Market and Trade News

• Greater planted area and a recovery in productivity has Brazil poised to harvest 325.7 million tonnes of grains for the 2024-25 season, a 9.4% increase from last growing season. More here.
• Argentina’s corn crop is expected to produce 50 million tonnes, down from 51 million in January. More here.
• U.S. exports of corn and wheat are on the rise, more here.
• World corn stocks are predicted to hit an 11-year low, more here.
• World wheat production is forecasted at a record-high 793.79 million tonnes, more here.
• President Trump moves to impose reciprocal tariffs, more here. See the White House fact sheet here.
• Year-round E15 has been reintroduced to Congress, more here. Sign NCGA's letter to congress here.

Top News

Maryland Agriculture Week

The Maryland Grain Producers Association partnered with multiple other state agricultural organizations February 3rd to 7th to celebrate and recognize Maryland agriculture. The week included the Maryland House of Delegates recognizing the agricultural community with a resolution, numerous events throughout the week in Annapolis, the annual Taste of Maryland, and a "wing-talk" including farmers, industry leaders, and legislators discussing hot topics in agriculture. See the full press release here.

Farmers Alliance for Rural Maryland

Eastern Shore farmers gathered on February 13th to discuss the direction of the newly formed Farmers Alliance for Rural Maryland (F.A.R.M.). The groups current main concern is Senate Bill 931/House Bill 1036 which would allow large-scale energy projects to supersede local zoning rules and not pay property taxes. The hearing for this bill is scheduled for February 28th at 1:30 PM. Interested farmers, land owners, or industry leaders can email farmersalliancemd@gmail.com for more information. More here.

Annual Implementation Reports Due March 1st

Annual Implementation Reports (AIRs) documenting nutrient applications for the calendar year 2024 are due to the Nutrient Management Program by March 1st, 2025. Farmers can report through the Maryland OneStop Portal online or complete a paper version which can be found here.

We Are Here for YOU

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

Jennifer Gannon, jennifer.mdag@gmail.com, Programs and PR Director

Elaine Draper, thompsonagconsulting@gmail.com, Administrative Assistant

U.S. Grains Council Hosts Annual Meeting

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) hosted their 22nd International Marketing Conference and 65th Annual Membership Meeting in Austin, Texas last week. The event provided members with an overview of the Council’s strategy for the coming year. Maryland Grain Producers board member and USGC At-Large Director, Jennie Schmidt, spoke on a panel sharing perspectives from the industry. More here.

USDA Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs

The Farm Service Agency will be accepting enrollments and elections for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs from January 21st to April 15th. ARC and PLC provide financial protections to farmers from substantial drops in crop prices or revenues. Find more information here.

Governor Moore Announces Support for Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act

The Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act builds upon the administration’s efforts to improve the Chesapeake Bay’s water quality, introduces comprehensive changes to support regenerative agriculture, and streamlines oyster aquaculture. The bill would establish the Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming Program, allowing the Maryland Department of Agriculture to recognize and further incentivize the work of farmers who promote best management practices and community engagement as part of watershed restoration efforts. More here.

Mid-Atlantic 4R to Offer Funding for Nutrient Management Practices

The Mid-Atlantic 4R team has 7 vouchers still available to farmers and agribusiness pairs to take one's farming operation to the next step in advanced nutrient management. The voucher may be used to implement a new nutrient management practice. Following the voucher, recipients will be eligible for cost-share funding to expand the practice over more acres.

More information and the application can be found here.

The 2025 Legislative Session has kicked off. The Maryland Grain Producers Association has been hard at work preparing for session and will represent grain farmers best interest. If you are not a member of the Association, it's not too late to join. Funds will be used effectively in Annapolis this year. Your membership dollars make a difference.

HB386/SB345 - PFAS Chemicals - Prohibitions

Sponsored by Delegate Ruth

Requiring, by January 1, 2026, the Department of Agriculture to develop and maintain a list of certain registered pesticides that list PFAS chemicals as an active ingredient on the labeling accompanying the pesticide; prohibiting, beginning June 1, 2026, a person from using, for certain purposes, PFAS pesticides listed by the Department; prohibiting, beginning June 1, 2028, a person from using PFAS pesticides in the State; etc.

In the Senate - Hearing 2/18

MGPA Opposes

HB909/SB732 - Sewage Sludge Utilization Permits - Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances - Concentration Limits

Sponsored by Senator Love

Requiring certain sewage sludge utilization permits issued or renewed by the Department of the Environment to limit the concentration of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to 1 microgram per kilogram, the level established in certain health-based standards, or the level established by the Department under the Act; establishing requirements for the demonstration of compliance with the limits established under the Act; and authorizing the Department to establish certain additional limits by regulation.

In the Senate - Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 PM

MGPA is Monitoring

HB766 - Wildlife Advisory Commission - Membership - Alterations

Sponsored by Delegate Otto

Requiring that the Wildlife Advisory Commission member appointed to represent the farming community be selected from a list of candidates provided by the Maryland Farm Bureau.

In the House - Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 PM

MGPA Supports

HB834/SB806 - Agriculture - Confinement of Egg-Laying Hens in Commercial Egg Production - Prohibitions

Sponsored by Delegate Terrasa

Prohibiting a certain farm owner or operator from knowingly confining egg-laying hens in an enclosure that is not a cage-free housing system and does not meet certain space requirements, subject to certain exceptions, on and after January 1, 2030; and prohibiting a business owner or operator or a farm owner or operator from selling shell eggs or egg products without a certain certification of compliance on and after January 1, 2030.

In the House - Hearing 2/19 at 1:00PM

MGPA Opposes

HB1175/HB898 - Nutrient Management - Tidal Buffer - Vegetative Buffers and Restriction on Fertilizer Application

Sponsored by Delegate Stein

Authorizing, in accordance with technical specifications adopted by the Department of Agriculture, that State cost-share funding be made available for installing various vegetative buffer practices on land within the 100-foot tidal buffer on an agricultural operation; prohibiting a nutrient management plan renewed after July 1, 2025, from allowing a person to apply certain fertilizer to land within the 100-foot tidal buffer; etc.

In the House - Hearing 2/28 at 1:00 PM

MGPA Opposes

HB225/SB203 - Exceptional Hauling Permits for Farm Products

Sponsored by the Environment and Transportation Committee Chair

Creating an exception for vehicles carrying fluid milk products to the prohibition against driving a vehicle subject to an exceptional hauling permit on the interstate highway system; altering certain weight limits and tolerances under an exceptional hauling permit; altering the preventive maintenance documents that an individual operating under an exceptional hauling permit must possess; and altering certain record-keeping requirements and the application of certain administrative penalties under an exceptional hauling permit.

Passed the Senate

MGPA Supports

SB189/HB631 - Eminent Domain - Agriculture and Conservation Easements - Prohibited Taking

Sponsored by Senators Brooks and Hettleman

Prohibiting the State or any of its instrumentalities or political subdivisions from taking privately owned property that is subject to a perpetual agricultural or conservation easement.

In the Senate - Hearing held 1/23

MGPA Supports

HB278 - Income Tax - Subtraction Modification - Enhanced Agriculture Management Equipment

Sponsored by Delegate Bouchat and Fair

Altering a subtraction modification under the Maryland income tax for enhanced agricultural management equipment to include equipment that the Secretary of Agriculture determines by regulation to qualify as enhanced agriculture management equipment; and applying the Act to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

In the House - Hearing held 1/23

MGPA Supports

HB483 - Income Tax Credit - Venison Donations - Alterations

Sponsored by Delegate Ziegler

Repealing the limitation on the maximum amount of a credit against the State income tax that an individual may claim for certain expenses incurred for a donation of deer meat to certain organizations; and applying the Act to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

In the House - Hearing held 2/6

MGPA Supports

Winter Crop Production Meetings

Winter Crop Production Meetings are in full swing! Don't miss the opportunity to earn pesticide recertification and nutrient management credits at these meetings. More here.

Give FFA Day

Give FFA Day is set for February 20th! The organization hopes to raise $1.5 million in 24 hours during National FFA week. Donate here on the 20th!

Mid-Atlantic 4R Webinar

Join the Mid-Atlantic 4R Nutrient Stewardship Association for their webinar “Testing Efficiency" on February 24th at 9:00 AM. The webinar will include four speakers covering the 2024 cost-share results, managing post-harvest residues, on farm biologicals, and conclude with a fertilizer market update. Continuing education credits are pending. Register here.

Owning and Renting Farmland in Maryland - Common Legal Questions

The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC) and the Ag Law Education Initiative will host a one-day workshop on February 26th at Chesapeake College. This event will cover leasing, landowner liability issues, right-to-farm law, fencing laws, livestock liability, and estate planning. Find more information and register here.

2025 Commodity Classic

Registration is open! This year's event will take place in Denver, Colorado and will begin on Sunday, March 2nd. More information can be found here.

Women in Agriculture Regional Conference

Due to snowy and icy conditions this past week the Mid-Atlantic Women Conference has been rescheduled for March 5th in Stevensville, MD. The conference provides an opportunity for attendees to learn about current issues and topics within the industry. The full schedule and registration can be found here.

Ag Literacy Week

Join MAEF March 17th - 21st for Ag Literacy Week! The week focuses on connecting volunteers from the agricultural community to local classrooms with the purpose of increasing student knowledge about agriculture. Volunteers can purchase a book to share with a classroom of their choice for $10, including a classroom activity. More here.

Ag Voices of the Future

The American Soybean Association is accepting applications for the Valent and ASA Ag Voices of the Future program, which will be held July 14-17 in conjunction with the ASA summer board meeting and Soy Issues Forum in Washington, D.C. Select students from the 2025 Ag Voices of the Future program will be awarded a scholarship to participate in the Agriculture Future of America Leaders Conference, Nov. 6-9, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. Applications are due March 6th. Find more information here.

Maryland Farm Bureau Scholarship

The Maryland Farm Bureau is awarding five $2,000 scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year. Three scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing academic degrees in food, agriculture and/or natural resources disciplines, and two scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing degrees in other academic disciplines or who are pursuing minors in food, agriculture and/or natural resources disciplines. Applications are due March 21st and can be found here.

University of Maryland Workforce Development Internship

The University of Maryland Workforce Development Internship is a ten-week full-time Summer experiential learning and professional development opportunity for undergraduate students currently enrolled in a in a two-year, four-year degree or certificate program and who are interested in a career in agriculture and natural resources. Applications are due March 23rd and can be found here.

Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation Scholarship

MAEF Academic Scholarships are open to rising junior or senior undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in majors leading to careers in agricultural education or Extension education. Qualified candidates should complete and submit their online application by March 25th. More information can be found here.

Delmarva Chicken Association Scholarship

Undergraduate scholarships of $2,000 are available to residents of the Delmarva Peninsula who are undergraduate students at any accredited, degree-granting institution, with an academic major in a subject relevant to Delmarva's chicken community and who are pursuing a career path leading to employment in any segment of Delmarva's chicken community. Graduate level scholarships of $3,000 will be available to graduate students at United States universities who are engaged in research that directly benefits Delmarva's chicken community. Applications for both are due March 28th and can be found here.

Created By: Jennifer Gannon | jennifer.mdag@gmail.com

www.MarylandGrain.org

Please contact us with any questions.