Rill Elected to Maryland Soybean Board
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
Maryland Soybean Board Seeks Innovative Research Proposals
The Maryland Soybean Board (MSB) is currently seeking innovative soybean research projects to increase the profitability of farmers. Pre-proposals for the 2024 growing season, including project concepts and a brief narrative, should be submitted by October 15, 2023.
“Priority areas for the board include variety development, nematodes, weed and pest control, drought management, cover crops, and disease control,” says MSB Research Committee Chair Dale Brown. “However, any projects aiming to boost production of Maryland soybean growers will be considered.”
Detailed priorities, along with research guidelines may be found by visiting https://www.mdsoy.com/research/. All pre-proposals must be submitted on the provided application form without any attachments. Researchers submitting proposals to continue previously funded research are not required to complete a pre-proposal. Applicants for which their project was selected for submission of a full proposal will be notified in early November.
In their 2023 fiscal year, MSB approved $194,550 in funding for research projects addressing farmer needs. Projects being completed by researchers from University of Maryland and University of Delaware are evaluating production methods such as planting date, slug control, fungicide efficacy, cover crop management, deer diversion plots, flame-weeding, biological seed treatments, and more. A full list of funded projects and results can be found on the Soybean Research Information network, https://soybeanresearchinfo.com/.
Project selections are 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
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
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