Maryland and Virginia Lead the East Coast In Developing and Installing Ethanol Refueling Signs

Not sure where to fuel up your flexible fuel vehicle?  Look no further. Maryland and Virginia have made it easy for E85 users by becoming the first states on the East Coast to tout signs directing you to E85 stations.  Watch for these new signs that have been installed on highways and streets pointing flexible fuel vehicle drivers to the E85 alternative fuel stations.  Stations are located at:  

“Gas station chains know the value of signage in selling a tank of gasoline,” says Drew Stabler, a grain farmer from Montgomery County .  “Now travelers searching for E85 will have the same opportunity to be guided by the new signage to a fueling site that will protect the environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

E85 is a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, and can be used in almost 4 million vehicles on American roads. E85 helps the nations trade deficit by reducing the amount of imported oil, is clean-burning, and has a 100-plus octane level.   It is domestically produced, renewable, and made from corn, wheat, barley or any starch-based product.

Not sure if your vehicle can use E85? Check your owner’s manual for the term Flexible Fuel Vehicle or FFV and look inside your fuel filler door for an E85 sticker. Currently, Ford, Chrysler and GMC produce a wide range of vehicles which can run on E85.  The selection is expanding and includes popular vehicles such as the Taurus, the Chrysler 3.3 liter minivan, the Ranger pickup, the Suburban, the Stratus, Sebring, Tahoe, and the Explorer; contact your dealer or www.E85fuel.com for more information on compatible vehicles.

Since 1999 Maryland ’s grain producers, through the Maryland grain checkoff program, have supported the conversion of five gasoline tanks at various stations across the region to be used as dedicated E85 providers.

“Our farmers understand the public’s desire for cleaner-burning fuels that benefit air quality,” says Lynne Hoot, executive director Maryland Grain Producers Association. “E85 meets this need, and we will continue to work to bring Marylander’s more fueling stations for the thousands of flexible fuel vehicles already on our roads.”

Other project supporters include the US Department of Energy, the Metropolitan Baltimore Clean Cities , the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, the National Corn Growers Association, the Virginia Corn Growers Association, the Illinois Marketing Board, Ford Motor Company, and the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan.

“Just as it takes a season to grow a crop of grain, it takes a wealth of people from various organizations coming together to institute a change like the introduction of E85 as a fuel choice for Marylanders,” explains Hoot.

Jolene Brown Headlines 2005 Maryland Commodity Classic

Maryland grain and soybean producers will not to miss the 2005 Maryland Commodity Classic Thursday, July 28th, at the Queen Anne’s 4-H Park in Centreville. This action-packed day will kick off with morning tours at the Wye Research and Education Center in Queenstown followed by the entertainment of Jolene Brown, a dynamic speaker and farmer’s wife who travels the globe sharing inspiration and insight with farmers.

Jolene will have you laughing while you learn! She’s fun and funny, long-legged but not long-winded, and so insightful audiences have accused her of sleeping under their beds. The positive impact of her work is well documented by the accolades of those who have had her speak for their events.

Coming from West Branch, Iowa this real “Farmer Brown” uniquely understands the hearts, homes and the business of agriculture. Through humor, hope and helpful suggestions, her messages are guaranteed to bring something good to talk about for days to come.

Jolene’s topic will be “Normal Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”, featuring the top characteristics of some successful changers. We’ll discover, whether it be change imposed or change by choice, there are real benefits when we learn to celebrate change.

As a professional speaker, Jolene is an honored recipient of the Certified Speaking Professional Award. This is the highest earned designation of speaking achievement from the National Speakers Association. She’s made numerous guest appearances for television and radio broadcasts, and her work has been featured in several major publications.

Along with speaking professionally, Jolene blends many the different roles of farm partner with husband Keith, mom of two daughters, and an avid supporter of community and church activities. Her real life stories have been gathered from everyday life and shared with people throughout the United States , Canada and Australia .

A cornucopia of other issues will be discussed during the Classic including Managing Risk with Asian Soybean Rust, a review of Hill issues and recent happenings in the biofuels world.

Tours of checkoff-funded projects at the Wye Research and Education Center in Queenstown will run from 9:00 – 10:45 a.m. , giving people time to travel to the Maryland Commodity Classic at the Queen Anne’s 4-H Park in time for lunch and to see the informational displays which will be set up by 11 a.m.

The business meeting will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. , followed by the line up of speakers and concluding with the famed Crab Feast, Pork and Chicken Barbecue. Entry prior to 2:30 p.m. is $10.00, and after 2:30 p.m. the entry fee is $20.00, there is no entry after 3:30 p.m.

Maryland Grain Scholarship Reminder

The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) reminds students of the June 1, 2005, deadline for the organizations two annual $2,500 scholarships. These scholarships are funded with Maryland grain checkoff funds.

Selection criteria is based on agricultural background, family farm involvement, financial need, grade point average, agriculture related studies, career goals, and extra curricular activities. Applicants or the applicant’s immediate family must be involved in the production of grain.

The scholarships will be awarded to Maryland residents who are enrolled or accepted to a four-year institution working toward a BS degree, or students enrolled or accepted in a two-year institution with an agricultural program. The school need not be located in Maryland .

Those interested may obtain an application by calling Lynne Hoot at 410-956-5771 or visiting www.marylandgrain.com and using the link to the scholarship information from the home page.

Maryland Grain Producers Celebrate Passage of Renewable Fuels Legislation

Ethanol is a domestically-produced, renewable fuel source made from the starch of plant material. The incentive favors ethanol produced from small grains such as hulless barley, which serves as an excellent winter cover crop.  Scientists at Virginia Tech have developed hulless barley with ethanol production in mind as it has a higher starch level and less fiber than traditional barley although other beneficial traits such as its early ripening are the same. 

“This is a huge accomplishment for grain producers across the state,” says Edward Stanfield, president of the Maryland Grain Producers Association and a grain farmer from Baltimore County . “This legislation gives us one of the best tools possible to do our part in providing for a healthy Bay – the means to increase the acreage of winter cover crops.”

Planting winter crops after the fall harvest absorbs excess nutrients, prevents soil erosion and improves soil structure. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) states cover crops are the most cost effective best management practices available for the clean up of the Bay.

An ethanol plant using barley as the feedstock for 15 million gallons of its production would support CBF’s evaluation by potentially adding 100,000 more acres of winter cover crop across the state. “An ethanol plant in Maryland will also stimulate the economy surrounding the selected site,” adds Hoot.

According to the Renewable Fuels Association, a 40 million gallon per year ethanol plant has the potential to provide a one-time boost of $142 million to the local economy during construction, and expand the local economic base of the community by $110.2 million each year through the direct spending of $56 million. In addition, the plant would create 41 full-time jobs at the plant and a total of 694 jobs throughout the entire economy.

Recognizing the economic benefits of this legislation, the Bill’s key sponsors, Senator Mac Middleton and Delegate Norman Conway, worked especially hard because of its fiscal implications.

“I commend our lawmakers for recognizing that ethanol is good for the environment, good for the economy and good for agriculture,” ends Stanfield.

Ethanol is one of the best tools we have to fight air pollution from vehicles. Ethanol contains oxygen, which improves fuel combustion and reduces emissions; it reduces carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, toxics and fine-particulate emissions that pose a health threat to children, seniors and those with respiratory ailments such as asthma; and it is quickly biodegradable in surface water, groundwater and soil.

Ethanol provides a possible solution to energy independence. The increased use of ethanol increases and diversifies U.S. fuel supplies, reduces oil imports and improves energy independence. Blending 10 percent ethanol in gasoline increases the fuel supply by 10 percent. In 2004, the use of ethanol in the U.S. reduced the U.S. trade deficit by $5.1 billion by eliminating the need to import 143.3 million barrels of oil, and 23.8 gallons of ethanol displace the gasoline refined from a barrel of imported oil.

As a benefit for local farmers, ethanol production increase the local price of corn by an average of 5-10 cents a bushel, adding significantly to farm income in the general area surrounding the plant; and provides an average 13.3 percent annual return on investment over ten years to a farmer who invests $20,000 in an ethanol production facility. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ethanol production adds 30 cents to the value of a bushel of corn. It takes one bushel of corn to make 2.6 gallons of ethanol.

Ethanol represents a successful example of adding value to farm products. Traditionally, farmers have sold their grain for livestock feed, generating a low price. Ethanol production adds value to farm commodities through the processing of grain into high value ethanol and feed co-products. In fact, many farmers are investing in ethanol plants and in return receive a higher price for their grain and a share in the plant’s profits. Today, farmer-owners lead the way in ethanol industry growth.

Ethanol is the third largest and fastest growing market for corn. In 2004, the ethanol industry processed a record 1.26 billion bushels of corn, or 11percent of the U.S. corn crop. Ethanol production also used 12 percent of the domestic grain sorghum crop.

Information adapted from the Renewable Fuels Association

Food for Thought

The warmth of spring brings life to outdoor living in Maryland . Family get-togethers and picnics call for an array of fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade breads and fine desserts. But, here is some food for thought – Did you know that the food and fiber we depend on everyday originate on family farms that work 365 days a year to provide Americans with an abundant, safe and affordable food supply?

Sunday, March 20th, 2005 , kicks off National Agriculture Week across the nation to celebrate an industry that provides Americans with more than just food.

“Farm products are more than just food. In the grain industry alone, corn is an ingredient in biodegradable plastics and wearable fabrics, as well as adhesives, crayons and personal care products,” explains Lynne Hoot, executive director of the Maryland Grain Producers Association. “Wheat is now found in kitty litter and Maryland-grown hulless barley may soon produce ethanol, a clean-burning, domestic, renewable fuel.”

Bio-fuels, like ethanol, are non-traditional agriculture products that are renewable sources of energy that benefit consumers, farmers and the environment. “Ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline, resulting in better air quality,” Hoot says. “While, traditionally corn has been the crop of choice for mid-Western ethanol plants, Maryland grain producers are leaning toward ethanol production from barley – a winter cover crop that works to protect the environment.”

Beyond food, fiber and fuel, Maryland agriculture generates a stronger economy by providing jobs. From the farm fields and the local hardware store to restaurants and baseball games, dollars from agricultural products are benefiting the community.

“In 2003, Maryland ’s 12,100 farms grossed nearly $1.76 billion in farm income,” reports Norman Bennett, Maryland State Statistician. “Multiply this down the long line of other industries agriculture touches and you can easily see that this number is much more significant as it relates to the total state economy.”

Farmers are not wealthy by any means. In fact, according to the Agriculture In Maryland - 2003 Summary, the average farmer only netted $26,412 from the farming operation, causing many farmers to look beyond the farm for other sources of income.

Farming is a labor of love that continues to provide more than just safe, great-tasting, nutritious and affordable food for Maryland consumers. It’s a business that works to preserve the environment, stimulate the economy and advance research to benefit all Americans.

March 10, 2005 

Got Heart Health? Try Whole Grains to Support Local Farmers

Afraid you can’t have your bagel and eat it too after committing to healthy eating habits?

The Maryland Grain Producers Association (MGPA) has great news – not only can you eat that bagel, but if it’s of the whole grain variety, studies show you’ll be a step ahead on shaping up your heart’s health while supporting local agriculture.

“I am committed to producing safe, high quality grains on my farm for use in nutritious, heart-healthy whole grain foods for global markets. While I cannot guarantee that the grain foods Maryland consumers are buying at the store are produced from Maryland wheat, it is still important that people know their consumption of wheat products not only boosts their health, but helps local agriculture by removing available wheat from the market pool,” says Ricky Bauer, a wheat producer from Dayton in Howard County. “It’s all interwoven in farm economics. High demand for wheat and other grains keeps my family in the farming business and provides more open space for Marylanders to enjoy.”

MGPA is urging men and women of all ages to incorporate more whole grains in their diet in the form of whole grain breads, pasta, tortillas, pitas and crackers, to name a few. Whole grain foods, along with eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, are a significant key to preventing cardiovascular disease. According to the Wheat Foods Council (WFC), whole grains are excellent sources of insoluble fiber, which acts as a bulk producer that helps prevent digestive problems. A diet high in fiber can also help lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Whole grains are also important sources of vitamins and minerals, such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, selenium, zinc and iron.

Combine these nutritional benefits with exercise each day for a winning heart happy combination.

For more nutritional information on the benefits of whole wheat in the diet, log on to WFC’s web site at www.wheatfoods.org.

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March 9, 2005

Maryland Grain Scholarship Offered

The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB)  has again allocated $5,000 of grain checkoff  funds to support an annual scholarship program and is currently seeking applicants for two scholarships. The program will provide two deserving students, enrolled in a Maryland or an out-of-state institution, with a scholarship in the amount of $2,500 each ($1,250 for each semester).  The deadline for applications for the MGPUB Scholarship (MGPUB) program is June 1, 2005 .

This year will mark the scholarship’s eighth year of providing financial support to students interested in pursuing an agriculture related career. Given the dynamics in agriculture today, the advances in biotechnology, global positioning systems, environmental protection, and crop and livestock production, Maryland ’s grain farmers believe it is very important to encourage students to consider careers in agriculture by supporting their educational needs through the use of scholarships.

The scholarships will be awarded to Maryland residents who are enrolled or accepted to a 4-year institution working toward a BS degree, or students enrolled or accepted in a 2-year institution with an agricultural program. The selections will be based on agricultural background, family farm involvement, financial need, grade point average, agriculture related studies, career goals, and extra curricular activities. Applicants or the applicant’s immediate family must be involved in the production of grain.

Interested applicants may contact, the MGPUB, 53 Slama Road , Edgewater , MD 21037-1423 or call Lynne Hoot at 410-956-5771. Applications can also be found at www.marylandgrain.com under scholarship information on the home page.

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March 7, 2005

Picture This

The Maryland Grain Producers Association encourages agriculture producers with the flare for photography to support U.S. Wheat Associate’s (USW) as they host their first-ever calendar photo contest.

“This is an excellent way to showcase Maryland ’s wheat industry to the nation and the world,” says Lawrence Meeks, a grain producer from Carroll County .

USW will be producing a calendar in 2006, celebrating the reliability and value of U.S. wheat and is looking for submissions from photographers, both amateur and professional. The deadline for entries is June 15, 2005 .

Twelve photos will be selected for the calendar and winning photographers will receive $100 for each photo that is selected. Photo’s can be in either print or digital form with the requirements as follows:

Prints – Slides or 4X5 transparencies are preferred, with a hard copy print for judging. If you submit an original print, please include the negative. USW will only return photograph if a self-addressed, stamped envelope is included.

Digital – A three mega-pixel or higher digital camera must be used and set to the highest-quality resolution setting. Electronic files must be 300 dpi for a 10X14 print, and must be saved as eps, tiff or jpeg file format. Digital photo entries must be burned to a CD. Email entries will NOT be accepted. Do not use Photoshop or any other photographic software programs to retouch photo.

All entries must include name, phone number and mailing address of person entering, and paperclips for fastening information be omitted.

USW will own all rights to the winning photographs, including the right to publish the pictures and all associated copyrights. If people are featured in the photo, the photographer must obtain consent before submitting the photo for judging.

All entries can be mailed to: U.S. Wheat Associates, 1620 I Street, NW, Suite 801 , Washington , D.C. , 2006.

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February 23, 2005

Montgomery County Farmer Elected to National Corn Board

The Maryland Grain Producers Association congratulates Montgomery County grain producer Charles “Jamie” Jamison for being elected during the 2004 Corn Congress to the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Corn Board for a three-year term. Jamie had formerly represented Eastern growers on the Production Stewardship Action Team within NCGA, and will remain a liaison to this team.

“Jamie has been an outstanding leader for Maryland agriculture and this is a well-deserved next chapter for his career,” says Charles Schaefer, vice president of MGPA.

The NCGA board meets quarterly to discuss issues of importance to corn farmers across the nation. Topping Jamie’s list of concerns is getting an Energy Bill passed to increase usage and production of ethanol, ensuring reliable and affordable transportation of grain and laying the groundwork for the next Farm Bill.

Jamie has farmed nearly all of his life. He grows corn, wheat and soybeans on 5,000 acres on the borders of Frederick and Montgomery Counties . He is active both in his community and in farming organizations.

Jamie has stepped down from his long-standing position of treasurer for the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board to take on this new leadership role with NCGA. Along with his involvement in the grain checkoff program and its mission to increase grain usage through grants for education, research and market development, Jamie served as chairperson for the Maryland Commodity Classic since 1994.

A quick-thinker who always spoke with the farmer’s best interest at heart, Jamie also served on the nutrient management advisory committee where he worked to streamline the paperwork process and bring a workable program to the state’s farmers.

Jamie was one of five individuals elected from a ballot of eight to serve on the national board. He is interested in taking comments from local growers to the national level.

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February 20, 2005

Farmers: Maryland ’s First Environmentalists

The New Year is traditionally celebrated with bells and whistles marking the fresh beginning the turning of the calendar page brings to our lives. Many firsts will be realized. Resolutions will be made and broken, but one thing remains constant throughout the year, across the decades and links generation to generation – Maryland farming.

Maryland farming has survived for centuries. Have you ever wondered how? Through good stewardship of the land Maryland farmers have increased the productivity of the land and preserved it for generations to come.

Maryland ’s farmers were, and still are, the first environmentalists to care for your land. From the first turn of the soil centuries ago, agriculturalists have quietly worked to protect natural resources while providing a steady food supply for a growing population.

“I wake up each morning knowing that if my resources, including soil, water and air, are not properly preserved and conserved, my livelihood and a family legacy is in jeopardy,” explains Charles Schaefer, a Carroll County farmer “I use a variety of environmentally-friendly farming practices to protect the land and water around my farming operation.”

No-till farming has gained in popularity across the Free State in an effort to save energy, and reduce soil and nutrient loss from growing crops. In fact, Maryland ranks second in the nation among farmers using no-till farming.

“I use no-till because it is a practical best management practice that is good for my farming operation and good for the environment,” Schaefer says. “By planting my next crop without plowing the soil I’m cutting down on air pollution from tractors, soil erosion from loosening the ground, and water pollution by keeping the nutrients locked under a protective cover. I’m also creating improved wildlife habitat around my land for all kinds of birds.”

Studies have shown that today’s farms may hold the key for reducing greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming. Through a process called “carbon sequestration”, cropland – when not tilled – acts like a sponge and sucks up harmful carbon dioxide gases.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists estimate that America ’s cropland could absorb 195 million metric tons of carbon a year – about 12 percent of the nation’s annual emissions.

Farmers statewide are using a range of conservation tools designed to prevent soil erosion, control nutrient movement, and safeguard water quality in the Bay and its tributaries to ensure a healthy environment while providing for the food and fiber needs of the consumer.

No-till is not the lone practice. Maryland farmers assess the natural lay of the land and use it to choose environmentally-friendly farming practices.  Many Western Maryland farmers choose hillside terracing or contour farming to control erosion by slowing the flow of rainwater runoff, while those near the Eastern Shore choose grassed waterways, or strips of grass along streambanks and ditches that serves as a filter for any nutrients leaving cropland.

Nutrient management plans are required on every farming operation for each field that is cultivated showing the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus that is applied to a crop and removed with the crops harvest to insure farmers are accountable for the land.

Consumer knowledge of these types of farming practices are a key in continued viability of farming as a profession in Maryland . Informed consumers support agriculture in their community and across the state.

Maryland ’s grain producers want to remind consumers that for each bowl of corn flakes that is poured for breakfast, and each slice of bread sandwiched for lunch, a farmer was hard at work providing and protecting for future generations.

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February 20, 2005

Maryland Grain Checkoff Grants Awarded

With the mission of increasing the profitability of Maryland grain production and improving public understanding of agriculture, the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) recently held their yearly funding meeting to allocate checkoff funds to various grant seekers. Funds are provided in the form of grants to carry out research, education and the market development of grain. This year, $109,008 was provided for research, $55,650 for education and $169,611for market development.

“Deciding which projects to fund and at what level is always a daunting task,” stated Jason Scott, newly-elected chairman of MGPUB and a grain farmer in Dorchester County . “Our checkoff dollars are based on how the grain crops fare each year. Bumper crops in 2004 eased the financial squeeze we had felt during the last two years’ funding meetings, but this year presented another problem – several new and exciting projects that showed value to our producers. The board deliberated for two nights and we feel we have great lineup of projects happening around the state this year.”

Keeping consumers in the equation of the farmer’s bottom line, a new project from Chesapeake Fields, Inc., may enable Maryland farmers to provide value-added identity-preserved corn snack foods to the market place. This snack food will be nutritionally balanced for optimum protein and starch content. It will be created and sampled to consumers and snack food vendors with the grant monies provided by MGPUB.

Another new project focusing on food products comes from Lucy Yu, a food scientist at the University of Maryland . Dr. Yu’s grant will help determine the best varieties of wheat to grow in Maryland for quality and heath food products in order to enhance our growers’ ability to produce crops for value added products and increase consumption of soft wheat. She will identify soft wheat varieties which are high in antioxidants, develop food products for home and bakeries using soft wheat, and produce educational materials on the health benefits of this wheat.

“As forward-thinking producers, we have to be conscious of what our consumer wants and needs in food products,” said Charles Schaefer, a grain producer and board member from Carroll County . “Projects like these that look at enhancing and marketing Maryland-grown products is a real benefit to our industry and our communities. We are not only promoting healthy eating, but sustainable farming that adds dollars to a community’s economy.”

A top priority of MGPUB in 2005 was research that complimented farmer’s ongoing commitment to the environment in which they farm. Two new projects will focus on nutrient applications to cropland. The first will look at improving the efficiency of surface applied broiler litter in no till corn production, and the second will determine if a corn stalk nitrate test can predict nitrogen requirements in the fall, thereby reducing the amount of nutrient being applied during the winter months.

Schaefer added, “As farmers are being asked to insure increased effectiveness in managing nutrients on the farm, research of this nature helps us determine the best ways of accomplishing this task.”

MGPUB will also continue to support increasing the number of fueling stations that offer E-85, a fuel for flexible fuel vehicles made with 85 percent ethanol, a domestically-produced renewable energy source made primarily from corn.

At the end of the three-day meeting, 36 total grants were funded by MGPUB for a total of $334,419.00. Of those, nine will work toward market development, 13 will provide for educational programs and 14 support research.

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February 2, 2005

Grain Producers: Milking It for All It’s Worth

Corn and milk have always had a great relationship (corn flakes would be awfully dry without a splash from dairy cows). But things are moving and shaking in the dairy aisle as corn growers turn up the heat for new and exciting products made from their golden grain.

America’s Corn Belt will be debuting a new partnership between grain and dairy as Naturally Iowa, LLC rolls out new milk bottles made from corn-based polylactic acid, or PLA. The half-gallon “grip” bottles are manufactured under Cargill Dow’s NatureWorks ® line of biodegradable plastics and offer consumers the power to cut down on landfill waste by recycling or composting the container.    

“It is just amazing how the number of new products made from corn keeps expanding,” says Lynne Hoot, executive director of the Maryland Grain Producers Association. “First, it was fabrics and now we are seeing lines of plastic products starting to become available to environmentally-conscious consumers.”

PLA is made by fermenting the starch in corn into lactic acid which is then made into a form of plastic. This technology can create, out of corn and other grains, any product that currently uses crude oil as its origin, including textiles and plastics.

By finding new uses for domestically-produced, renewable resources such as corn, Americans who purchase these products are not only supporting a cleaner environment and creating less dependency on foreign oil, they are insuring a future for farmers.

“Finding new uses for corn and other grains is important to all farmers, not just those whose crop will be used in making the new product,” explains Jason Scott, a corn grower from Cambridge on the Eastern Shore . “While my corn may not be used for plastics, the total usage of corn will increase and help bring a higher price for my corn. That kind of economics keeps farming alive in Maryland .”

While these milk bottles will hit shelves in Iowa within the coming weeks, products such as these, including straws, cups, lids, cutlery and trash bags, are available for purchase via the Internet at www.greenhome.com.