Market and Trade News

• The good, the bad, and the ugly of #WheatTour23, more here.
• Black sea grain initiative restored for two months, more here.
• Updates to the Mississippi River Infrastructure read more here.
• Another large wheat crop is expected in Canada, read the full story here.
• U.S. corn farmers may be called on to fill void left by war in Ukraine, here.
• Check out the latest grain bids online here.

Maryland Crop Progress

• 86% of Maryland corn is planted with 73% emerged
• 96% of winter wheat is in head
• Barley is 100% fair or in better condition
• Wheat is 100% fair or in better condition
• The webpage can be found here.

National Corn Growers Association's new Maize Market Minute video is below. For the corn economy 1Q end report and webinar, click here.

FHB Update for Maryland 5/16/2023

Wheat on the Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland has finished flowering. Northwest Maryland is either flowering or past flowering. The risk for FHB is currently low. U of M is observing powdery mildew, rusts, and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus in some of the test plots, for more information here.

Small Grains Field Day

The 2023 Small Grain Field Day will take place on May 23rd from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM at the Wye Research and Education Center. The University of Maryland Extension will showcase an update on the Agronomy degree program and the commercial variety strip trials while covering the wheat breeding program. Register for free here.

2023 Deer Summit - May Meeting

Last week Maryland farmers and officials met at the Department of Agriculture for the first meeting to weigh options for controlling deer damage. Farm Bureau estimated deer cause about $50 in damage per acre, causing as much as $60 million in damage yearly. If you have any solution ideas, please email our team! To read the full story, click here.

May Agronomy News can be found here.

We Are Here for YOU

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

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

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

Elaine Draper, thompsonagconsulting@gmail.com, Administrative Assistant

Miller-Meeks, etc. Introduce Bill to Classify Corn-Based Ethanol

U.S. representatives introduced the Fuels Parity Act, legislation that would allow ethanol from corn starch to qualify as an advanced biofuel and require EPA to use the Argonne GREET model to determine the greenhouse gas emission profile under the RFS. NCGA supports this legislation, here. For the full press release, click here.

BASF Safety Scouts Farm Safety Program Launches

The BASF Safety Scouts program supports children in learning about the value and importance of farm safety by providing safety kits to families free of charge. This spring, the program will provide 2,000 kits to farm families throughout the U.S. Learn more about the safety program here.

Automated Agricultural Machinery and Safety

Automated machines detect objects through perception sensors, which are then interpreted through machine learning algorithms to direct the equipment to stop, slow down, or change direction. There are three main types of obstacles that machines must be able to handle. However, there are still many questions that need to be addressed. Read the full article here.

Maryland Soybean Board Building Value for Farmers

The Maryland Soybean Board has reinvested over $445,000 soy check-off dollars for its 2023 fiscal year in projects that build value for Maryland soybean growers. Read the full press release and see how check-off dollars are spent here.

Poor Soils Lose Carbon Regardless of Crop Residue and Nitrogen Inputs

Many farmers think if they add plenty of nitrogen fertilizer, that nutrients, along with carbon, will be stored in the soil as organic matter when microbes decompose crop residue. But new research suggests those efforts might not work for poor soils. Learn more here.

What Makes a Quality Carbon Credit?

A carbon credit is a term for the certificate or token showing that one metric ton of carbon dioxide has been reduced from previous emission levels or sequestered from the atmosphere. The carbon and ecosystem resource, Decode 6, takes a closer look at the four focus points and how they help buyers when determining the quality (and price they are willing to pay) for carbon credits. More here.

Maryland Small Grains Field Day

Join us on May 23rd to enjoy a showcase of the research being conducted by the University of Maryland Small Grain Production team. The event will begin at 3:00 PM and end at 5:00 PM. Register here.

Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program

PARP is here to assist eligible producers who experienced a revenue decrease in the calendar year 2020. Contact your local USDA's Farm Service Agency will for questions. Applications are due by June 2nd, learn more here.

Scrap Tire Drop-Off Days

Going NOW until June 30th, Maryland Farm Bureau is partnering with the Maryland Department of the Environment for its annual scrap tire event. Locations and times vary, learn more here.

National Corn Yield Contest

The 2023 corn yield contest is currently accepting farms. The entry period closes on August 16th. Learn more here.

National Sorghum Yield Contest

Registration is currently open and closes on November 15th. Learn more here.