The Maryland Soybean Board (MSB) has invested over $921,783 for its 2024 fiscal year in research, promotions, and communications projects that will benefit local soybean growers. Projects selected for funding using soy checkoff dollars were prioritized by MSB’s Board of Directors, made up of soybean farmer-leaders representing all areas of the state.
“The Directors of the Maryland Soybean Board are proud to be able to give back to their farmer neighbors through the soybean checkoff program,” remarks Chairman Joshua Appenzeller. “The most recent return on investment study found that for every dollar invested into the soy checkoff, farmers receive $12.34 in added value.”
Various promotion and communication projects were funded that aim to build demand and consumer-trust for Maryland soybeans and soy-based products. Examples of projects funded include:
- B100 Emerging Technology Demonstration through Optimus Technologies, Inc.
- Building Powerful Leaders for Maryland Agriculture through the LEAD Maryland Foundation, Inc.
- Finding and Opening Up New Overseas Markets through the American Soybean Association – WISHH Program
- Grain Bin Safety Week through Nationwide
- Lower Shore Doe Harvest Challenge
- My Maryland Farmers
- Maryland Soybean TV Commercials
- Rural Road Safety Education
- Soy Tire Rebate Program through the Prince George’s County Maryland Fleet Division
- Soybean Education in Maryland Schools through Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Inc.
Additionally, research projects were funded to maximize farmer profitability in the field by addressing issues such as weed and pest management and increasing yields. Examples of these projects include:
- Agronomic Crop Drone School, Andrew Kness and Erika Crowl, University of Maryland Extension
- Enhanced Rock Weathering – Crop and Soil Impacts of Basalt Application, Ray Weil and Mark Townsend, University of Maryland
- Improving Herbicide Resistant Weed Management in Maryland Soybean, Kurt Vollmer, University of Maryland Extension
- Optimizing Precision Irrigation Management for Soybean Crop in Maryland, Hemendra Kumar, University of Maryland Extension
- Population Dynamics of Stink Bugs and its Relationship with Winter Cover Crops and Risks to Soybean on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Emily Zobel, Haley Sater, and Dwayne Joseph, University of Maryland Extension
A full list of funded projects is available upon request. In Maryland, farmers grow about a half a million acres of soybeans, producing more than 20 million bushels of beans each year. With a value of $173 million to the state’s economy, soybeans are one of Maryland’s top crops. The checkoff program is funded by farmers through an assessment of one-half of one percent of the net market value of their soybeans at the first point of sale. One-half of the checkoff funds stay in Maryland for programs; the other half is sent to the United Soybean Board.
For more information on the United Soybean Board visit www.unitedsoybean.org, or on the Maryland Soybean Board, visit www.mdsoy.com.
###
For More Information:
Danielle Bauer Farace, Executive Director
Maryland Soybean Board
443-812-4526 | danielle@mdsoy.com
www.mdsoy.com