ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland lawmakers are taking action to combat the aggressive spread of Palmer amaranth across Eastern Shore farmland by proposing faster enforcement measures against property owners who fail to control this invasive weed.
The proposed legislation, brought forward by Talbot County’s legislative delegation, would mandate that Maryland’s Department of Agriculture immediately issue elimination orders whenever Palmer amaranth is discovered on any property throughout the state. Property owners would have just two weeks to remove the weed, followed by biweekly inspections until complete removal is achieved. Those who don’t comply would face escalating financial penalties: $500 for initial violations, $1,000 for second offenses, and $2,000 for additional infractions.
While Maryland has classified Palmer amaranth as a harmful weed since 2020, with existing legal requirements for property owners to manage or eliminate it, this new bill focuses on accelerating enforcement procedures once the weed is identified.
State Senator Johnny Mautz, a Republican from Talbot County, explained that current enforcement protocols often involve multiple warnings before any penalties are applied.
“By the time you get to a fine, it’s too late,” Mautz stated.
The Talbot delegation’s proposal would allow immediate fines for property owners who receive elimination orders but take no action, representing a strategic change designed to encourage prompt intervention and prevent further spread.
Agricultural experts consider Palmer amaranth among the most damaging weeds impacting row crops throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. This rapidly growing pigweed variety can grow beyond 6 feet tall, aggressively competes for essential resources like water and nutrients, and can generate hundreds of thousands or even more than one million seeds from a single plant. Multiple herbicide-resistant populations have emerged, making swift detection and immediate control essential.
The agriculture department currently collaborates with property owners facing weed challenges, taking enforcement measures through a “case-by-case basis” approach, though financial penalties against farmers are uncommon due to the weed’s management complexity, according to department spokesperson Lauren Moses. She noted that existing regulations already mandate noxious weed control or elimination, with the department offering technical support and guidance on herbicide applications or mowing strategies.
Mautz explained that the legislation emerged from issues identified by Talbot County’s weed management program, which documented instances of property owners neglecting to address infestations.
“It’s a super-difficult weed,” he acknowledged.
While the proposed bill maintains existing penalty amounts under state regulations, it would create more explicit enforcement through mandatory elimination orders, established timelines, and required follow-up inspections. Talbot County farmers report that Palmer amaranth expanded rapidly in certain areas during the previous year.
“We had last year several locations in the county where (it) has gotten out of control in some farm fields,” explained John Swaine, who serves as president of the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts and vice president of the Talbot County Farm Bureau. “Some neighbors complained about it.”
Swaine, who operates corn and soybean farms near Royal Oak, described how Palmer amaranth spreads rapidly through seeds and can overtake entire fields without early intervention. He noted that control methods differ significantly depending on the crop type. Herbicide treatments work most effectively with corn and soybeans that have specific genetic traits, while other crops provide fewer chemical control options. Vegetable producers face particularly limited alternatives and may need to rely heavily on manual removal.
Eddie Boyle, president of the Talbot County Farm Bureau, observed that the weed’s presence has become increasingly noticeable throughout the county, including roadside areas and public properties where reduced mowing schedules due to budget limitations have allowed plants to reach maturity.
“If something is not done sooner or later, it’s going to be a really big issue,” Boyle warned.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture did not participate in creating this legislation and will likely remain neutral on the proposal, Moses indicated. She added that implementing the bill as currently written would require additional department personnel.
Both Mautz and Swaine confirmed that farmers support the legislation. However, Mautz suggested that opposition might come from absent property owners who prefer not to monitor their land more closely.
The Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee has set a hearing for the bill on March 3 at 1 p.m. The companion House version will be heard by the House Environment and Transportation Committee on February 27 at 1 p.m. If approved, the legislation would become effective October 1.
