Bureau briefs committee on programs, land access and meat-processing needs
Summary
The county Farm Bureau presented its activities — including education programs, an urban farm incubator, a planned cooperative farm site and interest in a regional meat-processing facility — and urged support for farmland access, agritourism and workforce development for food processing.
May 15, 2025 — The Prince George's County Farm Bureau briefed the committee on its membership activities, youth programs, urban farm incubator, a cooperative farm site and regional interest in a USDA-inspected livestock processing facility.
What Farm Bureau leaders said: Dan Donahue, president of the Prince George's County Farm Bureau, said the organization represents roughly 300 county members and works with Maryland Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation on advocacy, education and volunteer programs. He said the bureau supports FFA and 4-H programs in county high schools and assists with agricultural education and outreach. (Dan Donahue; Jennifer Cross; Liz Robinson)
Land and incubation: Speakers described a 39-acre site on Swanson Road in Upper Marlboro that the Bureau is leasing from the county planning agency to create a cooperative farm with shared infrastructure for graduates of urban farm incubator programs who lack land access. Staff and Farm Bureau leaders praised Park and Plannings cooperation on land access and urged the county to continue identifying parcels for new and beginning farmers. (Liz Robinson)
Meat-processing and regional coordination: Donahue and other presenters described long waits and long trips to existing USDA-inspected processing plants (nearest facilities cited in Carroll County and Baltimore City), and said a central Maryland facility with USDA inspection would reduce travel burdens for local producers. Donahue said discussions are underway among Montgomery, Howard, Prince George's, Frederick and Anne Arundel counties; MARBIDCO has expressed potential interest in financing and grants. Farm Bureau representatives said they support a feasibility study and noted prior efforts in the region. Committee members and county staff said FY26 planning will include further exploration of processing and distribution feasibility. (Dan Donahue)
Programs and events: Farm Bureau and University of Maryland Cooperative Extension representatives described Farm and Family Day (Sept. 7) and other outreach, urban agriculture work, an aquaponics/shipping-container demonstration, and the mushroom learning center being developed in Clinton. Extension noted its role in nutrient management plans, SNAP-education, master gardeners and 4-H youth programs. (University of Maryland Extension; Jenna Marie Jones)
Requests and next steps: Farm Bureau leaders asked the county to prioritize farmland access, consider support for feasibility work on regional processing and help promote Farm and Family Day and other education efforts. Planning staff said the county plans to relaunch an extension partnership position in FY26 and will continue feasibility work related to distribution and processing. Committee members asked to be kept informed about studies and potential EDC coordination. No formal action or vote was required for the briefing.
