Market and Trade News

• Less than one week to the next USDA report. Experts are predicting increased corn and wheat acreage, while soybeans are expected to be down. More here. See what this report could mean for market prices here.
• President Trump includes potash alongside critical minerals in a recent Executive Order. Read more here or see the White House fact sheet here.
• Consistent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) growth could boost corn demand for U.S. farmers, more here. The U.S. Grains Council met with Chinese leaders to discuss the potential of SAF, more here.
• U.S. wheat exports could decline by more than 60% and soybean exports by more than 40% if all proposed port fees are implemented, more here.
• Black Sea uncertainty and tariffs are impacting wheat markets, more here.
• Brazil's record breaking soybean crop will influence world prices, more here.
• Mexico's imports of U.S. corn is forecasted to be slightly down while imports of wheat will be slightly up, more here.

Top News

Some Funding Restored to Agricultural Programs in Maryland



The Maryland Department of Legislative Services recommended cuts to the budget that would have completely eliminated funding for the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) agricultural easement acquisition and eliminate funding for a variety of programs at the Maryland Department of Agriculture from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund.

The House of Delegates has passed the budget which did not make any additional cuts to the Trust Fund and allocated $6.6M for MALPF for fiscal year 2026. Thank you to all who contacted their representatives on this issue.

Rollins Appoints Leaders for FSA, NRCS, and RMA

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins last Friday announced the new leaders of the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Risk Management Agency. Brooke Appleton has been named as deputy undersecretary for farm production and conservation. Appleton comes from the National Corn Growers Association, where she was vice president of public policy. More here.

ECAP Payment Applications are Open

USDA’s Farm Service Agency is issuing up to $10 billion in direct payments to eligible agricultural producers of eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP). These one-time economic assistance payments will help commodity producers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices. Producers can apply online here or go to your local FSA office. The application deadline is August 15th. Eligible producers will be paid $42.91/acre for corn, $29.76/acre for soybeans, and $30.69/acre for wheat. Other eligible crops include sorghum and barley, among others. Find more information here.

Conversations About Glyphosate in the White House

A small group of farmers had the chance to meet with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s team last week in the White House. They described the conversation as enlightening and eye-opening as the conversation surrounding pesticides and glyphosate — and explaining how farmers rely on those inputs as a tool to grow the food Americans rely on — made an impact and seemed to resonate with Kennedy’s team. Read more here.

We Are Here for YOU

Lindsay Thompson, lindsay.mdag@gmail.com, Executive Director

Jennifer Gannon, jennifer.mdag@gmail.com, Programs and PR Director

Elaine Draper, thompsonagconsulting@gmail.com, Administrative Assistant

Horizon Farm Credit Grant Program Opportunities

Horizon Farm Credit is currently accepting applications for two grant programs:

• JumpStart Grant: For startup farmers and is closing today, March 28th. Up to 15 grants of $10,000 each will be awarded. More information, eligibility requirements, and the application are available here.
• Community Investment Grant: A new grant program targeted at supporting nonprofit and community organizations. Grants of up to $10,000 are available for projects focused on ag innovation, ag education, diversity in agriculture, environmental stewardship, or strengthening communities. The grant application closes on June 15th. More information and the application are available here.

Maryland Farm & Harvest Episode Highlights Deer Damage

Rich Levels Grain, Inc. in Galena was highlighted in this weeks episode of Maryland Farm & Harvest, discussing the deer which account for more than $10,000 in crop damage every year. The farm deploys several strategies to limit the impact, but the most effective method of deer management continues to be hunting. The episode also highlights a Hagerstown-based nonprofit Farmers & Hunters Feeding the Hungry which processes donated harvests and distributes processed game meat to local shelters.

This episode aired on March 25th - see more episodes here!

UMD is Accepting Teams for TAPS - A No-Risk Trial for Farmers

Researchers at the University of Maryland are inviting growers across the state to participate in their University of Maryland – Testing Ag Performance Solutions (UMD-TAPS) program this year. The program provides farmers with a zero-risk opportunity to advance their agricultural management skills and knowledge.

Growers must make decisions about variety selection, fertility, pest management, and irrigation and their management decisions will be executed in small plots at the Wye Research and Education Center. The goal is to identify which suite of management decisions will become the most profitable, efficient, and highest yielding.

When the season ends, growers will participate in an awards dinner where they will gain access to valuable data sets to help them enhance their agricultural operations. The irrigated corn competition is limited to 20 teams and the irrigated soybean competition is limited to 15 teams. Due to limited availability, researchers urge teams to sign up as soon as possible. Sign up here.

There are just 11 days left in the Maryland General Assembly's Legislative Session. The House of Delegates has passed the budget which has now gone to the Senate for final passage or further amendments. The biggest outstanding issue is the Renewable Energy Certainty Act (HB1036/SB931). MGPA continues to advocate alongside our agricultural partners for a 2% cap on acreage in each county based on their Priority Preservation Area acreage.

HB386/SB345 - PFAS Chemicals - Prohibitions

Sponsored by Delegate Ruth

This bill has been significantly amended to minimize the impact on agriculture while still allowing for protections for human health and the environment. As amended, the bill will prohibit the registration and use of pesticides which meet the EPA working scope definition for PFAS from the Toxic Substances Control Act. This will decrease the number of impacted Active Ingredients to 6. The amendments also push implementation back to 2032 and allow for the Department of Agriculture, in consultation and agreement with the Department of Health, to list additional substances based on emerging public impact data and the evolving needs, uses and available alternatives in agriculture.

Passed the House as amended - No action by the Senate

MGPA opposed as originally drafted

SB 931/HB 1036 - Renewable Energy Certainty Act 

Sponsored by Senator Feldman and Delegate Wilson

Altering the factors the Public Service Commission must consider before taking final action on a certificate of public convenience and necessity; establishing certain requirements for the construction of a certain solar energy generating station or energy storage device; requiring the Commission to conduct a certain study to establish a process by which the Commission may establish partnerships between electric companies and electricity suppliers for electricity generation projects; etc.

Committees are working through amendments

MGPA Opposes

HB1345/SB990 - Consumer Protection - Agricultural Equipment Warranties

Sponsored by Delegate Jacobs & Senator Gallion

Requiring, to make a claim under a warranty for certain agricultural equipment, a consumer to provide written notice to certain parties to report a nonconformity, defect, or condition occurring in certain agricultural equipment; requiring certain parties to correct the nonconformity, defect, or condition in a certain manner; requiring certain parties to provide a consumer with the opportunity to replace agricultural equipment or receive a refund under certain circumstances; and applying the Act prospectively.

No action by the Committees

MGPA Supports

HB225/SB203 - Exceptional Hauling Permits for Farm Products

Sponsored by the Environment and Transportation Committee Chair

Creating an exception for vehicles carrying fluid milk products to the prohibition against driving a vehicle subject to an exceptional hauling permit on the interstate highway system; altering certain weight limits and tolerances under an exceptional hauling permit; altering the preventive maintenance documents that an individual operating under an exceptional hauling permit must possess; and altering certain record-keeping requirements and the application of certain administrative penalties under an exceptional hauling permit.

Passed the Senate & House

MGPA Supports

SB 958/HB 1024 - Agriculture - Catastrophic Damage Caused by Deer

Sponsored by Delegate Hutchinson

Authorizing the Department of Agriculture to take extraordinary measures to control local deer populations and prevent future crop loss if the Department determines that deer have caused catastrophic damage to a field; and defining "catastrophic damage" as the loss of 50% or more of crops from a single field.

No action by the Committees

MGPA Supports

SB 634/HB 741 - Hunting - Non-lead Ammunition, Fox Chasing, and Deer Management

Sponsored by Delegate Allen

Altering the definition of "hunt" to no longer exclude the sport of fox chasing; establishing the Deer Management Assistance Program in the Department of Natural Resources; requiring the Department to require, through a certain phasing-out process, the use of nonlead ammunition on or before July 1, 2029; and establishing certain exemptions and requirements for any person who participates in the sport of fox chasing.

No action by the Committees

MGPA Supports with an amendment to remove the lead ammunition portion

SB 736/HB 1511 - Natural Resources - Wildlife Damage Prevention and Reimbursement Fund - Establishment

Sponsored by Delegate Ruth

Establishing the Wildlife Damage Prevention and Reimbursement Fund to reimburse a person for damage caused by deer, geese, and other wildlife to crops and other agricultural products; authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to accept requests for grants from the Fund for projects that seek to prevent damage caused by deer, geese, or other wildlife; and authorizing the Governor to include in the annual budget an appropriation of at least $50,000 to the Fund.

No action by the Committees

MGPA Supports

HB278 - Income Tax - Subtraction Modification - Enhanced Agriculture Management Equipment

Sponsored by Delegate Bouchat

Altering a subtraction modification under the Maryland income tax for enhanced agricultural management equipment to include equipment that the Secretary of Agriculture determines by regulation to qualify as enhanced agriculture management equipment; and applying the Act to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

No action by the Committees

MGPA Supports

HB483 - Income Tax Credit - Venison Donations - Alterations

Sponsored by Delegate Ziegler

Repealing the limitation on the maximum amount of a credit against the State income tax that an individual may claim for certain expenses incurred for a donation of deer meat to certain organizations; and applying the Act to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

No action by the Committee

MGPA Supports

HB766 - Wildlife Advisory Commission - Membership - Alterations

Sponsored by Delegate Otto

Requiring that the Wildlife Advisory Commission member appointed to represent the farming community be selected from a list of candidates provided by the Maryland Farm Bureau.

In the House - Hearing held 2/19

MGPA Supports

HB1175/HB898 - Nutrient Management - Tidal Buffer - Vegetative Buffers and Restriction on Fertilizer Application

Sponsored by Delegate Stein

Authorizing, in accordance with technical specifications adopted by the Department of Agriculture, that State cost-share funding be made available for installing various vegetative buffer practices on land within the 100-foot tidal buffer on an agricultural operation; prohibiting a nutrient management plan renewed after July 1, 2025, from allowing a person to apply certain fertilizer to land within the 100-foot tidal buffer; etc.

In the House - Hearing held 2/28

MGPA Opposes

Nutrient Management Plan Writing Training

The University of Maryland will be providing an opportunity for producers with cropland and pastures in Maryland who meet the minimum requirements to learn how to write their own nutrient management plan. There will be trainings held online from March 31st to May 2nd. Find more information here.

Online Private Pesticide Recertification Training

The University of Maryland will be offering an online pesticide recertification training on April 1st from 6-8 PM. The session will focus on pesticide use and related topics for all field crops, fruits and vegetables. Find more information here.

Online Nutrient Applicator Voucher Recertification

The University of Maryland Extension will be offering an online nutrient applicator voucher recertification training on April 8th. This session will focus on fertility and production related topics for all field crops, fruits and vegetables. This Zoom recertification session will be live via the internet directly from the University of Maryland. Registration by April 7th is required in order to receive Zoom login instructions. Find more information here.

USFRA Webinar Series - Nitrogen Management

U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA) is introducing a webinar series on the five key opportunities identified in the “Potential for U.S. Agriculture to Be Greenhouse Gas Negative” report that was published late last year. The first webinar will highlight nitrogen fertilizer management, which will be held Wednesday, April 23rd from 3 – 4:30 PM. Register here.

Women and Mentors Program

The National Corn Growers Association is accepting applications for the 2025 Women and Mentors retreat. The event will take place on June 25th and 26th in Chicago, IL. The program focuses on creating a diverse network of individuals who wish to empower women in agriculture. Read more and apply online here.

Maryland Commodity Classic

Save the date for this year's Maryland Commodity Classic - July 24th! More information and sponsorship opportunities will be available in the coming weeks.

Delmarva Chicken Association Scholarship

Undergraduate scholarships of $2,000 are available to residents of the Delmarva Peninsula who are undergraduate students at any accredited, degree-granting institution, with an academic major in a subject relevant to Delmarva's chicken community and who are pursuing a career path leading to employment in any segment of Delmarva's chicken community. Graduate level scholarships of $3,000 will be available to graduate students at United States universities who are engaged in research that directly benefits Delmarva's chicken community. Applications for both are due March 28th and can be found here.

Maryland State Fair Scholarships

The Maryland State Fair is sponsoring four $2,000 scholarships in memory of F. Grove Miller to Maryland youth who are enrolled in a four-year college, post-secondary college or trade school, and one $2,000 scholarship in memory of Marlin K. Hoff to a Maryland youth who has carried a dairy project and is enrolled in a four-year college, post-secondary college or trade school. Applications are due June 1st and can be found here.

Xtreme Ag Scholarships

Xtreme Ag is offering ten $3,000 scholarships to support and empower individuals passionate about pursuing higher education within the Agricultural Industry. Applications are due August 31st and can be found here.

Created By: Jennifer Gannon | jennifer.mdag@gmail.com

www.MarylandGrain.org

Please contact us with any questions.