Current Checkoff Results  

Checkoff Program    Current Awards     Current Results

Marketing and Promotion    Education     Research

üMarketing and Promotion

National Corn Growers Association

It takes hundreds of vibrant kernels to make up a high-yielding ear of corn. Similarly, it takes the checkoff contributions of more than 300,000 corn farmers nationwide to make the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) a high-yielding organization.

NCGA continued to educate key decision makers and consumers on the benefits of ethanol, and conducted research on aviation grade ethanol, E-diesel and E-85. The association’s grassroots efforts were crucial in securing congressional passage of the corporate tax bill, which contains the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit and other provisions that will help the corn and ethanol industries.

The association also continued ground-breaking research on new uses for corn and ramped up business development efforts. During 2004, NCGA’s research team focused on building markets for corn-based plastics, increasing the utilization of ethanol coproducts and developing valuable maize traits. Checkoff funding also supported cutting-edge research on new methods for defending against nematodes, mycotoxins and other threats to corn.

Funding provided for water quality issues in 2004 allowed NCGA to comment on proposed regulations, participate in stakeholder meetings, conduct informational sessions for growers and develop a useful TMDL reference guide.

MGPUB checkoff contributions ensured NCGA had a national voice on conservation and environmental issues, including pesticide registrations, farm bill conservation programs and property rights. Additionally, NCGA continued to assist growers with risk management issues by monitoring farm bill programs and working with risk management providers.

Through missions to the European Union and other parts of the world, NCGA continued to educate growers, government officials and consumers on the benefits and safety of biotechnology. 

Grant Recipient: S. Richard Tolman, tolman@ncga.com, www.ncga.com

US Grains Council

The U.S. Grains Council worked for Maryland grain producers around the world, around the clock. The U.S. Grains Council continued accomplishing its mission to develop markets, enable trade and improve lives. This was done daily by developing four marketing cornerstones for access, development, defense and intelligence.

In terms of market access in 2004, the Council helped temporarily remove Russia’s import tariff on corn. The tariff will be permanently removed this coming year. This lowers the cost of U.S. corn and makes corn more competitive to end users.

Great strides were also taken in promoting biotechnology within the Southern African region by teaming with AfricaBio, a nonprofit organization based in South Africa. Together, the Council and AfricaBio conducted a two-day program in South Africa on the benefits of biotechnology. The Council also worked with AfricaBio to develop and promote demonstration plots of genetically modified corn in South Africa.

For market development, the Council concentrated on China, Korea and Southeast Asia. In China, Council technical and managerial training and assistance programs are directly responsible for growth of production in many of China’s leading swine producers and, as a result, increased consumption of feed grains. Chinese hog production increased 25 million head in 2003 over the previous year to a record 592 million head.

The Council’s office based in Malaysia can be credited in part for helping to increase sales of corn and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in the region this past year where sales to the region exceeded the Council’s expectations. While the region imported 16 tons of U.S. DDGS in FY2003, almost 25,000 tons of the DDGS was imported by the end of FY2004.

Market defense takes place in those markets where the use of U.S. feed grains is well established – as is the case in Egypt, Japan, Mexico and Taiwan. In Egypt, the Council continues its efforts to familiarize end users about the use of corn gluten meal as an excellent source of protein in feed rations by conducting feeding trials in spring 2004 using the product. In 2003, the U.S. exported 143,610 metric tons of corn gluten meal to Egypt, compared to exporting 7,741 tons in 1999.

DDGS also takes prominence in Mexico where the Council worked to educate the country’s agriculture industry through various feeding trails for hogs, cattle and dairy cows. These results were presented in a workshop to a wide Mexican audience. Between October 2003 and July 2004, Mexico imported 51,000 metric tons of DDGS, compared to importing 18,000 tons in 1999.

Market intelligence is gathered “around the world, around the clock” by our staff located at our 10 offices. By implementing our four cornerstones, the U.S. Grains Council continued to grow the Maryland grain producers checkoff dollars beyond the borders of United States.

Grant Recipient: Ken Hobbie, grains@grains.org, www.grains.org

Development of an Ethanol-Fueled Hybrid Electric Vehicle

The University of Maryland team finished eleventh overall in the 2004 FutureTruck competition sponsored by Ford and USDOE in a field of fifteen entries.   This was the last year for the Future Truck competition.  For the first two years GM was the co-sponsor.  Ford has been the sponsor for competition for the last three years.  The event was held this last June at their proving grounds in Romeo, Michigan.  The competition was a challenge to college students and their professors to improve the fuel economy of the donated 2002 Explorer SUV by at least 25%, and to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.  This task was to be accomplished with no loss of performance or utility of the stock vehicle.

As in previous years, the University of Maryland Team competed with a parallel hybrid electric vehicle powered by an E85-fueled internal combustion engine.  The vehicle was named the Excite (from Ford Explorer and Honda Insight).  Engine and hybrid powertrain control problems resulted in less than optimal performance in terms of fuel economy and emission reductions achieved. While the overall result was disappointing, this was the first year that our team managed to compete in full-hybrid mode throughout the competition.  

The stock 4.0L cast iron engine was replaced with an all aluminum 3.0L engine from a Lincoln LS, and an electric motor from a Honda Insight hybrid was added between the engine and transmission.   The electric motor served as a starter, an alternator, and as a generator to recover energy during braking.   The students made many internal modifications to the engine that included custom pistons to raise the compression ratio to 12.1:1 in order to take advantage of the excellent octane rating of E85.  The increased compression ratio produces better thermal efficiency, which in turn leads to better fuel economy.  They also made modifications to the catalyst system in order to lower the emissions.

Student programs like this would not be possible with the generous support of many sponsors, and we are thankful for the assistance provided by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board.

Grant Recipient: Gregory Schultz, Gschultz@eng.umd.edu

National Association of Wheat Growers

Membership in the NAWG allows the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) to leverage its investment with other state wheat organizations to shape federal policy in Washington, DC.  Joining with 20 other state associations in the Association expands the reach of Maryland grain producers far beyond what they could achieve on their own.

On behalf of its state association members, NAWG works on a variety of policy issues in Washington with Congress and the Administration.  These issues included federal farm policy, environmental regulations, tax provisions, conservation, disaster assistance, trade, transportation, federal research priorities and funding, and many others.  Priorities and policies are set annually by NAWG’s standing policy committees and its Board of Directors, and refined and updated by those committees as necessary throughout the year.  NAWG is truly a grass-roots advocacy organization, which is one of its greatest strengths.

In addition to the advocacy functions, NAWG's Foundation and its industry partners provided numerous leadership training opportunities to members.   These programs are hugely popular, and are available to producers in any NAWG-member state.  NAWG also provided a weekly newsletter to members and produces an annual educational and policy conference.

Maryland’s participation in the NAWG helps keep NAWG the credible and reliable source of information on wheat issues for policy-makers in Washington.

Grant Recipient: Daren Coppock, dcoppock@wheatworld.org, www.wheatworld.org,

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üEducation

Ag Council of America

Hundreds of National Agriculture Day celebrations took place across the country on the first day of spring, March 20, 2004.  The Ag Day program serves to raise the public’s understanding and awareness about how food and fiber are produced through the volunteer efforts of agriculture associations, producers, corporations, universities, government agencies, educators, and other various groups.  As fewer and fewer Americans are directly involved in agriculture, the Ag Day program uses the community and the classroom to build a stronger awareness about the integral part agricultural plays in peoples’ lives. 

Participants reached out to consumers through media and program materials, lesson plans available for educators, web-based materials, the Ag Day poster, and Agriculture Fact Cards that help to connect the facts about agriculture to consumer products everyone can identify with.  In Maryland, the following organizations received materials to conduct Ag Day celebrations: Maryland Ag in the Classroom, Maryland Beef Industry Council, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Maryland Farm Bureau, and the Maryland/Pennsylvania Soybean Boards. 

Grant Recipient: Eldon White, eldonw@nama.org, www.agday.org

Kids Growing with Grains

The Kids Growing with Grains program is one that quickly engages young people in the study of agriculture production and consumption. This program, since its inception in 1994, has students and their teachers actively learning about all aspects of grains, from the preparation of the soil for planting grains to the enjoyment of grain products and everything in between!

In 2004, 478 fourth graders and 60 adults from Washington County participated in the program. The program has always been held at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center and was offered September 21-24. While there, students participated in the following four hands-on learning stations: a wagon tour of the farm to learn about planting, growing, and harvesting of grains; a corn station to learn about the unusual uses of corn while sampling grits and making popcorn balls; a human consumption station to learn about the nutritional value and health benefits of grain products while making pancakes and bags of granola; and an animal station to learn about livestock and the integral part grains play in the food chain. As a remembrance of the field trip, each student constructed a souvenir grain jar as a take home item. 

Grant Recipient: Jeff Semler, jsemler@umail.umd.edu, www.agnr.umd.edu/Washington

Kids Growing With Grains - Frederick

With funding from the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board and the cooperation of the Western Maryland Research and Education Center, the Frederick County Extension Office has provided fourth grade students with the “field trip of a lifetime!”  During an era of “no child left behind” there were  requests for the program from six county elementary schools, one private school and one parochial school.  Teachers value this program. During one week of programming 642 fourth grade students came by school bus (funded by the individual schools) to the farm.

Students participated in four interactive learning stations:

Understand the steps in planting, growing and harvesting grains.
Students took a hayride around the farm viewing fields in production, valuing machinery and recognizing grains from field to table.  Each student made a grain jar using five grains grown on the farm.

Become aware of the health and dietary benefits of grain and grain products.
Students focused on corn- from acres to bushels yielded, its many uses, and variety even on the Food Guide Pyramid as a vegetable and a grain.  Students tasted corn grits and made their own popcorn ball! 

Become familiar with the recommended servings of breads/cereals/grains per day in a healthy diet.
Students learned to recognize grain and grain products while making a trail mix and whole grain pancakes!

Learn how animals utilize grains to produce food and other products for our use.
Students met the animals (cows, pigs, chickens, horses, sheep) and discovered how much grain the animal is fed to produce for our needs.

Thanks to the MGPUB “city” kids from Frederick County visit an operating grain research center and learn to appreciate the role of agriculture in providing food and fiber for each of their families.                       

Grant Recipient: Frank Allnutt, fa7@umail.umd.edu

Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation (MAEF)

The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board partnered with the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation to educate the public about agriculture and the critical role it plays in people’s lives through the Maryland Ag on the Move program. This initiative funded the development and production of a mobile agricultural showcase for public education at events, video/DVD on Maryland agriculture, Maryland agriculture map, digital agricultural atlas and accompanying curriculum matched to Maryland State Standards.

The Maryland Ag Showcase visited two dozen events in 2004, successfully reaching thousands of Marylanders attending fairs, shows and events. The Maryland Resource Kit includes state-specific agricultural educational resources of the Take Me Out to the Cornfield video, the Maryland Agriculture Map in wall and desk sizes, and the Digital Atlas of Maryland Agriculture CD with 100 maps, and comprehensive Teacher’s Guide, which includes lesson plans, worksheets and a variety of age-specific learning activities.

Maryland’s grain industry is prominently highlighted within these resources and is recognized as a Partner in the Maryland Ag on the Move initiative.

The Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation also offered teacher training, workshops, Excellence Awards, Mini-Grants and more. www.maefonline.com.

Ethanol Racing Car

The Fair displays gave Bunny the opportunity to talk with thousands of local drivers, making them aware of the future of Ethanol. Along with using the Ethanol fueled racecar as an attention getter, Bunny & Crew handed out boxes of literature on Ethanol and the many uses of grain. Besides the fair displays, another 100 plus days per year were spent on the East Coast highways with the Ethanol Logo prominently displayed on the trailer as they made their way to televised racing events.

Bunny feels that a positive impact has been made on thousands of people, informing them of the developments in farming. She is constantly reminding her audience that Ethanol helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and is also environmentally friendly.

Besides her personal goals in promoting Ethanol, she never misses an opportunity to comment on other uses of corn, including a variety of mass produced plastics, antifreeze, livestock feed, food for a growing world, sweeteners and the fact that new avenues are being developed for marketing grain every day. The end results are efforts to help increase grain’s value at the farm gate.

Grant Recipient: Bunny Burkett, bunnyburkett@earthlink.net, www.bunnyburkett.com

Wheat Foods Council

While consumers may not yet be getting the message, a recent survey shows both doctors and dietitians recognize that low-carb diets are not the key to long-term health and weight-loss success. “When consumers cut out the carbs, they are not only jeopardizing their long-term health, they also are missing out on many of the benefits carbohydrate-rich foods can offer,” said Lori Sachau, M.P.A., R.D., interim executive director of the Wheat Foods Council. “The grain group is needed to provide energy, iron, B vitamins, fiber, and numerous phytonutrients, so we need more daily servings of it than any other group.” 

To communicate the essential role that grain foods play in a healthful diet, the Wheat Foods Council published and distributed a communication kit about what happens when consumers cut grain foods out of their diets. The kit included a news release, two fact sheets, a “Lose the Anti-Carb Attitude” tip sheet, and “How to Spot a Fad Diet” information card. The Maryland Grains Producers Utilization Board helped to fund the project and reports the kit, distributed to 1,500 media editors nationwide, resulted in generating more than 4.37 million media impressions. www.wheatfoods.org,

Close Encounters with Agriculture

Close Encounters with Agriculture is an outreach agricultural awareness program geared for Montgomery County 4th grade students.  Since its inception in 1993, almost 30,000 students have participated in the program.  The students have gained an awareness and appreciation for agricultures’ importance in their daily lives.

The local agricultural community is very supportive of the program donating time, money and livestock to be used in the program each year. Over 140 different individuals volunteer each year to help operate the learning stations.  Volunteers teach a variety of the activities.  They also assist in unloading school buses, reloading, take home materials, and assist in moving the children between activities.

About 30 elementary schools from all over the county participated over a 3-week period in early spring.  The program can accommodate up to 250 students per day.  Learning activities are short (5-15 minutes per station) and hands-on to keep students’ attention.  Production agriculture, environment and nutrition and the interrelationship between these areas are the focus of the program.  Five hands-on learning stations consisting of grain and grain products, dairy, beef, swine and horticulture were used to teach production agriculture concepts.  The environmental segment emphasized the positive relationship farmers and farming practices have on the environment.  Children are able to develop an understanding of soil conservation practices, such as no-tillage, strip cropping, etc., as well as understand water quality issues, nutrient management, soils and related issues.  Students were taught and shown how urban sources of pollution impact the Chesapeake Bay.  The nutrition segment emphasizes the relationship of agricultural products to nutritious diets and focused on uses and benefits of grain products.  

Participating schools and teachers were given an orientation session and provided with teaching packets containing learning activities for the students prior to their field trip to the Extension Office Farm Park.  Follow up activities were also included in the teaching packet including pre/post tests to measure the students learning.

Grant Recipient: Doug Tregoning, dt21@umail.umd.edu

Kids Growing with Grains and Animals, Too!

The “Kids Growing with Grains and Animals Too!” program of 2004 had a significant impact on over 600 participants in Allegany County including kindergarten students, parents, and teachers. This five-day event was held for 15 kindergarten classes throughout the county. This program is organized and implemented by the entire staff and faculty of Maryland Cooperative Extension of Allegany County.

During the all-day event, each student visited 11 interactive learning stations. Most of the stations focused on specific grains and their uses. For instance, one station provided information on corn and how it is consumed by humans but also some of its unusual uses in manufacturing. Another interactive station focused on grinding wheat as students learned the process of making bread. Each student also filled a jar with a variety of grains such as barley, oats, corn, soybeans, and wheat to get familiar with different varieties of grains. In addition to the grain-specific stations, some stations included live animals so that students could learn more about how animals utilize grains for growth and for food production as well.

Following the program, each student was provided with an in-depth packet of grain information. In order to continue the grains education beyond the one-day event, each teacher received resource packets with lessons and additional activities for the classroom. End-of-event evaluations indicated that teachers utilized the grain resources following the program and that the event made a true impact on grain awareness and knowledge of the children and the parents who attended.

Grant Recipient: Bill Knepp, wk34@umail.umd.edu

Maryland Envirothon

The Envirothon is a competitive environmental education program for high school students.  It is a problem- solving, natural resource education program designed to help develop critical thinking skills, communication skills, and team building.  Local school environmental science curricula is enhanced by working with natural resource professionals in real-life, hands-on activities.

Students are trained and tested in five natural resource areas: aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and a current environmental issue that changes from year to year (the 2004 issue was Natural Resource Management in the Urban Environment).  The Envirothon program is a unique partnership between soil conservation districts, high school science teachers, and natural resource professionals.  Together, they offer a broader environmental education program than either could separately.  Student teams and teachers work closely with biologists, foresters, soil scientists, and other related professionals to train for local, state, and national contests.   Teacher surveys and discussions with local and state education officials emphasize the need for such real-life, hands-on outdoor educational experiences.

The overall purpose of the Envirothon is to stimulate the interest of high-school aged students in our natural resources and to motivate them to evolve into environmentally-aware, action-oriented adults.  Through the introduction to, and by working with, various resource organizations, students are able to promote well balanced options for environmental challenges in real-life community related situations.

Since hosting the 1992 National Envirothon at St. Mary's College in St. Mary's, MD, Maryland teams have placed 6th out of 13 (6/13) teams in 1992, 1st/20 in 1993, 4th/23 in 1994, 6th/30 in 1995, 2nd/33 in 1996,  2nd/37 in 1997, 2nd/43 in 1998, 4th/46 in 1999, 12th/49 in 2000, 7th/49 in 2001, 13th/49 in 2002,  5th/47 in 2003 and 11th/51 in 2004.  With a strong history established, the MD Envirothon program looks forward to being involved in this worthwhile program and producing environmental leaders that will take us into the next century.

Grant Recipient: Clare Seibert, cmpp1@juno.com, www.mascd.net/envirothon

Providing Program Incentives Enhancing Ed/Dev of MD Youth

During 2004, over 600 Maryland FFA members learned through participation in 34 Career Development Events. Five State FFA officers traveled statewide conducting leadership workshops in 34 Chapters with 1312 active FFA members participating. The Maryland FFA Convention, held in Hagerstown, had 355 students, advisors and guests in attendance. In September, 54 students and advisors traveled to the Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, MA to participate in career development events and receive further recognition; In October, the National FFA Convention in Louisville, KY was attended by 156 Maryland FFA members, advisors and guests where they participated in leadership workshops, career development events and other career and personal development opportunities. In November, 103 FFA members participated the Maryland Fall Leadership Conference workshops to strengthen and develop leadership skills.

Grant Recipient: Ronald Seibel, rjseibel@erols.com, http://mdffa.org

Grain Fun for Children and Adults in Calvert County

In 2004, Calvert County Cooperative Extension reached over 1600 youth and adults with interactive grain activities at three fairs and festivals. Using a colorful roulette wheel, youth and adults played the Brainy Grainy Game by answering age-adjusted questions about grain and grain products. In addition, meals were prepared by 35 low-income parents who attended Evenstart (an adult education program sponsored by the Calvert County Board of Education), the SHARE training program for a food buying cooperative or classes through the Calvert County Health Department. These meals featured a variety of grain products as the basis for easy to make casserole dishes. The importance of grain in the diet and the low cost of grains in recipes were discussed. Twenty-five youth learned the importance of grain in their diets through food preparation classes at an after school program. Basic food preparation skills and grain nutrition education were the focus of these classes.

Grant Recipient: Herb Reed, hreed@umd.edu

LEAD Maryland

Maryland’s rural communities and agricultural sector are increasingly buffeted by external and internal forces for change.  Those changes include, for example: population growth – much of it sprawling onto rural landscapes; globalization of markets; increasing focus on the quality of the environment; and an aging rural population. To successfully adjust to such forces, the number and capacity of Maryland’s rural and agricultural leaders must increase.

The LEAD Maryland Foundation, Inc. operates to help meet the rural and agricultural leadership challenge.  In 2004, LEAD Maryland’s leadership development fellowship program involved a diverse group of 23 Fellows in the second year of the two-year program designed to increase their assurance, skills, and knowledge for mobilizing people to solve problems.

In 2004, LEAD Class III Fellows attended seminars held in: College Park (covered topics such as research, biotechnology, biosecurity, food labeling, and a look at the UM College of Agriculture and Natural Resources); Annapolis (State and local government); Piney Point (soil and water resources, diversified farming operations); and Baltimore (social issues and connecting agriculture to urban needs).  Fellows also spent much time in 2004 researching and preparing for their January 2005 study tour to Brazil.  

Grant Recipient: Susan Harrison, sh194@umail.umd.edu, www.leadmaryland.org,

Wheat Export Trade Education Committee (WETEC)

During 2004, the Wheat Export Trade Education Committee (WETEC) represented the Maryland Grain Producers on trade policy matters. WETEC worked closely with the Bush Administration and Congress regarding negotiations on free trade agreements and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

WETEC made sure the language within the negotiation texts and the corresponding bills sent to Congress included wheat concerns. These concerns include state assessment collection, tariff reductions, SPS issues, the continuation of food aid and other problems impacting U.S. wheat’s entry into third countries. 

WETEC also held meetings with foreign government representatives in order to resolve their concerns about U.S. agriculture policy. WETEC worked to protect U.S. wheat interests and ensure that barriers overseas do not hinder the marketing efforts of U.S. Wheat Associates. WETEC also coordinated closely with the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) to keep trade policy complementary to domestic agricultural policy.

Grant Recipient: Barbara Spangler, spangler@uswheat.org, wetec@wetec.org, www.wetec.org,

Ethanol Fact Book

A significant amount of criticism has been leveled at the ethanol industry with regard to whether ethanol production creates an overall gain in energy. Existing studies clearly document that an energy gain is achieved, yet it has often been buried in large studies or very technical analyses. The CFDC Issue Brief series, as part of the Ethanol Across America education program, takes issues like this and presents them in a way that helps legislators, media, and ordinary citizens understand. Working in large part from recent U.S. Department of Agriculture studies, the Issue Brief explains how modern ethanol plants are achieving a net energy gain of 67 percent! This is particularly important in a state like Maryland which does not have a history of ethanol use that would provide a comfort factor to legislators or the public. This document can fill that role, and eventually help make the case for state initiatives that can make an ethanol production facility in Maryland — using Maryland grain — a reality.

Grant Recipient: Doug Durante, cfdcinc@aol.com, www.cleanfuelsdc.org

Development of Hulless Barley as a Valued Added Crop

Winter barley is an excellent crop in rotation with soybeans.  It is a well-known fact that yields of soybeans following barley are significantly higher than those following wheat.  Production of two winter annual crops allows producers to extend the time available for both harvesting of small grains and planting of soybeans, and also provides an alternate crop to reduce the buildup of crop-specific pathogens.  The eastern U.S. is well situated regarding demands for feed grains in that poultry and swine operations provide domestic demand and local export markets provide foreign demand.  However, production of winter barley has decreased since 1996 mainly due to low market prices, even though the region is a feed grain deficient area.

Therefore, the primary objective of this project was to implement a program to develop barley varieties with greater marketability in both domestic and foreign markets and, thereby, make barley an economical cash crop.  The proposed research was designed to improve the feed value of barley by developing hulless varieties that will have lower concentrations of fiber, reduced phytic acid content and higher metabolizable energy.  This transformation should bring the feed value of barley closer to that of wheat and maize. Development of hulless barley varieties possessing high starch, low fiber, and low beta glucan concentrations also would make barley ideal for ethanol production. 

The second objective, which is quite converse to the first in end results, is to develop hulless barley varieties that would meet the needs of an increasing demand for barley as a health food commodity.  Waxy hulless barley can have beta glucan content as high as 12%.  Such barley would have fiber that is more soluble combined with high concentrations of beta glucan which have both been shown to be important in reducing cholesterol.  Hulless barley also has phytochemicals that behave as antioxidants, which are often associated with cancer prevention. Barley flour or beta glucan potentially could be used in the production of health foods and dietary supplements. 

Prior to 1990, winter-barley breeding programs in the U.S. developed only hulled-barley genotypes and, therefore, adapted winter hulless barley genotypes were not available. Since 1999, significant progress has been made in the development of winter hulless barley lines. This has lead to the release of Doyce hulless barley from the Virginia Tech barley breeding program as the first winter hulless barley in April of 2003. Seed for Doyce hulless barley was available to growers in the fall of 2004. Subsequently, continuous efforts are being initiated by the breeding program to develop improved and higher quality hulless barley varieties for use as animal feed, human consumption and domestic fuel ethanol production. Twenty three elite hulless lines will be evaluated in State Variety Trials in 2005. An additional 101 advance hulless lines will also be evaluated in cooperating states. To date, more than 3,000 hulless winter barley populations have been developed. In 2004-05, Dr. Griffey will advance more than 350 hulless populations, evaluate 325 pure lines in yield tests, and select new pure lines among nearly 9,000 hulless headrows. Fifty nine advanced hulled and hulless lines with good agronomic performance are being evaluated by the USDA-ARS Eastern Regional Research Center in Pennsylvania for chemical composition and other value-added traits. In addition, 15 samples of Doyce hulless barley grown in 2004 in six states are being analyzed to determine whether and to what extent environment affects chemical and nutritional composition of hulless barley.

Grant Recipient: Carl Griffey, cgriffey@vt.edu

U.S. Wheat Associates 

Soft red winter wheat exports were up 30 percent in marketing year 2003/04, 3.8 million metric tons compared to 2.9 MMT the year before, U.S. Wheat Associates reports. Year-to-date sales, as of late October, are even stronger than last year, coming in at 2.47 MMT compared to 2.32 at the same time in 2003.

The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board is one of 20 grain commissions belonging to USW, the industry's export market development organization.

"The world’s second and third largest wheat exporting countries, Australia and Canada, have monopoly exporters -- the Australian Wheat Board and Canadian Wheat Board -- to sell their wheat," explains USW chairman Keith Kisling, a wheat producer from Oklahoma. "The U.S. doesn’t have a monopoly export desk but have an organization that debunks the sometimes nefarious claims of the AWB and CWB, and that works with customers in over 100 countries."

"U.S. Wheat Associates is the only organization promoting soft red winter wheat exports," Kisling points out.

USW reports two especially favorable developments for SRW exports. The first is the result of work in China, where USW opened an office in 1982. For the first time in recent memory, China is buying large quantities of SRW, importing 47.5 million bushels since last spring.

"USW's work in China -- offering training, promoting U.S. wheat quality and advocating smart trade policy -- is making a difference for Maryland’s growers," Kisling says.

The other major effort benefiting Maryland is in Egypt, one of the world's biggest SRW buyers. With Egyptian public displeasure over the war in Iraq, USW experts weren't sure whether a successful "American Quality Wheat" logo program was going to last.

"We surveyed consumers in Egypt, and found that even if they don't like our foreign policy, they like our wheat," reports USW vice president Dick Prior. "We shared those findings with Egyptian bakers, and they've continued to buy American wheat."

This marketing year, as of October 28, Egypt has purchased 18.6 million bushels of SRW.

Grant Recipient: Ruth Bracken, rbracken@uswheat.org, www.uswheat.org

National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition

MGPUB, under a grant from the Department of Energy and the Maryland Energy Administration, proposed to install and market E85 infrastructure throughout the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.  Total project costs to date are $714,729.  Funding under this project pays for station equipment, promotion, grand openings, and administration. SESI provides project management services to MGPUB on behalf of the NEVC. 

The five existing stations under this project sold approximately 147,855 gallons of E85.  All stations, with the exception of the Parole Citgo, increased fuel sales.  There are three additional non-public E85 stations in the metro area in operation that were not funded directly through the Maryland SEP grant program.  However, assistance was provided to these sites in the form of technical support.  There are more than 200,000 gallons of E85 sold annually in the DC-VA-MD area.

In 2004, MGPUB and its partners were able to establish the first E85 station in the District of Columbia.  This new station is located at the DC Department of Public Works and has sold almost 17,700 gallons of fuel since its opening on Earth Day 2004.

Since the installation of the first station under this grant, fuel delivery costs have been extremely high. Limited stations and gallons sold inhibited distributors from being interested in selling E85 in the area.  Now that there are eight stations in the metro area, SESI was able to locate a local distibutor, Tri-Gas and Oil, interested in selling E85 at a more favorable distribution cost.

In addition to all of the above, MGPUB and SESI continued to promote E85 in the local area.   By working with state transportation departments from Maryland and Virginia, E85 road signs have been installed to direct drivers to stations.  Lynne Hoot, Executive Director of MGPUB and Jill Hamilton of SESI also met with local dealerships to discuss promotion oppurtunities.  Although similar meetings have been tried in the past, 2004 marked the first year in which dealerships showed an interest and a commitment to help.   Further, radio and newspapers advertisement was researched for future promotional purposes.  As soon as funding becomes available, advertising and the coupon program will begin.

Grant Recipient: Phil Lampert, plampert@e85fuel.com, www.E85fuel.com

NBGA

Grant Recipient: Marvin Zutz mzutz@gvtel.com   http://www.idahograin.org/barleycommission/nbga/index.html,

Development of Low Carb Baked Goods

Wheat is a major commodity in the world of agriculture. A more complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which protein elements interact and dough forms is crucial in the agriculture industry and represents a phenomenon of worldwide importance with vast economic impact. The ability to understand ways in which protein elements can be modified to fit various specifications represents a revolution in possible applications that range from the food to the non-food industry. The focus of this project was to obtain a detailed understanding of the specific roles of protein elements responsible for the development of texture during the dough forming and baking processes for low-carbohydrate baked goods. In order to achieve genuine low-carbohydrate baked goods that are also low in calorie, the relation of these constituents to the quality of the starting flour, and the ability to use this information to better control baking processes and the properties of baked goods have to be characterized. The specific objectives for this proposal are focused on developing a detailed understanding of the protein-derived textural structures that form as flour is transformed into baked products and their associated kinetics.

In terms of commercial significance, the results developed from this project have found potential impacts in several areas. First, methods of controlling and monitoring dough formation during processing are possible. Scientific means to monitor the applicability of specific composition characteristics in flour or dough can be devised to ensure consistent product quality. In addition, it is possible to develop designer’s flour that can be used in a wide variety of food and non-food applications. Another area of interest is the development of high quality wheat varieties based on this knowledge, as well as the preservation of farmlands with the value-added operation.

On a broad level, this new finding provides the opportunity to impact in a number of application areas:

         •  In-line process control for dough manufacture

         •  Development of improved commodity and specialty baked goods

         •  Development of improved and safer ingredients for dough production

         •  New instrumentation for analysis and control of dough production

         •  Characterization of flour quality for specialty end uses

         •  Improved control of wheat production and resultant quality traits

Grant Recipient: Martin Lo, ymlo@umd.edu, www.agnr.umd.edu/lo,

Food Attribute Research and Marketing

In 2004, eight local growers produced slightly over 20,000 bushels of high protein, high gluten wheat for flour production. Selection of this wheat resulted from previous research to identify soft red varieties with hard red baking characteristics.

When the July crop was harvested, 500 pounds were cleaned, conditioned and transported to Lynchburg, Virginia, for milling into whole grain and white flour. A Virginia cultivar that was also milled into whole grain and white flour was also received. The flour was allowed to age and in August their food specialist, Joe Bauer, Ph.D., took samples of both cultivars to the Konig test kitchen in New Jersey. Both varieties performed well in this initial test that measured the strength and quality of the flour to determine if it could be used to make Artisan breads.

Artisan breads requires a higher quality of baking flour that has sufficient gluten strength to rise and maintain the large gas pockets created from fermentation through the baking process. It also must have the ability to crust and have the desired color required for premium quality.

In October, 400 bushels of the CF grown wheat were sent to a commercial mill located in Pennsylvania. The wheat was tempered, ground into white flour then shipped to a new bakery in New Jersey for testing. This bakery uses Konig equipment and is owned by the company Chesapeake Fields and has aligned to co-pack its bakery products. The flour did not perform as expected. Analysis revealed the need to increase the protein and ash content of the flour.

Grant Recipient: John Hall, jh8@umail.umd.edu

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üResearch Results

Control of Perennial Weeds in Corn

Studies investigating the control of perennial weeds in corn were established at two sites in Maryland in 2004. This includes control of johnsongrass and Canada thistle in corn. At the Wye Research and Education Center located in Queenstown, MD, johnsongrass control in corn, using conventional herbicides such as Accent and Roundup Weather Max were compared to new postemergence herbicides such as Option, Equip and two new glypho sate formulations. Other treatments included Steadfast and Celebrity Plus. By the last rating control varied considerably. Most of the Option, Equip and Accent treatments were averaging less than 80% johnsongrass control. However, Steadfast, Celebrity Plus, and all glyphosate formulations tested provided over 80% johnsongrass control by the last rating. In another study at the Wye, KIH-485 was corn ared to Dual II Magnum, Harness and Prowl for preemergence and posternergence seedling johnsongrass control in corn. Depending upon rate, KIH-485 provided 85% seedling jobnsongrass control or better by the last rating when applied preemergence. When applied postemergence with Roundup Weather Max, KIH-485 provided 100% seedling johnsongrass control by the last rating. Two Canada thistle control studies were established at Manor Farm located in Howard County, MD. Seven different treatments were applied postemergence in the first study and five in the second study. In both studies, by the last rating, Stinger provided best season-long Canada thistle control.

Grant Recipient: Ron Ritter, rr24@umail.umd.edu

Genetic Improvement and Testing of Small Grains for Maryland

In the 2003/2004 season, this grant helped support yield trials of elite wheat and barley varieties currently available for planting in Maryland. Local testing of all commercially available and experimental small grains varieties in state trials is the only way that growers can obtain unbiased information on the best performing varieties under Maryland’s conditions. The 2004 information with the results from these Wheat and Barley State trials in 2004 was distributed in a very timely manner to all extension agents in Maryland and through them were available to Maryland wheat and barley producers. Additionally, it was available at the Maryland Commodity Classic in July. Support from MGPUB was acknowledged in this publication as well as at field day presentations at the Wye (Queenstown) in May 2004 and Salisbury in September 2004. This information was posted at http://www.nrsl.umd.edu/extensionicropslwheat/. This site was continually updated through the harvest season as the trials were being harvested and statistically analyzed.

Overall, in the 2003/2004 growing season, over 4,000 yield trial plots of small grains were grown across five locations in Maryland (Poplar Hill, Wye, Allen, Clarksville, and Keedysville) as part of the breeding and testing program. Additionally, over 10,000 head row selections were evaluated for breeding purposes from segregating populations harvested at the Wye and Salisbury. A total of 64 advanced wheat lines were evaluated in advanced elite wheat lines in a joint study conducted in four states: Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina. A new wheat line, named Choptank, is being increased for release. This line is short, early, high-yielding, has good test weight, and is resistant to powdery mildew. Seed will be available to growers in the fall of 2006. Another wheat line, MV5-46, is being increased for release. It is very high yielding, has very high test weight and is resistant to powdery mildew. Seed will be available to growers in the fall of 2007. The new barley variety Catchpenny, which is very early and has resistance to aphids, was increased in 2003/2004 for release in 2005.

A specialty wheat trial which included hard red, hard white, and soft red winter wheats was conducted during the 2003/2004 season at two locations in Maryland in an effort to investigate alternatives to the soft red wheats currently grown in Maryland. These hard wheat varieties had a better performance than in previous years but are generally lower yielding than soft reds.

Additionally, tests of new hullless lines from Virginia Tech was conducted at the Wye and Clarksville in 2003/2004. In response to the interest on ethanol production in Maryland, several lines are being testing for starch content (the fermentable portion of the grain). Testing of the 2003/2004 crop is ongoing and results will be communicated to the MGPUB as soon as they become available (January 2005) as well as posted at http://www.nrsl.umd.edu/extension/crops/wheat/.

More than 800 crosses were made in the greenhouse during the 2003/2004 season, the resulting Fl populations are being grown in Salisbury. More than 200 lines of advanced wheat lines will be tested in Salisbury in a scab inoculated nursery to select resistant lines.

Grant Recipient: José Costa, jc274@umail.umd.edu

Control of Weedy Grasses in Small Grains

Studies investigating the control of Italian ryegrass in wheat were conducted during the winter of 2003/2004. A variety of preemergence and postemergence applications were included. Studies were conducted at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center (CMREC) located in Beltsville, MD. The first study compared the activity of various preemergence and postemergence herbicides for Italian ryegrass control in heat. Dual II Magnum, KIH-485, Hoelon and Define all provided excellent season-long control of Italian ryegrass when applied preemergence. While injury to the wheat was observed with the higher rates of KIH-485 and Define, yield was not affected. Osprey was compared to Hoelon for postemergence control of Italian ryegrass at two different timings. Excellent control of Italian ryegrass was achieved with both products applied at the two different timings. Wheat yields were equally good. The second study examined the utility of Beyond in the control of Italian ryegrass in Clearfield wheat. Beyond was compared at different rates, timings, and combinations with Harmony Extra. Prowl was also compared as a preemergence application. Beyond controlled Italian ryegrass regardless of rate, timing, or combination. Excellent yields were obtained. Prowl was not that effective in controlling Italian ryegrass which resulted in lower yields.

Grant Recipient: Ron Ritter, rr24@umail.umd.edu  

Effect of Deep Tillage in a Rotation System

Grant Recipient: Ron Mulford fm18@umail.umd.edu

State Corn Hybrid Test: Inclusion of Benchmark Hybrids

Farmers in Maryland utilize a number of resources to attain information regarding selection of corn hybrids. One source is the results of the University of Maryland’s corn testing program. Unfortunately, in recent years there were limitations to this testing program that affected the value of the information that could be obtained. First, since the testing program is a fee-based program, the hybrids submitted by seed companies were frequently their newer genetics that they either had just started to market or would soon market. Second, one of the leading seed companies made a corporate decision to no longer submit entries into University managed tests. This corporate decision eliminated the inclusion of hybrids in the test from a company that many farmers considered to set the industry standards. Both these factors eliminated the inclusion of popular, widely grown hybrids that could be used as benchmark checks. A solution to this issue was a grant by MGPUB to the University of Maryland’s corn-testing program in 2001. This grant allowed for the purchase of seed for popularly grown, benchmark hybrids and provided supplemental monetary support for costs associated with testing. 2004 was the fourth year that MGPUB has provided funding for this improved corn hybrid test. During 2004, fourteen benchmark hybrids were included in the tests. Of those fourteen, three represented the standard setting, leading company that no longer participates in University managed tests. This MGPUB grant has re-established the University of Maryland corn-testing program as a valuable resource for selection of corn hybrids.

Grant Recipient: Robert Kratochvil, rk32@umail.umd.edu, http://www.mdcrops.umd.edu, 

Evaluation of Wheat Variety Resistance to Wheat Spindle Streak Mosaic Virus

Wheat spindle streak mosaic virus is a soil-borne disease of wheat that can easily escape detection. Symptoms of this disease actually disappear when weather gets warm, so even detailed yield monitoring would only tell a farmer something was wrong. Because it’s soil-borne and patchy it would be easy to think it had something to do with the soil like a fertility or pH problem. Knowing what to look for and when helps to reduce the confusion, but ultimately combating this disease with resistant varieties is imperative. Many public and private seed companies have limited information on the resistance of their varieties. We are maintaining and improving a site that has the virus and its vector as a wheat disease nursery. Results from the evaluations show that we have a full range of responses from very susceptible varieties to very resistant ones. The results are available in the University of Maryland Extension Bulletin number 237, “Pest Management Recommendation for Field Crops”.

Grant Recipient: Arv Grybauskas, arvydas@umd.edu, www.agnr.umd.edu

Starter Fertilizer, with and without P and Method of Application

Grant Recipient: Ron Mulford, fm18@umail.umd.edu

Field Evaluations of Two Novel Cropping System Practices

Double Crop Corn Production Summary

Farmers are continuously looking for new production practices that can enhance their bottom line. Double crop corn production in this region has not been practiced to any great degree other than by dairy operations producing corn for silage. Grain producers have traditionally planted double crop soybean following wheat and barley harvest relying upon a crop that will tolerate the hot and frequently drier conditions that can occur at that time of the summer. The possible construction of a fuel ethanol plant that will utilize barley as its  feedstock has increased the interest in double crop corn production for grain. This is because a fuel ethanol plant using barley will greatly increase the acreage of barley offering more opportunities for double crop farmers and because an attractive, better than average corn market exists in this region. Based upon the two-year’s data from a study done in Maryland during 2003-2004, double crop corn for grain appears to have potential. Bt corn hybrids ranging from 100 - 110 day relative maturity produced 110 - 145 bushel per acre at three of the four locations where the test was conducted. However, Bt hybrids with relative maturity ranging between 90 and 100 days may be the better option when harvest moisture content and the associated drying costs are considered. This was made apparent by the performance of a 93-day maturity Bt hybrid that attained yields between 110 and 120 bu/acre and had a harvest moisture content ranging from 13-15% at three of the four locations. This research also clearly indicated for double crop corn production that hybrids with the Bt technology generally will provide considerable plant health benefits although the decision about a hybrid should include an evaluation of stalk rot resistance. Farmers who consider double crop corn need to calculate their costs (particularly drying costs) for producing corn in this type cropping system.

Twin Row Corn Production Summary

A variety of row-spacing orientations for corn have been evaluated and in some cases promoted as having yield benefit. Previous row-spacing studies conducted by the Grain and Oil Crops Extension Specialist in Maryland compared 15 and 20-inch rows to the standard 30-inch row spacing. Those studies determined that producing corn in 30-inch rows remains the best choice. The latest narrow row corn promotional effort has been for twin rows. Great Plains Manufacturing has patented a “Precision Seed System” that allows the use of their grain drill to plant a number of different crops including corn. And, because the grain drill has 7.5-inch spacing between its planter units, a variety of row spacing configurations are possible including two rows spaced 7.5 inches apart with each two sets of twin rows on 30-inch centers. This allows for harvest of the crop with a standard 30-inch corn head as well as offering an easier way to apply post emergent herbicides and side-dress nitrogen to the crop. Twin row corn production was compared to 30-inch row corn over a range of plant populations at four locations in Maryland and Delaware during 2003-2004. During that two-year study, no significant yield differences were observed between the two row spacing treatments. Additionally, a silage production test was included during 2004 and, as with the grain results, no yield differences were observed between twin and 30-inch rows. As for suitable plant population, no interactions between the choice of row spacing and plant population were identified indicating that corn response to different plant populations would be the same regardless of row-spacing choice. No significant differences in grain yield were observed for populations ranging from 24,000 to 32,000 plants/acre indicating that the current University of Maryland plant population recommendation of 24,000 to 28,000 plants/acre is adequate. Choosing which end of this population range to use on a farm should include information about hybrid response to population, consideration to soil type (lighter vs. heavier soil) and the corresponding soil moisture holding capacity, and whether the crop will receive supplementary irrigation. It is important to note that any decision to purchase a drill equipped with the “Precision Seed System” should not be contingent upon the success of twin row corn. A drill equipped with this system can plant corn in 30-inch rows as well as handle the planting needs for small grains, soybeans and a host of other crops fulfilling the “one drill, all crops” goal that many farmers desire.

Grant Recipient: Robert Kratochvil, rk32@umail.umd.edu

Exploring New Grain Sorghum Hybrids

The expanded grain sorghum hybrid evaluation trials in 2004 covered both the Eastern Shore of Delaware (one location) and Maryland (two locations) and two trials (within and without a deer fence) in western Maryland (Clarksville, MD).  At the Clarksville site the trial planted outside the deer fence and without other crops to attract deer was badly damaged and deemed non-harvestable.  Although grain sorghum has shown itself less desirable to deer, it was evident that when deer pressure is very high sorghum can be as severely damaged as corn or beans.

Over all locations, the late-maturing hybrids averaged 14 bu/A more than the early-maturing hybrids and 12.6 bu/A more than the medium-maturing hybrids.  Looking at the upper range of yields, medium-maturing and late-maturing hybrids were even more impressive, averaging 11.9 and 15.7 bu/A, respectively, higher than the early-maturing hybrids.

The complete report of the trials is available from the authors (see email address and phone numbers above or at http://www.udel.edu/varietytrials/sorghum/ 

Grant Recipient: Bob Uniatowski, bobuni@udel.edu

Evaluation of Agronomic Practices fro Profitable Production of Hulless Barley

Maryland Grain Producers have evaluated the feasibility of a motor fuel grade ethanol plant using barley as the feedstock. This study determined that the success of such a plant is dependent upon a number of factors including the price that would be paid for barley. Continued feasibility research conducted by the Mid-Atlantic Biofuels committee determined that using hulled feed barley, commonly grown in the region, for ethanol production would be inefficient. An alternative barley type that offers a number of advantages over hulled barley is hulless barley. Ethanol production is not the only potential use generating interest in hulless barley. Perdue Farms has contracted for approximately 1000 acres of hulless barley for a large-scale feeding trial. One major disadvantage regarding hulless barley is that the breeding and selection program led by Virginia Tech is relatively new and thus, the most promising lines currently available are producing approximately 80% as well as hulled types. Added to this yield drag factor is that little agronomic management information is available for hulless barley production.

One particular area of concern is the potential damage that can occur to the germ of the seed during harvest if combines use the aggressive threshing settings that are used for hulled barley. Preliminary germination data from barley samples collected while harvesting 'Doyce' hulless barley on the James Boyle farm during 2004 indicated that proper combine speed and concave setting will be necessary to minimize the seed damage caused by threshing. A cylinder speed of approximately 700 rpm produced a seed lot germination of 80% while the higher cylinder speed settings had lower germination rates. In addition to the seed issue, there is also a need to identify suitable seeding rates and nitrogen management practices that will allow the attainment of good yield at an economically acceptable level for the farmer. In the seeding rate study planted during the fall of 2004 for this project, 'Doyce' hulless barley had emerged stands three weeks after planting that were approximately 40% less than the stands that were present for 'Thoroughbred' hulled barley. On average, 'Doyce' had emerged stands that were approximately 45% of the seeding rate goal (seeds/acre) while 'Thoroughbred' produced stands that were approximately 75% of the seeding rate goal.

Grant Recipient: Robert Kratochvil, rk32@umail.umd.edu

Effects of Poncho Seed Treatment

In 2004, test strips and replicated plots were established in 18 field sites on six University of Maryland Research farms to evaluate the effectiveness and yield gains of Poncho seed treatment. A total of 39 pairs of treated and untreated data sets were collected. Treated and untreated corn yields averaged 159.7 and 151.7 bushels per acre, respectively. Percent grain moisture at harvest was consistently lower in the Poncho plots, suggesting that the systemic insecticide may have some effect on corn development. Plant stand density and plant height was significantly enhanced by the Poncho seed treatment. Stand density showed the highest correlation with yield gain, suggesting that it was more important than the enhanced plant growth as a determinant of yield. Insect pest infestations were relatively light at all sites, except for moderate levels of cutworms and wireworms at Beltsville and noticeable plant lodging from rootworms at Keedysville. An average 5.1% of the plants were damaged by all pests in the untreated plots compared to 2.2% in the Poncho plots. None of the measurements of insect injury or population density, except rootworm injury at Keedysville, showed any association with the differences in yield. The most abundant insect was thrips on seedling and early whorl corn. The systemic action of Poncho significantly reduced the number of thrips and improved the color and vigor of the plants. However, it cannot be determined if thrips suppression contributed directly to the observed yield gains.

Grant Recipient: Galen Dively, gd7@umail.umd.edu