The Office, in consultation with the Department, shall adopt regulations to establish: (1) The maximum starting income for eligibility in the Program; (2) The maximum total income for eligibility in the Program, including any additional sources of income; (3) That priority for participation in the Program shall be given to a farmer who: (i) Graduated from an institution of higher education in the State in the last 10 years; (ii) Is employed as a farmer on a full–time basis; and (iii) As determined by the Department in consultation with the Department of the Environment, uses sustainable agricultural techniques and demonstrates environmental stewardship; (4) A limit on the total amount of assistance provided by the Office in repaying the higher education loan of a farmer, based on the farmer’s total income and outstanding higher education loan balance; (5) A procedure and schedule for the payment of the amount of loan assistance provided by the Office to the farmer; and (6) An annual review of the eligibility of each farmer participating in the Program.
Maryland Legal Code