Agriculture - Catastrophic Damage Caused by Deer

HB 1024 authorizes Maryland's Department of Agriculture to take extraordinary measures to control local deer populations after deer cause catastrophic crop damage, defined as the loss of 50% or more of crops in a single field. The bill directly affects farmers who suffer such severe damage and the Department of Agriculture, which must create regulations to implement the program. Key provisions include the department’s authority to act following a verified 50% crop loss threshold and the requirement for the department to adopt implementing regulations. The law aims to prevent recurring crop losses from deer without specifying particular control methods or funding mechanisms.