News from the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

Brown to farm Bloomfield

Through a cooperative effort between Queen Anne’s County, the state and a local land conservancy, a recently protected farm will be cultivated this year by a young farmer.

Bryan Brown, of Centreville, will start growing corn and soybeans on Bloomfield Farm, situated along Rt. 213, in late April.

“I’m thrilled,” said Brown, 23. “And a little lucky.”

Brown’s name was picked out of hat containing six other young farmers’ names by Bill Riggs, one of Bloomfield Farm’s former owners, who said while “it would have been nice to pick them all” he’s “glad Bryan is the one.” Riggs will advise Brown on farming.

Brown will rent 175 acres for one year at a discounted rate of $50 per acre – the usual cost is about $100 per acre – thanks to assistance from Queen Anne’s County, the Maryland Cooperative Extension, and Eastern Shore Land Conservancy.

“It takes a tremendous amount of resources to start as a young farmer today,” said Paul Gunther, of the Cooperative Extension. “But the whole community benefits from helping them get into farming.”

Bloomfield Farm’s long-time owners, the Riggs family, sold it to Eastern Shore Land Conservancy last December, beginning a joint conservation effort that also included the County, the Department of Natural Resources, Program Open Space, and individual donors.

To complete the conservation process, Program Open Space will provide funding to Queen Anne’s County, so they can own the land. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and several other partners will also provide wetlands restoration and tree planting, and part of the farm will become a public park including ball fields and walking trails.

“There’s not a whole lot of active recreational areas here,” said Eric Ruby, of Program Open Space. “So it’s great to provide that on Bloomfield Farm and keep some of it as farmland.”

From left to right: Paul Gunther of the Cooperative Extension, Rob Etgen of ESLC, Eric Ruby of Program Open Space, Bill Riggs, long-time owner, Jabez Brown, Jr., Bryan Brown's father, Bryan Brown, farmer, Jenny Rhodes of the Cooperative Extension, and Meredith Lathbury of ESLC meet on Bloomfield Farm.

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