BARC Closure Could Cost Maryland Jobs and Research, Officials Say

Capital News Service | May 28, 2026 at 6:00 am | CategoriesMontgomery County, MD

The closure of a federal agricultural research facility in Maryland could lead to a loss of scientific breakthroughs and hundreds of jobs, state lawmakers, officials and experts said.

“It’s such an important part of the rural economy,” said Charlotte Davis, executive director of the Rural Maryland Council. “We want to make sure that our Maryland farmers are thriving and getting the support they need to remain profitable.”

The shutdown of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, known as BARC, could disrupt Maryland’s largest commercial industry and add to the more than 31,000 federal jobs the state lost over the last year, state officials said.

The research center explores new farming practices and technologies and helps find solutions to climate and pest issues, said Wendy Powers, dean of the University of Maryland’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
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https://www.sourceofthespring.com/montgomery-county-news/2914759/barc-closure-could-cost-maryland-jobs-and-research-officials-say/