THANK YOU to everyone who made our 23rd Annual Commodity Classic a success!

The Maryland Grain Producers awarded five $2,500 scholarships to children of grain farmers pursuing agricultural degrees in college. Learn more about each recipient here.

The Dr. James R. Miller Award was given to Delegate Charles Otto for his outstanding service to and advocacy on behalf of Maryland's grain industry. You can read the full story here.

THANK YOU to all our 2021 Sponsors for making Commodity Classic possible!

Thank you to the Maryland Grain Producers Board for their dedication to Maryland's grain farmers.

79% of US corn is silking and in 64% good/excellent rating, more here.

56% of Hard Red Winter Wheat and 95% of Soft Red Winter Wheat has been harvested. Check out the full report here.

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

Marguerite Guare, marguerite.mdag@gmail.com, Administration

443-262-8491

As the Conservation Reserve Program expires on September 30, 2021, Maryland farmers are offered an incentive to join the USDA's Clean Lakes, Estuaries, And Rivers program with a 30-year contract. Read more about the program here.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman was in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) July 25^th-26^th, meeting with Chinese officials, including State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. According to the State Department, “these discussions are part of ongoing U.S. efforts to hold candid exchanges with PRC officials to advance U.S. interests and values and to responsibly manage the relationship. In a readout of the first meeting, China has blamed the US for what it called a “stalemate” in bilateral relations and accused Washington of “demonizing” Beijing. Vice foreign minister Xie Feng urged the US “to change its highly misguided mindset and dangerous policy.” “The hope may be that by demonizing China, the US could somehow … blame China for its own structural problems,” China’s foreign ministry wrote in a readout of the talks between US deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman and Xie.

China Phase One: U.S. monthly agricultural exports to China under the phase one deal remained steady at $2.2 billion in May. This compares to $1.5 billion in May 2020, the first year of the agreement, yet lower than the peak month of Nov. 2020 at $4.9 billion.

Read more about the meeting here.

Yesterday, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate native Marylander and University of Maryland graduate, Adrienne Wojciechowski for Assistant Secretary of Congressional Relations at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Read more here.

The Maryland Value-Added Producer Matching Grant was designed to encourage participation in the USDA's Value-Added Producer Grant Program. Read more about the program here.

American farmers are partnering with NASA Harvest to develop tools that enhance crop productivity, sustainability, and understanding of crop production around the globe. Read more about the partnership and visit to Chip Councell's farm here.

The National Corn Growers Association is seeking applications from members who are interested in being on the 2022 NCGA Action Teams that begin on January 1, 2022. Read more about the teams and how to apply, here. Application are due to lindsay.mdag@gmail.com by Friday, August 6th.

Maryland is in the early stages of Spotted Lanternfly infestation. The SLF has reached new places within the state and is posing a serious threat to the states agriculture industry. Read more about the posing SLF infestation here.

Biological products are making their way into the agricultural field with new developments of biopesticides, biostimulants, and biofertilizers. The biological products market annual growth of 14.4% is 2-3 times faster than traditional markets. Read more here.

A three year study has shown that irrigation is the best way to help soybeans recover from dicamba drift. Research showed that soybeans injured at the V3 or R2 growth stages could recover up to normal yield levels. Read more here.

The National Corn Growers Association launched a new campaign in Washington D.C. promoting the environmental benefits of ethanol. The digital campaign can be seen on streaming services, websites, public transport throughout Washington D.C., and social media. Read more about the campaign here.

Researchers at North Carolina State University and the University of Kansas have shown that soil microbes play a role in hybrid vigor. The results of the two studies had opposite results, but the same effect on hybrid vigor. Read more here.

Save the date for the upcoming exam on August 6th! Information is pending at this time but will be online here.

The Maryland Soybean Board is hosting a checkoff-funded research field day at the Wye Research & Education Center on August 11th. There will be a variety of research presentations and various CEU's will be available. Read more here.

MLB announced that NCGA has agreed to become an official partner of this summer's MLB at Field of Dreams presented by Geico. The game will be played in Iowa on August 12th and will be broadcasted nationally on FOX. Read more here.

The Mid-Atlantic Certified Crop Advisers are seeking nominations for their annual Excellence in Crop Advising Award. Nominate your CCA by September 15th. Learn more about the award here.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is offering Commercial Pesticide Exams this year. View dates and locations here.

Apply by September 15th to properly dispose of any registered products that you can no longer use. Learn more about the program here.

The last day to recycle any pesticide containers for 2021 is below, more information can be found online here.

LEAD Maryland is currently accepting applications for the next class until October 1st. Application and more information can be found online here.

The 2022 National Commodity Classic is taking place March 8th-March 12th. The Commodity Classic will host a series of educational sessions and updates from various commodity associations. Learn more and see the schedule here.

Created By: Kara Hutchison | 2021 Student Intern | karah.mdag@gmail.com

Jenell Eck | Programs and Public Relations Director | jenell.mdag@gmail.com

Please contact us with any questions.