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.

Grid Sampling Soils to Improve Understanding

of Soil Variability and Corn Yields

University of Delaware

Precision soil sampling, including grid and zone management methods, can be used to create variable rate prescription maps. Grid sampling is a dense sampling method with much higher soil sampling costs, while zone management may only increase soil sampling by a few samples per field. There is very little information about the benefits of either method for soils in the Mid-Atlantic region, including the economic costs. This project has a dense sampling scheme (0.185 acre grids), allowing for comparisons between grid and zone sampling, as well as yields by similar fertility, but varying soil and irrigation management.

This project is exploring the economic efficiency of precision soil sampling, which may increase costs in the short term, but decrease costs over the aggregate. This cost reduction may occur due to efficient placement of seeds and nutrients in a field, or an overall reduction in application. Promotion of precision sampling and variable rate nutrient application will improve the image of agriculture in the Mid-Atlantic for accountable nutrient placement. 

This research is being conducted by Jarrod Miller and James Adkins of the University of Delaware. The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board funded this project for the first time this year with $8,563.