"As you may be aware, the Howard County Council is in the process of adopting new zoning regulations for the County.  At this time, it anticipates finalizing the regulations on July 25, 2013.  Included among the changes being considered are ones which would very significantly affect the farm community, particularly those raising livestock (including horses) on small to medium size farms.  From what can be discerned to date, these proposed regulations, if passed, will make it much more difficult for equine, as well as other specialty farming interests (i.e., sheep, goat and alpaca), to thrive.  These interests are now the backbone of agriculture in the County and contribute vast sums to the County’s tax base and its economy." - Susan Gray

If these proposed zoning regulations are passed, it will greatly impact the agricultural community in Howard County (especially small/medium farms including small livestock and horses) as well as set a precedent for the other counties of Maryland which could be detrimental to the farming/equine communities in Maryland. These proposed regulations have not been discussed or shared with the agricultural community, so it is imperative that these proposed regulations are stopped so that the community has a chance to weigh-in on their views.- Jennifer Poole

For more information, please check out the following link:

http://mhc-howard.blogspot.com/