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Market and Trade News
- U.S. farmers plan big 2024 soy crops and less corn, more here.
- Ag organizations urged the U.S. Trade Commission to consider the impacts that tariffs on Moroccan shipments of fertilizers are having on family farms, more here.
- Russia temporarily bans durum wheat exports until May 31, 2024, more here.
- The purchase by China of 1.12 metric tons of U.S. soft red winter wheat for delivery in 2023/24 between Dec 4 and 8 is significant, more here.
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Mental Health, A Valuable Topic
The University of Maryland Extension has a variety of offerings for you or a loved one dealing with mental health. Your mental health is important and it's okay to talk to someone.
- UME has partnered with Corsica River Mental Health Services and For All Season, Inc. to offer 6 free sessions of counseling to farmers and farm families, available until March 24th. More here.
- If you are looking for ways to help someone who is suffering, click here.
- NAMI Maryland Chapter has a support group that you can attend, more here.
- UME's farm stress website can be found online here.
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MDA Deer Damage Policy Development Survey
MDA is conducting a survey to determine the level of interest in ways to manage deer population as it relates to agriculture. If you are a farmer or lease land to farm, MDA wants to hear from you. Complete this online survey here.
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MD Expected to Amp Up Acres to Reach Solar Goals
Maryland has fallen about 20% behind its solar energy as it races to boost renewable energy production, a state official told farmers late last month. Landowners, including farmers, will need to dedicate more acreage to solar paneling if the state is to meet its ambitious goal to supply half of its energy needs with renewable sources by 2030, said Paul Pinsky. The full story can be found here. MD Grain Producers have been fully involved in these solar goals and representing our grower members.
Winter Ban on Spreading Manure Begins December 16
MDA reminds farmers that the winter ban on spreading manure and other nutrient sources on cropland, including food processing residual (FPRs) begins December 16, 2023. Farmers may resume spreading on March 1, 2024, based on their nutrient management plan recommendations, as long as fields are not saturated, snow-covered, or hard-frozen. More here.
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2023 National Corn Yield Contest
The National Corn Yield Contest results are in! Maryland had two growers rank in the National contest. Congratulations to all corn yield contest participants, both state and national winners! Read the full press release online here.
- 1st - Conventional Irrigated - Temple Rhodes from Centreville, MD with 375.6769 bushels per acre
- 3rd - No-Till Non-Irrigated - Julia Rigdon from Jarrettsville, MD with 324.5503 bushels per acre.
Below are the 2023 Maryland State Corn Yield Contest Winners!
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Early No-Till Adopters Receive 2023 MD Leopold Conservation Award
David and Belinda Burrier of Union Bridge are named the 2023 recipients of the Maryland Leopold Conservation Award. Having always known he wanted to be a farmer, David began in 1976 by renting farmland and doing custom work for neighbors. After considering the labor and equipment required for conventional tillage, he grew his first crop of corn with no-till practices. Congratulations to the Burrier family! Read more online here.
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Farmers Collaborate with State and Federal Agencies to Meet N Goals
A new report by EPA's Hypoxia Task Force demonstrates that the hard work of farmers and ranchers to reduce nutrient losses in the Mississippi River watershed is paying off. The report reveals that the twelve participating states have met interim nitrogen reduction goals two years ahead of schedule and are also making considerable progress in bringing down phosphorus losses. Read more here.
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2023 Soybean Variety Trials Results
The trial is performed annually at multiple UMD Research and Education Centers and we thank the managers at the facilities for their assistance with these trials. Find the full report online here.
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USDA Determines Insignum AgTech Corn Plants Can Be Sold and Grown
A ruling by the USDA's Animal and Plant Inspection Service allows farmers and growers to run trials on corn plants developed by Insignum Ag Tech. These plans use naturally occurring pigment to signal when specific plant stresses begin. Learn more here.
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USW Chairman Michael Peters
U.S. Wheat Associates Chairman Michael Peters traveled to eight countries this year, meeting with customers and potential customers of U.S. wheat in an increasingly competitive global market. "What I learned is that our customers really value the chance to talk to American farmers, the chance to learn about where the wheat they purchase comes from," said Peters. Read more here.
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USDA Improves Crop Insurance to Better Support Conservation
The USDA is updating the Federal crop insurance program to affirm the use of USDA conservation practices as Good Farming Practices for crop insurance. Recently, USDA's RMS updated the Good Farming Practices Handbook, as part of the agency's broader efforts to support conservation and climate-smart activities as well as to improve crop insurance for agricultural producers. More here.
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USDA Now Accepting Applications for Farm Loans Online
The USDA has launched an online application for Direct Loan customers. More than 26,000 customers who submit a Direct Loan application each year can now use an online, interactive, guided application that is paperless and provides helpful features including an electronic signature option, the ability to attach supporting documents such as tax returns, complete a balance sheet, and build a farm operating plan. More here.
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Crop Production Meetings
Grain Marketing Virtual Meeting - January 5th - More here.
Talbot County Agronomy Program - January 10th - More here.
Carroll County Mid-Winter Meeting - January 11th - More here.
Manure Meeting - January 24th - More here.
Lower Shore Agronomy Meeting - January 26th - More here.
Cecil County Winter Agronomy Meeting - February 8th - More here.
Harford County Mid-Winter Agronomy Meeting - February 20th - More here.
Central MD Agronomy Meeting - February 21st - More here
Mid-Shore Agronomy Meeting - February 22nd - More here.
Queen Anne's Agronomy Day - March 1st - More here.
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MDA Nutrient Management Updates
MDA will host a Nutrient Management Update on December 19th and January 9th. There will be continuing education credits and a small fee of $30 for breakfast and lunch. Register online here.
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Delaware Ag Week
Delaware Agriculture Week welcomes you back to the Delaware State Fair Grounds for a week of in-person and reconnecting from Monday January 8th to Thursday, January 11th. Save the date and learn more here.
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UMD to Host Ag Law Program on Jan 16th
The Department of Agricultural and Resources Economics (AREC) will host the SO You Want to Own Farmland in Maryland workshop on January 16th in Cockeysville from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The program will be at the Baltimore County Ag Center, 114 Shawan Road, Cockeysville, MD 21030. To register for the free event, click here.
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Keystone Farm Show
There is no admission charge or parking fee but there is a ticket to be filled out at the door for admission. The show runs from January 9th to January 11th. The event is held at the York Fairground in York, PA. Learn more here.
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Soil Health Meeting & Breakfast
ShoreRivers and the Maryland Department of Agriculture is having a Soil Health Meeting and Breakfast to learn about building healthy soils in Maryland. The event will take place on January 23rd at the Ruthsburg Community Center. RSVP by January 12th to lbuckless@shorerivers.org or 443-385-0511 extension 210.
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2024 Taste of MD Ag
The 54th Taste of Maryland Agriculture is set for Thursday, February 1st at the Live! Casino and Hotel Maryland! Get your tickets early, prices increase on January 12th. Buy tickets here.
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Mid-Atlantic Women in Ag
The conference goals are to provide women involved in agriculture an opportunity to come together to learn about current issues and topics so they can make informed decisions concerning their agribusinesses and family lives. Starts at 9:00 AM and ends at 3:30 PM with a light breakfast and lunch. Register for the February 15th event in Stevensville, here.
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Class A CDL Grant
To assist farmers with the financial burden now associated with the classes required to obtain a CDL for themselves and or their employees, a $1,500 grant will be awarded to two applicants. Apply online by March 1st, learn more here.
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Maryland Grain Producers Scholarships
The Maryland Grain Producers are offering seven scholarships totaling $15,000 for the 2024 - 2025 school year. Applications are due January 31, 2024. Learn more about the different scholarship opportunities and apply online here.
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National Corn Growers Association Scholarships
Grower-members who make up the National Corn Growers Association are eligible to apply for one of the four national scholarships. Applications are due online by January 31, 2024. Learn more online here.
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Mid-Atlantic Certified Crop Advisers Scholarship
The 2024 scholarship is available for undergraduate students studying agronomy, plant science, soil science, or an agriculture-related degree. Two scholarships are available for $1,000 each. Applications are due online by February 16, 2024. More here.
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Delmarva Chicken Association Scholarship
DCA is offering undergraduate scholarships of $2,000 and graduate scholarships of $3,000. Applications must be submitted by March 29, 2024. Learn more here.
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Please contact us with any questions.
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