Commodity Classic

Our 2020 Commodity Classic will be held virtually this year. Updates will be posted on our website here.

CFAP - Grain Assistance

Payments have begun to go out to producers across the nation. You have until August 28th to complete your applications. Non-specialty commodities, cattle, hogs, sheep, and specialty crops are included. Contact your local FSA office for questions and applications.

Corn Analysis Updated

The 2020 Corn Crop due to COVID-19 is projected to have an $89 per acre average revenue decline. The 2019 crop projected a $59 per acre decline according to the National Corn Growers Latest report, here.

Planting Progress Report

Maryland planted 95% of its corn. Of that, 95% has emerged, above our 5-year average. Barley is 57% mature and harvest has begun in some portion of our state. 8% of Wheat is mature. We finish you a bountiful harvest this summer! View the full report here.

Nationally, 71% of the US corn crop has a good or excellent rating. Sorghum is 79% planted and 48% is in good or excellent rating. Read more here.

Dicamba Update

A number of national organizations have come together urging the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to reject the NGO's call to invalidate EPA's allowance for use of dicamba existing stocks. An estimated 64 million acres of dicamba-tolerant seeds are already in the ground. The expected yield loss for soy and cotton is as high as 50%. Read more here. There are no further updates at this time but will be found here.

MDA Phase-Out Chlorpyrifos

The Maryland Department of Agriculture has adopted regulations to immediately restrict and phase-out the regular use of chlorpyrifos. The newly adopted regulations were developed in consultation with agricultural leaders, environmental advocates, and farmers to find a solution that would address the concerns of all parties. Aerial applications are prohibited effective immediately. Other applications will be generally prohibited after December 31st. Read the full report here.

Market and Trade Update

According to the US Grains Council, for the week of June 8th, 1,241,200 MT of corn was exported, 102,700 MT of sorghum was exported, and 20 million gallons of US ethanol was purchased by Nigeria. Turkey has imported 250,000 MT and as of June 1st, Mexico brewers are back online and consuming American barley.

For the week of June 15th, 357.8 thousand MT of corn was sold. China and New Zealand bought 216.2 thousand MT of sorghum.

The US Grains Council has created an easy-to-use portal to track export totals to Free Trade Agreements partners. With 14 FTAs in place through 20 countries, follow along here.

During the coronavirus, Amick Farms reduced chicken processing by 15% while Perdue decreased by 10%. Due to this, companies had longer layouts and were placed a smaller number of birds. Allen Harim depopulated 2 million birds, but there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel, as layouts have already shortened and more birds have begun to be placed. This article was by Delmarva Farmer and can be found here.

View June 16th Maryland Grain Bids here.

We Are Here for YOU

Stay safe and healthy! 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

Membership

Thank you to those who took their time to complete our membership value survey through our last newsletter. It is great to know and understand what members value the most by being a member of the Maryland Grain Producers Association. View our benefits here and become a member here.

Maryland Cover Crop Program 2020 -2021

The 2020 to 2021 Maryland Cover Crop Program will begin distribution via mail July 1st. If you participated in last year's program you will automatically be mailed an application. For the early incentive of $10/acre, the plant date is September 10th. For the late kill down incentive of $10/acre, kill down is after May 1st. Lastly, the aerial seeding deadline is October 10th. Learn more here.

MPT Farm and Harvest

Farm and Harvest takes a look at the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on farmers and agriculture-related businesses in Maryland. Board Member, Jason Scott is featured. During this special episode, viewers will see how the global pandemic is affecting Maryland farms, how farmers are working hard to keep crops safe and plentiful, and how some farmers are adapting and even thriving in the challenging conditions of recent months. View the episode here.

Planting Reminders for Double-Crop Soybeans

Here are some shared reminders when planting double-crop soybeans. They should be planted 1.75 to 2 inches deep. You should adjust for seeding rates to account for a 20% to 25% stand loss. Lastly, to maintain maximum yields, you need to aim to harvest 140,000 plants per acre. Read the full report here.

EPA Appoints New Members to Agricultural Committee

EPA is announcing the appointment of 33 members to the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee. View all members here.

Caroline County Commissioner Injured in Farm Accident

Wilbur Levengood underwent a successful surgery on Sunday to repair damage to his knee from a farm accident on June 12th. Levengood was transported to Johns Hopkins via helicopter to receive treatment. Read the full story here.

Drones - Beneficial

A new study has shown that the basic drone can be effectively used to scout soybeans later in the season. The study found that using a drone spotted more potential issues and identified more weeds. Lastly, drones may also help a scout see deer paths, check irrigation equipment without crossing the field, or climbing onto the pivot. Read more about it here.

Created By: Jenell Eck

Programs and Public Relations Director

[email protected]

www.marylandgrain.org

Please contact with any questions.