Deadline for Aerial Seeding and Aerial Ground Seeding of Cover Crops Extended to Oct. 14
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Due to poor weather resulting in unsafe flying conditions over the last several weeks, the Maryland Department of Agriculture has extended the aerial seeding and aerial ground seeding deadline for farmers who signed up to plant cover crops in their fields this fall with the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program (MACS). Farmers now have until Oct. 14 to aerially seed or aerially ground seed their cover crops using high clearance broadcast seeders.
Only the following cover crop species are eligible for this extension: barley, rye, wheat, and triticale. Farmers must certify their aerial seeded cover crop acreage with the local soil conservation district within one week of planting to be reimbursed for associated seed, labor and equipment costs.
For more information, farmers should contact their local soil conservation district or the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program at 410-841-5864.
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US, Mexico and Canada Reach a Trade Agreement
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Late Sunday night, the United States Trade Representative and Canadian Foreign Minister jointly announced that the U.S. and Canada have reached an agreement that would bring Canada into the U.S.-Mexico trade agreement. This deal would effectively secure the modernized North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), now renamed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), as a trilateral trade pact.
While agriculture has generally performed well under NAFTA, important improvements in the agreement will enable food and agriculture to trade more fairly, and to expand exports of American agricultural products.
“The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is very pleased to see the United States, Mexico and Canada have reached a new agreement,” said U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Chairman Jim Stitzlein. "No trade agreement has had more impact on our sector than NAFTA which prompted explosive growth in our export sales to both countries as well as the development of a fully-integrated grains and livestock supply chain within North America. Over the past two decades, this agreement has proven beneficial for the producers, agricultural sectors and economies of all three countries.”
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MARBIDCO Next Gen Applications Due November 20
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MARBIDCO’s Next Generation Farmland Acquisition Program will reopen this fall to help qualified young and beginning farmers purchase farmland. The Next Gen Program is a relatively fast-moving farmland conservation easement option purchase program that is designed to help facilitate the transfer of farmland to a new generation of farmers, while also effectively helping to preserve agricultural land from future development.
The selection is expected to be competitive. Persons interested in applying should make contact with their county ag land preservation staff no later than October 19 to discuss the suitability of a subject farm being permanently preserved.
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NCGA, BASF Accepting Applications for Scholarships to Build Ag’s Future
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The National Corn Growers Association and BASF Corporation announced today that it is now accepting applications for five $1,000 scholarships to be awarded to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree during the 2019-20 school year. For the first time, NCGA will accept applications from students pursuing degrees in all subject areas. Previously, only those pursuing those in agriculture-related fields were considered.
Applicants for the NCGA William C. Berg Academic Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program must be entering at least their second undergraduate year or any year of graduate study, and they or a parent or legal guardian must be an NCGA member. Scholarship applications must be received by December 1, 2018. Notably, this year all scholarship applications will be completed online.
Scholarship recipients will be selected in early 2019. Recipients and a parent or guardian will enjoy travel and lodging to attend the 2019 Commodity Classic in Orlando, Fla. to be recognized at the NCGA Banquet and have the opportunity to learn more about modern agriculture.
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Mathias Agriculture Energy Efficiency Program is Now Open
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The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has launched the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019
Kathleen A. P. Mathias Agriculture Energy Efficiency Program
. A total of $175,000 dollars funding is available in this competitive program now in its seventh year. Named after the late Kathy Mathias, one of the Eastern Shore’s leading advocates and the wife of Maryland State Senator James N. Mathias, the program began in 2012.
Subject to funding availability, MEA will provide grants on a competitive basis to farms/businesses in the agriculture sector to cover up to 50% of the cost of eligible energy efficiency upgrades, if applicable, after all other incentives have been applied. Projects must be cost effective, with a total simple payback 15 years or less. Applications must be submitted by Friday, November 16, 2018.
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Harvesting Photos: Make NCGA’s Fields-of-Corn Contest a Bountiful One
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As harvest has either begun or looms on the horizon, the National Corn Growers Association reminds photographers, both amateur and professional, they are invited to help share our story of farming field corn in America through the fifth annual Fields-of-Corn Photo Contest. Through this contest, NCGA captures high-resolution photos of corn growth from seed to harvest and the families that grow it. Interested participants will be able to submit multiple entries until November 30, 2018.
Open to all, the Fields-of-Corn photo contest offers a free opportunity for photographers to share their work while competing for 25 cash prizes. Prizes include cash awards for the top three entries in eight categories including Corn, Growing Field Corn, Farm Family Lifestyle, Scenery/Landscape, Farming Challenges, SHP Conservation, one for the most popular as determined by Facebook “likes” and, new this year, True Grit.
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Stand Up for Grain Markets!
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NOW is the time to make your voice heard and submit comments to strengthen markets for farmers and maintain a strong Farm Bill.
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