The Maryland Soybean Board (MSB) is looking for research projects focused on soybean production and animal agriculture for the 2021 growing season. Pre-proposals are now being accepted through October 15, 2020.

“We encourage researchers to submit new project ideas that align with our priorities,” says Joshua Appenzeller, Chair of the MSB Research Committee and farmer from Queen Anne’s County. “The pre-proposal process allows the Board to identify projects of interest that can then be detailed in a full proposal.”

Production research priorities include:

• Variety development and trials: Yield, Quality, Population, Salt-tolerance
• Nematodes: Race identification and control, Resistance
• Weed control: Low rate chemical usage, Herbicide resistance, Herbicide trials
• Pest Management: Pesticide trials, Bio-pest controls, Drought management, Irrigation
• Cover Crop
• Disease Control
• Deer Damage Control

Of equal priority, Animal Agriculture priorities include aquaculture, soy meal and soy oil.

The application form for pre-proposals is available at www.mdsoy.com/research. Applications must include this form without any attachments. Researchers who plan to submit proposals to continue previously funded research are not required to submit a pre-proposal. Applicants for which their project was selected for submission of a full proposal will be notified during the first week of November.

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.

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 the Maryland Soybean Board, visit www.mdsoy.com.

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

If you have an idea to use or promote soybeans or its many byproducts, the Maryland Soybean Board would like you to submit a proposal for their coming fiscal year beginning October 1, 2020. 

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 aligned to priorities in their strategic plan – animal agriculture, consumer education, emerging markets and farmer engagement – however potential projects are not limited to these topics.

“Innovation is a key component for growing soybean demand,” said Linda Burrier, chair of the board’s Promotion  and Communications Committee. “Soybeans and soy oil are used in hundreds of products. We welcome proposals for promoting current uses as well as ideas for new uses to grow our markets.”

Written proposals are due in the board office no later than July 15. Applications can be found here (Word) (PDF). 

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 nearly $200 million to the state’s economy, soybeans are one of Maryland’s top crops.

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.

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

As part of its mission to serve soybean farmers in Maryland, the Maryland Soybean Board (MSB) awarded 17 research project grants totaling an investment of $185,387 that best met research priorities within soy utilization, production research, and market alternatives.

“The Board is entrusted with investing checkoff dollars in projects that will directly contribute to the success of Maryland soybean farmers,” stated Brian Johnson, MSB chair and Somerset County farmer. “The grants for 2020 were selected based on research priority, cost effectiveness and positive impact to farmers.”

Soybean research projects receiving funding for 2020 are:

• Aerial Application of Pesticides & Cover Crop Seeding Using Drones, Andrew Kness and Erika Crowl, University of Maryland Extension, $3,186
• Developing an Interactive Web App for Calculating Soybean Crop Budgets, Alan Leslie, Benjamin Beale and Shannon Dill, University of Maryland Extension, $8,067
• Effects of Planting Population on Yield in Full Season Soybeans, Kelly Nichols, University of Maryland Extension, $5,635
• Efficacy of Seed Treatments to Manage Soilborne Pathogens of Soybean, Alyssa Koehler and Jake Jones, University of Delaware Plant and Soil Sciences, $5,878
• Evaluating Novel Herbicide Tolerant Traits in MD Soybean Systems, Benjamin Beale and Alan Leslie, University of Maryland Extension, $7,850
• Evaluation of Growth-Promoting Products for Soybean Production in Maryland, Andrew Kness, University of Maryland Extension, $6,000
• Evaluation of Miravis for Soybean Production in Maryland, Andrew Kness, University of Maryland Extension, $4,823
• Fertilizing Cover Crops – Do You have to Put Some In to Get More Out? Ray Weil and Jim Lewis, University of Maryland Environmental Science and Technology, $22,570
• Identification of New Sources of Resistance/Tolerance of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum among Soybean Germoplasm Showing Resistance to Phytophthora sojae, Kathryne Everts and Behnam Khatabi, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, $19,488
• Managing Herbicide Resistant Common Ragweed Emergence and Growth in Soybean, Sarah Hirsh, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, $9,413
• Novel Resistance to Cercospora Leaf Blight & Purple Seed Stain of Soybean, Behnam Khatabi and Burt Bluhm, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences, $14,700
• Phosphorus Runoff from No-till Soils – Do Cover Crops Make it Better or Worse? Ray Weil, University of Maryland Environmental Science and Technology, $20,072
• Planting Green – Extending the Growing Season to Get More Payback from Cover Crops, Ray Weil, University of Maryland Environmental Science and Technology, $23,208
• Reducing Deer Damage to Soybean Using Forage Soybean as Biological Fencing, Jason Wight and Bo Zhang, University of Maryland Plant Science, $16,466
• State Soybean Variety Testing: Benchmark Varieties, Jason Wight, University of Maryland Plant Science, $2,250
• Strategies for Reduced Herbicide Input and Herbicide Resistant Weed Control in Soybean, Kurt Vollmer, University of Maryland Agriculture and Natural Resources, $8,361
• Study the Occurrence and Distribution of Viruses Infecting Soybean from Delmarva, Behnam Khatabi, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences, $7,420

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 nearly $200 million to the state’s economy, soybeans are one of Maryland’s top crops.

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.

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

(SALISBURY, MARYLAND) – Brian Johnson of Westover has been elected Chair of the Maryland Soybean Board. Johnson succeeds Travis Hutchison of Cordova, who reached the term limit for chair, but remains on the board to complete his director’s term.

Linda Burrier of Union Bridge was elected Vice-Chair and Curt Lambertson of Stockton was elected Treasurer at the board’s August meeting. The directors officially assumed their duties Oct. 1.

Ten farmer-directors volunteer their time on the Maryland Soybean Board, which administers soybean checkoff funds for soybean research, marketing and education programs in the state. Also currently serving are Joshua Appenzeller of Millington, Dale Brown of Denton, Jeff Griffith of Lothian, Randy Stabler of Brookeville, Jason Spicer of Church Creek, and Evan Stanley of Union Bridge.

April Cheesman of Perdue Farms, Inc., Jim Lewis of the University of Maryland Extension Service, and Mark Powell of the Maryland Department of Agriculture serve as ex-officio members.

Danielle Bauer also began working for MSB as Executive Director on October 1, 2019.

“I am honored by the confidence and support shown to me by the Board of Directors,” said Bauer. “I look forward to bringing my ag knowledge and expertise to the soybean industry.”

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, Executive Director
Maryland Soybean Board
Office: 443.812.4526
danielle@mdsoy.com