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.

Frequently Asked Questions to a Lender

What's your rate? How much are closing costs? You got questions. We got answers! At Farm Credit, our loan officers meet with hundreds of customers a year who ask those exact questions. So, what's the answer to those questions you ask?

Q: What are your interest rates? A: It depends. This isn’t the answer most people want to hear, but it’s the most honest one. Before a loan officer can quote rates, they need to gather as much information as possible – amount of loan, loan type, desired terms, etc. There is a wide range of rate products that are available depending on your needs. It’s also important to remember that rates change daily (even several times a day for mortgages).

Q: How much are closing costs? A: It depends. Most closing cost fees are tied to the loan amount, and a purchase has more costs than a refinance. Some of the things that are included in the closing costs are: transfer tax, recording costs (we are exempt in MD), title work, initial escrow (to pay taxes and insurance), appraisal, daily interest (interest from settlement to the first payment) and origination fee.

Q: How much down payment is needed? A: It depends. There are many different products available that have a wide variety of down payment requirements. For farm loans, the general down payment is 20%. For residential mortgages, it can vary from 0% (depending on program qualifications) up to 20% (in order to avoid mortgage insurance). In general, the more down payment you have, the more likely for both approval and a great rate.

As you can see, the answer to many of these questions is often “it depends.” We look at every loan request as unique and individual. If you have other questions you'd like answered, leave a comment or email info@mafc.com. In the meantime, look for our next blog listing the 26 factors that go into quoting a rate.

West Virginia farm captures second place for corn production per acre

A farm in Northeast West Virginia captured second place in a countrywide contest for measuring the production of corn, according to a press release.

Miltenberger Farm in Keyser, the seat of Mineral County, achieved 279.6187 bushels of corn per acre in the non-irrigated category of the National Corn Yield Contest. Sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association, the contest saw a Virginia field capture first place with 288.4817 bushels per acre.

"That is quite a yield and quite an honor for West Virginia and the Miltenbergers," commissioner of agriculture for West Virginia Gus R. Douglass said. "I can remember when you were considered a good grower when you could manage 50 bushels an acre. The yields farmers are getting these days are simply amazing and a credit to the advanced seeds and technology being used."

The MIltenbergers' farm grew Pioineer P1615HR seed while the Virginia farm, which is owned by Justice Family Farms of West Virginia, cultivated Pioneer P2023HR seed corn.

Partaking in the contest has driven yields by as many as 60 bushels per acre throughout the farm, according to Chris Miltenberger.

Students, FFA members meet with Pennsylvania ag secretary

A group of high school students in Pennsylvania who are considering becoming young farmers recently spoke to the state's secretary of agriculture.

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary George D. Greig met with six students from Kutztown High School who are all members of the Future Farmers of America, according to the Reading Eagle.

Greig spoke with the students about a number of issues including sewage sludge being used as fertilizer. In response to a question from a student about this matter, Greig said that he didn't think the sludge should be used on land that produces food for human consumption but added that it might be useful in other applications.

In addition, Greig talked about his life as a dairy farmer and about his time as an FFA member.

"Continue to improve yourself," Greig told the students. "You never know where you're going to end up."

These beginning farmers will be vital to Pennsylvania as agriculture is crucial to the state. There are about 63,000 farmers in Pennsylvania, and these properties - which average 124 acres in size - cover nearly 8 million acres of land. 

Virginia to hold farm transition workshop on February 11

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently announced that it would be holding a workshop for farmers to help them understand issues of farm transition.

The second of three Farm Link and Transition Pilot Workshops will be held on February 11 at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex in Chatham, Virginia. The VDACS' Office of Farmland Preservation is working with the Virginia Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers Committee to put on the workshop, according to a release.

The goal of the workshop is to inform farmers about how to ensure their farm is passed correctly to whom they intended. VDACS Commissioner Matthew J. Lohr said that doing this properly helps to preserve farmland.

"We are concerned about the loss of working farmland in Virginia, and want to ensure that this land continues to be farmed into the future," he said. "To that end we want to help farm owners set up a plan for a seamless transition from one generation to the next. At the same time, we want to provide assistance to existing farmers interested in expanding their farm operation, and to beginning farmers who are just starting to take the first step."

Ensuring that farmland is properly utilized is essential to Virginia as the agricultural sector has a more than $50 billion annual impact on the state.