$25 Registration Fee Required.  Register online. 

Agricultural land is an integral part of green infrastructure.  The 3,000 square mile WMA is home to more than 3 million people with a population projected to grow to 4.5 million by 2030.  Given these population growth projections, there are significant challenges in meeting the growing demand for a secure, high quality local food supply.

In the rapidly changing landscape, agricultural lands and undeveloped lands are being lost in the region at a rate of approximately 43 acres per day (over 15 square miles a year).   At this rate, the region will lose a sizable portion of its remaining fertile farm and forest land area equivalent to six times the size of the District of Columbia in the next 25 years.  Yet, agricultural production and commerce continues to contribute over $1 billion annually to the economy of the Washington Metropolitan Area (WMA). Given that growth projections will add an additional 2 million residents to the region in the next 25 years, can local agriculture and other “green and open space” lands survive?

The purpose of this forum is to both examine and discuss the role of agriculture in the rapidly growing WMA, as well as the opportunities that enable local agricultural producers and markets to flourish in this highly competitive landscape.

Come join us on April 21st, 2010 in Frederick County to discuss the importance of our local agricultural community and programs and how we may work together regionally to assure their continued success, so as to ensure their continued contribution to our local economy, quality of food and quality of life.