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Bowling Reflects on Leadership, Calls Fellow Farmers to Service
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With the start of October, Maryland farmer Chip Bowling completed his two year term as National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Chairman and passed to the role to current NCGA President Wesley Spurlock of Texas. Reflecting on his time in Corn Board leadership, Bowling expressed appreciation for both the good and bad days as well as his fellow growers and staff, at both the state and national level, who walked with him.
“We do a lot of lobbying, and we have a lot of major concerns in agriculture. From the farm bill to ethanol to trade, we have to make some tough decisions, and we have to understand that the decisions we make at NCGA affect a lot of other people -- our grower members,” said Bowling. “I want them to know how hard our staff works to help us as growers. I want our growers to understand how much I have appreciated all they have done for me and how much they should appreciate their own work as well.”
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NCGA Urges Farmers to Harvest Safely this Fall
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The National Corn Growers Association reminds farmers of the importance of proper grain bin safety procedures this harvest. With farmers across the country preparing to hit the fields in their combines, NCGA offers both a list of safety reminders and a video on the important topic of grain bin safety.
- Reduce vehicle width as much as possible and ensure adequate warning lighting when traveling on roadways.
- Never pull or try to remove plugged plants from an operating machine.
- Be alert and extremely careful when working in wet or slippery conditions.
- Carry a fire extinguisher with you in your vehicle (A-B-C, 5 or 10 pound).
- Be careful to monitor grain wagon weight to never exceed maximum weight limits. As weight increases, grain wagons can be more difficult to control.
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Southern Maryland Soil Health Workshop
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The St. Mary’s SCD & Southern MD Resource Conservation and Development, in conjunction with NRCS, will be hosting a Soil Health Workshop on November 7th at the Agricultural Center in Leonardtown. This Soil Health Workshop will provide you with the basics and benefits of soil health, and ideas on how you as a farmer can build soil equity by using soil health management systems that include cover crops, diverse rotations and no-till practices. There is no fee to attend, registration is required, & lunch will be provided.
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Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School
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Register now for The Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School held in Ocean City, MD November 14-17, 2017. The school offers a 2 1/2 day format with a variety of breakout sessions. Individuals needing training in soil and water, nutrient management, crop management and pest management can create their own schedule by choosing from 5 program options offered each hour. Emphasis is placed on new and advanced information with group discussion and interaction encouraged. Registration cost is $285 prior to October 30th; and $325 if received by November 6th.
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USDA Reports Smallest Harvested Area for Wheat in 127 Years
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USDA’s Sept. 30 Small Grains Summary reported that U.S. farmers harvested 37.6 million acres of wheat for the 2017/18 crop, a 14% reduction from 2016/17 and the smallest harvested area since 1890. USDA estimated U.S. 2017/18 wheat production at 1.74 billion bushels, down 25% year over year and 15% below the 5-year average. The smallest planted area since USDA record began in 1919, adverse weather conditions and wheat streak mosaic virus all contributed to reduced harvested area.
A breakdown of report by class shows that estimates for Soft Red Winter (SRW) total 2017/18 production fell to 292 million bushels, down 15% from 2016/17 and 32% below the five year average. USDA reported 24% of SRW acres were abandoned compared to 17% last year. Record high yields in six SRW producing states partially offset the lower harvested area. USDA forecast 2017/18 SRW beginning stocks at 215 million bushels, up 37% year over year and 47% greater than the 5-year average. So, total SRW supply will rise slightly year over year to 507 million bushels. USDA estimates total 2017/18 SRW planted area at 5.61 million acres, 15% lower than 2016/17 and 30% below the 5-year average.
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Fields of Corn Photo Contest
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As harvest is underway, remember to submit your best photos to the Fields of Corn Photo Contest! Photographers can help tell that story of farming field corn in America through this fourth annual contest by capturing high-resolution photos of corn growth from seed to harvest and the families that grow it. Interested photographers wishing to help tell that story will be able to submit multiple entries until November 30, 2017.
Open to all, the Fields-of-Corn photo contest offers a free opportunity for photographers to share their work while competing for 25 cash prizes, including a $500 grand prize. Prizes include cash awards for the top three entries in eight categories including: Corn, Growing Field Corn, Farm Family Lifestyle, Scenery/Landscape, Farming Challenges, SHP Conservation, Little Farmers and one for the most popular as determined by Facebook “likes.”
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