The Maryland Soybean Board is accepting applications from experienced, reliable and task-oriented individuals for the position of Executive Director. The ideal candidate will be familiar with Maryland agriculture, highly self-motivated, professional, and capable of prioritizing tasks and building strategic partnerships.

The Executive Director serves the board and will be responsible for performing a number of administrative and leadership duties in support of the board’s mission. These include facilitating with the Board the planning, evaluation, coordination, and implementation of informational, promotional, and educational programs to benefit Maryland soybean farmers; contracting, Board and organizational relations, and building grower opportunities for profit through promotion, research and educational activities; developing an annual budget and projects with goals and being accountable for activities of the checkoff program; and maintaining the records of the board as described in the bylaws and policy handbook.

“The Maryland Soybean Board conducts a robust set of research, marketing and education projects that support the interests of Maryland soybean farmers,” says Travis Hutchison, MSB Chairman, who is a soybean farmer from Cordova, Md. “Our vision is to be a leader in Maryland agriculture by investing soybean checkoff dollars to improve production, the operating environment and the market.”

Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and the names and contact information of three references by Aug. 20, 2109, to Hutchison at hutchisonbrothers@hotmail.com. Questions may be directed to him at (410) 924-3008. Information about the board’s work may be found at www.mdsoy.org. This is a part-time, contractual position which does not offer benefits.

Maryland farmers plant about 500,000 acres of soybeans each year, and the crop generates approximately $200 million in value to the state.

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.

As weeds take a greater toll on crop yields, the Maryland Soybean Board (MSB) is encouraging Mid-Atlantic farmers to take action to prevent the spread of herbicide resistant weeds.

“If weeds are identified in their earliest stages, we can make a plan to control them before they overtake a field,” stated Brian Johnson, chair of the MSB Research Committee. “We are investing in research to assist farmers in combating the issue and improving yields on the farm, and then relaying that information to the farmer.”

Weed control is a top priority for the soybean board, as it impacts the health of the soil as well as crop yields. The soybean growers now offer a herbicide lookup app that farmers can use to identify weeds in the field. This is available at www.iwilltakeaction.com, along with additional tools in weed management.

MSB has teamed up with the University of Maryland Extension to offer workshops for farmers interested in learning about herbicide resistant weeds and improve weed control on their farms. As the spread of these weeds continue in the Mid-Atlantic, it is imperative for landowners to learn management strategies that will help control the weeds.

Herbicide Weed Management Workshops run 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and will cover integrated weed management tactics; Palmer amaranth, common ragweed and marestail control strategies; and developing a weed management plan. There is no charge to attend and lunch will be provided. Pesticide (commercial and private) and CCA continuing education credits will be offered. Farmers are requested to RSVP to provide an accurate meal count.

• February 26: St. Mary’s County UME Office, 26737 Radio Station Way, Leonardtown. Call St. Mary’s County UME Office, 301-475-4484.

• March 4: Harrington Volunteer Fire Company, 20 Clark St, Harrington. Call UD Carvel REC, 302-856-2585 (ext 540).

• March 5: Somerset Extension Office, 30730 Park Drive, Princess Anne. Call Somerset County UME Office, 410-651-1350.

• March 6: Frederick County UME Office, 330 Montevue Lane, Frederick. Call Frederick County UME Office, 301-600-3576.

• March 7: Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company, 211 Maple Ave, Chestertown. Call Kent County UME Office, 410-778-1661.

For more workshop information, contact Ben Beale at 301-475-4481, Michael Flessner at 540-315-2954, Matt Morris at 301-600-3578 or Mark VanGessel at 302-856-7303.

Maryland’s Belinda Burrier was one of 12 returning directors sworn in to the United Soybean Board at its annual meeting Dec. 6 in St. Louis.

A total of 19 farmer-directors were appointed by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. Burrier, of Union Bridge, and William Layton of Vienna represent Maryland on the United Soybean Board.

The volunteer farmer-leaders of USB direct soybean checkoff funds to research, marketing and promotion efforts that maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. To increase the value of U.S. soy, the checkoff works with partners in the value chain to identify and capture opportunities in areas where U.S. soybean farmers can most effectively differentiate their product: meal, oil and sustainability.

“The largest customers of U.S. soy are demanding more value within the bean itself,” says John Motter, USB chair and soybean farmer from Jenera, Ohio. “The expertise and vision of these farmer-leaders will challenge us to look at innovations beyond just growing more bushels to meet the needs of our customers around the world and boost the profit potential of U.S. soybean farmers.”

USB’s 73 farmer-directors work on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers to achieve maximum value for their soy checkoff investments. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds in programs and partnerships to drive soybean innovation beyond the bushel and increase preference for U.S. soy. That preference is based on U.S. soybean meal and oil quality and the sustainability of U.S. soybean farmers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

(SALISBURY, MARYLAND) – September 13, 2018 – China’s tariff on U.S. soybeans is a hot topic, and although the soybean checkoff program does not engage in policy work, it has been working to soften the blow.

About half of the U.S. soybean crop is exported, with China representing about 60 percent of that half. That means the market took a 30 percent hit – which is sizeable. The soybean checkoff has taken measures over time to protect our farmers and is responding today with new measures:

1. Reaching out to new customers to create new demand, and touching base with old customers to get them to build stocks of U.S. beans, thanks to work by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC).
2. Encouraging poultry industries here and abroad to increase production, again through USSEC. American soybeans offer the highest quality, strongest sustainability, best nutritional profile, and best value to the world’s poultry and livestock farmers.
3. Providing information and support about the importance of exports to the U.S. soybean market to the government and to our strategic partners, and responding to opportunities to engage new funding for export marketing programs.
4. Building domestic demand by supporting the use of biodiesel, which is now a more than 7 billion gallon market.
5. Investing in domestic demand by incubating new uses of soybeans. Each year the checkoff announces the debut of about a dozen new soy-based products and in the past decade, has increased demand for new uses by almost 700 percent.
6. Researching new ways to improve the bottom line for farmers by reducing cost of production and protecting yield.
7. Adding value to your beans by launching varieties with customer-focused benefits – High Oleic being a prime example.

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.

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.

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For More Information:
Susanne Zilberfarb, Executive Director
Maryland Soybean Board
Office: 410.430.2613