The county says its commitment to local farmers hasn’t changed, even though the federal program funding it has a new name and new rules
Prince George’s County’s farmers spent the past year watching a familiar program disappear on paper while the work behind it kept going. Now county officials are putting a name to what replaced it.
The county’s USDA-funded agricultural initiative is entering its next phase under a new federally designated title, the Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) Pilot Program, according to an August 6 press release from the county’s Department of the Environment. The change traces back to Washington, not Largo. In April 2025, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the cancellation of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program, the Biden-era initiative that had originally funded the county’s work, calling it a “Biden Era Climate Slush Fund” tied to high administrative costs. In its place, USDA launched Advancing Markets for Producers, which requires that at least 65 percent of federal funds reach producers directly rather than covering overhead.
Prince George’s County’s stake in the program goes back to December 2022, when USDA announced a $3.25 million grant to the county to support farmers and producers, particularly farmers of color, in adopting climate-centered organic farming practices. The announcement was made at Bowie State University, one of Maryland’s historically Black universities, by then-USDA Under Secretary Jennifer Lester Moffitt.
With the federal rebrand now in effect, county officials are moving to head off confusion among the farmers who rely on the program. “Our team has heard from local farmers who want to better understand what these federal changes mean for the program,” said Dr. Samuel B. Moki, Director of the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment, in the release. “We want our agricultural community to know that Prince George’s County remains fully committed to this effort. Although the program is now operating under a new federally designated name, our commitment to supporting local farmers and strengthening our agricultural economy has not changed.”
The county has updated its website and program materials to reflect the AMP name and opened a dedicated inbox, AgGrants@pgcmd.gov, where farmers, producers, and other stakeholders can ask questions or request assistance. The Department of the Environment is also inviting all county farmers and agricultural producers to join its new farmer database, which officials say will help track the local agricultural community and keep producers informed about funding, resources, and events as they’re announced.
Through the AMP Pilot Program, the county says it will continue working with eligible Prince George’s County farmers to strengthen farm businesses, expand market access, and create more opportunities for residents to buy locally grown food. Officials say additional detail on eligibility, funding, and applications will be released as it becomes available.
FAQ
What is the AMP Pilot Program? It’s Prince George’s County’s USDA-funded agricultural initiative, renamed from the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program after USDA overhauled the program’s rules in April 2025.
Does the name change affect funding for PG County farmers? The county says its support for local farmers hasn’t changed, though the federal program now requires at least 65 percent of funds go directly to producers. Full eligibility details are still being released.
How can a Prince George’s County farmer get involved? Farmers can email AgGrants@pgcmd.gov or join the county’s farmer database for updates on funding and resources.