Maryland Farmer Takes First in National Corn Yield Contest
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For Maryland Farmer Drew Haines of Middletown, the third time is a charm in the National Corn Yield Contest. Haines, who took second the past two years in the non-irrigated division, placed first this year in the no-till non-irrigated division with a yield of 366.287 using DEKALB variety DKC60-88RIB. Haines also achieved a new state record with this high yield.
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For more than half of a century, NCGA’s National Corn Yield Contest has provided corn growers the opportunity to compete with their colleagues to grow the most corn per acre, helping feed and fuel the world. This has given participants not only the recognition they deserved but the opportunity to learn from their peers. Winners receive national recognition in publications such as the NCYC Corn Yield Guide, as well as cash, trips or other awards from participating sponsoring seedand crop protection companies. The winners, including Haines, will be honored during Commodity Classic 2019 in Orlando, Fla.
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Maryland Grain Farming Represented in Egypt Trade Mission
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Last week, MPGUB Immediate Past President Jennie Schmidt of Sudlersville joined the U.S. Grains Council for their Corn Quality Rollout in the Middle East. While on the trip, Schmidt had the opportunity to present to 80 grain buyers and allied industry representatives, as well as visit an aquaculture feed mill, a long-time Council-supported feed laboratory, a starch plant owned by the largest buyer of U.S. corn in Egypt, and attend other meetings with grain importers.
“I have long known that the Council promotes global markets for increasing use of our grains and that they had staff in various countries to help facilitate that. What I didn't realize until today is that they are really vested in forecasting grain demand from the countries or regions they represent, have a strategic plan for 2019 to corner more of specific grain markets or uses, and are truly dedicated to what they do,” Schmidt shared during the trip.
The Middle East and North Africa region imports approximately 394 million bushels of corn from the United States annually, and the changing trading dynamics today make these activities particularly relevant this year as buyers expect U.S. exports to the region to grow. Egypt imported 52.3 million bushels of U.S. corn in 2017/2018 and 165,000 metric tons of U.S. corn gluten feed/meal (in the same year.
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MASCD to Host Mental Health Workshops
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Registration is now open for the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts (MASCD) Mental Health Workshops. Funded by the Rural Maryland Council (RMC) and The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the purpose of these workshops is to bring awareness to Mental Health in rural areas. While not often talked about in our industry, farmers have one of the highest suicide rates of any job in the U.S., according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Farmers are also among the highest risk professions for drug abuse and alcoholism.
MASCD, in partnership with University of Maryland Extension, is hoping to make a change in that trend within the state of Maryland. Through these workshops, individuals working in the field with farmers on a daily basis will receive training to detect early warning signs and prevention methods for severe mental stress and substance abuse. The workshops will be held at four locations around the state; including one at Chesapeake College on March 5, Harford County Public Library in Bel Air library on March 6, Frederick Community College on March 7, and the Charles Soil Conservation District on March 8, 2019.
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Lower Shore Holds Successful Doe Harvest Challenge
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To help control the deer population on the Lower Eastern Shore, local farmers came together to hold a doe-harvest challenge during the three-day shotgun season in the first week of January. A total of 360 does were checked-in at local stations for the challenge. In these lower three counties, there was a 37% increase in the number of deer harvested over the same time period last year. Hunters who tagged in deer received a raffle ticket for the opportunity to win one of ten $1,000 cash prizes. Pictured above is Dalton Presley, the youngest of the raffle winners. Harvested does taken to the check-in station were able to be donated to the Maryland Food Bank with no processing charges to the hunter. Funding for this program was provided by the Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester County Farm Bureaus, the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board, and Farm Credit.
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MGPUB Funded Projects Featured on Maryland Farm & Harvest
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Last week’s episode of Maryland Farm and Harvest featured segments on both the Delmarva Land and Litter Challenge (DLLC) and Montgomery County’s Close Encounters with Agriculture program. DLLC is a partnership of farmers, conservationists, government officials, agri-business, and other stakeholders who have come together to focus on how farming practices in Maryland affect the health of the Chesapeake Bay. The episode also featured Maryland Grain Producers Association Treasurer Allen Davis who gave his perspective on the DLLC's work. Close Encounters with Agriculture has educated over 80,000 4th grade students in Montgomery County through a hands-on program. Viewers may be surprised to learn that both of these programs have been funded in part by the Maryland Grain Checkoff program.
Maryland Farm and Harvest, now in its sixth season, has reached over six million viewers nationwide. Major funding for the show is provided by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board. New episodes air Tuesday nights at 7pm and previous episodes can be watched online at any time.
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Federal Government Reopens through February 15
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Last week, President Trump signed a bill that would reopen the government through February 15. The President is hopeful that this will provide adequate time to reach an agreement with Congress on the border wall and reopen the government permanently. Currently, federal offices including the Farm Service Agency are once again open. With the reopening,
the deadline for Market Facilitation Program (MFP) has been extended to February 14, 2019
. Contact your local USDA Service Center for more information.
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