MARYLAND GRAIN PRODUCERS
Grain News & Updates

Poultry 101 Symposium

Did you know that 80 million bushels of corn and 30 m bushels of soybeans were consumed by Delmarva’s poultry industry last year? This was just one of the many topics discussed at last week’s Poultry 101 Symposium, sponsored by the Rural Maryland Council, the Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board.

Other topics discussed included the grower’s role, science in the industry, the environmental perspective, government role and the future. Maryland Grain Producers board member Bobby Hutchison spoke at the event on behalf of the Delmarva Land and Litter Challenge about his role in the organization and what he sees looking forward. The event was balanced education opportunity for all parties interested in the health of the Chesapeake Bay. 

Scholarship Reminder

Applications for the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) scholarship are due June 1! Funded by the Maryland Grain Check-Off Program, MGPUB will award up to four deserving students pursuing a career in agriculture with scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each.

Applicants must be a resident of the state of Maryland and be enrolled or accepted to a four-year institution working toward a Bachelor of Science Degree, or enrolled or accepted to a two-year institution with an agricultural program. The applicant, or the applicant’s immediate family, must be involved in the production of grain in Maryland. Students whose applications were declined in prior years are encouraged to reapply.  The awards will be presented at the Maryland Commodity Classic at Queen Anne's County 4-H Park the on July 27, 2017. Recipients are expected to attend.

Apply Now

USDA Announces Creation of Undersecretary for Trade

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary (USDA) Sonny Perdue announced Thursday the Department’s plan to reorganize, including to create an undersecretary-level position focused on trade and foreign agricultural affairs. The proposal document said the new undersecretary would be designated as “USDA’s multi-agency coordinator for agricultural trade policy, including [sanitary and phytosanitary] issues, nontariff trade barriers, and other trade policy matters.” It would maintain existing staff and funding resources for USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the chief agency involved in overseas market promotion. 

Register Early to Save on Entry Fees

With planting underway in much of the country, the National Corn Growers Association invites farmers to register early for NCGA's National Corn Yield Contest and save big on entry fees. Until June 30, fees will be reduced to $75. NCGA reminds growers that a small time investment now saves money later this summer. Entry will remain open at the full rate of $110 through July 31. All harvest forms will be due by November 17. Contest winners will be announced on December 18.

One rule change of note will be implemented in 2017. A member who requests a refund from their state checkoff between the dates of August 1 of the previous year through July 31 of the current contest year is subject to disqualification per the request of the member's state corn association.

Online Entry
2017 Cover Crop Survey

Whether you are a longtime advocate of cover crops - or have never even considered using them - the Soil Health Partnership is encouraging all farmers to participate in the USDA's 2017 Cover Crop Survey. The survey takes 5-10 minutes in most cases, or slightly longer for somebody who is growing a wide variety of crops and using cover crops in various ways. The survey is being conducted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SARE), and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), with help from Penton Media through their Corn and Soybean Digest publication. Your opinions will help guide policy, research, and education on cover crops nationwide.

Complete the Survey

Other News

Maryland Grain Producers congratulates Executive Director Lindsay Thompson and her husband Jared on the arrival of  Haper Margaret Thompson, born Tuesday, May 9, 2017. The family is doing well and enjoying spending time with their new daughter. 


The Maryland Grain Producers has created an Instagram page to further our outreach and education through social media. Follow us at mdgrain and send your spring planting pictures to Danielle Bauer at Danielle.mdag@gmail.com to be featured on our page!