Farm Bill Awaiting POTUS signature
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The final version of Farm Bill 2018 passed out of both the Senate and House this week, and is now awaiting the President’s signature. Commodity groups praised this move which provided market security for farmers across the country. The final version of the bill maintains support for a robust crop insurance program and strengthens the ARC-CO program through administrative improvements
including a one-time program change option, an increase to the plug yield for disaster years, the use of a trend-adjusted yield factor, and a market adjustment provision for the floor price. The bill also provides increased funding for trade promotion programs that are especially important to agriculture at this time.
MGPA thanks Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson, along with members of the farm bill conference committee for seeing this process through and passing a new bill before adjourning for the year.
We also would like to thank Rep. Ruppersberger who was one of five Democrats who voted in support of the rule (a procedural vote) to go ahead with a vote on the farm bill this week.
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Lower Shore Doe Harvest Challenge
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To help control the whitetail deer population on the Lower Eastern Shore, several local farmers have coordinated a Doe Harvest Challenge which will take place January 4-6, 2019. For reach doe of antlerless deer harvested, hunters will receive a ticket and the duplicate ticket will be placed in a drawing.
There will be ten tickets drawn for a prize of $1,000 each
on Sunday night after all check-ins are complete.
Does or antlerless deer may be donated to the Maryland Food Bank for no processing fee. Sponsors of this program include the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board, Farm Credit, Maryland Food Bank and the Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester County Farm Bureaus.
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Maryland Farmer Elected USFRA Chairman
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Congratulations to Chip Bowling of Newburg, MD who was recently elected Chairman of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). USFRA consists of more than 100 farmer and rancher led organizations and agricultural partners representing virtually all aspects of agriculture, working to engage in dialogue with consumers who have questions about how today’s food is grown and raised.
Before serving in the role, Chip previously served as President of the Maryland Grain Producers Association and the National Corn Growers Association. “I truly believe farmers and ranchers are the change makers, and real sustainability starts with each acre,” said Chip. “With 48 percent of our land in the stewardship of America's farmers and ranchers, now more than ever, we need all of food and agriculture to speak in unison and ensure we have a seat at the table across the entire value chain. Our Farm, Food, Facts podcast is the first of many deliberate steps in proactively engaging food retailers and CPGs with the farmer and rancher perspective.”
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The University of Maryland Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics will be hosting two workshops next month focused on the financial aspect of farm succession planning including financial management, retirement savings, and long-term healthcare. Workshop dates and locations will be January 30 at Chesapeake College and January 31 at the Prince George’s County Soil Conservation District Office.
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The Maryland Department of Agriculture and University of Maryland Extension will offer a series of workshops for certified farmers who need to update their nutrient management plans. Specialists will be available at locations across Maryland to assist farmers with updating their nutrient management plans using the nutrient management planning software, NuMan Pro 5.0. Sessions will be informal and participants will work at their own pace.
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America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders Scholarship
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Sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer, the America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders program is offering more than $500,000 in scholarships to high school seniors and college students pursuing an ag-related field of study. Students (including non-FFA members) can apply now for a $1,500 scholarship, and they need your endorsement to qualify. Applications must be received by February 1, 2019 and require the endorsement from two farmers.
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Dreaming of Getting Away? NCGA Member Discounts Make Travel Dreams Come True
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As you complete harvest this season, and are in need of some R&R, remember that as a member of the National Corn Growers Association, you can save on travel expenses by member benefit discounts. . Through partnerships with Enterprise Rent-A-Car and the NCGA Worldwide Hotel Discount Program, NCGA offers members valuable savings on car rentals and hotel bookings to locations across the country and even many locations around the world. Whether traveling individually or in a group, domestically or abroad, members can take advantage of savings that may exceed 50 percent and average about 15 percent below publicly offered best available rates.
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