Burrier Elected First Female Chair of Maryland Soybean Board
Belinda Burrier, Chair, Maryland Soybean Board
Burrier married into the farming lifestyle. When she and her husband Dave, purchased his families farm back in 2002, she was all in. “Even though I didn’t have a farming background, I did grow up with my dad being a land surveyor, and I’ve always liked the outdoors – and I’m willing try anything,” she explains.
Belinda began attending MSB meetings during Dave’s term on the board. After his term ended, she was a natural fit to fill the vacancy, as she was already knowledgeable about the work that the board was doing. She attributes herself as bringing diversity to the board, not only by being the first female, but also coming from a non-farm background. “I was honored to be appointed to the boards, and felt that I could contribute a different perspective,” comments Burrier.
Burrier officially assumed this duty with the start of MSB’s new fiscal year on October 1. She succeeds Brian Johnson of Westover as Chair. Johnson remains on the board, serving in the role of Vice Chairman.
Additionally, MSB welcomed two new farmer directors to the board in their new fiscal year. Eddie Boyle of Cordova was elected to represent the Upper Shore, and Steve Walter of Hughesville was elected to represent Southern Maryland.
Ten farmer-directors volunteer their time on the Maryland Soybean Board, which administers soybean checkoff funds for soybean research, marketing and education programs in the state. Also currently serving are Joshua Appenzeller of Millington, Dale Brown of Denton, Randy Stabler of Brookeville, Jason Spicer of Church Creek, and Evan Staley of Union Bridge. Curt Lambertson of Stockton serves as Treasurer. April Cheesman of Perdue Farms, Inc., Jim Lewis of the University of Maryland Extension Service, and Mark Powell of the Maryland Department of Agriculture serve as ex-officio members.
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.
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Danielle Bauer, Executive Director
Maryland Soybean Board
Office: 443.812.4526
danielle@mdsoy.com
MSB Launches Road Safety Campaign with Naming Contest
As combines take to the fields to harvest fall crops, the risks of accidents on rural roads rises. Slow-moving vehicles (such as farm machinery, animal-drawn vehicles and construction equipment), are identified as traveling at speeds of 25 m.p.h. or less, and can pose a serious risk to drivers who are unaccustomed with the measures required to safely travel the roads with them.
Decre
asing the number of dangerous encounters involving motorists and slow-moving vehicles (SMVs) is a goal of the Maryland Soybean Board (MSB). It’s new education initiative, www.findmedriving.com, reminds drivers of safety measures to take when driving a SMV or driving near a SMV. The campaign has been launched with a contest to name its attention-grabbing character created from the SMV emblem – a bold orange triangle with red border sign that is required on all SMVs. The contest the winner will receive a $100 gasoline gift card.
“We’ve had many farmers tell us they had to drive off the road to avoid a vehicle trying to pass them when oncoming vehicles were headed their way,” commented Brian Johnson, MSB Chair. “Auto crashes involving farm vehicles or equipment can be costly both in terms of property damage and injuries, and in some circumstances, result in fatalities. We want to minimize these occurrences.”
This education campaign is one strategy from the MSB-funded road safety study, which provided insight into causes of accidents and recommendations for improved safety. The research showed that accidents frequently involved more than just farm equipment, and education about all SMV vehicles was needed.
The number of farm vehicle crashes grows each year. Not surprisingly, they most frequently occur during peak farming season – June through October. Over 75% occurred during daylight hours, with only 16.5% occurring in the dark. Over 72% occurred in clear weather, while only 9% occurred in precipitation – rain, sleet, or snow.
“We applaud the work of organizations that share information with drivers to improve road safety,” stated Johnson. “MSB wants to increase the impact of these efforts in improving road safety and reach a full range of stakeholders. We invite anyone interested in making our drives safer to team with us to lower the accident rate on Maryland roads.”
Driver tips and the name contest is at www.findmedriving.com. The Maryland Rural Roads Safety Study is available here: www.mdsoy.com/md-rural-road-safety-study/.
For More Information:
Danielle Bauer, Executive Director
Maryland Soybean Board
443-812-4526 | danielle@mdsoy.com
www.mdsoy.com
MSB Seeks Research Projects
The Maryland Soybean Board (MSB) is looking for research projects focused on soybean production and animal agriculture for the 2021 growing season. Pre-proposals are now being accepted through October 15, 2020.
“We encourage researchers to submit new project ideas that align with our priorities,” says Joshua Appenzeller, Chair of the MSB Research Committee and farmer from Queen Anne’s County. “The pre-proposal process allows the Board to identify projects of interest that can then be detailed in a full proposal.”
Production research priorities include:
- Variety development and trials: Yield, Quality, Population, Salt-tolerance
- Nematodes: Race identification and control, Resistance
- Weed control: Low rate chemical usage, Herbicide resistance, Herbicide trials
- Pest Management: Pesticide trials, Bio-pest controls, Drought management, Irrigation
- Cover Crop
- Disease Control
- Deer Damage Control
Of equal priority, Animal Agriculture priorities include aquaculture, soy meal and soy oil.
The application form for pre-proposals is available at www.mdsoy.com/research. Applications must include this form without any attachments. Researchers who plan to submit proposals to continue previously funded research are not required to submit a pre-proposal. Applicants for which their project was selected for submission of a full proposal will be notified during the first week of November.
The Maryland Soybean Board 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 the Maryland Soybean Board, visit www.mdsoy.com.
For More Information:
Danielle Bauer, Executive Director
Maryland Soybean Board
443-812-4526 | danielle@mdsoy.com
www.mdsoy.com
Maryland Soybean Board Seeks Projects to Promote Soybeans
If you have an idea to use or promote soybeans or its many byproducts, the Maryland Soybean Board would like you to submit a proposal for their coming fiscal year beginning October 1, 2020.
The all-farmer board, which administers the national soybean checkoff program in Maryland, is accepting proposals for funding projects in the areas of soybean promotion and use. The board is particularly interested in projects aligned to priorities in their strategic plan – animal agriculture, consumer education, emerging markets and farmer engagement – however potential projects are not limited to these topics.
“Innovation is a key component for growing soybean demand,” said Linda Burrier, chair of the board’s Promotion and Communications Committee. “Soybeans and soy oil are used in hundreds of products. We welcome proposals for promoting current uses as well as ideas for new uses to grow our markets.”
Written proposals are due in the board office no later than July 15. Applications can be found here (Word) (PDF).
In 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.
About Maryland Soybean Board: The Maryland Soybean Board is funded by the national soybean checkoff program, which assesses one-half of one percent of the net market value of soybeans at the first point of sale. The board consists of ten volunteer farmer-directors and directs funds for research, marketing and education programs to benefit the Maryland soybean industry.
For More Information:
Danielle Bauer, Executive Director
Maryland Soybean Board
443-812-4526 | danielle@mdsoy.com
www.mdsoy.com
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