88% of US corn is mature and in 59% good/excellent condition with 29% harvested for grain. Full report here.

This week's Maryland Grain Bids can be found online here.

Maryland Grain Producers Board Member, Jennie Schmidt, received the Top Producer's 2021 Executive Women in Agriculture Trailblazer Award. Learn more about Jennie and her farm story online here.

Congratulations Jennie on a job well done!

The MD Departments of Agriculture and Environment were asked by the State Legislature to create a process and strategy to develop a new climate assessment for Maryland agriculture. Project partners are still seeking input via a survey. To share your input, please complete this survey.

If you contract grow livestock and poultry, you may be eligible for assistance funds. Sign-up closes next week! More information here and be sure to contact your local FSA office to see if you are eligible.

Rod Snyder has been named Ag Advisor to the Administrator! Rod was the Director of Public Policy at NCGA from 2008 - 2014. More here.

The National Corn Growers Association welcomes Iowa farmer, Chris Edgington, as their new President. Learn more about Chris online here.

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

443-262-8491

The 2021 University of Maryland Ag Law Conference will be held online on November 17th and 18th. Registration is $35! A few topics that will be covered are: Growing Carbon Credits and Reaching Bay Clean-Up Goals. More information can be found online here.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture will provide up to $750,000 for research and evaluation projects that provide updated data on the generation of energy from animal waste in Maryland while evaluating the feasibility and direction of other projects supported by the fund. Learn more here.

USDA ARS says one of its African Swine Flu vaccine candidates has been shown to prevent and effectively protect both European and Asian bred swine against the current circulating Asian strain of the virus. Researchers say the onset of immunity was revealed in approximately one-third of the swine by second-week post-vaccination, with full protection in all swine achieved by the fourth week. Read more here.

Secretary Vilsack said USDA is investing in a series of pilot projects, as part of the "Climate Smart Partnership Initiative," which will provide incentives to implement climate smart conservation practices on working lands and to quantify and monitor the carbon and greenhouse gas benefits associated with those practices. Vilsack also announced $3 billion in additional funds and activities to address immediate agricultural issues, including drought, supply chain disruptions, animal disease, and nutrition. Read more here.

The bill provides $10 billion to continue the Wildlife and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus, or WHIP+ for the losses in 2020 and 2021. It requires that recipients of that assistance purchase crop insurance or Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program coverage for the two following crop years. More information can be found here.

Secretary Vilsack announced an investment of more than $146 million in sustainable agricultural research projects aimed at improving a robust, resilient, climate-smart food and agricultural system. The innovative program focuses on a broad base of needed research solutions from addressing labor challenges and promoting land stewardship to correcting climate change impacts in agriculture and critical needs in food and nutrition. More here.

Aerial Cover Crop Application must be completed by Sunday, October 10th!

Cereal Grains must be planted by Friday, November 5th!

More information can be found online here or by contacting your local SCF.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is offering Commercial Pesticide Exams this year. View dates and locations for October and December here.

FFA members across the nation are able to write an essay for a chance to win $1,000 and an additional $750 for their chapter. The essay deadline is October 29th and more information can be found here.

Registration is now open for Mid-Atlantic Farm Credits AgBiz Master's Program. This two-year educational program is available to young, beginning, and small farmers who want to refine their business management, financial, and marketing skills. Registration closes October 31, 2021. Learn more about the program here.

The annual convention will be held in person from January 7th to 12th in Atlanta, GA with a virtual option for portions of the event. Learn more about the 103rd consecutive convnetion online here.

The 2022 National Commodity Classic is taking place March 8th-March 12th in New Orleans. The Commodity Classic will host a series of educational sessions and updates from various commodity associations. Learn more and see the schedule here.

Maryland Grain Producers Association has partnered with the National Corn Growers Association to offer a single application for both scholarships! NCGA has three scholarship applications open for students in the following categories:

The MGPA scholarship is open to students enrolled in two year vocational schools or four-year universities seeking agricultural related degrees. Applicants families must be involved in grain production and members of MGPA.

Scholarship applications are due by January 31st and can be found here.

The Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement is kicking off its 2021-2022 scholarship program. High school seniors and students enrolled in two/four year higher education programs with plans to pursue a career in the agriculture industry are eligible to apply by January 7th. Applications and more information can be found online here.

Created By: Jenell Eck McHenry | jenell.mdag@gmail.com

Please contact us with any questions.