Notes from Your Team at MGPA

Dear Farmers,

Thank you for continuing to work hard to provide food for all of us. Governor Hogan will be releasing plans to reopen Maryland today and we hope you're all doing well through this difficult time.

Our Board continues to remind the public that farmers are #StillFarming. Follow our Facebook Page to continue to spread this message.

Lastly, our 2020 scholarship application is due May 1st, scroll to the bottom for more information.

Planting Progress Report

Farmers across the nation are moving their planters across the fields, view USDA's most recent Crop Progress Report can be found here.

Taking Care of Yourself During a Pandemic

Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include:

Ways to cope with stress:

The National Corn Growers Associations has more infromation on handling stress here. You are welcome to connect with others.

Market Update

The University of Illinois completed an economic analysis. Cash corn prices have declined by 16% on average since March 1st. The analysis projects a $50 per acre revenue decline for the 2019 corn crop. An average crop insurance PLC program payment of $17 per base is projected for corn. There is also an estimated $11 decline for soybeans per acre, while wheat revenue increased by $5 per acre. Read the full analysis here.

View April 21, 2020 Maryland Grain Bids here.

Wheat Condition Report

University of Maryland, Nidhi Rawat provides a wheat update for Maryland farmers. Wheat on the eastern shore is at jointing or booting stage and should be heading out in a week or so. Barley is at heading or will be soon. The FHB risk is currently predicted to be low across the state. On the western shore, wheat plants are starting to joint and are not at a stage prone for FHB. Extension offices will continue to serve you and available through phone, email, and online teleconferencing. Read more here.

Food Processing Disruption

Processing plants across the nation have closed or slowed their production due to illness of workers.. Livestock producers and dairy farmers have already taken a hit. Vegetables are also being tilled under in California. Our reliable food supply is potentially in danger if the processing disruptions are not fixed soon. Americans have taken on baking while quarantined. Flour mills are running overtime. Flour sales are up 155% and yeast sales are up 457%. Read the full story here.

Ethanol

Ethanol production has idled with fuel demand down 45% since early March. Some plants and distilleries are working to make hand sanitizer, see here.

Economic Relief

There has been aid and relief packages passed for row crop farmers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). This program provides $19 billion in immediate relief to agriculture with $3.9 billion dedicated for grain farmers. The livestock indsutry will receive $9.6 billion in assistance. Read NCGA's comments here.

Lastly, the Paycheck Protection Program will be getting more funding. The Senate passed an additional $321 billion for the PPP, we are waiting for the House to vote. There will also be monies available in the EIDL program to help agriculture businesses with less than 500 employees.

We Are Here for YOU

Stay safe and healthy this spring, if there is anything we can do for you, we want to hear from you. It is best to contact our cell phones or emails. We will continue to have one person in the office during normal business hours.

Lindsay Thompson, [email protected], Executive Director

Jenell Eck, [email protected], Programs and Public Relations Director

Marguerite Guare, [email protected], Administration

443-262-8491

NEWS/FARMER RESOURCES

Giveaway - Enter By May 15th

The Maryland Grain Producers are collecting photos of farmers busy in the fields this spring. Send us a photo through Facebook or by emailing [email protected] by May 15th. Please provide the farm name, city, and county with your entry.

All photos will be shared on our social media page after May 15th and the most liked photo by the public will recive a $25 VISA gift card sponsored by Willards Agri-Service.

By submitting a photo, your are authorizing Maryland Grain PRoducers to use it in future posts and promotional materials.

Farmers Reduce GHG Emissions

Analysis shows that the US ag sector has reduced their greenhouse gas emissions while productivity has increased for all commodities. Dairy has declined per-unit emissions by almost 25% and beef has fallen nearly 8%. When compared to farm production in 1990, US farmers would have needed almost 100 million additional acres to grow the same amount of corn, cotton, rice, soybeans, and wheat they harvested in 2018. Read more here.

High Octane Low Carbon Fuel Webinar

Last week the NCGA and other groups put on an educational webinar about high octane and low carbon. The future is there but timeline is coming together. You can register here to watch it.

EPA - Dicamba

The ninth circuit court of appeals is being asked to overturn the EPA's approval of Dicamba. Allegations are from the National Family Farm Coalition and three non-profit consumer and environmental groups. The court hearing will be handled by phone on Tuesday, April 28th. Read more here.

Spotted Lanternfly

The first spotted lanternflies of 2020 have hatched in PA, kicking off a season where we could see large populations of the bug in Maryland as well. Read more here.

Bunge Sells 35 Grain Elevators

Bunge has agreed to sell 35 US interior elevators to Zen-Noh Grain Corporation. Bunge will continue to be an indsutry leader in the US market through global grain trading and distribution. Read the full story here.

Soybean Diseases and Economic Losses

Economic losses due to soybean diseases in the US from 1996 to 2016 amounted to more than $95 billion, according to a team of researchers at Penn State. Across all states and years, the soybean cyst nematode, charcoal rot, and seedling diseases were the most economically damaging. Read more here.

National Sorghum Yield Contest

The 2020 Sorghum Yield Contest is open for enrollment. One must be a member. Forms must be completed abd submitted 10 days prior to harvest and emailed no later than December 1st. Learn more here.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Delmarva Poultry Industry - Extended Deadline

Maryland Grain Producers Scholarship

Maryland State Grange

Dairy Management Inc. Scholarship

American Floral Endowment - 24 Scholarships

Bruce W. Hotchkiss Scholarship

National Sorghum Foundation Scholarship

Created By: Jenell Eck

Programs and Public Relations Director

[email protected]

www.marylandgrain.org

Please contact with any questions.