ALEI hosts an Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference annually. This event attracts agricultural service providers, attorneys, educators, environmentalists, producers, landowners, policymakers, and students to discuss the complex intersection of environmental regulation and agriculture in Maryland. ALEI prides itself on hosting an event that brings agriculture and conservation experts together in a forum that allows for exchanging ideas and education for conference attendees on current legal topics of interest.

This year’s conference will be held in person on October 28th 2026, at the Crowne Plaza in Annapolis, Maryland. Registration is now open!

Agenda

7:30 – 8:20 a.m.
Registration & Breakfast

8:25 – 8:30 a.m.
Welcome remarks from Dr. Moses T. Kairo Dean, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore

8:35 – 9:35 a.m.
Eminent Domain and Farmland / Data Center Issues and Agricultural Preservation in Maryland

Presenters: James Archsmith, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland; Michelle Cable, Executive Director, Maryland Ag Land Preservation Foundation, Maryland Department of Agriculture; and TJ Creevy, JD, Rosenberg, Martin Greensburg, LLP

Description: This session examines how Maryland counties are navigating the regulatory “Wild West” of data center siting while attempting to safeguard agricultural and environmental interests through local zoning and land-use policies. It further explores the intensifying legal battles over eminent domain as the state’s grid expands to meet the massive energy demands of the digital revolution alongside a statewide surge in residential electrification, from EVs to high-tech homes.

9:40 – 10:25 a.m.
From Fields to Courtrooms: Ag Law Shifts in 2026 and Beyond

Presenters: Paul Goeringer, Principal Faculty Specialist and Extension Specialist, and Managing Director of ALEI – UMCP

Description: A 2026 agricultural and environmental law update with a 2027 outlook, covering developments in right-to-repair, legal changes impact environmental regulations on farms, and other developments that hit agriculture.

10:25 – 10:40 a.m.
Break & Networking

10:45 – 11:45 a.m.
PFAS Regulation, Risk, and Reality in Maryland Agriculture

Presenter: Courtney Briggs, Managing Director, Government Affairs of American Farm Bureau Federation; Catherine Janasie, Senior Research Counsel of National Sea Grant Law Center

Description: This panel will unpack the legal landscape surrounding our farms and “forever chemicals,” including current regulations, enforcement trends, and emerging litigation relevant to agricultural operations. Speakers will explain how these frameworks intersect in practice—from water standards to biosolids management—so farmers, researchers, attorneys, and policymakers can better understand potential compliance and liability considerations.

11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Pre-Lunch Address from Renée H. Laurent Dean and professor of law, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch

1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
Agricultural Education for Youth/Young Adults

Presenter:

Description:

1:50 – 1:55 p.m.
Afternoon remarks from Kevin M. Atticks, Maryland Secretary of Agriculture

2:00 – 2:15 p.m.
Break & Networking

2:20 – 3:20 p.m.
New Maryland Legislation Impacting Agriculture (including the Chesapeake Legacy Act, LEEF, Aquaculture, and the Invasive Plant Prevention and Control Law)

Presenter: Samantha Capaldo, Senior Legal Specialist & ALEI Working Group Member – UMES

Description: This panel will provide an overview of recent Maryland legislation and regulatory developments affecting agriculture and aquaculture, including the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act, which established the Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) program to incentivize and recognize conservation practices while supporting broader water quality goals. The panel will also address implementation of the Maryland Invasive Plant Prevention and Control Law, which restricts the sale and distribution of certain invasive plant species and establishes phased compliance requirements for the horticulture industry.

3:25 – 3:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks from Wendy Powers, Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland College Park