Calling All Beginning Farmers in Maryland

U.S. Senators from Maryland, Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski have announced that the University of Maryland College Park has been awarded an $845,850 grant through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture for their Maryland Collaborative for Beginning Farmer Success program.

So what does this mean for you?  As beginning farmers, there is now even more help for you to learn about and establish successful farms.  The Maryland Collaborative program has four objectives set to reach their goal of preparing beginning farmers just like you for a successful agricultural career.

1. UMD Extension educators will develop a curriculum for new farmers to encourage and enhance their interest and comprehension of the field.
2. The program will offer workshops that bridge the gap between exploring the career to on-farm apprenticeships and mentorship.  It aims to increase the practical knowledge and skills of beginning farmers so they can make informed decision about what types of farming is practical for their resources, abilities and location.
3. To expand upon an existing new farmer training program managed by Future Harvest – a Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, to provide practical, hands-on training for beginning farmers who will work on farms.
4. To ensure long-term success through continued support.

Mikulski says, “Maryland’s number one industry is agriculture.  This grant invests in our students by giving them the tools necessary to succeed in the field.”  So, calling all beginning farmers in Maryland…be sure to take advantage of this grant money and learning experience.

Better Check for Aflatoxins in Your Corn

You already know how dangerous aflatoxins can be to your corn, so it is always important to keep a keen eye out for them appearing.  Aflatoxins are a group of chemicals produced by a certain mold fungi which appears as a yellow-green or gray-green color on corn kernels, either in the field or in storage.

So, why should you be concerned about them now?  The prime conditions for the fungus to produce are during warm August nights during a drought…and well, those conditions describe our Mid-Atlantic area right now!

The best way to check your corn for aflatoxins is to make a composite sample consisting of subsamples from every load or bin of corn and test periodically.

And what should you do if you find aflatoxins?  If you suspect this fungus, call your local Farm Credit crop insurance agent immediately.  To ensure coverage, samples must be taken before the grain goes into the bin or any other storage facility.  We can be reached at 888-339-3334 or on mafc.com.

Think Before You Swipe

We all know it’s important to think before you speak, but what about before you swipe (your credit card, that is!)?  We also can probably all agree that credit cards have their distinct pros and cons.

Credit cards are a great way to build your credit score (which lenders consider in terms of financing) as long as they are managed responsibly.  But, because credit cards are simple to obtain and use, it is easy not to even think of credit card balances as debt.  A good rule to stick with is if you can’t pay for it in cash today, don’t put it on your credit card!  And most importantly, pay off your balance each month to avoid increasing debt and high interest rates.

Here are a few interesting facts about credit card usage:

• In 2011, the United States’ household debt was $793.1 billion – 98% was credit card usage
• 2/3 of Americans have credit cards
• 54% of Americans pay off their credit card balance each month
• The average American has 4 credit cards
• The average credit card interest rate is approximately 19%

It is easy to see how credit cards can be a positive or negative factor when it comes to managing your finances, but just remember to “think before you swipe.”

We’re Here in Good and Bad Times

As a part of the agricultural community, we know how tough farming can be at times.  With the current drought among us, together we are facing the struggles.  Over the course of the summer, more than half of the country has been under moderate to extreme drought – the largest are of the US affected by such dryness in nearly 60 years.  Nearly 1,300 counties in 29 states have been declared federal disaster areas.  Click here to see the map showing areas under moderate to extreme drought during the summers from 1896 to 2012.

There isn’t a whole lot to say…but if you are being affected, please know that we are here for you and on your side, in good times and bad.

“Around the Farm” Olympics!

So, this is obviously just for fun, but since the Olympics are now in full swing this summer…we want to pick your brain!  Olympic athletes train hard for years in order to perfect every move, strengthen every muscle, and hopefully capture gold.  Like Olympians, we farmers work hard in the barn and fields to perfect our crop, livestock, and “capture gold” with a successful harvest or sale.

If you were to host “Around the Farm” Olympics, what would you include?  Here are a few of our ideas:

• Soybean spitting
• Horseback riding
• Livestock showmanship
• Tractor driving
• Hay bale toss

What ideas do you have?  Come on and comment your Olympic game ideas and we’ll be “golden!”

Do you want to get out and about?

It’s the end of the summer and of course, fair season is in full swing.  Most likely you have already indulged yourself in cotton candy, French fries, ferris wheel rides, and blue ribbons…but over the next few weeks there is still more to come!

For family fun (or a one night escape from the kiddos), check out our events calendar for local fairs in your area!

And while you’re there…don’t forget to snap an ag-related photo for our Facebook fair photo contest.  You could be the grand prize winner of $250! (Now, that would buy a lot of cotton candy…)  You can also check out the other entries here.

So, get out and about – go to a local fair and enter our Facebook photo contest!

SERIES: The Experts in Our Field ft. Crop Insurance

Choose MAFC for Your Crop Insurance Needs, Part 2

By: Kelly Bailey, crop insurance specialist

Happy Friday, and welcome to our last crop insurance department tribute.  I told you there were more reasons for why we’re your best choice for crop insurance.  So, here you go:

1. We are committed to learning.  We take the time to attend different agriculture and insurance related seminars, trainings, and events multiple times per year to expand our knowledge and better serve you. Crop insurance is an industry of change, and we work hard to make sure that we stay up to date with the industry.
2. We have a service oriented attitude – from figuring out production totals to filing claims, we work with our customers to ensure they receive exceptional service from our agents. Since crop insurance can be used as a tool to increase borrowing potential, what better place to work with an agent that has your loan officer in house? All of your needs can be met in the same place.
3. And we’re growing (and will continue to if that means better service to you). We mentioned earlier this week that our services have expanded to cover our entire territory by hiring new employees.  Do you have any other suggestions for us?

All in all, you put everything you have into your business, so why not let the best of the industry take care of your crop insurance needs?  We’re here to help you make the best of your growing seasons – in good times and bad.  So, choose Farm Credit and our team of experts to help you plan for success.  If you have any questions, tweet me @KellyBailey1103 or give us a call at 888-339-3334.