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

Firefighters from the Marion Fire Department and other area stations practice using their new grain bin rescue tube and auger.

The Maryland Soybean Board (MSB) has partnered with Nationwide for a second year to provide life-saving equipment and training to local fire departments. Funded by the soy checkoff, grain bin rescue tubes and augers were gifted to the Laytonville District Volunteer Fire Department, Marion Fire Department, and Oakland Fire Department, along with an additional auger for the Anne Arundel County Fire & EMS Department. The Maryland Soybean Board also sponsored retraining for the Funkstown Volunteer Fire Company to keep them prepared to use their existing equipment.

“Farmer-leaders of the Maryland Soybean Board surveyed where in the state there was existing equipment, and where were areas of greatest need,” says MSB Chair Josh Appenzeller as he explained how this year’s recipients were selected. “The gift of this invaluable equipment and training will build resiliency within the farming community.”

To date, MSB has invested $30,000 in Nationwide’s Grain Bin Safety Week program to improve farm safety. Nationwide has been successful in leading this endeavor, awarding tubes and training to 272 fire departments across 31 states since 2014. At least five fire departments have utilized their rescue tubes and training to successfully rescue entrapped workers. Training for the fire departments was led by instructors from the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS). Details of the program can be found by visiting www.grainbinsafetyweek.com.

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 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

Tyler Rill (second from right) of Hampstead, MD has been newly elected to the Maryland Soybean Board. Rill received an early introduction to the work of the soy checkoff this summer when he joined other farmer leaders from across the country for the United Soybean Board’s “See for Yourself” program, learning about the checkoff ’s role in the global soy industry.

The Maryland Soybean Board recently held elections for its 2023-2024 Board of Directors and welcomed Tyler Rill of Hampstead to the board. Rill comes to the board with deep familial ties to soybean production and marketing. Grandson of Donald Lippy of the original Lippy Brothers, Rill manages the farm’s soybean export division as well as their seed division, County Line Ag.

“I am eager to represent Maryland soybean growers and learn more about the investments of the soybean checkoff by serving on the board,” says Rill.

Rill was able to get an early introduction to the work of the soy checkoff this summer prior to joining the Board, by participating in in the United Soybean Board’s “See for Yourself” program. Through the program, he had the opportunity to join other soybean grower-leaders from across the country in meeting with customers and visiting with ports, crush facilities, and aquaculture farms in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Singapore. This program offers U.S. soybean farmers from across the country the opportunity to see and evaluate the work of the checkoff firsthand. From the use of U.S. Soy domestically to its export to customers around the world, See for Yourself will shows the checkoff ’s role in the global soy industry.

“The word ‘awesome’ tends to be overused but having the opportunity to be [t]here in Southeast Asia and seeing for myself how U.S. Soy plays an important role in global food security is truly awesome,” remarked Rill on the trip.

Rill fills the seat of retiring Maryland Soybean Board Director Randy Stabler of Brookeville. Eddie Boyle of Cordova and Steve Walter of Hughesville were also re-elected to fill the Upper Shore and Southern Maryland positions on the Board, respectively. Chairman Joshua Appenzeller of Sudlersville, Vice Chairman Eddie Boyle, and Treasurer Curt Lambertson of Stockton were then re-elected as officers. Continuing to serve on the Board are Ralph Stambaugh of Union Bridge representing Central Maryland, Dale Brown of Denton representing the Upper Shore, Jason Spicer of Church Creek representing the Lower Shore, and Evan Staley of New Windsor and Shane King of Princess Anne serving as Directors At Large.

The Maryland Soybean Board (MSB) directs the national soybean checkoff program within the state. MSB’s Board of Directors is made up of ten soybean farmers, each appointed for a three-year term, along with ex-officio members representing agribusiness, the Maryland Department of Agriculture, and the University of Maryland. Directors represent local soybean farmers as they serve on the board. The number of Directors serving each region is determined by the soybean production of the region.

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