Queenstown, Maryland (October 27, 2021) – The Maryland Grain Producers Scholarship and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) scholarship applications are combined for the first time this year. Students only need to fill out one application to apply for both the state and national scholarships. The online application is currently open and due Monday, January 31, 2022. This application can be found at bit.ly/2022scholarship.
For the 2022 to 2023 school year, the Maryland Grain Producers is offering up to four scholarships in the amount of at least $2,500. While the National Corn Growers has three scholarship programs for technical school/community college, four-year university students, and a graduate scholarship.
If you are a high school graduating senior or current college student pursuing a degree in an agriculture-related field, Maryland Grain Producers wants to support you!
Eligibility Requirements:
One must be a Maryland Grain Producers Association member or son/daughter of a member actively farming grain. To become a member today, visit marylandgrain.org/member/.
Attending a two-year or four-year institute starting fall of 2022.
Members should not have received a checkoff refund in the past 12 months.
Students must currently be residing in Maryland, but can attend school outside of the state.
Scholarship funds will be distributed in July of 2022 and following the fall semester of 2022. These funds will be issued on behalf of each student to his or her college. Previous winners may reapply but are only eligible to receive the scholarship twice.
The Maryland Grain Producers Scholarship Committee will select the receipts from applications with all identifying information redacted. Scholarships will be awarded during our annual Commodity Classic held Thursday, July 28, 2022, at the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park on Route 18.
The Maryland Grain Producers Association utilizes farmer checkoff dollars from our Utilization Board to support four farm families and our future generation!
Queenstown, Maryland (October 13, 2021) – Passed by a vote from grain producers across the state, the Maryland Grain Check-Off Program continues for another five years! With that, one-half of one percent of the value of each bushel of corn and other grains produced and sold in Maryland will continue to be remitted to the program. The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) uses these farmers’ dollars to fulfill its mission to increase the profitability of Maryland grain farming through market development, education, and research.
Currently, organizations, universities, and others are eligible to submit proposals for the board to review focused on grain production and animal agriculture for the 2022 growing season. Proposals are to be submitted by November 19, 2021. For more information on our annual grant program and for appropriate documents, please visit our website here.
“Utilizing checkoff dollars to further the advancement of corn, wheat, barley, and sorghum production, profitability, and awareness in turn benefits growers across the state,” said MGPUB Chair John Bruning.
This year, the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board funded 29 grants in the total amount of $860,580. From the production of 66,650,000 bushels of corn, 1,533,000 bushels of barley, and 10,950,000 bushels of wheat.
If you have questions regarding our check-off funded grants, please email Marguerite at marguerite.mdag@gmail.com or call the office at 443-262-8491.
(Centreville, Maryland – August 4, 2021) – The twenty-third annual Maryland Commodity Classic was held in person on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park. Over 275 farmers, sponsors, and allied agribusiness representatives enjoyed the event and networking opportunities it provided. The Maryland Grain Producers Association (MGPA), Maryland Soybean Board (MSB)k Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB), and Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association (MASA) co-sponsor and host the annual event.
The day began with research presentations by Dr. Vijay Tiwari and Dr. Nidhi Rawat on the small grains research at the University of Maryland funded by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board. Participants also enjoyed presentations by Dr. Nicole Fiorelino and Ben Beale. Throughout the park, event sponsors, MGPUB and MSB funded grantees, and farmers networked and enjoyed catching up after almost two years apart. Grain farmers and landowners had the opportunity to vote in the MGPUB checkoff referendum. A local 4H club served lunch while the Queen Anne’s County FFA Chapter sold snow cones!
At 1:30 PM the business meeting began with updates from MGPUB President John Bruning, MSB Chair Belinda Burrier, and MGPA President Melvin Baile. Baile emphasized the importance of farmers having relationships with their legislators and being able to reach out to them when legislation impacting their farms is being considered. Anne Thompson of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) gave a policy update on ethanol, inheritance tax, renewable fuels standard, and infrastructure issues. Thompson states that NCGA is working hard to address the Supreme Court ruling that rejected the year-round sale of E15 emphasizing that ethanol is an important market that supports the basis for all corn farmers. Ryan LeGrand, CEO of the U.S. Grains Council USGC) reported on the strong export year that 2021 hs been for grain farmers with over 900 million bushels in sales to China alone and the work USGC does to support export markets for US grain around the world. The meeting ended with Bob Farmer, a comedian who was enjoyed by all after a rough year. To finish the annual event, all enjoyed a chicken and beef BBQ prepared by Paul Gunther and a Crab Feast by Thompson Seafood.
We would like to thank all of the sponsors for the support and attendees for making this a great event.
Dr. Miller Award
During the annual event, MGPA awarded the Dr. James R. Miller Award to a deserving individual. The Miller award recognizes an individual for outstanding service to Maryland’s grain industry. The award began in 1998 when it was given to Dr. James R. Miller. Since, grower leaders, as well as elected officials, researchers, and agency representatives have been recognized.
This year’s honoree is Delegate Charles Otto, known to us as just Charlie. Delegate Otto served as a Maryland Grain Producers Board member since the inception of the check-off, Treasurer of MGPUB, and President of MGPA until his election to the Maryland House of Delegates. Charlie is deeply rooted in the agricultural community as a certified crop consultant and sales representative at Nutrien in Salisbury and a farmer himself. Charles has also served on the Somerset County and Maryland State Farm Bureau Boards and is a member of the American Society of Agronomy and past Chair of the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee.
Delegate Otto has served in the Maryland House of Delegates since January of 2011 representing District 38A including Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties. During his tenure in the legislature, Delegate Otto has served on the Environment and Transportation Committee and the Natural Resources and Agriculture Subcommittee, where all agricultural bills are referred. Charlie has chaired the Rural Caucus as well as the Eastern Shore Delegation. He is also a member of the Nutrient Management Advisory Committee and Pesticide Advisory Committee. Whether he is explaining to his colleagues exactly how a pesticide is used, what farmers do with their nutrient management plans, or what conservation practices we implement; Charlie is always a voice for the farmers of Maryland.
From left to right: Kevin Anderson, Delegate Charles Otto, Melvin Baile (MGPA President) and John Bruning (MGPUB President)
Scholarship Recipients
To support the next generation in agriculture, the Maryland Grain Producers awarded five scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each to association members. This year’s recipients were Austin Nickerson of Worton, Chad Patterson of Chestertown, Dylan Hill of Kennedyville, Jennifer Gannon of Centreville, and Will Turner of Preston. The Grain Producers Scholarship Committee was swept away with the vigorous 2021 applications and asked the Utilization Board to support a 5th scholarship this year. MGPUB President said, “the MPGUB scholarship supports young people who excel in college and their community, and who will use their education to help our industry grow and succeed. Every year, there is a shortage of agriculture graduates to fill professional positions in the field of agriculture and that gap continues to grow. We are excited to see these young people wanting to make a difference in agriculture”. Through our annual scholarship program, over $202,500 has been awarded to the future of agriculture. You can view a message from our scholarship recipients here.
From left to right: John Bruning (MGPUB President), Jennifer Gannon, Will Turner, Charles Patterson, V., and Dylan Hill.
Austin “Dutch” Nickerson
In Kent County, Dutch Nickerson continues to work on the family’s farm while attending the University of Delaware as a full-time student. Dutch graduated from The Gunston School in 2018 before attending Chesapeake Community College. From Chesapeake Dutch transferred to the University of Delaware to study Agriculture and Natural Resources. Dutch pans to return to the family farm after graduation, where his mom, Kristen is employed full time. While working alongside the family, Dutch plans to grow his already established seedling tree planting business and expand the family’s operation.
Chad Patterson
Raised on a dairy and grain farm in Chestertown, Maryland, Chad Patterson is currently a Sophomore at Purdue University. At Purdue, Chad is working towards a degree in Agriculture Systems Management to bring efficiency back to the family’s multi-generational farm. This summer, Chad is interning with Nutrien Ag Solutions. In Indiana, Chad has been involved in the Dairy Club, Agriculture Systems Management Club, and wit+h the Agriculture Tech and Innovation Club. In 2020, Chad graduated from Queen Anne’s County High School where he was involved in Varsity sports, the FFA Chapter, and the National Honors Society.
Dylan Hill
Raised on a grain and beef farm and Pioneer seed business, Dylan Hill is currently attending the University of Delaware working on a Plant Science Degree. In Newark, Dylan is involved with the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity while gaining a stronger understanding of plant biology and genetics to bring his knowledge back to the family farm as the sixth generation. Dylan graduated from Kent County High School in 2018 where he was involved in soccer, baseball, and part of the National Honors Society.
Jennifer Gannon
Raised in Centreville, MD on her parent’s grain and pork farm, Jennifer Gannon has an in-depth knowledge of agriculture. Growing up, Jen was very involved in the Pony Express 4-H Club and FFA Chapter, today volunteering her time back to these organizations. In 2018, she graduated from Queen Anne’s County High School and began her secondary education at Chesapeake College. Now Jen is a Junior at the University of Maryland, College Park majoring in Agriculture Business Management. Jennifer is currently employed part-time at Talbot County Extension as their Program Assistance and at Thompson Ag Consulting as one of the 2021 college student interns. Through Jen’s experience, she plans to return to the family farm and one day add agri-tourism to the farm to educate the public on the importance of agriculture.
Will Turner
From Preston, Maryland, Will Turner graduated from Colonel Richardson High School this May. Will was very active in his school’s football, soccer, and baseball teams while academically being involved in National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, and serving as a Student Government Office. Will has worked alongside his father, Greg Turner on the family’s grain farm, for a number of years and hopes to expand his knowledge on production agriculture at Delaware Technical Community College. As an incoming Freshman, Will plans to major in Agribusiness Management while playing Baseball for the college.
Maryland Grain Producers Board members and staff at the event.
(Queenstown, Maryland – June 8, 2021) – A referendum to continue the Maryland Grain Checkoff Program will be held on July 22, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the annual Commodity Classic at the QAC 4-H Park. The Checkoff Program works to improve Maryland grain farm profitability by funding market development, research, and education projects focused on the needs of our farmers. Funding decisions are made by a board of grain producers from six regions throughout the state.
“The Maryland Grain Checkoff Program is made possible by farmers to benefit farmers,” said Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) President, John Bruning. “I have seen firsthand how the projects funded with checkoff dollars have benefitted my own farming operation and Maryland grain farmers across the state.”
If passed by a majority, the 30-year old Checkoff Program will continue from October 1, 2021, for an additional five years. One-half of one percent (0.5%) will be collected on the net value of each bushel of grain sold. The checkoff will be deducted at the first point of sale on all grain, with the exception of sorghum and soybeans. MGPUB does not administer the soybean checkoff program and grain refunds are available by written request to MGPUB.
“We encourage grain producers to support the referendum and become members of the Maryland Grain Producers Association (MGPA),” says Bruning. “Membership dues to the MGPA may be deducted directly from your checkoff assessment. Checkoff dollars cannot be used for lobbying, so membership is essential to ensure our farmers have a voice in Annapolis.”
To be eligible to vote, a person must be financially engaged in the growing of grain as an owner, tenant, or sharecropper. Contact Lindsay Thompson for information or for an absentee ballot at 443-262-8491, lindsay.mdag@gmail.com, or write to MPGA, 123 Clay Drive, Queenstown, MD 21658.
Queenstown, Maryland (May 25, 2021) – The 23rd Annual Maryland Commodity Classic will be in person this year! Come on out to the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park on July 22nd to hear the latest research, visit with our sponsors, honor 2021 scholarship recipients and the Dr. Miller Awardee, enjoy our Keynote Speaker, and complete your day with delicious food and good friends.
Commodity Classic will open the gates at 8:30 AM. We are asking all attendees to register online here, to provide an accurate headcount and receive updates on credits being offered, schedule confirmation, and more. To enter, tickets will be $10 before 2:30 PM, $20 after 2:30 PM, and no entry after 3:30 PM.
Maryland Grain Producers Association members will receive a free ticket via mail by July. You can become a member today here for just $50.
Our annual event is co-sponsored by the Maryland Grain Producers Association and Utilization Board, and the Maryland Soybean Board. If you would be interested in being a sponsor of the 2021 Maryland Commodity Classic, please call the office at 443-262-8491 or email Marguerite at marguerite.mdag@gmail.com.
Address: Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park – 4-H Park Road, Centreville, MD 21617
Queenstown, Maryland (Wednesday, April 21st) – The Maryland Grain Producers is here to serve the grain farmers growing corn, wheat, barley, sorghum, triticale, and canola across the state. Despite the challenges of 2020, grain farmers were #StillFarming harvesting 430,000 acres of corn, 150,000 acres of wheat, and 21,000 acres of barley.
Farmers’ checkoff dollars were hard at work, continuing to advance the grain industry in Maryland through grants in the mission areas of research, agricultural education, and market development. In order to showcase projects funded and results they achieved, each farmer, MGPA member, and allied organization will be receiving our 2020 Grain Store Newsletter in the mail soon. We encourage you to enjoy the annual report to read about the accomplishments of our 2020 grantees.
The Grain Store also recognizes our 2020 sponsors, corn yield contest winners, 2021 funded projects, and award recipients.
You can access the 2020 Grain Store online here. If you did not receive a mailed copy and would like one, please email jenell.mdag@gmail.com.
We encourage grain farmers across the state to become a member of our Association to stay up-to-date on the latest grain news, support legislative coverage in Annapolis, and a number of other great benefits, that can be found here. A membership form can be found online here or on the final age of our annual report.
We wish producers across the state a safe and bountiful year!
Queenstown, Maryland (Thursday, April 1st) – Increased extreme and episodic weather events and disruptions have devastated recent harvests and sent shocks through our national food systems. There has never been a more important time for all corners of the food and agriculture sector to co-create solutions and enable farmers and ranchers full potential for positive impact on our changing climate.
As part of our mission, the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board has endorsed the first-ever sector-specific Vision for the sustainable food systems of the future: a resilient, restorative, economically viable, and climate-smart agricultural prosperous America.
The Vision was developed and gained alignment by more than 200 farmers, ranchers, food and agricultural leaders, and science and technology experts representing every corner of our sector’s value chain, convened by U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action. It serves as a North Star to guide the bold, collaborative action required to accelerate progress on climate-smart agriculture solutions in the next decade.
Our endorsement is a pledge to work with leaders and organizations across our sector to advance our unified Vision through individuals and collective commitments and realize four key outcomes:
Continue to restore our environment through agriculture that regenerates natural resources.
Continue to revitalize our collective appreciation for agriculture.
Continue to invest in the next generation of agriculture systems.
Continue to strengthen the social and economic fabric of America through agriculture.
Maryland Grain Producers will focus on outcomes where our work in conservation continues and can provide the greatest contribution. Our already established dedication will continue to play an important role – along with other endorsing organizations’ efforts in progress – to build momentum toward outcomes and to help shape a collective commitment for the food and agriculture sector. These are commitments meant to showcase agriculture’s ability to achieve this and each organization is responsible for their part in helping achieve the Vision.
More to come from Maryland Grain Producers’ part in this exciting work as part of the Decade of Ag – a sustainability movement unlike others that: mobilizes an unmatched food and agriculture sector leadership network, puts farmers and ranchers at the center and builds on prior action and momentum in progress.
Until then:
Take 5 minutes to watch the 30Harvests docudrama which perfectly illustrates the agriculture challenges facing our farmers, ranchers, and communities and underscores the urgency, to act on climate change now.
Learn more about Vision creation, principles, and detailed outcomes.
Annapolis, Maryland (Friday, February 5th) – The Maryland State legislature convened in January for an unprecedented, largely virtual, legislative session. COVID-19 and other important issues from the trying year of 2020, has given the legislature plenty of priorities to focus on and overcome during the 2021 session. Given the limited time for legislators on the floor and priority issues to advance during a global pandemic; one would assume the Senate would not spend precious legislative time overriding a Gubernatorial veto on a bill for which the provisions have already been enacted through regulation. That is why they should not seek to override the veto on Senate Bill 300 “Pesticides – Use of Chlorpyrifos – Prohibition” that passed in the waning hours of the truncated 2020 session.
Senate Bill 300 sought to set a precedent as the first legislative ban of an agricultural pesticide in Maryland history; a process historically done through regulation at the Federal and State level. Senate Bill 300 sought to end the use of Chlorpyrifos by December 31, 2021, and regulations have already been enacted to do exactly that. Overriding the veto and expending limited floor time on this issue which has already been resolved instead of using that time to advance policies that could create real, positive change does not serve Maryland’s citizens.
During the 2020 legislative session, the agricultural community worked with bi-partisan members of the Senate and the Governor’s administration to craft a regulatory solution to meet the intent of Senate Bill 300. These regulations were drafted and submitted during the 2020 legislative session to phase Chlorpyrifos out of use in Maryland on the same timeline proposed in the bill and took effect in June 2020. Upon enactment of the regulations, aerial application of Chlorpyrifos was banned immediately. All other uses were banned as of December 30, 2020, with the exception of snap bean seed treatments and fruit trees in order to give those farmers time to seek out and transition to alternatives. Use of Chlorpyrifos in those instances will be eliminated as of June 30, 2021, with a provision for emergency exemptions until December 31, 2021, after which time, Chlorpyrifos will no longer be registered for use in Maryland. Finally, the regulations set up an advisory committee to help farmers transition to alternative products. There is nothing more to be achieved from a policy perspective by overriding the veto on Senate Bill 300. We believe proponents of the bill seek to override the veto to set a precedent of legislatively banning pesticides. Pesticides are reviewed and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency through an extensive, scientific process. Authority for pesticide regulation at the state level in Maryland is delegated to the Maryland Department of Agriculture. This process often takes nearly a decade to review and completed at least every fifteen years.
Governor Hogan was not alone in vetoing pesticide legislation in favor of regulation in 2020. Both Governor Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) vetoed pesticide ban legislation in 2020 in favor of regulatory solutions. When Governor Cuomo vetoed Chlorpyrifos ban legislation in New York, he summed up the reasoning in his veto letter stating, “legislatively banning pesticides substitutes the legislature’s judgment for the expertise of chemists, health experts, and other subject matter experts in this field.” Any change to the regulations banning Chlorpyrifos would be a public and open process requiring submission to the Administration, Executive, and Legislative Review Committee of the Maryland State Legislature, publication in the Maryland Register, and public comment to be considered before enactment. That being said, the agricultural community has no intentions of going back on our word to support the regulatory phase-out of Chlorpyrifos in Maryland is not without consequences. Many farmers are now faced with the daunting task of finding alternative products to protect their crops to continue growing safe, reliable, and affordable food for Marylanders. We hope the Maryland legislature will spend their time improving the lives of their constituents through meaningful policy rather than overriding a veto on a bill that will achieve nothing beyond what has already been done through regulation.
Respectively Submitted by:
Melvin Baile, Maryland Grain Producers Association President, and Carroll County farmer
Wayne Stafford, Maryland Farm Bureau President, and Cecil County Farmer
Queenstown, Maryland (January 29, 2021) – For students working towards a degree in an agriculture-related field, the Maryland Grain Producers is currently accepting scholarship applications for the 2021 and 2022 school year.
Mitch Debnam, 2020 Scholarship Recipient, said, “this scholarship means that I can continue to follow my goal of completing my ag technician education and ultimately pursue my dream of becoming a full-time farmer.”
The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) is honored to contribute to one’s secondary education goals and give back to four farm families across our state. The Maryland Grain Producers Association (MGPA) utilizes checkoff dollars from the MGPUB to support our future generation.
Student Eligibility:
Enrolled in or accepted to a 2-year or a 4-year institution studying agriculture or a related field.
Applicate or immediate family member must be involved in grain production and a member of the MGPA.
Members should not have received a checkoff refund in the past 12 months.
Currently residing in Maryland, but can attend school outside of the state.
Students are eligible to receive one of the four $2,500 scholarships being offered. Scholarships are to be awarded during the annual Commodity Classic held Thursday, July 22, 2021, at the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park on Rt. 18 between Queenstown and Centreville.
The Maryland Grain Producers Scholarship Committee will select the recipients from applications with all identifying information redacted. An electronic version of the application and more information can be found online here. MGPA must have received your application by April 30th for consideration. Applications are accepted by mail or email. If you have any questions, please call 443-262-8491.
Grasonville, Maryland (Monday, January 18th) – Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board members met January 7-8, 2021 to consider 34 grant proposals covering research, education, and market development for funding. Check-off dollars from corn, wheat, barley, oats, and sorghum are used to support grants approved by the Utilization Board. The board is composed of grain farmers representing all regions of the state along with advisory members from the Maryland Department of Agriculture, University of Maryland, agriculture industry representatives, and the Maryland Agriculture Commission.
For the 2021 funding cycle, 29 grants were funded totaling $860,580 reinvested into the profitability of Maryland’s grain farmers. Grants include funding for MPT’s highly successful television show Maryland Farm and Harvest, LEAD Maryland, the My Maryland Farmers campaign, and many educational programs through Extension. Overall, 12 research projects were funded investigating wheat and barley varieties, critical nutrient levels in major crops, and the efficacy of pesticide and fungicides in Maryland conditions. These check-off funded projects seek to return the farmers’ investment to grain producers across the state. To see the grantee breakdown, click here.
Newly-elected Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board President, John Bruning said, “Funding projects to improve public understanding of agriculture, the development and maintenance of markets for grain, and learning more about managing the grains we produce, is crucial to the future success of Maryland’s grain farmers.”
The Maryland Grain Producers is grateful to have received strong proposals for funding, despite the unknowns 2021 holds, and appreciate the agriculture community’s work to advance our mission for producers across the state.
