MARYLAND GRAIN PRODUCERS
Grain News & Updates
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Councell Recognized for 10 Years of Service to USGC
Chip Councell of Cordova waited 10 years for his spot on the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Board of Delegates after a mission overseas sparked his interest. Now, the Council has recognized him for 10 years of service, including as the organization’s chairman, during the 15th International Marketing Conference and 58th Annual Membership Meeting in Houston, Texas.

“I truly have been blessed, and I feel very fortunate to be able to see how at the end of the day we collectively make a difference,” Councell said. “I really believe in the mission of the Council: developing markets, enabling trade and improving lives. I do not think there are six words that have the ability to change the world as much as those.”

Action Alert

Contact your legislators and ask them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 500 which would ban the use of Chlorpyrifos in Maryland!

Chlorpyrifos is an EPA approved pesticide. It is the active ingredient in Lorsban and Dursban used to control for foliar and soil pests in grain and orchards in Maryland.

Contact your legislators today!

 
Suggested Email

Subject: Farmer Opposed to SB500

Dear Senator,

I am a Maryland farmer and am asking you to please oppose Senate Bill 500 which would ban the use of Chlorpyrifos. This will cause serious hardship for the farmers who rely on this product to control for devastating pests. Chlorpyrifos is an EPA approved product. No other state or country has banned this product. There have been no cases of exposure or injury from this product in Maryland.

Farmers who use Chlorpyrifos really need it and are trained to apply it safely to prevent exposure. Our farm families are closest to the use of these products and we believe they are safe or we would not be using them.

I ask that you please allow Chlorpyrifos to continue through the rigorous EPA scientific review process and oppose Senate Bill 500.

Thank you,

Name
Address
Tell Congress to Support NAFTA
The next round of NAFTA negotiations is set to begin in Mexico City from February 25 through March 5. Without NAFTA, the economic vitality of America's rural economy is at risk as those markets would be closed completely or complicated by needless barriers. In 2016 alone, this resulted in $43 billion worth of food and agricultural goods being exported to Mexico and Canada, making those countries the largest export markets for American agriculture.

Tell your representative and senators that NAFTA is vital for farmers and the rural economy.

Farmers May Apply Commercial Fertilizer to Small Grains Starting Feb 25
The Maryland Department of Agriculture has announced that farmers who planted small grains for harvest last fall may “top dress” these crops with commercial fertilizer beginning February 25, as long as ground conditions remain favorable and in accordance with their nutrient management plans. The determination follows Maryland’s nutrient management regulations and is based on research conducted by University of Maryland plant experts. As a reminder, manure may not be applied to fields until March 1.

Study of USCG ROI: $20 in Tax Revenue for Every $1 in Farm Bill Spending on Export Market Development
The U.S. Grains Council reports that spending on overseas market development for U.S. feed grains and related products increased the value of those exports by an average of $1.71 billion per year from 2010 to 2014 and increased U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) by an average of $5 billion per year, returning $19.76 for every $1 spent by taxpayers. Those were key takeaways from a review of the full economic value of the Council’s programs presented by Dr. Harry Kaiser, professor of applied economics and management at Cornell University, during the final day of the organization’s recent meeting.

On the cusp of the debate over the new farm bill, Kaiser also presented his analysis of what would happen to grain exports and the economic benefits they produce if USDA funding for market development were to be cut. He found a 50 percent cut in FAS funding would cause farm receipts to fall by almost $1.7 billion, and government payments through farm safety net programs would increase by $76.6 million annually.

AFP offering five $1,500 scholarships for students
American Farm Publications Inc., the parent company of The Delmarva Farmer offers five, $1,500 scholarships for those who will be attending college in 2018. The scholarships are available to high school seniors and college students who are studying for a career in agriculture and have maintained a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.5 or higher at the student’s current learning institution.
To apply, students should fill out an application, postmarked by Wednesday, March 15 with a current transcript and an original essay limited to 500 words discussing your decision to pursue an agricultural career.