MARYLAND GRAIN PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION

The Maryland Grain Producers Association (MGPA) was formed in January 1977 by a group of grain farmers who believed that an organization was necessary to: provide guidance for the field crop representative on the Maryland Agricultural Commission; provide a means of unification and education for grain producers; serve as a source of ideas on all aspects of grain production, marketing, legislation, research, and environmentally related concerns. This original purpose has held as a sound foundation for the organization. Allie Messer served as the interim chairman until Milton Malkus was officially served as the first president.

The first annual meeting was held in July 1978 and has been held each year since. The meeting has not only served as a time to bring grain farmers together to conduct MGPA business but a time inform grain producers about marketing, legislation, production and other important issues.

In 1990 MGPA sought approval from the Secretary of Agriculture to hold a referendum for an all-grain checkoff. In 1991, a referendum approved the collection of a one-half percent checkoff from the net value of corn, wheat, barley, sorghum, rye and oats. The vote was approved by a 75 percent vote. Soybeans were not included as part of the checkoff as this is collected under a national program. The checkoff was reaffirmed in 1996. MGPA set up the checkoff program to be administered by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB). The two separate boards share 13 of the same members and meetings are generally conducted on the same day. Robert Hutchison served as the first president of MGPUB and Charles Jamison served and continues to serve as the first treasurer.

Maryland's five-year corn production average is 50m bushels, with wheat averaging 12m bushels, sorghum 1.5m bushels, and barley 4m bushels.