The National Wheat Foundation and Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board are excited to announce the state winners of the 2016 National Wheat Yield Contest; Donald Lippy, Bradley Rill, and Edward Lippy. Sponsored by Monsanto, BASF, John Deere, Winfield, and attracting nearly 170 entrants, the 2016 National Wheat Yield Contest is the first in twenty years and encouraged farmers to innovate, exchange knowledge, and utilize all available technology.

The top yield in the state for dryland winter wheat was Donald Lippy of Lippy Brothers Farms from Hampstead, MD. On a field in Baltimore County, he reached a final yield of 116.81 bushels per acre, 88.4% above the county average. Following his lead were his partners, Bradley Rill who reached a final yield of 117.36 bushels per acres in Carroll County, 63% above average; and Edward Lippy who reached a final yield of 109.11 also in Carroll County, 51.5% above average.

With the announcement of the 2016 winners, the National Wheat Foundation would also like to announce the opening of the 2017 National Wheat Yield Contest. Registration for the fall wheat
1sector will end May 1, 2017, and registration for the spring wheat sector will end August 1,
2017. Growers should look ahead to the coming year to enter the Contest and join their fellow growers in achieving the objectives of the National Wheat Yield Contest.

MD Growers Recognized in 2016 National Wheat Yield Contest

Former Montgomery County Congressman, Chris Van Hollen was recently elected to take the senate seat of retiring Barbara Mikulski. In the House, the 57-year-old senator-elect has been representing Maryland's 8th District along Washington D.C.'s northwest border since 2003. Last Monday he was named to the Senate Ag Committee.

“From our hardworking farmers, to our great Chesapeake Bay, to programs that provide food assistance to families, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry covers issues that are vital to Maryland's success,” Van Hollen said in a statement. He said he looks forward to working with Stabenow and with Agriculture Committee Chair Pat Roberts, R-Kan., on key priorities for U.S. families.

Maryland Grain Producers will be meeting with senator-elect Van Hollen during his transition to discuss the importance of agriculture in our state. This is a great opportunity for farmers to reach out to the senator-elect to congratulate him on his new position and offer to discuss agricultural issues impacting Maryland farmers.

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A recent survey conducted by the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) found that the majority of U.S. farmers and ranchers indicate biotechnology and GMO crops as an important solution in helping raise crops more efficiently. Over 280 farmers across the United States were surveyed about their attitudes toward GMO crops. They were asked to weigh in on a range of topics regarding the impact of GMO technology on the environment, pesticide use, and yields, among others. Findings concluded that farmers believe biotechnology helps raise crops more efficiently, and that the environment and sustainability practices will suffer if GMO technology utilization is reduced in crop production in the future.
 
“With GMOs and advances in agricultural technology, we’re utilizing our resources much more precisely today and have pinpoint accuracy when applying fertilizer, nitrogen, and chemical applications. This is especially important on my farm in the Chesapeake Bay watershed,” said Chip Bowling, vice chairman of USFRA and third-generation farmer. “The farmers’ perspective in the survey findings are a direct indication of how important genetic engineering technology is for the environment and our food supply, and how it benefits farmers and consumers alike.”

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U.S. grain and oilseed futures jumped Tuesday, reversing a spate of selling prior to the Christmas holiday. Grain futures drew some support from weather forecasts that showed warmer and drier weather ahead for northern Brazil, a key crop-producing region, at a time when soybean plants are maturing and could be susceptible to low moisture. A heat wave at the wrong time could trim Brazilian soybean production and further tighten global supplies for the oilseeds, forcing vegetable oil makers and animal feed millers to pay higher prices for soybean meal, or leading them to purchase grain-based alternatives.

Analysts mainly attributed Tuesday's gains in the market to traders shuffling positions prior to 2016's end. Friday's selling, which pushed soybean futures to their lowest closing price in five weeks and corn to a three-week low, provided a signal to some traders to close out short positions that pay off when prices fall, a process that involves buying contracts.

Maryland grain bids seemed to follow this trend. Soybeans recovered eight cents from their twenty cent drop last week for a statewide average of $9.58. Corn went up five cents for a statewide average of $3.80 and wheat went up fourteen cents for a statewide average of $4.16. Weekly Maryland grain bid reports are posted on our website.

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