Agricultural trends in Southern Maryland (SMD) reveal a major social, cultural, and economic shift as the region transitions away from its 300-year-old tradition of tobacco production. Southern Maryland was home to the original settlement and has been the least changed in terms of its agricultural economy. Settled in 1632, the region quickly established its economy and its currency as one backed by tobacco. Until the later half of the 20th century, tobacco remained the economic keystone of the region and the primary economic engine. In the latter portion of the 1900's, the region became economically dependent on several military bases, while agriculture continued to be dominated by tobacco. In 1992, tobacco accounted for two-thirds of the total value of all agricultural commodities produced in the region and provided the mainstay for over 900 full/part time growers. In 2000, the state of Maryland instituted a voluntary tobacco buy-out program to transition farmers out of tobacco production forever, to be administered by the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland. The result of the Buyout has been an unprecedented and significant cultural and economic shift as has not been experienced since the advent of European settlers.

To address these tremendous needs, the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, a non-profit, quasi-governmental body, convened the SMD Agricultural Development Commission to develop a program to stabilize the region's agricultural economy as farmers convert from tobacco to alternative crop and other agricultural enterprises. The Commission represents a cross-section of the region's community, from elected officials and local government, to representatives from higher education centers and traditional agricultural sectors, to private sector, business and finance representatives, and farmers. Together with the Council, the Commission has revised the Tobacco Transition / Southern Maryland Strategic Plan for Agriculture.