When the average city dweller thinks of agriculture and farm life, they likely conjure up a bucolic, timeless scene of the farmer toiling in the fields using tools invented long ago.

But in Frederick County, when you think of agriculture, you really should be thinking about innovation and experimentation. That is the reality of farm life in the 21st century here.

The county government is aware of the change, and it is making the speed of change even faster, by offering cash grants to farmers seeking to innovate.

It is a successful program, at minimal cost to the taxpayers.

The grant program is competitive, and applicants must submit a business and budget plan. The county says it is meant to improve the agricultural industry’s economic viability by encouraging businesses to innovate or diversify their operations.

In January, the county announced five agricultural businesses had received grants for various projects, such as building a climate-controlled greenhouse.

Since the program launched in 2021, it has awarded $1.85 million to 82 projects, according to the county. For every dollar of public funding, “recipients have added $3.77 in private investment,” the county said.

Ben Sayler, owner of Pleasant Hill Produce near Walkersville, is one of the county farmers using government’s seed money to transform his business, with the ultimate goal of a more sustainable future. His story was highlighted recently on our front page.

He received one of the grants in January, almost $20,000 for a mobile chicken coop. Moving the coop each day gives the chickens fresh forage, and their droppings will not “over fertilize” where they are, according to Sayler.

This was the second time his farm was awarded an agricultural innovation grant from Frederick County.

“[The grants] allow farmers like myself to invest in their operations in ways that financially they would otherwise not be able to,” Sayler told News-Post reporter Marwa Barakat.

Sayler’s farm raised its own hens for many years, but in the last five years, it had to purchase eggs from another farm to resell. With the mobile coop, Sayler told our reporter, the farm’s 550 new chickens will be laying eggs at full production during the busy season, which runs from May to November.

In addition to an on-site market, Pleasant Hill Produce offers a membership for weekly deliveries of fresh produce.

Sayler’s first attempt at applying for a grant was not successful. Three years ago, he asked for a grant to buy a hoop house — an unheated greenhouse-like structure that allows for an extended growing season.

“But they’re relatively common, and some of the feedback I got was that there’s other government funding for the greenhouses,” Sayler said.

He then successfully pivoted to a more innovative idea: aeroponic towers to grow lettuce. Sayler said he received a $22,000 grant for this endeavor.

The vertical towers, which don’t use soil, take less than 10% of the amount of space compared to the farm’s traditional lettuce planting in the ground, Sayler said. The towers also use 5%, or less, of the amount of water, he said.

The farm installed 30 aeroponic towers at the beginning of December, planted the lettuce in the first week of February and began harvesting at the start of March.

With the towers, Pleasant Hill is now growing its lettuce about 20% faster. Every three to four weeks, the farm harvests between 25% and 30% of the lettuce plants.

Sayler urges other farmers to educate themselves on innovations, write a strong business plan and demonstrate how the project will impact the greater community.

Smart Frederick County farmers are heeding his advice, and planning for a future that will incorporate new ways of working the land, while preserving the agricultural heritage of our county. At the same time, farming can be made more sustainable.

It is a winning plan for the Frederick County community.

— Frederick News-Post