Ongoing curiosity to better understand the potential environmental impacts of farming near the Chesapeake Bay brought an unforeseen bonus for the Maryland Grains Producer Utilization Board (MGPUB) recently. Their quest for knowledge earned Maryland corn growers the 2016 Reaching for Excellence Award from the National Corn Growers Association.

Developed through the NCGA Engaging Members Action Team, this award spotlights new approaches to challenges state corn grower associations face and brings forth creative solutions others in similar situations might find helpful. In Maryland’s case they worked to bring people together to find solutions to their region’s environmental concerns through the Phosphorus and Choptank Symposiums.

“Farming in the Chesapeake Bay may yield challenges for our producers but also provides opportunities for innovation. MGPUB is committed to continuing to working with diverse partners to better understand how we can all work together for a healthier Bay,” stated Lindsay Thompson, Executive Director of MGPUB.

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Many agricultural industry groups applauded President Donald Trump last week for his executive order to repeal the 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. “It was a massive power grab," Trump said at the signing. His executive order instructs the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to "review and reconsider" the rule and directs Attorney General Jeff Sessions to ask the Supreme Court to hold off on considering the challenge to WOTUS it was expected to take up later this spring.

Among those in support of the President’s executive order was the National Corn Growers Association. “We appreciate the Trump Administration’s commitment to reducing regulatory burdens for America’s farmers and ranchers,” said NCGA President Wesley Spurlock. “We fully support the repeal of the WOTUS rule. Farmers and ranchers care deeply about clean water, but this rule had significant flaws. It was arbitrarily written, legally indefensible, and extremely difficult to implement.”

NCGA's Full Statement

 Sign-up for the 2017 National Wheat Yield contest is now open!  This yield contest was launched last year for the first time, and was received very well by wheat growers across the United States. The Contest features two primary competition categories: winter wheat and spring wheat. The top five winners from each category will be recognized nationally, including at the 2018 Commodity Classic to be held Feb. 27 - March 1, 2018 in Anaheim, California. Sign- up deadline is May 1, 2017. 
 
Eddie Mercer Agri-Services, Inc and Sygenta AgriPro will be offering an extra incentive to their customers who participate in the contest. The two will pay the state winner $1000 if the entry is Mercer Brand or Syngenta seed. In addition, Eddie Mercer will pay all county winners $200.00 if they win with a Mercer Brand MBX Wheat.

U.S. corn farmers reached new heights in 2016,

growing the largest crop on record at 15.1 billion

bushels, with a record national average yield of

174.6 bushels per acre. To highlight this achievement,

the National Corn Growers Association delves into the facts about corn production, using a historical comparison in its newest edition of the World of Corn. World of Corn is a respected collection of the most important statistics about corn production, exports and consumption, providing

key information in a readable format, comparing numbers

and trends across the years.

Again this year, NCGA proudly offers an interactive online presentation of the World of Corn that allows users to easily locate information or to explore the limitless possibilities the crop offers at their leisure. The format offers improved navigability with an elegant user interface. Click on the link below to explore it now.

World of Corn

Last week, a new website was launched to offer information about export market development programs in the U.S. farm bill and the successes they have achieved. This website is intended to be a resource for information about the outreach supported by the USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program, including those operated by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) to promote U.S.-produced feed grains,

related products and ethanol. 

The site features an interactive map of success stories from the many organizations that utilize MAP and FMD funds, including U.S. commodity trade associations, farmer cooperatives, non-profit state-regional trade groups and small businesses. These stories span the breadth and depth of American agriculture, from high-volume commodities like corn, sorghum, barley, wheat and soybeans, to meat and dairy products, to high-value commodities and specialty crops, including fruits, nuts, timber products and more. 

The site is intended to help all of these groups, and their sister grower organizations and supporters, easily find information that affects all participants. It will continue to grow as more backgrounders and studies are added, as well as more success stories including more about feed grains and ethanol.  

Ag Exports Count

Do you need help managing the deer population on your farm? The Maryland Grain Producers staff has received inquiries from hunters wanting to assist farmers with deer control. Please contact us if this is something you would be interested in.