Firefighters from the Marion Fire Department and other area stations practice using their new grain bin rescue tube and auger.

The Maryland Soybean Board (MSB) has partnered with Nationwide for a second year to provide life-saving equipment and training to local fire departments. Funded by the soy checkoff, grain bin rescue tubes and augers were gifted to the Laytonville District Volunteer Fire Department, Marion Fire Department, and Oakland Fire Department, along with an additional auger for the Anne Arundel County Fire & EMS Department. The Maryland Soybean Board also sponsored retraining for the Funkstown Volunteer Fire Company to keep them prepared to use their existing equipment.

“Farmer-leaders of the Maryland Soybean Board surveyed where in the state there was existing equipment, and where were areas of greatest need,” says MSB Chair Josh Appenzeller as he explained how this year’s recipients were selected. “The gift of this invaluable equipment and training will build resiliency within the farming community.”

To date, MSB has invested $30,000 in Nationwide’s Grain Bin Safety Week program to improve farm safety. Nationwide has been successful in leading this endeavor, awarding tubes and training to 272 fire departments across 31 states since 2014. At least five fire departments have utilized their rescue tubes and training to successfully rescue entrapped workers. Training for the fire departments was led by instructors from the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS). Details of the program can be found by visiting www.grainbinsafetyweek.com.

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 Maryland Soybean Board, visit www.mdsoy.com.

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For More Information:
Danielle Bauer Farace, Executive Director
Maryland Soybean Board
443-812-4526  |  danielle@mdsoy.com
www.mdsoy.com

Tyler Rill (second from right) of Hampstead, MD has been newly elected to the Maryland Soybean Board. Rill received an early introduction to the work of the soy checkoff this summer when he joined other farmer leaders from across the country for the United Soybean Board’s “See for Yourself” program, learning about the checkoff ’s role in the global soy industry.

The Maryland Soybean Board recently held elections for its 2023-2024 Board of Directors and welcomed Tyler Rill of Hampstead to the board. Rill comes to the board with deep familial ties to soybean production and marketing. Grandson of Donald Lippy of the original Lippy Brothers, Rill manages the farm’s soybean export division as well as their seed division, County Line Ag.

“I am eager to represent Maryland soybean growers and learn more about the investments of the soybean checkoff by serving on the board,” says Rill.

Rill was able to get an early introduction to the work of the soy checkoff this summer prior to joining the Board, by participating in in the United Soybean Board’s “See for Yourself” program. Through the program, he had the opportunity to join other soybean grower-leaders from across the country in meeting with customers and visiting with ports, crush facilities, and aquaculture farms in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Singapore. This program offers U.S. soybean farmers from across the country the opportunity to see and evaluate the work of the checkoff firsthand. From the use of U.S. Soy domestically to its export to customers around the world, See for Yourself will shows the checkoff ’s role in the global soy industry.

“The word ‘awesome’ tends to be overused but having the opportunity to be [t]here in Southeast Asia and seeing for myself how U.S. Soy plays an important role in global food security is truly awesome,” remarked Rill on the trip.

Rill fills the seat of retiring Maryland Soybean Board Director Randy Stabler of Brookeville. Eddie Boyle of Cordova and Steve Walter of Hughesville were also re-elected to fill the Upper Shore and Southern Maryland positions on the Board, respectively. Chairman Joshua Appenzeller of Sudlersville, Vice Chairman Eddie Boyle, and Treasurer Curt Lambertson of Stockton were then re-elected as officers. Continuing to serve on the Board are Ralph Stambaugh of Union Bridge representing Central Maryland, Dale Brown of Denton representing the Upper Shore, Jason Spicer of Church Creek representing the Lower Shore, and Evan Staley of New Windsor and Shane King of Princess Anne serving as Directors At Large.

The Maryland Soybean Board (MSB) directs the national soybean checkoff program within the state. MSB’s Board of Directors is made up of ten soybean farmers, each appointed for a three-year term, along with ex-officio members representing agribusiness, the Maryland Department of Agriculture, and the University of Maryland. Directors represent local soybean farmers as they serve on the board. The number of Directors serving each region is determined by the soybean production of the region.

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For More Information:
Danielle Bauer Farace, Executive Director
Maryland Soybean Board
443-812-4526  |  danielle@mdsoy.com
www.mdsoy.com

The Maryland Soybean Board (MSB) is currently seeking innovative soybean research projects to increase the profitability of farmers. Pre-proposals for the 2024 growing season, including project concepts and a brief narrative, should be submitted by October 15, 2023.

“Priority areas for the board include variety development, nematodes, weed and pest control, drought management, cover crops, and disease control,” says MSB Research Committee Chair Dale Brown. “However, any projects aiming to boost production of Maryland soybean growers will be considered.”

Detailed priorities, along with research guidelines may be found by visiting https://www.mdsoy.com/research/. All pre-proposals must be submitted on the provided application form without any attachments. Researchers submitting proposals to continue previously funded research are not required to complete a pre-proposal. Applicants for which their project was selected for submission of a full proposal will be notified in early November.

In their 2023 fiscal year, MSB approved $194,550 in funding for research projects addressing farmer needs. Projects being completed by researchers from University of Maryland and University of Delaware are evaluating production methods such as planting date, slug control, fungicide efficacy, cover crop management, deer diversion plots, flame-weeding, biological seed treatments, and more. A full list of funded projects and results can be found on the Soybean Research Information network, https://soybeanresearchinfo.com/.

Project selections are made by the farmer-leaders who volunteer their time to serve as Directors on the Board. MSB administers soybean checkoff funds for soybean research, marketing and education programs in the state. It is funded by farmers through an assessment of one-half of one percent of the net market value of soybeans at their 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.

Maryland farmers grow about half a million acres of soybeans, producing more than 20 million bushels of beans each year. With a value of nearly $200 million to the state’s economy, soybeans are one of Maryland’s top crops. For more information on MSB, visit www.mdsoy.com.

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For More Information:
Danielle Bauer Farace, Executive Director
Maryland Soybean Board
443-812-4526  |  danielle@mdsoy.com
www.mdsoy.com