The Maryland Soybean Board (MSB) has announced its FY25 funding allocations, investing $375,000 in projects to drive innovation, improve on-farm profitability, and build consumer confidence in the soybean industry. Funding is made possible through the soybean checkoff program, with farmer-led investments supporting a wide range of local priorities.

MSB approved $184,559 this year to support eleven research projects addressing timely production challenges and exploring new technologies and best practices for soybean growers.

Highlights include precision irrigation management to optimize water use on soybean fields; the timing of cover crop termination to examine impacts on slugs, roots, and soybean development; variety trials, maturity group studies, and planting date evaluations to aid in decision-making; as well as assessments of fungicide profitability, deer repellent strategies, nematode management, and more.

“Our board is committed to funding research that delivers actionable results to Maryland farmers,” said Eddie Boyle, Chair of the Maryland Soybean Board. “We’re investing in proven researchers evaluating innovative approaches to strengthen soybean production under local growing conditions.”

Beyond research, MSB’s FY25 budget supports a wide range of outreach and market development initiatives. These include promoting animal agriculture, which remains the largest market for Maryland soybeans, along with building new markets overseas. Funding also backs consumer education programs that foster public trust in agriculture and highlight soy-based products’ environmental benefits and versatility. Additionally, MSB is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of agricultural leaders through youth engagement and support for educational opportunities such as agricultural fairs, career exploration, and on-farm learning experiences.

“In tough years, it’s more important than ever that every checkoff dollar works as hard as our farmers do. We’re focused on strategic investments that deliver real returns—whether it’s through better yields, stronger markets, or building trust with consumers. That’s how we maximize the value of the checkoff and support our growers when they need it most,” remarked Boyle.

All projects are reviewed and selected by a board of local farmers, ensuring that checkoff investments directly reflect the needs and priorities of Maryland’s soybean producers. A full list of funded projects is available upon request.

In Maryland, farmers grow approximately half a million acres of soybeans, yielding over 20 million bushels of beans each year. With a value of $173 million to the state’s economy, soybeans rank among 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. 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.

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

With the 2024 harvest season already underway in parts of the state, the Maryland Soybean Board is requesting research proposals for the next growing season. Funded by the soybean checkoff, proposals should focus on increasing profitability of Maryland soybean farmers. Pre-proposals, including project concepts and a brief narrative, must be submitted by October 15, 2024.

“Dry weather this summer emphasized the need for growers to be as efficient as possible to maximize yields,” says MSB Research Committee Chair Dale Brown. “Research in the areas of variety development, nematodes, weed and pest control, drought management, cover crops, and disease control can help us to boost production.”

Detailed priorities, along with research guidelines may be found by visiting https://www.mdsoy.com/research/. New this year, all pre-proposals must be submitted through the Maryland Soybean Board’s project management platform. Interested applications may contact Executive Director Danielle Farace for access to the platform. Continuations of previously funded research projects are not required to complete a pre-proposal. Those invited to submit a full proposal will be notified in early November.

In their 2024 fiscal year, MSB approved nearly $190,000 in funding for research projects that addressed weed and pest issues, evaluated new technologies, and more. Details of funded projects can be found on the Soybean Research Information network, https://soybeanresearchinfo.com/.

Project selections will be 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

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.

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

Mary Archer Stewart, of Pylesville, MD, was sworn in last week as Maryland’s newest representative to the United Soybean Board (USB). Stewart was appointed by the Maryland Soybean Board to fill the seat of Belinda Burrier, of Union Bridge, MD, who termed off the Board after nine years of service. The transition occurred during the USB’s recent meeting held December 5-7, 2023, in St. Charles, Missouri.

“My predecessor, Belinda Burrier, worked hard promoting and moving markets forward for farmers across the country,” says Stewart. “I’m ready and honored to roll up my sleeves and continue to do the same.”

Stewart and her husband, Greg, grow soybeans, corn, wheat, sorghum, and hay, and assist with her family’s dairy farm in Harford County. Stewart runs an outreach program on the farm, where they host events, community festivals, and educational farm tours.  Stewart is a LEAD Maryland Class VI Alumni and currently serves as well on the Speaker Bureau for the North East Dairy Association, is a Director for the Maryland Dairy Princess Board, and is a MidAtlantic CommonGround Volunteer.

Stewart joins Travis Hutchison, of Cordova, MD, in representing Maryland on USB, overseeing soy checkoff investments to create profit opportunities for U.S. soybean farmers. Since its inception in 1991, the soy checkoff has provided significant return on investment by leveraging partnerships that increase the value and preference for U.S. soybeans. A recent independent economic evaluation of the soy checkoff  found that U.S. soybean farmers received an estimated $12.34 in added value for every dollar they invested in the checkoff.

“We have a great and sustainable product to promote in soybeans. ‘Produced in the USA’ is a beautiful thing and we have to keep sharing our stories to keep farming viable for our producers everywhere and of all size and scale,” Stewart remarks.

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.

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