Maryland Grain Producers

Chester, Maryland (August 2, 2024) – Maryland Grain Producer Utilization Board (MGPUB) member, Jennie Schmidt, was recently elected as U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC) At-Large Director. At the USGC’s Annual Board of Delegates meeting, members and staff traveled to Salt Lake City, UT to discuss programming plans and elect Council leaders for the next year. Jennie Schmidt and Curt Mether were elected as At-Large Directors, while a new chairwomen, vice-chair, and secretary/treasurer were elected. USGC develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum, and related products. With a full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union.

Jennie Schmidt is a full-time farmer with her brother-in-law on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. They have a diversified family farm currently growing grains, fruit, and vegetables. Serving as a MGPUB board member since 2012 and President in 2016. Before becoming a farmer, Jennie was a registered dietitian and still maintains an online presence as the foodie farmer.

Since 2019, Jennie attended her first corn quality rollout in Cairo, Egypt and saw the work the Council was doing on the ground. Since the mid-1980’s Jennie has traveled to and been involved with international agriculture in 30 countries.

“I am honored to have been elected an At Large Director to the board of the US Grains Council. I have represented Maryland farmers at the USGC since 2019. With years of experience in international agriculture, I am eager to defend and expand our market share for US grains globally,” said Jennie. “Serving on the USGC board is tremendous opportunity to further promote value added advantages of our products and advance new export opportunities.”

The At-Large Director is a leadership position responsible for guiding the organization’s activities. Directors represent the broader interests of the grain industry and contribute to shaping policies related to trade, market development, and advocacy. They collaborate with other board members to promote U.S. agriculture globally and foster relationship with international buyers.

Congratulations to Jennie and hopeful to the term of a lifetime.

Centreville, Maryland (July 30, 2024) – With good rain across the state last week for the first time since May, Maryland Farmers and others were excited to gather at the 26th Maryland Commodity Classic. On Thursday, 426 people gathered at the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park for a busy and great event! The Maryland Grain Producers and Maryland Soybean Board welcomed farmers, check-off funded grantees, legislators, agribusinesses, and sponsors.

Bright and early at 8:00 AM, farmers, firefighters, and EMS from surrounding counties attended a check-off funded Grain Bin Rescue Tube training taught by Dan Neenan, Director of NECAS in Partnership with Nationwide. The training and demonstration was to showcase how to utilize grain bin rescue tubes. Grain Producers Executive Director, Lindsay Thompson volunteered to help train Preston Volunteer Fire Department. The Maryland Grain Producers has funded a number of tubes across the state, find your local rescue tube here.

While the demonstration was taking place, Classic attendees were able to learn more about two check-off funded research projects; Development and Evaluation of High-Yielding Resilient Wheat Cultivars for Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic Region and Grid Soil Sampling for Variable Rate Application. Vijay’s journey of the Maryland wheat breeding program began in 2020 with speed breeding. This summer he is working to license four wheat cultivars, two barley cultivars, and a public cultivar for release. Our board will keep you posted on this progress.

During lunch, attendees visited the 65 research and sponsor booths to network and catch up. While others tasted local spirit and cocktails for the Maryland’s Best Cocktail Competition. During the business meeting, Joanne Clendining announced that McClintock Distilling took home first place with their Free State Gold Rush. New this year, Maryland Grain Producers and Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Maryland’s Best program worked together for the cocktail competition and whiskey competition. The whiskey competition took place at the Department of Agriculture on July 15th with a blind competition and McClintock Distilling’s Old Etzler Straight Rye Whiskey was awarded as the 2024 Maryland’s Best Farmer’s Choice Award.

Also, during the business meeting which was emceed by Maryland Farm & Harvest Host, Joanne Clendining, the Maryland Grain Producers presented the 2024 Maryland Grain Producers Scholarship Recipients and CDL Grant awardees. Josh Appenzeller with the Maryland Soybean Board shared a few words, followed by Justin Brendel, Maryland Grain Producers Association President providing a 2024 legislative up-date showcasing membership dollars at work. Joanne Clendining presented the 2024 Dr. Miller Award to Eugene “Gene” Boyle. New this year, the Maryland Grain Producers Association created the Lawrence E. Meeks Farmer Lifetime of Service Award which was proudly presented to Drew Stabler. Congratulations to Gene Boyle and Drew Stabler!

The meeting ended with our Keynote Speaker, Jim Weisemeyer. Since 1978, Jim has reported frequently on and interviewed senior government officials, including Presidents Reagan and Carter, as well as USDA Secretaries since Dr. Earl Butz. He has traveled extensively in his assignments and is a frequent speaker on farm policy and trade issues. Now Jim contributes daily to Pro Farmer’s online website at FarmJournalPro.com, providing members with the latest information on agricultural policy and trade developments. He also is a twice-weekly participant in Farm Journal’s Agri-Talk radio program and serves as a Washington analyst for Pro Farmer.

The day ended with the traditional crab feast and BBQ, catered by Sisters By Chance. Attendees enjoyed delicious food while being able to catch up with many old friends.

Thank you to everyone for coming out for a good time! We look forward to seeing you next year on July 24th for the 27th Annual Maryland Commodity Classic.

Tuesday, June 5, 2024 (Chester, Maryland) – Delmarva Chicken Association, Maryland Farm Bureau, and Maryland Grain Producers Association applauded an Appellate Court of Maryland ruling that affirmed right-to-farm provisions protecting a Talbot County farm’s ability to use modern nutrient management techniques.

The May 30 ruling, In the Matter of Cheryl Lewis, et al., written by Judge Glenn T. Harrell, Jr., affirmed the principle that Maryland’s right-to-farm law broadly shields farmers and their operations from vexatious lawsuits. Maryland’s right-to-farm law protects farm operations from litigation asserting that the farm is a nuisance or that a farm interferes with others’ use of their property, as long as they are utilizing standard agricultural practices.

In this case, the Circuit Court for Talbot County had previously reversed a Talbot County Agricultural Resolution Board ruling that a particular Talbot County farm was protected by Maryland’s right-to-farm law. The Circuit Court decision had questioned a suspected discrepancy in the law, setting a dangerous precedent that could allow farmers to be sued while following normal agricultural practices. However, Judge Harrell’s May 30 ruling overruled the Circuit Court opinion and found that the Talbot County Agricultural Resolution Board had made the correct decision.

When Maryland’s General Assembly modified the right-to-farm law in 1998, it “contemplated a scenario like the one at issue here: an expanded nutrient management system,” Judge Harrell wrote. “That regulation does not require a particular agricultural operation to exist for one year in order to enjoy liability protection,” he wrote, and so “the expanded use of soil conditioners and Class A biosolids at the Foster Farm was a protected activity.”

The Maryland Farm Bureau, Delmarva Chicken Association, and Maryland Grain Producers Association submitted friend-of-the-court briefs in the appeals process arguing that the right-to-farm law rightfully covered the farm in question.

“As Maryland’s rural regions face increasing pressure from development, it’s crucial to protect farmers’ rights and to keep commonly accepted agricultural practices in their toolboxes,” said Holly Porter, Delmarva Chicken Association’s executive director. “Even though this lawsuit did not directly involve a chicken grower, a loss in court would have been detrimental to every farmer and grower in the state. We’re heartened that the Appellate Court of Maryland made this ruling.”

“Maryland introduced a Right-to-Farm (RTF) law in 1981 to shield agricultural activities from complaining nonfarm neighbors by providing a defense for nuisance actions brought against farms and other agricultural operations,” said Maryland Farm Bureau President Jamie Raley. “Maryland Farm Bureau initiated the appeal of the Talbot County case to protect the RTF for our farmer members. We are pleased that the Appellate Court of Maryland upheld the RTF and brought clarity and certainty to the law.”

A PDF copy of the ruling is available here.

Chester, Maryland (May 13, 2024) – The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ (AGNR) Agriculture Production Systems Committee, selected Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) as a recipient of the 2024 Cornerstone Award. This award recognizes programs and activities that increase awareness, enhance visibility, or elevate the prominence of AGNR’s Strategic Initiatives.

The University of Maryland (UMD) ANGR’s Agriculture Production Systems strategic initiative seeks to: Increase plant and animal productivity through new technologies, cutting edge research and Extension programs; Improve and conserve soil health and water quality to sustain farms through the generations’ Address measures to manage the changing climate and its impact on agricultural production in Maryland; Contribute to the success of agricultural businesses and; Provide educational opportunities to create the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board was selected for this Cornerstone Award for embodying this initiative through programming. Since its inception in 1991, the Maryland check-off program has awarded over $26 M in farmer dollars in research, market development, and education projects to improve the efficiency and profitability of Maryland grain farmers and improve public understanding of agriculture. MGPUB has funded university research to determine the optimum nutrient management and conservation systems for Maryland grain production and a systems approach to controlling pests and disease in grain crops. In 2023, MGPUB started the On-Farm Research Program with Dr. Nicole Fiorellino. Farmer dollars have also gone to support 78 students further the education to pursue careers in agriculture.

Dr. Nicole Fiorellino, UMD Agronomist and MGPUB Board member, was awarded the Integrated Research & Extension Excellence Award. Nicole serves as a nexus between the farmer board and the university to provide her insights on research needed to meet the needs of Maryland grain farmers. MGPUB has funded several research projects with Dr. Fiorellino including the state corn variety trials, nitrogen management in high yielding wheat, phosphorus build-up and draw-down in high-P soil, among others. The board has always found her proposals to be responsive to grower needs and executed in a manner consistent with grower education. Nicole also does not just let her research “sit on the shelf” and actively uses her work to educate farmers at grower meetings, field days, and more.

Dr. Fiorellino is well respected among the grower community in Maryland and serves as a convener for MGPUB of other researchers at UMD as well as the University of Delaware which allows for collaboration on agronomic research projects for more useful outcomes for growers. Nicole is also very successful at acquiring grants to conduct research, outreach, and education through partnerships with other universities and organizations.

Congratulations to Dr. Fiorellino and the farmers of the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board for their Cornerstone Award.

Chester, Maryland (May 7, 2024) – Grain producers from across the state of Maryland had a different year. Parts of the state dealt with never ending rain whereas other parts of the state dealt with a horrible drought, thanks to the El Nino. Interest rates and market reports impacted all the farm businesses but with determination and stewardship, our producers still harvested 72.6 million bushels of corn, 16.5 million bushels of wheat, and 1.25 million bushels of barley. All while planting 395,000 acres of cover crops and 2,800 acres through the Cover Crop Plus program. In 2023, our Utilization Board was recognized for Volunteer of the Year and presented over $1,166,124 in check-off funded grants.

As 2024 has been off to a wet start, the last few weeks grain farmers have been working in the fields preparing for the 2024 growing season. We are hopeful for a bountiful year for all despite the current market prices. This year the Utilization Board funded 40 grants totaling $1,093,484 in check-off dollars. These farmers dollars are hard at work to continue our mission to improve the profitability, public understanding, and sustainability of Maryland agriculture and farm families.

To read more about 2023 and Maryland Grain Producers accomplishments read our Annual Grain Store here. The 20-page report will also be in your mailbox in the coming days. This report showcases each check-off funded grant from 2023, highlights awardees and yield contest winners, recognizes our 2023 sponsors, and much more!

“Hearing from our grantees each January on how they utilized their awarded check-off dollars for the year is astonishing,” said Utilization Board President, Steve Ernst. “Last year dollars helped reach 20,800 youth about our industry alone. The board can’t wait to see what our 2024 dollars can do!”

Lastly, we hope to see you at the 26th Annual Maryland Commodity Classic being held on July 25th at the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park in Centreville. We will be utilizing the newly built barns for the day of the event! Check-off funded grants will be in attendance to showcase the work they have been doing. Stay tuned for more information about the Commodity Classic at www.MarylandGrain.org.

Chester, Maryland (April 24, 2024) – The Maryland Grain Producers wants you to come see farmers’ check off dollars hard at work at the Maryland Small Grains Field Days! The field days featuring check off funded small grains research and commercial demonstration plots are being held May 22nd at the Wye Research and Education Center and May 23rd at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center in partnership with the Maryland Crop Improvement Association.

The first stop on each tour will allow attendees to view commercial wheat plots and hear from local seed retailers. Check off dollars are used to compare a number of wheat and barley varieties to provide Maryland growers with real results. You can find previous variety trial data online at https://Maryland.Medius.Re/.

The next stop will take attendees to the University of Maryland’s Small Grains Breeding Program. Grower dollars are hard at work to develop wheat cultivars that are high-yielding and disease-resistant. Dr. Vijay Tiwari has been building this program since 2019 and Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board has provided $161,434 in funding. Varieties should be commercially available in the next few years.

Then, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about Dr. Nidhi Rawat’s research on managing Fusarium Head Blight across the state. Dr. Nidhi and her team stimulate disease conditions at the University of Maryland College Park’s greenhouses with a misted nursery to help Dr. Tiwari provide a disease-resistant varieties and find the best products to protect Maryland wheat. You can find the latest reports on our website at www.MarylandGrain.org.

The last stop before a complimentary dinner will allow everyone to view Dr. Nicole Fiorellino’s research on nitrogen rate in high yielding wheat. Check off dollars are supporting this research in hopes of updating Maryland’s Nutrient Management recommendations. First-year results will be available after wheat harvest this year, recommendations will be available after three years of data.

We hope you are able to join us for our Small Grain Field Days. We will be at the Wye Research and Education Center on May 22nd and the Central Maryland Research and Education Center on May 23rd. Registration is free and encouraged, please register www.MarylandGrain.org.