NEWS & VIEWS Bits and Pieces, continued from page 9
$4.4 Million for Farm Easements T e Maryland Board of Public Works ap-
proved the purchase of nine easements protect- ing 966 acres of prime Maryland farmland in fi ve counties for nearly $4.4 million in state and local funding. T is approval brings the total farmland protected in perpetuity by the Mary- land Agricultural Land Preservation Founda- tion (MALPF) to 284,332 acres. T e Board is comprised of the Governor, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp, and Comptroller Peter Franchot. Created by the General Assembly in 1977,
MALPF purchases agricultural preservation easements that forever restrict development on prime farmland and woodland and has perma- nently preserved land in each of Maryland’s 23 counties, representing a public investment of over $605 million. With county and other state preservation programs, nearly 558,914 acres of farmland are protected in Maryland. T is is the greatest ratio of farmland preserved to total landmass of any state. Due to the hard work of the Maryland Horse Council and the Mary- land Horse Industry Board, MALPF recently expanded the allowable agricultural activities to include most equine operations. According to a survey conducted by the
Schaefer Center for Public Policy, public opin- ion supports this investment. A full 97 percent of respondents believe that it is important that the state preserve farmland for farming. Mary- landers believe that farms and the products they produce should remain a part of the state’s culture and economy. A summary of Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation Easement Purchases by County, September 21, 2011, is available online at:
http://www.mda.
state.md.us/pdf/09-21-2011_bpw_malpf.pdf
Feds Delay New H-2B Wage Rule On September 28, the Department of Labor
(DOL) delayed the eff ective date of a new pre- vailing wage fi nal rule for the H-2B program by 60 days. T e wage rule was scheduled to go into eff ect on September 30, 2011. T e new wage rule is now scheduled to go
into eff ect on November 30, 2011. T e wage rule, in most instances, will increase the hourly wage that must be paid to all currently em- ployed H-2B workers and American workers recruited in connection with an H-2B job ap- plication as well as future workers. T e DOL is delaying the eff ective date of
the rule by 60 days in response to two diff erent lawsuits challenging the wage rule. Additionally, the DOL has issued the follow- ing guidance to H-2B employers: Any employer who has received a supple- mental H-2B prevailing wage determination in anticipation of the September 30, 2011 ef- fective date is not required to pay, and the De- partment’s Wage and Hour Division will not enforce, the wage provided in that supplemen- tal prevailing wage determination for any work performed beginning September 30, 2011 through November 29, 2011 by H-2B workers or U.S. workers recruited in connection with the H-2B application process. T e employer is expected to continue to pay at least the prevail- ing wage as promised in the employer’s labor certifi cation (ETA Form 9142) for any work performed before November 30, 2011. How- ever, employers who received a supplemental H-2B prevailing wage determination must pay at least that wage to any H- 2B worker and any U.S. worker recruited in connection with the labor certifi cation for work performed on or after November 30, 2011. T e H-2B program is used by members of
Northern L n Light Farm, Inc.
the horse industry, principally horse trainers and owners who cannot fi nd American work- ers to fi ll semiskilled jobs at racetracks, horse shows, fairs and in similar nonagricultural ac- tivities. T e AHC is concerned the wage rule will make the H-2B program even more costly to use than it already is for horse industry em- ployers forced to use the program. T e AHC is opposed to the H-2B wage rule and supports the Senate amendment. T is is just the fi rst step in blocking the H-2B wage rule. T e FY 2012 Labor bill must now be approved by the full Senate and go through a Conference Committee to work out any diff er- ences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. Even with extra time to fi nish work on ap-
propriations bills Congress may not be able to come to an agreement on the individual ap- propriations bills like the FY 2012 Labor bill and be forced to pass a long term CR or roll several bills into a package called an Omnibus bill. However, it is hoped that the amendment blocking the wage rule will be part of whatever legislation Congress eventually passes to fund the government though fi scal year 2012.
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Complete Equestrian Lifestyle!
FOR SALE: Stunning home, gorgeous property, boarding facilities, pool, surrounded by State Park, direct trail access 7719 Stoney Ridge Rd Marriottsville, MD 21104
FEATURES
· Huge 4-level contemporary with close to 6,000 sf of finished space
· 3.5 partially wooded acres · Large 2-stall barn with electricity · Fenced grazing areas
· Surrounded by Patapsco State Park with direct trail access
· Heated saltwater pool/integrated hot tub and gazebo bar
· Fully updated gourmet kitchen Heather Achen
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www.northernlightfarm.com 12 | THE EQUIERY | NOVEMBER 2011
· Master suite with private deck, hot tub and luxurious bath
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· Updated baths, new HVAC and numerous other updates/features
www.StoneyRidgeTreasure.com
David Yungmann · (410) 207-7777 ·
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Heather Achen
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