After reviewing over forty grant proposals earlier this month, the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) has funded 33 projects for 2020. The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board is funded through the Maryland Grain Check-Off Program; when grain that is produced in Maryland is sold by a farmer, the Utilization Board receives one-half of a percent of its net value. The Check-Off and universities are encouraged to submit grant proposals in November for consideration by MGPUB. The Utilization Board gathers to hear presentations on each proposal and reports from the previously funded projects. Projects must improve the viability and profitability of grain production through research, education, or market development.
For 2020, the Grain Producers will award $802,207 for 33 projects across the state. Congratulations to each recipient. The full list of awardees is below or can be downloaded here.
Bobby Guy, Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board President says, “I enjoy hearing new ideas and proposals each year that impact the grain industry in Maryland. Being able to assist researchers, youth organizations, encourage agriculture education, and build market opportunities from our check-off program is humbling and rewarding.”
The 2020 awarded proposals will be featured bi-weekly through a newsletter. If you would like to receive updates, please email Jenell Eck to be included in the mailing list.
From Middletown Maryland, Drew Haines took advantage of the ideal weather this year to grow Maryland’s new state corn yield record. Coming in with a yield of 422.352 bushels of corn to the acre, Drew alongside his brother and son, took first place in the National Corn Yield Contest for no-till, non-irrigated corn.
As first generation farmers, the Haines family practices no-till on 600 acres in Middletown, Maryland. Ten years ago Drew began to pay close attention to balancing his soil nutrition and biology which has allowed him to see continual improvement in his corn yield. In 2018, Drew and his family achieved Maryland’s highest corn yield and won the corn yield contest with 366 bushels to the acre. This year, Drew topped his yield above and beyond! The Haines family harvested corn on non-irrigated and no-till land with a yield of 422 using DEKALB variety DKC68-69RIB. Drew works closely with his advisors at DEKALB; Susan, Brian, and puts a lot of trust in their advice and expertise.
Drew splits his nitrogen application several times which “allows him to feed his corn when it’s hungry.” From his experience over the years and time in the field weekly, Drew understands when a crop needs nutrients. To build organic matter the Haine’s apply animal bedding from his cows to keep the soil undisturbed. “When our corn is harvested, the grain does not take all the nutrients. By allowing stalks to decompose, we are putting nutrients back into our soil for next years crop.”
Drew said that while he did not attend college to get his strong background in soil biology and agronomy, he as many farmers do, has a strong connection to his land and crops and tests products and practices like science experiments on the farm. Learning from these experiments, allows farmers like the Haines family to see what works best on their land.
Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board congratulates Drew Haines and his family on this amazing achievement.
Maryland State Winners
Conventional Non-Irrigated: Brenda Walsh from Hampstead with 308 bu/acre.
No-Till Non-Irrigated: Drew Haines from Middletown with 422 bu/acre.
Strip, Min, Mulch, Ridge-Till, Non-Irrigated: David Hill from Kennedyville with 232 bu/acre.
No-Till, Irrigated: Marion Wilson from Centreville with 289 bu/acre.
Strip, Min, Mulch, Ridge-Till, Irrigated: Bruce Bartz from Denton with 232 bu/acre.
Conventional Irrigated: Jason Larry Sheubrooks from Sudlersville with 296 bu/acre.
The National Corn Yield Contest is in its 55th year and brings together farmers to create and innovate for the good of the industry. The contest allows farmers to learn from their peers and puts a national spotlight on the 27 winners. Top winners receive cash trips and other awards from participating sponsoring seed, chemical, and crop protection companies. Winners will be honored during the Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas.
Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., the Maryland Farm Bureau, and the Maryland Grain Producers Association voted not to request a delay in implementing the next phase of the Maryland Phosphorus Management Tool (PMT). All three groups are represented on the advisory committee studying how the state should move forward with this regulation. The committee voted not to recommend a delay when it met December 13, and our votes made us part of the majority vote. Our recommendation goes to the desk of Maryland’s Secretary of Agriculture for his consideration in making a final decision by December 31, 2019.
Our three groups do share some of the real concerns about resources and infrastructure available to move forward with implementation of the PMT. These concerns were highlighted in a study by Salisbury University’s BEACON which indicated that it could take up to $10 million in resources to implement the PMT. Even so, we believe requesting a delay was not the best decision we could make for our members. We have known the PMT was coming for several years now but the infrastructure to handle the storage, transport and application of manure and replacement with synthetic fertilizer have not ramped up because there has not been the demand. Unless the next phase of the PMT is implemented, we will not know what our members need to move forward.
We believe an action plan to help farmers adapt to implementation of the PMT is the most important next step. There is no doubt there will be additional fields throughout the state, especially on the lower Eastern Shore, that will not be able to apply animal manure, and that manure will have to move to other areas that can properly use it as the valuable organic nutrient source it is. Farmers, chicken companies, agribusiness, manure brokers, and the state government must work together to meet the challenges PMT implementation presents. When we succeed, we can make a case for freedom to operate in a business climate where phosphorus runoff is being properly addressed and managed to benefit the environment and protect water quality.
As one of our members said the other day, “farmers will figure it our.” She is right – that is what farmers have always done. But we will do all we can to make sure farmers aren’t alone in figuring it out. We are committed to ensuring the resources are available to keep our farmers successful throughout implementation of the PMT. This is a team effort.
Holly Porter, Director, Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.
Wayne Stafford, President, Maryland Farm Bureau
Lenny “Evan” Miles, Jr, President, Maryland Grain Producers Association
