Issue Position: Agriculture

Issue Position

Carroll County has a rich heritage of farming and a number of significant agricultural achievements.. From produce to dairy to horses and livestock, family farms are a key part of our area's economy. It's tough enough to make it in agriculture anywhere in the United States, but Maryland is particularly difficult.
I'm proud to say that each year I've co-sponsored legislation to re-couple the Maryland estate tax to the federal estate tax. This is one of the most important issues facing family farms because Maryland taxes estates at a different level and forces farmers and business owners to keep two sets of books on depreciation of equipment and property value.
Unfortunately, many farmers have to sell their land rather than being able to pass it on to their children or another farm.
Bottom line: Maryland's high taxes and unwillingness to be flexible have hit agriculture hard. You can't be for open space and land preservation and against farmers. You can't say you support family farms, but support taking away development rights entirely which diminishes the land's value. Listening carefully to farmers and those who work in agriculture and preservation has given me such a profound respect for them and a strong desire to reform how Maryland treats this precious resource. To send me your thoughts on farming and agricultural issues, please email me here: justin.ready@house.state.md.us

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