(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

Pest and disease management for soybeans is the focus for research projects funded by the Maryland Soybean Board for 2019. The board approved 16 projects for funding, totaling $200,814 in checkoff dollars invested.

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 for national and international projects.

Soybean research projects receiving funding for 2019 are:

• Effects of Planting Population on Yield in Full Season Soybeans, Kelly Nichols, UMD Extension, $1,840
• Evaluating Germination Patterns of Horseweed in the Mid-Atlantic Region, Matt Morris, University of Maryland, $2,937
• Evaluating Integrated Approaches to Manage Herbicide Resistance, Ben Beale, University of Maryland, $10,611
• Evaluation of Growth-Promoting Products for Soybean Production in Maryland, Andrew Kness, University of Maryland Extension, $5,426
• Evaluation of Miravis Neo for Soybean Production in Maryland, Andrew Kness, University of Maryland Extension, $4,869
• Extending the Growing Season to Get More Payback from Cover Crops, Ray Weil, UMD Environmental Science and Technology, $19,287
• Having a Bitter Bite? The Use of Cover Crop to Manage Slugs, Ivan Hiltpold, UD Entomology & Wildlife Ecology, $9,230
• Identification of New Sources of Resistance/Tolerance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum among Soybean Germplasm Showing Resistance to Phytophthora sojae, Kate Everts, UMD and Benham Khatabi, UMES, $24,000
• Improving Detection of Dectes Stem Borer for Developing Spray Recommendations in Soybeans, Alan Leslie, UMD Entomology, $16,895
• Incidences, Densities, Races, and Virulence of Soybean Nematodes in Maryland, Nidhi Rawat and Ramesh Pokharel, UMD Plant Sciences, $21,608
• Managing Herbicide Resistant Common Ragweed Emergence and Growth in Soybeans, Sarah Hirsh, UMD Eastern Shore, $9,323
• Maximizing Yield and Quality of Mid-Atlantic Soybean Production with Soil Sulfur Management, Ray Weil, UMD Environmental Science and Technology, $20,866
• Phosphorus Runoff from No-Till Soils: Do Cover Crops Make It Better or Worse? Ray Weil, UMD Environmental Science and Technology, $18,219
• Quantifying the Incidence of Yield Reducing Soilborne Pathogens in Soybean Production, Alyssa Koehler, UDE Plant & Soil Sciences, $5,423
• Reducing Deer Damage to Corn Using Forage Soybean as Biological Fencing, Jason Wight, UMD Plant Science, $15,280
• Study the Occurrence and Distribution of Virus Infecting Soybean from Delmarva, Behnam Khatabi, UMD Eastern Shore, $15,000

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 $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

(SALISBURY, MARYLAND) – July 27, 2017 – After nearly four decades of service to the Maryland Soybean Board, Sandy Davis is retiring effective Sept. 30.

Davis, who began her career with the soybean board March 3, 1980, has been executive director of the board since 1995. During her career, she also worked with two soybean membership associations, four state checkoff boards and acted as advisor to five state boards.

“It has been a privilege to work with Maryland farmers and the soybean industry,” Davis says. “Over the years I have met many wonderful people and seen the industry grow.”

Susanne Zilberfarb, who has more than two decades of service to the board as a communications contractor, will succeed Davis as executive director. Davis will continue to work part-time as Financial and Compliance Coordinator for the Maryland Soybean Board.

Davis and Zilberfarb have collaborated on several major initiatives on behalf of soybean farmers and the agricultural industry. In 2012 they spearheaded the Mid-Atlantic Farmers Feed Us grocery sweepstakes to encourage consumers to learn about agriculture. For the past decade the duo was responsible for bringing more than a million national checkoff dollars back to Maryland and Delaware to support the poultry and livestock industries. Most recently they collaborated to bring more national resources to the region to support the development of a regional research consortium now known as the Atlantic Soybean Council. Together, they administer the Delaware Soybean Board programs as well.

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. For more information on the Maryland Soybean Board, visit www.mdsoy.com. You can read Davis’ retirement statement here.

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For More Information:
Sandra Davis, Executive Director, Maryland Soybean Board
Office: 410.742.9500
sdavis26@verizon.net

SALISBURY, MD. (July 3, 2017) – Got any bright ideas on how to use soybeans, or soy byproducts?

If so, the Maryland Soybean Board would like to hear from you.

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 that reach out to groups such as moms, “foodies,” and medical personnel. In addition, the board seeks projects that promote agricultural literacy to audiences ranging from elementary ages through adulthood. While these audiences are a priority for the board, potential projects are not limited to these topics and audiences.

“The soybean in all of its forms — oil, protein, meal or the whole bean — is found in hundreds of products which we use — or eat — every day,” said Bill Langenfelder, an Eastern Shore farmer who is  chairman of the board’s Promotion  and Producer Communication Committee. “But we are always anxious to hear new ideas for using and promoting our product at different events and venues.”

The Maryland Soybean Board was first formed in 1980 and became a part of the congressionally authorized federal program in 1991.

Written proposals with detailed budgets are due in the board office no later than July 24. The address is Maryland Soybean Board, PO Box 319, Salisbury MD 21803.

About Maryland Soybean Board: The Maryland Soybean Board administers soybean checkoff funds for soybean research, marketing and education programs in the state. One-half of the checkoff funds stay in Maryland for programs; the other half is sent to the United Soybean Board. To learn more about the Maryland Soybean Board, visit www.mdsoy.com.

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For More Information:
Sandra Davis, Executive Director, Maryland Soybean Board
Office: 410.742.9500
sdavis26@verizon.net