Michigan Ag Blog

Representatives of Michigan's only growth industry gathered in Lansing Tuesday to appeal for the preservation of funding for the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA). Individual farmers and agricultural commodity organization representatives testified Tuesday afternoon before a three-member Senate subcommittee charged with recommending an MDA budget proposal to the chamber's full appropriations committee. 

Chaired by District 16 Senator Cameron Brown (R-Fawn River Township), the subcommittee also includes Dist. 21 Sen. Ron Jelinek (R-Three Oaks) and Dist. 2 Sen. Martha Scott (D-Highland Park).

Reduced by more than half over the past decade, MDA's $30 million annual budget has forced the department to pare down some of its most vital, routine services, which is already hitting some of the state's farmers squarely in the wallet.

Just last month, two apple shippers in western Michigan reported losses of $50,000 and $143,000, respectively, because required inspections were not done in time. A lack of inspectors, mainly due to budget cuts in the MDA's Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division, made it impossible for apples bound for export and the federal school lunch program to get the federally-mandated inspections they required for shipment.

MDA Director Don Koivisto opened the testimony by describing the "slow drain of people over the last three years" that has impaired the department's ability to keep up with its workload.

Full-time MDA staff since 2000 has dropped from 653 to 450 employees, with a 15 percent staff reduction over the last three years alone. Last year alone the department lost more than 80 employees. Meanwhile, key divisions and programs have been eliminated, including agriculture development, horse racing, and Select Michigan food labeling.

"I don't know how we'll maintain service without increased funding. Commerce has been negatively impacted, which is really hard for the Michigan economy to take," he added, alluding to the missed apple inspections.

"We're losing ground to overseas shipments," Koivisto warned, and endangering the viability of crucial programs like Right to Farm and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program.

Almost 20 Michigan Farm Bureau members attended the hearing, at the expense of a clear, spring day that may've otherwise been a productive one at home on the farm. Testifying before the committee were Jackson County dairyman Hank Choate, Calhoun County greenhouse grower Jim Tuinier, and Berrien County vegetable producer Paula Wedde.

Both Choate and Tuinier described a variety of ways in which MDA inspections enable them to do the business of agriculture, particularly as it pertains to taking full advantage of out-of-state marketing opportunities for their products.

"I'm new but I'm here for the long haul-I need these programs," said Wedde, explaining how MDA services benefit young producers just getting started, like she and her husband. "The support of MDA is just incredible. It's an investment in our future and our state's future."

Several other ag organizations were also represented and testified in defense of MDA's budget.

Ray VanDriessche, community relations director for Michigan Sugar Company, cited several vital MDA services, including its pesticide container recycling program, the administration of restricted-use pesticide controls, inter-county drain oversight, and inspections of fertilizer and fuel.

"We believe MDA has a philosophy of working with the growers," VanDriessche said, lauding the department's "spirit of cooperation and resolution" and calling for the restoration of its budget to last year's levels.

As executive director of the Michigan Bean Commission, Bob Green represents 1,500 growers of one of the state's trademark crops; dry beans alone accounted for $150 million in agriculture revenues last year. His comment that bean inspections in Michigan cost far more than in competing states -- notably top-bean-producer North Dakota -- clearly piqued the committee's interest.

Dawn Drake, manager of Michigan Processing Apple Growers Division of the Michigan Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Association, echoed Green's testimony, stating that Michigan apple shippers pay twice what their competitors in Washington pay for mandated inspections.

After questioning both Green and Drake about the anti-competitive discrepancies they'd described, Brown said, "We want to not just sustain [MDA funding], but grow it."

"We've heard from producers and processors and how they rely on state government to stay productive," Jelinek said. "It's state government's responsibility to meet the needs of the MDA to serve the state's economy.

"We believe in agriculture and we believe in what you're doing."

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture meets again May 4 to formulate its recommendations to the full Senate. The Senate and House-approved appropriations bills must then undergo a reconciliation process before awaiting the governor's signature.

Southwest Michigan growers have some specific things to look for when scouting for freeze damage.

We're still measuring the impact of another week of early-day frosts and freezes. Here's a perspective from the southern tier of counties.

Now's a good time to scout for an early-season insect pest.

Recent sub-freezing mornings have caused worry among area fruit growers.  Here's a look at where things stand in the last few days of April.

In recognition of farmers as Michigan's first environmental stewards, and coinciding with Earth Day, the Michigan House and Senate have passed resolutions that recognize Michigan farmers "for their efforts in caring for Michigan's land and water resources, while providing safe, affordable, and wholesome food products."

The Senate acknowledges Michigan farmers' "commitment to agriculture and their respect for the Earth" in a resolution recognizing Earth Day, as introduced by Sen. Patricia Birkholz (R-Saugatuck) and adopted April 22. The House resolution introduced by Rep. Mike Huckleberry (D-Greenville) and passed the same day declares April 22, 2010 as "Farmers Care Day" in Michigan.

"Across the state through our network of county Farm Bureaus, local farmers are working hard to make sure people in their communities understand just how much farmers care about principle values important to everyone, and this includes environmental stewardship as well as food safety, top-notch animal care, and a commitment to balancing economic, environmental and social needs for the good of Michigan's future," said Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) President Wayne H. Wood. 

"So we're grateful to the sponsors and the Legislature for taking time to recognize and validate the care shown by farmers, not just on Earth Day but every day throughout the year," said Wood.

Among other things, the resolutions highlight how nearly 10,000 Michigan farms have voluntarily participated in educational programs to learn about sound conservation practices through the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), and how nearly 1,000 Michigan farms have become MAEAP-verified or have requested verification.

As a result of MAEAP, Michigan farmers have installed more than 2,400 acres of filter strips, reduced phosphorus use by more than 184,000 pounds per year, and have kept more than 55,000 tons of soil from eroding and making its way into waterways.

The resolutions also point out that "because Michigan farmers care, they voluntarily spend over $1.2 million annually to implement conservation practices in order to work toward MAEAP verification."

In addition, the resolutions highlight how:

• Michigan farmers utilize global positioning technology which allows them to apply the most precise amount of nutrients or crop protectants to ensure plants only receive what they need for growth.
• Michigan farmers put families first, with 95 percent of Michigan's 56,000 farms family-owned and -operated.
• Farmers care about consumer choice and believe consumers should have the option of buying food that is consistent with their values and needs, and have access to balanced, objective information to help make informed choices.
• Michigan farmers believe strongly in food safety, environmental integrity and animal care, and want consumers to feel confident enjoying high-quality and economical meat, vegetables, fruit, milk and eggs from modern and contemporary farms raised by farmers with traditional Michigan values.

Fresh produce and more healthy diets get the spotlight in Las Vegas.

Michigan gardeners are faced with a pathogen lethal to potato and tomato production.

Clean air regulations have improved air quality.  However, your soil today can use an extra boost in one element which used to be deposited due to human industrial activity.

Elevation helped some and hurt some during the latest cold snap.  A check of low temperatures around Michigan State’s weather monitoring network in Southwest Michigan shows readings as low as 25-degrees near Lawrence while not that far away it bottomed out seven degrees warmer in Fennville at the Trevor Nichols Research Center. Low temperatures were concentrated in the 31 to 29-degree range Monday morning.

Some patchy frost may have developed today around dawn but as a rule readings were seven to ten degrees warmer than the past two mornings.  That trend should continue for the rest of this week with no major push of cold air from the northwest expected all the way through the coming weekend.

With all the worry understandably focused on the freeze there’s been very little mention of moisture in recent days.  Wednesday that changes a bit with the passage of a frontal system which could produce light showers.  A better chance for rain comes at the end of the week.  The outlook contains a chance of showers and perhaps even a rumble of thunder.

Cold air settled into the area this weekend.  Extension Educator Mark Longstroth takes a look around the region checking temperatures and their possible impact.

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has joined with other agricultural groups in a unified call for permanent and meaningful estate tax relief for America's farm families.

In a letter to Senate leaders, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), AFBF and 27 other organizations stated that inaction on fixing the looming estate tax challenge would be disastrous for agriculture.

"American agriculture is traditionally a family-owned enterprise, and estate taxes can take a severe toll on family members who wish to carry on the farm and ranch tradition," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "Portions of farm and ranch resources frequently have to be sold to pay for the resulting estate tax, and if something is not done soon, the bite of those taxes in 2011 will be even more severe."

If Congress does not act beginning in 2011, the law will call for a $1 million exemption and top rate of 55 percent. The negative impact on farm families will be significant and will cause many viable agricultural operations to disappear.

"We support permanently raising the exemption to no less than $5 million per person and reducing the top rate to no more than 35 percent," the organizations stated. "It is also imperative that the exemption be indexed to inflation, provide for spousal transfers and include the stepped-up basis."

The groups added that "family farmers and ranchers are not only the caretakers of our nation's rural lands but they are small businesses too."

"The 2011 change to the estate tax law does a disservice to agriculture because we are a land-based capital-intensive industry with few options for paying estate taxes when they come due," the organizations wrote. "The current state of our economy, coupled with the uncertain nature of estate tax liabilities make it difficult for family-owned farms and ranches to make sound business decisions."

The groups urged Congress to immediately pass permanent estate tax reform, which they stated "provides the greatest relief and certainty for agriculture" and helps "strengthen the business climate for family farmers, ranchers and growers while ensuring agricultural businesses are passed to future generations."

In addition to AFBF, the letter was signed by: American Farmland Trust; American Mushroom Institute; American Sheep Industry Association; American Soybean Association; American Sugar Alliance; Farm Credit Council; National Association of Wheat Growers; National Cattlemen's Beef Association; National Corn Growers Association; National Cotton Council; National Council of Farmer Cooperatives; National Farmers Union; National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry; National Milk Producer Federation; National Pork Producers Council; National Potato Council; National Turkey Federation; Northwest Dairy Association; Public Lands Council; Southeast Dairy Farmers Association; Southeast Milk Inc.; United Egg Producers; United Fresh Produce Association; United Producers; U.S. Apple Association; U.S.A. Rice Federation; Western Growers Association; and Western United Dairymen.