About

The Montgomery County Extension Office is located on the Agricultural History Farm Park grounds. The grounds are also home to the historic Magruder-Bussard Farmhouse (pictured above).

A Message from Lynn Rubin Traversa, AED

I am honored to serve as the Area Extension Director (AED) for the Central Maryland Cluster - Montgomery, Frederick, and Howard Counties. Our faculty and staff partner with community stakeholders to deliver engaging, timely, research-based programs and training to improve the lives of youth and adults in our community. As a lifelong resident of Central Maryland, I have a personal and professional investment in the success and well-being of our community.

Let’s make Montgomery County the best place to live, learn, work, and thrive.

Come, grow with us!

The Agricultural History Farm Park

The Extension Office for Montgomery County is located in Derwood Maryland on the Magruder-Bussard farmstead grounds, a 455-acre Agricultural History Farm Park managed by Montgomery Parks.

Past farming practices are presented to the public in a historic farmhouse, barn, and historic farm buildings. Programs include several annual events such as Harvest Days in October. We welcome you to come and explore our outside grounds. Many events are held in with the help of the volunteers from Friends of the Ag History Farm Park.

Learn about the Park

The grounds are also home to the following partner agencies

Montgomery County Office of Agriculture
Montgomery Soil Conservation District
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service & Farm Services Agency

MoCo Agricultural Facts

Agriculture in the County

Montgomery County's diverse agricultural industry is home to 583 farms employing over 10,000 people.

The market value of products sold in the County is $70,914,000!

The Agriculture Reserve

Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve is an important environmental resource for future farm enterprises. Its strong agricultural heritage provides a diverse business community and an economic base. Combining these strengths with a commitment to farmland preservation makes Montgomery County an attractive place to live, work, and farm!

Community Grain Production

Grain farms (corn, wheat, soybeans, and barley) comprise 45,543 acres.

Much of the grain production supports Maryland’s poultry industry on the Eastern Shore and other regional livestock production.

Wheat produced in MoCo is made into cookies, crackers, cakes, and bread products.

Corn may go toward ethanol production, and some barley is now going to local breweries for the production of beer.

Horticulture

With a market value of $26,725,000, the Montgomery County horticultural industry ranks fourth in the State!

Horticultural enterprises include nurseries, landscaping/lawn care companies, floriculture, arborists, sod farms, and greenhouse businesses.

Livestock

228 livestock farming operations in MoCo raising beef, dairy, sheep, goats, poultry, hogs & pigs.

Local dairy and meat products can be found at on-farm markets, regional city farmers markets, through community-supported agriculture (CSA) subscriptions, or at local retailers.

Food Producers

Over 330 farms, produce table food in MoCo.

Selling market value of $3,262,000 for vegetables, melons, potatoes, and sweet potatoes - the County ranks ninth in the state!

The County's food producers are essential and continue to play a vital role in providing fresh, local food to residents including those in need through the Farm 2 Foodbank program.

Environmental

Best Management Practices (BMP) by Montgomery County Farmers. These practices help the County's agricultural sector meet its Watershed Implementation (WIP) goals as mandated by the Maryland Department of the Environment.

BMPs have the co-benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.