What is the Maryland Feed Fund/Assessment, and how does it benefit the horse industry?

Visit www.equiery.com/archives/feedart.htm for a complete explanation.

To obtain a sign for your store explaining the assessment email info@horseboard.org or print one offline at www.marylandhorseindustry.org/pdffiles/storesign.pdf.

Can you believe that for only $1.00 per horse per year the Maryland Horse Industry Board has accomplished so much over the past several years. It's true! For more information read on so that you can decide for yourself if you are getting your monies worth.

In a 5 year review of the Maryland Feed Assessment, for every $1.00 received by the Maryland Horse Industry Board and spent on administration, $6.50 was returned back to the industry in the form of grants and industry investment. Sound impossible...read on.

Over the past 5 years the Maryland Horse Industry Board has collected the revenue generated by an assessment on equine feed sold in the State of Maryland. It equals 5 cents per 50 pound bag of feed to the consumer. To date the amount paid per horse has equaled approximately $1.00 per horse per year. The total amount of revenue to date has equaled:

(Calendar Year = Total Assessment Received)

2002 = $22,126.01 (partial year assessment)

2003 = $89,400.14

2004 = $92,471.61

2005 = $88,505.93

2006 = $87,579.56

2007 = $82,505.85

2008 = $76,533.10

Total = $539,122.20

Those funds have been used entirely for the promotion, research, and education of the Maryland horse industry. One particularly successful program has been the Maryland Horse Industry Board grant program. The funds from the assessment are used to fund non-profit of not-for-profit organizations that wish to conduct projects related to the promotion, research, and education of the industry. For information on the grant recipients visit www.marylandhorseindustry.org/grants.shtml. The total amount of grants distributed to date equals:

(Calendar Year = Grant Allotments)

2001 = $30,000.00

2002 = $20,000.00

2003 = $52,386.00

2004 = $16,040.00

2005 = $16,783.00

2006 = $20,916.00

2007 = $23,276.00

Total = $179,401

At the same time the Maryland Horse Industry Board has helped to fund a number of studies related to the industry. The amount of funds distributed to date has equaled:

(Project = Cost to MHIB)

2008 Mid-Atlantic Equine Import / Export Center Feasibility Study = $2,021.75

2005 Maryland Horse Park Feasibility Study = $22,500.00

2005 American Horse Council Economic Impact Study = $5,000.00

2004 Maryland Horse Forum = $5,014.92

2004 What the Horse Industry Means to Maryland Campaign = $6,286.76

2002 Maryland Equine Census = ~ $120,000

Through the funds garnered from the feed fund assessment the MHIB has been able use staff to apply, or assist with application for, grants to directly benefit Maryland equine, and Maryland equine projects. Some of the grants have included:

2007 - USDA Conservation Inovation Grant = $604,794.00

2007 - National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant = $700,000.00

2006 - USDA - Federal State Marketing Improvement Program Grant = $42,500.00

2005 -Maryland Horse Park Project Sponsorships = $222,500.00

2004 -Sponsorships for the Maryland Horse Forum = $3,250.00

2003 -Sponsorships for "What the Horse Industry Means to Maryland" campaign= $2,337.00

The MHIB maintains a staff of 2 full time employees, one employed as a Stable Inspector, and an additional employee employed as the Executive Director of the Board. The MHIB receives approximately $60,000 in General Funds each year to fund the licensing and inspection of horse stables. The MHIB maintains a modest administrative and staffing budget. A complete copy of the MHIB budget may be obtained from the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Moreover, the staff of the MHIB have been actively working on other projects over the last several years. The cost has been minimal but the gains have been substantial. The assessment is also reibursable to the consumer. To obtain a reimbursement request form print one from www.marylandhorseindustry.org/pdffiles/reimbursment.pdf.

So be confident that for your $1.00 a horse per year you are getting a lot of bang for your buck!