QUEENSTOWN, Md. — With today’s high input prices, the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) kept their colleges top of mind when voting on funded proposals for 2022. For the upcoming year, grain check-off dollars will be supporting 12 education, 8 market development, and 15 research grants to benefit grain farmers across the state.

Board members gathered online and in-person to hear from industry experts on their 2022 proposals. The Utilization Board agreed to fund 35 of the proposed grants at a total of $978,650. Newly funded grants include four grain safety tubes through Nationwide, Phosphate fertilizer recommendations as well as slug, grid sampling, and zinc research.

MGPUB’s President, John Bruning said, “Our board is looking to advance research findings that are valuable to our neighbors while educating consumers of all ages and finding new market opportunities.”

Check-off dollars are deducted at the first point of sale on corn, wheat, barley, oats, and sorghum where 0.5% is collected on the net value on each bushel of grain sold. Funds collected in 2022 will be utilized to cover MAEF’s mobile science labs in 10 schools, slow-moving vehicle road safety, the tenth season of Maryland Farm & Harvest, as well as national and international representation to name a few programs.

You can view 2022 funded grants online here.

–Jenell Eck, Maryland Grain Producers