(Nov. 6, 2014) First it was delayed a week, now it is delayed indefinitely.
A study commissioned by the Maryland Department of Agriculture to determine the economic impact of restricting phosphorus found in chicken manure used to fertilize crops was put on hold for a second time this month.
Originally slated for release on Oct. 8, the department announced the Phosphorus Management Tool Economic Impact Study would come out Oct. 23 at 10 a.m., with a media briefing conference call to follow at noon. Salisbury University professor Dr. Memo Diriker, who produced the study, and Secretary of Agriculture Buddy Hance were schedule to answer questions.
On Oct. 22, however, the department announced that the study would be postponed again without explaining why.
“At this point in time, all we have is that due to unforeseen circumstances that report is not coming out today and the briefing was postponed,” department Communications Director Julianne A. Oberg said. “We don’t have anything more at this time.”
Diriker was also tightlipped about the delay, saying he could not comment, had no timetable for a future release, and referred additional questions to the department.
The study was added to Maryland’s 2014 budget at the insistence of Sen. Jim Mathias (D-38), effectively stalling what could have been a devastating series of restrictions on area farmers.
Although Mathias said the study was “deeper than an election issue,” it quickly turned into one.
Republican Del. Mike McDermott, running for Mathias’ seat, accused the Martin O’Malley administration of trying to push through legislation without regarding the facts of the study.
“I think the election itself puts an interesting twist on this, because you’ve got Democrats that are worried how they’re going to appear when the governor that represents them moves in this direction,” he said, adding, “I don’t know that we’re going to hear anything out of his office officially until after Nov. 4.”
The study, which neither candidate has seen, purportedly includes more than 4,200 pages of data.
A study commissioned by the Maryland Department of Agriculture to determine the economic impact of restricting phosphorus found in chicken manure used to fertilize crops was put on hold for a second time this month.
Originally slated for release on Oct. 8, the department announced the Phosphorus Management Tool Economic Impact Study would come out Oct. 23 at 10 a.m., with a media briefing conference call to follow at noon. Salisbury University professor Dr. Memo Diriker, who produced the study, and Secretary of Agriculture Buddy Hance were schedule to answer questions.
On Oct. 22, however, the department announced that the study would be postponed again without explaining why.
“At this point in time, all we have is that due to unforeseen circumstances that report is not coming out today and the briefing was postponed,” department Communications Director Julianne A. Oberg said. “We don’t have anything more at this time.”
Diriker was also tightlipped about the delay, saying he could not comment, had no timetable for a future release, and referred additional questions to the department.
The study was added to Maryland’s 2014 budget at the insistence of Sen. Jim Mathias (D-38), effectively stalling what could have been a devastating series of restrictions on area farmers.
Although Mathias said the study was “deeper than an election issue,” it quickly turned into one.
Republican Del. Mike McDermott, running for Mathias’ seat, accused the Martin O’Malley administration of trying to push through legislation without regarding the facts of the study.
“I think the election itself puts an interesting twist on this, because you’ve got Democrats that are worried how they’re going to appear when the governor that represents them moves in this direction,” he said, adding, “I don’t know that we’re going to hear anything out of his office officially until after Nov. 4.”
The study, which neither candidate has seen, purportedly includes more than 4,200 pages of data.