Welcome to the Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center (MREDC) – A University of Maryland Extension Community Resource and Economic Development Online Initiative.

MREDC, a one-stop-shop for the 21st century agricultural/natural resource entrepreneur, provides successful rural business innovation strategies for your farm business plan, and your production and management techniques.  Learn anywhere  by using the many distance learning tools delivered on MREDC in audio, video, or other interactive format that are organized in modules.  These unique modules and tools are designed to help you get information quickly and make informed decisions.

Discover highly specialized resource modules at MREDC such as the Small Farms Course.  This module covers topics from crop production (including presentations for integrated pest management – otherwise known as “IPM”), to livestock management, to business and marketing; in agricultural terms you can understand.

Are you a specialty food entrepreneur?    If so, check out the Food Processing in Maryland module.  This invaluable module provides information about how to sell and process food in Maryland including rules for specific foods and important regulatory information.  Our interactive map of Maryland's regulatory environment provides you with location-specific contacts.

One more unique feature of MREDC is the Maryland Alternative Enterprise Hotlist.  This click-through section provides resources and tools for 13 alternative enterprises in Maryland.  There’s Urban Agriculture, Agritourism, Grapes, Horse Boarding, Mushroom and Specialty Vegetable enterprises, just to name a few.  Resources for traditional farms are also provided for crops, dairy and livestock.

Whether your business is large or small, established or just getting launched, if it involves any aspect of agricultural or natural resource production and marketing, the Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center has the tools and information you need to help you succeed.

New Resources

Events

New Workshop Screencast

The Future of Food Safety and Gaps Training. Watch this recording online! The screencast plays a recording of the presentation and presenter's voice. Presented by David Martin, Senior Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources & County Extension Director, University of Maryland Extension. Click here for more workshop recordings.