WASHINGTON –
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) has been selected by the Maryland Farm Bureau to receive the Friend of Farm Bureau Award because of his strong support of legislation in the 110
^th Congress that has been beneficial to the farm community.

Senator Cardin was a strong supporter of the Farm Bill, which was enacted in 2008.
  It contained funding for environmental program to help the Chesapeake Bay while also helping farmers remain economically viable.
  The bill also contained record funding levels of more than $10 billion for key nutritional programs including $1.25 billion for food banks and increased funding for the school lunch and Women’s Infant and Children (WIC) programs.
  Additionally, the bill contained a major increase in the Food Stamp Program, the nation’s largest anti-hunger program.

In addition, the Senator also supported renewable energy, immigration reform and bills to expand international trade opportunities for farm products.
 

“Agriculture is Maryland’s largest industry and I frequently meet with farmers to talk with them about the resources and support they need to be successful,” said
Senator Cardin.
  “I am committed to ensuring that our farmers remain economically strong and productive.”

The Maryland Farm Bureau is a private, non-profit membership organization.
 There are more than 30,620 member families that belong to the State’s 23 county Farm Bureaus. The American Farm Bureau Federation represents more than 6.2 million member families in over 2,800 counties throughout the nation.