Maryland Divided Part 3: Blending old economy with new in Frederick and Harford counties

As Maryland’s rural counties lose farmland, consider fracking and face economic challenges, the Capital News Service at the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism presents a series examining the political divide between urban and rural parts of Maryland and the state of the economy in rural Maryland. This is the third part in a five-part series.

By J.F. Meils and Sebastian Obando
Capital News Service

FREDERICK — Before he got involved in the beer business, Frederick County farmer Greg Clabaugh grossed about $600 an acre for growing traditional crops like corn and soybeans.

Now, on the land where he grows barley and rye, he grosses $6,000 an acre.

Included in that number is payment for malting, a process where grains are partially germinated then heat-dried, allowing them to be more easily consumed by yeast in the brewing or distilling process.

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