MARYLAND FARM BUREAU, INC.
8930 Liberty Road, Randallstown, Maryland 21133-4295
(410) 922-3426           (410) 922-6871 (Fax)

March 8, 2000

The Honorable Walter Baker
Senate Committee on Judicial Proceedings
300 James Senate Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401

Re: S.B. 733 - Real Property - Sale of Property - Disclosures - Sewage Sludge

Dear Chairman Baker and Committee Members:

The Maryland Farm Bureau fully supports S.B. 733, a bill to require written disclosure to a prospective buyer concerning use of sewage sludge on a parcel of property offered for sale. The bill also requires that the disclosure be recorded on the deed of sale. As you know, farmers make decisions almost daily with regard to soil inputs to produce high quality, high yielding crops.

Certain crops cannot be grown on land where sewage sludge has been applied in the recent past. Tobacco and vegetable crops are known to develop irregularly and present potential problems to consumers if grown on fields where sewage sludge has been applied within three years. In addition, federal rules for Organic Foods announced this week prohibit the use of sewage sludge on any product advertised as "organic".

For these reasons, Maryland Farm Bureau policy calls for a permanent record on land deeds concerning the use of sewage sludge. S.B. 733 provides a mechanism for deed recordation and for advance notice to an individual who is considering the purchase of land upon which sewage sludge has been applied. Maryland Farm Bureau fully supports S.B. 733 and urges the Committee to report the bill favorably.

Sincerely,
VALERIE T. CONNELLY
Director of Government Relations


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