Grant Spotlight - Close Encounters with Agriculture and MAEF

2023 Grant Applications Available Now!

As of September 23rd, the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) is seeking proposals from universities, organizations, and individuals to help fulfill its mission to increase the profitability of Maryland grain production and to improve the public understanding of agriculture. MGPUB will be using checkoff investments to support these education, promotion, and research projects. Proposals should be related to a grain for which MGPUB receives checkoff income including corn, wheat, barley, sorghum, rapeseed, and canola. Proposals will be accepted until November 19th.

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GRANT SPOTLIGHT

Close Encounters with Agriculture

University of Maryland Extension

Close Encounters with Agriculture is designed to promote and increase the understanding of agriculture with urban youth and their families. The program is intended for public and private school 4th grade students in Montgomery County. Approximately 4,000 students, parents and teachers participated in the program in October. In an attempt to provide an agriculture educational program, three broad areas (program tracks) are covered: 1) production agriculture, 2) soils and the environment and 3) local food and nutrition. With plenty of hands on activities, students take away key lessons surrounding production agriculture, the environment and nutrition.

This program is being provided by Dr. Mona Habibi with the University of Maryland Extension. The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board funded this program with $6,000.

MAEF Amazing! Maryland Agriculture

Book & Commodity Map

The Maryland Agriculture Education Foundation utilized check-off dollars to update their elementary-focused book based on Maryland agriculture. "Amazing! Maryland Agriculture" introduces students to the crops grown in our state, geography, environmental issues, equipment, local foods and more. The book and accompanying commodity map are used as a basis for lesson plans that teachers can incorporate into their core subject areas of language arts, science, and history. Fifteen final copies are being delivered to every elementary school in the 24 local school systems and made available online.

The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board funded this program with $5,000.

Learn more about MAEF!

Maryland Grain Producers Check-Off Program

The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board is funded through the Maryland Grain Check-Off Program; when grain that is produced in Maryland is sold by a farmer, the Utilization Board receives one-half of a percent of its net value. The Check-Off program is voted on by referendum every five years and has always received a greater than 90% affirmation vote. Each year organizations and universities are encouraged to submit grant proposals in November for consideration by MGPUB. The Utilization Board gathers to hear presentations on each proposal and reports from the previously funded projects. Projects must improve the viability and profitability of grain production through research, education, or market development.

For 2022, the Grain Producers will award $978,650 for 37 projects across the state. Congratulations to each recipient.