11-10-2025 4:04am

13Th Season Begins

Jeff Barto Editor

MPT’s ‘Maryland Farm & Harvest’ returns for 13th season, spotlighting agricultural innovation, local markets

OWINGS MILLS, MD—Maryland Public Television’s (MPT) popular and award-winning original series, Maryland Farm & Harvest, is set to return for its 13th season on Tuesday, November 11th, bringing viewers 13 new half-hour episodes exploring the state’s number one commercial industry: agriculture.

The weekly series continues its mission to tell engaging and enlightening stories from across the Free State, spanning from the Appalachian Mountains to the coastal plain. Host Joanne Clendining, a three-time Emmy® winner for her work on the series, is back alongside segment hosts Al Spoler (“The Local Buy”) and various local chefs for the “Farm to Skillet” features.

Premiere Episode Highlights

The Season 13 premiere, with introductions filmed at Star Bright Farm in White Hall (Baltimore County), will take viewers to three different counties and Baltimore City, focusing on both cutting-edge technology and cherished local traditions.

Carroll County: Wagyu Beef and Crop Science

Host Joanne Clendining visits Dell Brothers Inc. in Westminster, a fifth-generation family farm. She joins Greg Dell as he analyzes corn tissue samples to assess crop nutrient makeup. Clendining then heads to the livestock barn to meet Doug Dell, who is working with a local veterinarian to breed the highly sought-after Wagyu cattle—a breed often considered exclusive to its native Japan. Doug will detail how he started raising the cattle and how he plans to expand his Wagyu herd through IVF and natural breeding.

Kent County: The Future of Dairy Farming

In Kennedyville, the series features St. Brigid’s Farm, named for the Irish patroness saint of dairy farmers. Co-owners Judy Gifford and Dr. Robert C. Fry will showcase their innovative dairy operation, which utilizes a free-flow robotic milking system. Viewers will learn how this technology automates the milking process, boosting operational efficiency and enhancing cow comfort for their herd, which grazes on 62 acres of permanent pasture.

Baltimore City/Harford County: A Celebration of Flowers

“The Local Buy” segment, hosted by Al Spoler, heads to Baltimore’s Mount Vernon Place for the annual Flower Mart, a vibrant celebration of all things floral. Spoler will first visit Jones Family Farm in Edgewood (Harford County) to help co-owner Reese Jones prepare hanging planters. He then joins the bustling city market to explore the work of various vendors and artisans, including those who preserve flowers in glass or create stained-glass-like windowpanes from dried blooms.

Viewing and Engagement

Since its 2013 debut, Maryland Farm & Harvest has been viewed by more than 19 million people, traveling to over 500 agriculture-related locations across every Maryland county. The series is co-produced with the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Maryland Farm & Harvest airs Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on MPT and is available to view live and on demand using the free PBS app and MPT’s online video player. Encore broadcasts air on MPT on Thursdays at 11 p.m. and Sundays at 6 a.m., as well as on MPT2/Create® on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Audiences can also engage with the series on social media via @MarylandFarmHarvest on Facebook and @mdfarmtv on Instagram.