Market and Trade News

• U.S. farmers plan to go 'heavy on corn' in 2023, more here.
• Biden administration is demanding Mexican President scientifically justify his decree, more here.
• Washing State University economist expects U.S. wheat prices will fall, more here.
• Since the highs hit in the fall of 2021, freight prices have dropped to lows, more here.
• Russia exports 1.33 million metric tons of wheat to North Africa, more here.
• USDA's 10-Year outlook can be accessed here.
• Check out the latest grain bids online here.

Split Nitrogen

For the third and final year, the Delaware Maryland 4R Alliance is offering $15 an acre to add an additional split of nitrogen to their 2023 corn crop. Learn more online here, if interested contact Jenell Eck McHenry at 443-262-6969.

Put Wheat to the Test

An English farmer achieved a new Guinness World Record wheat yield of 267 bushels per acre. in2022. U.S. growers who enter the National Wheat Yield Contest have a chance to rewrite the record book in 2023. Winter wheat entries are due May 15th. Learn more here.

Annual Grain Store

Check out Maryland grain check-off funded projects, hear from the Utilization Board President, and save the date for the annual Maryland Commodity Classic being held on July 27th, with the keynote speaker "The Cow Guy!" More here.

Grain Bin Safety - Nominate Today

This past week is Grain Bin Safety Week. Nationwide's mission is zero lives lost and together we can learn more and do more to save lives. The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board funded 4 safety tubes across the state. Nominate a fire department that could utilize a safety tube and training here by April 30th.

We Are Here for YOU

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

Jenell Eck McHenry, jenell.mdag@gmail.com, Programs and PR Director

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

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

MGPA Legislative Update

Your membership dollars make it possible for Maryland Grain farmers to have strong representation in Annapolis during the legislative session. Our Executive Director, Lindsay Thompson serves as the voice for the best interest of Maryland grain farmers.

MGPA Legislative Update

Your membership dollars make it possible for Maryland Grain farmers to have representation in Annapolis during the legislative session. Our Executive Director, Lindsay Thompson serves as the voice for the best interest of Maryland grain farmers.

HB178 - State Designations - State Spirit - Maryland Rye

Delegate Reznik

Designating Maryland Rye or Maryland Rye Whiskey as the State spirit.



MGPA Supports HB178

HB230/SB224- Department of the Environment - Zero-Emission Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles - Regulations (Clean Trucks Act of 2023)

Delegate Love

This bill requires the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to adopt regulations establishing requirements for the sale of new zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles in the State. The regulations may update existing regulations and incorporate by reference the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) vehicle standards, as revised and updated. “Heavy duty vehicle” means a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) rating equal to or greater than 26,001 pounds (lbs). A “medium duty vehicle” is a vehicle with a GVW rating of between 10,000 and 26,000 lbs.

MGPA opposes HB230/SB224

HB253/SB262 - Environment - On-Farm Composting Facilities - Permit Exemption

Delegate Shetty & Senator Gallion

Requiring the Department of the Environment to adopt regulations to exempt an on-farm composting facility from the requirement to obtain a permit if the on-farm composting facility uses 40,000 square feet of area or less for active food scrap composting, composts only certain materials, records the amount and source of the feedstock composted and the date and time the feedstock arrived on the farm, retains the records for 3 years, and meets any other condition for a permit exemption specified in regulations.

MGPA Supports HB253/SB262

HB319/SB158 - Pesticide Registration - PFAS Testing - Requirements

Delegate Stein & Senator Hettleman

Prohibiting, beginning January 1, 2024, the Secretary of Agriculture from registering a pesticide for use against mosquitoes in the State unless the distributor of the pesticide submits to the Department test results indicating the pesticide has passed the PFAS test and an affidavit attesting to the legitimacy of the PFAS test results; and prohibiting, beginning January 1, 2026, the Secretary from registering a pesticide for use in the State unless PFAS test results and a certain affidavit are submitted by the distributor.

MGPA opposes HB319/SB158

HB378/SB310 - Natural Resources - Black Bear Conflict Reduction and Damage Reimbursement Fund - Uses

Delegates Love, Lehman, and T. Morgan

Altering the Black Bear Damage Reimbursement Fund to authorize grants from the Fund to be made for projects that reduce conflicts between black bears and humans; renaming the Black Bear Damage Reimbursement Fund to be the Black Bear Conflict Reduction and Damage Reimbursement Fund; increasing the minimum and maximum amounts of reimbursement from the Fund per person annually authorized for damage caused by black bears; requiring the Governor to include at least $1,000,000 in the annual budget bill for the Fund.

MGPA supports HB378/SB310 with amendments to alter the limits on funding.

HB389/SB34 - Department of Agriculture - State Specialist for Value-Added Agriculture

Delegate T. Morgan & Senator Hester

Establishing the State Ombudsman for Value-Added Agriculture as a position in the Department of Agriculture.

MGPA Supports HB389/SB34

Passed the Senate

SB225/HB499 - Environment - Publicly Owned Treatment Works - PFAS Monitoring

Requiring publicly owned treatment facilities to monitor and report levels of PFAS in effluent, influent, and biosolids.

For information only.

Withdrawn

HB983/SB327 - Hunting, Wildlife Conservation, and Outdoor Recreation - Funding, Promotion, Management, Licenses, Permits, and Stamps

Altering the purpose of the Heritage Conservation Fund to include acquiring interests in land that can be used by the general public for hunting; establishing the Wildlife Conservation, Education, and Outreach Program to provide outreach and foster an interest in outdoor recreation and stewardship, hunting, and wildlife conservation; establishing a stamp for hunting sika deer; authorizing a nonresident attending a college or university in the State to purchase a resident hunting license. This bill also authorizing migratory waterfowl hunting on Sundays.

MGPA Supports HB983/SB327 with an amendment to remove the Sunday waterfowl hunting provision.



2023 Scrap Tire Drop-Off Days

The Maryland Department of the Environment in conjunction with Maryland Environmental Service, and the Maryland Farm Bureau has hosted several Scrap Tire Drop-Off events which allowed farmers to deliver agricultural scrap tires to approved collection locations free of charge. Drop-off days and locations have already started, check it out here.

DCA Launches Campaign to Celebrate a Century of Growing Chicken

The Delmarva Chicken Association launched a year-long educational campaign, "Growing For 100 Years," to celebrate the innovation and growth of the meat chicken industry, which began a century ago. The centennial campaign is designed to educate the public through TV, digital platforms, publications, billboards across the region, and community events in Maryland and Delaware about chicken farming's traditions and how it has evolved. Check it out here.

Wheat Growers Encourage Additional MAP and FMD Funding

NAWG and USW are announcing advocacy tools and resources to engage with their legislators on the Expanding Agriculture Exports Act and Agriculture Export Promotion Act. Because half of the wheat grown in the United States is exported, wheat growers have a deep understanding of the importance of trade and market development. Read more about it here.

Neil Caskey Named CEO of National Corn Growers Association

Neil Caskey, a long-time professional in the agricultural arena, has been tapped to lead the National Corn Growers Association as its new CEO, according to the organization's board of directors. Caskey has served as NCGA's vice president of communications and industry relations for over four years, read more here.

Tensions with China Prompt Proposed Legislation

Amid escalating tensions between the United States and China, several bills have been introduced into Delmarva legislatures to limit foreign ownership of farmland in the region. Read more about legislation in the region here.

Panel Tells Attendees to be 'Xtreme'

Whether it's to get over a yield level or better understand crop growth, networking is key to getting better, a panel of farmers told Virginia grain growers. Members of the Xtreme Ag platform discussed how building a network of like-minded farmers has helped them improve their operations, learn more here.

Mark Your Calendar - UM Winter Crop Production Meetings

Save the date for the following agronomy meetings this winter. More information and registration can be found by contacting your local extension office.

• Queen Anne's Agronomy Meeting - Mar 3rd - more here.

MD Annual Implementation Report

The 2022 Maryland AIR is due March 1st. To access the online form or download a form, click here.

Rooted in Our Community

The Cecil County Office of Economic Development is hosting its third annual event at Cecil College on Saturday, March 4th. The mission is to educate the community on the importance of agriculture, eliminate the negative perception around agriculture, and increase understanding of modern agricultural practices. Register here.

Healthy Soils Competitive Fund

MDA is accepting applications for the new Healthy Soils Competitive Fund. Its aim is to support farmers and operators who are ineligible for other programs. Applications are due March 3rd and recipients will be announced by April 30th. More information can be found here.

Commodity Classic

The 2023 Commodity Classic will be held March 9-11, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. Registration is currently open. Find the schedule of events and more information here.

MD Conservation Buffer Initiative

The 2023 signup period for MDA's Conservation Buffer Initiative is open until March 10th. New this year, qualifying farmers who plant forest buffers will receive a one-time $1,000/acre signing bonus on top of the incentive payment for this practice. For more information, read the press release here.

ARC/PLC Deadline

The election and enrollment period is now open and runs through March 15th. Producers can now make or change elections and enroll for the 2023 ARC or PLC program, providing future protections against market fluctuations. More here.

Farms Wells and Drinking Water Quality Webinar

Join the University of Maryland Extension on March 16th to learn about aquifers, wells, and water quality. Learn more and register here.

Mid-Atlantic CCA Scholarship

The 2023 scholarship application is currently open! Applications are due February 24th. This year, the Mid-Atlantic Certified Crop Advisers are offering two scholarships up to $1,000 each and financial assistance to take the CCA Exam free of cost, following graduation. Learn more and apply online here.

Maryland Farm Bureau Scholarship

Maryland Farm Bureau. isoffering five $2,000 scholarships for the 2023-2024 academic year. Three of them are for agriculture majors wheress two are fro any fields of study. Applications are due by March 24th. Learn more here.

MAEF Scholarship

Recipients will reveice $1,500 in support. oftheir academic achievements and pursuit of a career in agriculture or Extension education. Applications. aredue by April 1st. Learn more and apply oneline here.

Delmarva Chicken Association Scholarship

Applications are being accepted for undergraduate scholarships of $2,000 and grade-degree scholarships of $3,000. Complete applications must be received no later than 4:30 PM on Friday, April 7th. Apply online here.

Mountaire Farm to Table Scholarship

Mountaire is offering a new "Farm to Table" scholarship for high school seniors with a passion for agriculture, the culinary arts, or related fields which support food production and feeding the world. Each month two students will be awarded and featured, nominations are ongoing and can be found online here.

Internships

University of Maryland Internship Opening

The University of Maryland Extension created a summer internship program with seven interns annually paired with competent mentors; interns will gain hands-on experience and participate in leadership and professional development training. Learn more online here.

Mountaire Farms Internship

At the Millsboro location, Mountaire has five internship opportunities. Search interns online here to learn more and apply.

Perdue Internship

Perdue has internship opportunities available in Salisbury, Milford, Laurel, and Georgetown offering experience in legal work, tax prep, marketing, and much more! Check them out here.