Comments on: If Montgomery County Really Wanted Affordable Housing, It Would Open Up the Agricultural Reserve

By: bob cissel

bob cissel — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:33:49 +0000

It’s been 45 years since our County Council and Park and Planning had the vision and the foresight to create our Agricultural Reserve. Caroline numbers listed in the above comment are spot on and I would hope that anyone that would post a statement like this would have done more homework.

We have a vibrant group of ag producers that during convid stepped up production to make sure the folks that really needed food support had the nutrition they needed.

Our farmers are some of the best in the country. They use the most modern equipment and technology to ensure their operations are delivering high quality food for people and the animals that are grown in the mid Atlantic region.

I suggest you visit the next farm tour and stop by the barns at our county fair in
Gaithersburg. It starts next Friday.

My name is Bob Cissel and I’m the executive director of Montgomery Agricultural Producers.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 10:59:27 +0000

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 14:46:14 +0000

0.5

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 20:31:59 +0000

1.5

By: Caroline Taylor

Caroline Taylor — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 15:07:43 +0000

In reply to Dylan. See comment that I posted in response to the opinion piece. Seems like a tour might be a good opportunity for you as well.

By: Caroline Taylor

Caroline Taylor — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 15:06:04 +0000

It would probably be helpful if one did a little research before writing a piece like this. ?
A few stats from the US census of agriculture:
Montgomery County has 330 farms producing Table crops-
228 livestock operations:
raising beef, dairy, sheep, goats, poultry, hogs & pigs. Local dairy and meat products can be found at on-farm markets, regional city farmers markets, through community supported agriculture (CSA) subscriptions, or at local retailers.
Commodity production includes: corn, wheat, barley, soy, sorghum (and before someone says this isn’t food, well do the research)
Agriculture is the biggest employment sector in the reserve employing over 10,000 people
Market value of products produced is over 70 million annually
48% of farmers (owner operators) are women
65,537 acres are in farming

More information can be found at Montgomery County office office of agriculture:

I serve his executive director of
https://www.mocoalliance.org/mhome.html

Timely note- this weekend is the annual summer Farm tour

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/agservices/farm-to-table/farm-tour.html

By: Dylan

Dylan — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 14:54:17 +0000

The Blue Bloods in the Ag Reserve will NEVER allow building in their backyard

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 14:52:57 +0000