Maryland Soybean Board Encourages Consumers to “Ask A Farmer”
Consumers are encouraged to “Ask a Farmer” through a series of educational tv commercials featuring Maryland soybean growers, funded by the soy checkoff.
The Maryland Soybean Board has embarked on a new campaign encouraging consumers to “Ask A Farmer” through a series of television commercials. The series of commercials, each featuring a Maryland soybean grower, explain how farmers are using pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), conservation practices, and producing various bio-based products to benefit both consumers and the environment.
“Consumers who are increasingly disconnected from farming have questions about how their food is grown,” says Maryland Soybean Board Chair Joshua Appenzeller. “The goal of the campaign is to provide consumers with a better understanding of modern farming practices used to produce the world’s safest and most abundant food supply.”
The tagline for the campaign, “Have a question about Maryland farms? Don’t ask Google, ask me,” directs viewers to the Maryland Soybean Board’s My Maryland Farmers website, where they can find independent factual information from government agencies, land-grant universities, and other educational resources. While on the site, consumers also have the opportunity to learn about other farmers from all sectors of Maryland agriculture.
Airing now through the end of September, the commercials will be broadcasted on two Baltimore stations (WBAL and WJZ) and three Washington D.C. stations (WRC, WTTG, and WUSA). Air times for commercials will coincide with local news programming to engage with those who are interested in local issues. The Maryland Soybean Board also received support from the Virginia Soybean Association, Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board, and Illinois Soybean Association to purchase additional airtime in the Washington D.C. market. The campaign is expected to reach over 13 million viewers.
Commercials may also be viewed anytime online on the Maryland Soybean Board’s YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@mdsoybeanboard.
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.
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For information, contact:
Danielle Bauer Farace
Maryland Soybean Board
Executive Director
443-812-4526
danielle@mdsoy.com
Local Soybean Boards Promote U.S. Soy to International Buyers
Randy Stabler showcased soybean production on his farm to eleven international soybean buyers and users while visiting the region.
Directors from the Delaware and Maryland Soybean Boards hosted soybean buyers and users from Northern Europe on their farms last week to promote U.S. soy, as part of the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) Soy Connext summit. In its second year, Soy Connext hosted more than 700 participants, including international customers from 58 countries together with U.S. Soy farmers, related food and agriculture industry professionals, commodity exporters and others to discuss today’s global economy and the need for collaborative efforts among those who grow, sell and choose U.S. Soy.
“Building relationships with international buyers and users upholds a strong soybean market in the Mid-Atlantic region,” states Delaware Soybean Board Chair Cory Atkins of Cory’s Produce. “While a majority of soybeans grown on the Delmarva are utilized locally, the demand for exports supports builds value for our beans.”
Soybean buyers and users from Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Poland, and the United Kingdom had the opportunity to visit diverse operations in the two states, including Emerson Farms in Middletown, DE, Cory’s Produce in Laurel, DE, and Pleasant Valley Farm in Brookeville, MD. During these visits, the group discussed the region’s animal agriculture markets, soybean production and utilization, sustainability, urban encroachment, and more. During their trip, they enjoyed trying local treats as well, including Delaware-churned ice cream and Maryland blue crabs.
“I enjoy having groups out to my farm and sharing with them what we do here,” says Maryland Soybean Board Director Randy Stabler of Pleasant Valley Farm. “But we also learn from them and are able to recognize trends that affect our markets worldwide.”
About Delaware Soybean Board: Delaware farmers plant about 160,000 acres of soybeans annually, producing over seven million bushels of beans and generating approximately $60 million in value to the state. The Delaware Soybean Board consists of nine farmer-directors and the Secretary of Agriculture. Funded through a one-half of one percent assessment on the net market value of soybeans at their first point of sale, the checkoff works with partners in the value chain to identify and capture opportunities that increase farmer profit potential. See more at www.desoybeans.org.
About Maryland Soybean Board: In Maryland, farmers grow about 500,000 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 0.5% of 1% 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. See more at www.mdsoy.com.
For More Information Contact:
Danielle Bauer
Delaware Soybean Board, Maryland Soybean Board
Executive Director
443-812-4526
Danielle@desoybeans.org, Danielle@mdsoy.com
Maryland Soybean Board Requesting Projects to Promote Soy
The Maryland Soybean Board (MSB) is currently requesting proposals for projects that promote soybeans or their many by-products through July 24. Priority areas identified by MSB include animal agriculture, consumer education, emerging markets, and farmer engagement, however any projects seeking to maximize the profitability of Maryland soybean growers will be accepted.
“The potential uses for soy are endless, and through funded projects, we will demonstrate their value to both farmers and consumers,” says Evan Staley, chair of the board’s Promotion and Communications Committee. “These projects will continue to build on the return of investment Maryland farmers gain from the soy checkoff.”
Funded by the soybean checkoff, projects should be for MSB’s upcoming fiscal year, beginning October 1, 2023, and should focus on soybean use promotion and communication. Applications will be reviewed by the farmer-led Board of Directors and will be selected based on those that provide the greatest benefit to Maryland’s soybean industry. Applications can be found here (Word) (PDF).
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ut 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.
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For information, contact:
Danielle Bauer Farace
Maryland Soybean Board
Executive Director
443-812-4526
danielle@mdsoy.com
Maryland Soybean Board Building Value for Farmers
The Maryland Soybean Board has reinvested over $445,000 of soy checkoff dollars for its 2023 fiscal year in projects that build value for Maryland soybean growers. The Board of Directors, made up of farmer-leaders from across the state, prioritized projects focused on animal agriculture, consumer education, emerging markets, and farmer engagement, as outlined in their strategic plan.
“Projects funded by the Maryland Soybean Board will provide a return on investment for farmers by building markets, strengthening consumer trust, raising awareness around farm safety, and more,” says Evan Staley, Chair of the board’s Promotion and Communication Committee. “These investments will strengthen Maryland’s soybean industry.”
Project highlights in these target areas include:
Animal Agriculture – Membership to the Animal Agriculture Alliance, Sponsorship of 4-H youth livestock shows, Sponsorship of Delmarva Shorebirds (thankachicken.com), Celebrating 100 Years of Delmarva Chicken;
Consumer Education – MaxCareers.Info website, Max the Sprout educational booklets, Soybean education in Maryland schools, Rural road safety campaign, MidAtlantic CommonGround, My Maryland Farmers website and social media campaign, Maryland Farm & Harvest television series, Television advertising, Maryland agriculture cookbooks;
Emerging Markets – Membership to the Clean Fuels Alliance America, Northeast state regulatory and technical biodiesel support, Membership to the American Soybean Association’s Action Partnership and Innovation to Market working group, Creating the FY23 U.S. soy footprint in brand-new export markets, Maryland biofuels promotion;
Farmer Engagement – Maryland Commodity Classic event, LEAD Maryland educational seminars featuring Maryland’s grain industry, American Soybean Association’s Soybean Leadership Academy, Nationwide’s grain bin safety week, and other local sponsorships.
A full listing of funded projects is available upon request.
“Farmers can trust that their checkoff dollars are being utilized to increase their profitability on the local level. For every dollar that farmers invest into the soybean checkoff, the United Soybean Board has shown that they received an estimated $12.34 in added value,” Staley adds.
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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