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Summary;
Maryland Senate Bill 487 and it's companion House Bill 573 establishing labeling requirements for specialty fertilizer used on specified turf; exempting organic fertilizer sold to specified fertilizer applicators from a specified prohibition; requiring the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the University of Maryland, to establish a professional fertilizer applicator certification program; establishing specified maximum limits for nitrogen and phosphorus in fertilizer; prohibiting a person from selling specified fertilizer; etc. were passed this April and signed into law by Governor O'Malley.
From Mark Schlossberg of the Maryland Association of Green Industries (MAGI)
The Fertilizer Use Act -was passed tonight in the Maryland General Assembly on the final day of the session as HB 573. Though this bill will cost our Industry some money and change the way we do business somewhat, I feel like the adjustments we have to make will not jeopardize our businesses and golf courses. And the fact that we now will have fertilizer pre-emption means that we won't have to worry about local jurisdictions making their own fertilizer laws. We were able to get the final date for fall N and P applications extended to December 1st. We'll still be able to apply K and limestone between December 1st and March 1st. We were able to get allowances for controlled-release nitrogen at higher rates and an exemption for organic fertilizer P applications. From my understanding of the bills, the certification/training portion will take effect in October, 2012 and the date restrictions will not take place until the fall of 2013. To read the bill go to http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/bills/hb/hb0573t.pdf
I will get more clarification and details from the Department over the next few weeks and I'm sure this will be discussed in the training sessions UMD puts on in the fall and winter.
One final note, one of the reasons we supported this legislation was that we as an Industry wanted to get the message out to some of our allies, like the farm community, soil conservation people and the general public, that we are willing to do our part. We might not feel that the changes required in the bill will help the Bay. But now, we will be able to say that we are willing to contribute to the reduction of N and P output.
I want to thank everyone who came to Annapolis for meetings, called and e-mailed legislators, acquiesced on issues that they really didn't want to, etc. I feel our support of this legislation will help us immensely in the future when there are bills introduced that we oppose. I guess time will tell.
Mark I. Schlossberg, President
Pro-Lawn-Plus, Inc./M.A.G.I.
Maryland Senate Bill 487 and it's companion House Bill 573 establishing labeling requirements for specialty fertilizer used on specified turf; exempting organic fertilizer sold to specified fertilizer applicators from a specified prohibition; requiring the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the University of Maryland, to establish a professional fertilizer applicator certification program; establishing specified maximum limits for nitrogen and phosphorus in fertilizer; prohibiting a person from selling specified fertilizer; etc. were passed this April and signed into law by Governor O'Malley.
From Mark Schlossberg of the Maryland Association of Green Industries (MAGI)
The Fertilizer Use Act -was passed tonight in the Maryland General Assembly on the final day of the session as HB 573. Though this bill will cost our Industry some money and change the way we do business somewhat, I feel like the adjustments we have to make will not jeopardize our businesses and golf courses. And the fact that we now will have fertilizer pre-emption means that we won't have to worry about local jurisdictions making their own fertilizer laws. We were able to get the final date for fall N and P applications extended to December 1st. We'll still be able to apply K and limestone between December 1st and March 1st. We were able to get allowances for controlled-release nitrogen at higher rates and an exemption for organic fertilizer P applications. From my understanding of the bills, the certification/training portion will take effect in October, 2012 and the date restrictions will not take place until the fall of 2013. To read the bill go to http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/bills/hb/hb0573t.pdf
I will get more clarification and details from the Department over the next few weeks and I'm sure this will be discussed in the training sessions UMD puts on in the fall and winter.
One final note, one of the reasons we supported this legislation was that we as an Industry wanted to get the message out to some of our allies, like the farm community, soil conservation people and the general public, that we are willing to do our part. We might not feel that the changes required in the bill will help the Bay. But now, we will be able to say that we are willing to contribute to the reduction of N and P output.
I want to thank everyone who came to Annapolis for meetings, called and e-mailed legislators, acquiesced on issues that they really didn't want to, etc. I feel our support of this legislation will help us immensely in the future when there are bills introduced that we oppose. I guess time will tell.
Mark I. Schlossberg, President
Pro-Lawn-Plus, Inc./M.A.G.I.
