Carroll County, MD

Carroll County is located within an hour and a half of Washington DC and is one of the counties that make up Maryland’s northern border with Pennsylvania. The county has a land area of approximately 450 square miles. The county sees its self as a place that offers a safe environment in which all its citizens may reside, work, shop, learn, and play. It also sees it’s self as a places that wants to protect and preserve its rural character. According to the Carroll County master plan; the rural character of our county is preserved through measures that protect our natural and cultural resources, minimize residential sprawl, and save farmland. Carroll County is enriched by sustainable agriculture and agribusiness as well as retention and recruitment of responsible, productive business and industry that offer family-wage jobs and employ the existing skilled workforce in the County.

Agricultural Acreage in 2007: 141,934 acres
Number of Farms: 1,148
Number of Farm Markets: 4
Top three to five Agricultural Products: Dairy products, Soybeans, nursery and greenhouse products.

Total Local Economic Contribution of Agriculture:

• Market Value of Agriculture Production: $87,406,000
• Per farm average $76,138
• Crop sales $46,717,000 (53%)
• Livestock Sales $40,689,000 (57%)

Other Farm-Related Products or Activities in the County: Ag Tourism, Carroll County Farm Museum, and Rural heritage tours

Agricultural Lands protected: 43,836 (Source: Piedmont Environmental Council 2009)

Principal Agricultural Contacts:
Young Farmers Program Representative
Bill Rawlings: 410-857-4037 - e-mail: wtrawlings@yahoo.com

Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) Carroll County
Ralph Robertson
410-386-2214
rrobertson@ccg.carr.org

Maryland Farm Bureau: David W. Beall - County President
Brenda Barber - County Secretary
P.O. Box 547, New Windsor, MD 21776
(410) 857-5503

Maryland Cooperative Extension:
Bryan Butler: Senior Agent & Extension Director
410 386-2760
bbutlers@umd.edu