MARYLAND GRAIN PRODUCERS
Grain News & Updates
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Maryland Farmer Places 2nd In National Corn Yield Contest
Congratulations to Drew Haines of Middletown who placed second in non-irrigated category of this year’s National Corn Yield contest. He was able to achieve his award-winning yield of 341.6354 using the DEKALB DKC62- 20RIB variety.

Other state winners include:

Non-Irrigated
1.      Tom Walsh, Hampstead - Pioneer P1197AM - 288.2975
2.      Bruce Bartz, Denton - DEKALB DKC63-33RIB - 286.5442
3.      John Rigdon, Jarrettsville DEKALB DKC62-08 - 280.0704

No-Till/Strip-Till Non-Irrigated
1.      Brenda Walsh, Hampstead - AgriGold A6499 STXRIB - 288.0024
2.      William Willard, Poolesville - DEKALB DKC64-35RIB - 279.8398
3.      Brad Rill, Hampstead - AgriGold A6499 STX - 277.2654

Irrigated
1.      Bruce Bartz, Denton - DEKALB DKC62-08RIB - 331.4927
2.      Michael Bostic, Church Hill - Pioneer P1870AM - 292.0242
3.      Marion Wilson, Centreville - DEKALB DKC64-35RIB - 274.0743

No-Till/Strip-Till Irrigated
4.      Michael Bostic, Church Hill - Pioneer P1870AM - 289.1469
5.      John Saathoff, Ridgely - Pioneer P1197AM - 279.6711
6.      William Layton, Vienna - DEKALB DKC65-20 - 279.6401


MGPA President Appointed to State FSA Committee 
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced last week a slate of Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Committee Appointees. State committees are selected by the Secretary, serve at the pleasure of the Secretary, and are responsible for carrying out FSA’s farm programs within delegated authorities. Maryland Grain Producers Association President Steve Ernst was amongst those chosen for the Maryland State Committee. Other committee members include: Committee Chair Jenny Rhodes of Centreville, Steve Isaacson of Cecil County, and Pat Langenfelder of Kennedyville.

“The State Committees will help to ensure USDA is providing our farmers, ranchers, foresters, and agricultural producers with the best customer service,” Secretary Perdue said. “They serve as a liaison between USDA and the producers in each state across the nation by keeping them informed and hearing their appeals and complaints. The committees are made up mostly of active farmers and ranchers, representing their peers and ensuring USDA’s programs are supporting the American harvest.”

MGPUB Research Featured on Maryland Farm and Harvest
Research funded in 2017 by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) was featured on this week’s episode of Maryland Farm and Harvest. The research, being conducted by Dr. Robert Kratochvil of University of Maryland extension, tested different varieties of rye to see which can be made into the beset malt, a key ingredient in beer.
 
New episodes of Maryland Farm and Harvest air Tuesday evenings at 7 pm. Previous episodes can be watched online at your convenience. Now in its fifth series, it continues to be the most popular show on the network, reaching over one million viewers nationwide.  

Contact Your Legislators to Increase MAP & FMD Funding
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program are critical tools for promoting agricultural exports, including corn and corn products around the world.
MAP and FMD are effective public-private partnerships, delivering $28 for every $1 invested, but funding levels have been stagnant in recent years and increase demand has stretched funding thin. Please tell your representative and senators to increase funding for the MAP and FMD programs in the 2018 Farm Bill.

Getting Healthy: A New Year’s Resolution…for Soil and Business
Does “getting healthy” top your list of New Year’s Resolutions? If your soil could talk, it might suggest the same thing! The New Year is a great opportunity to set goals for getting your soil healthy—which can help you manage extreme weather, increase profitability and sequester carbon. The Soil Health Partnership has developed the Top 5 Resolutions for 2018, from your
soil’s point of view:

1. Watch nutrient intake: Using science-based nutrient management strategies on the farm can help curb unwanted loss and improve farm economics.

2. Cover new ground: Growing cover crops in the winter, like grasses and legumes, helps hold the soil in place, reducing erosion, while improving use of water and many ag inputs.

3. Adopt healthier habits: Kick or reduce that tillage habit. Reducing or eliminating the practice of turning over the soil between growing seasons is one proven method of restoring soil health that can help the bottom line.

4. Focus on what matters: In this case, organic matter! Adding cover crop roots and disturbing the soil less through tillage can help restore your land’s ecosystem

5. Save for the future: Take care of your soil today, it will continue to produce for you tomorrow!