News | Michigan Food Processors Associationhttps://michfpa.org/blog/2024-03-19T09:42:53+00:00News
PCQI Training - Part 22023-03-15T16:35:44+00:002024-03-19T09:42:53+00:00MFPA Staffhttps://michfpa.org/blog/author/mfpa/https://michfpa.org/blog/pcqi-training-part-2/<p>The MSU Product Center is offering PCQI training at MSU in April, 2023.</p>
<p>Here is the link for more info: <a href="https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/preventive_controls_for_human_food_training">Part 2 of the preventative controls for human food training course is now available to take - Food Safety Regulations and Courses (msu.edu)</a></p>
<p>In order to participate in Part 2, you need to have taken - or take - Part 1 online through FSPCA.</p>
<p>For more information or questions, please contact Mollie Woods, Director, MSU Product Center direct at <a href="mailto:willi751@msu.edu">willi751@msu.edu</a>.</p>
<p></p>2020 Annual Meeting of the MFPA - CANCELLED2020-04-29T14:51:35+00:002024-03-19T07:21:32+00:00MFPA Staffhttps://michfpa.org/blog/author/mfpa/https://michfpa.org/blog/2020-annual-meeting-of-the-mfpa-cancelled/<h3><strong>DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC THE 2020 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MICHIGAN FOOD PROCESSORS ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN CANCELLED.</strong></h3>Farm Workforce Modernization Act Passes House2019-12-12T19:17:57+00:002024-03-19T04:41:19+00:00MFPA Staffhttps://michfpa.org/blog/author/mfpa/https://michfpa.org/blog/farm-workforce-modernization-act-passes-house/<header class="entry-header">
<h3 class="sub-title">Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks on the Floor of the House in support of bill</h3>
<p class="entry-meta">PUBLISHED ON<span> </span><b><time class="entry-time" datetime="2019-12-12T11:02:16-05:00" itemprop="datePublished">DECEMBER 12, 2019</time></b></p>
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<div class="feat_img_caption">"This legislation is a critical step forward for workers, for growers and for the farm economy, but our work is not done," stated U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (US Department of Labor, Public Domain)</div>
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<p>WASHINGTON — Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks on the Floor of the House of Representatives in support of H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which passed on a 260 – 165 vote. Below are the Speaker’s remarks:</p>
<p><u>Speaker Pelosi</u>. Thank you, Madam – thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I commend her for her tremendous leadership on this important legislation, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.</p>
<p>I join with Mr. LaMalfa, my friend, my Italian-American colleague from California, in his strong remarks for this bill. It is bipartisan, and it is important for us to pass it. So, I proudly join all of our colleagues and colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill, a historic victory for farm workers and for growers, which ensures that America can continue to feed the world.</p>
<p>I salute, again, to Chair Zoe Lofgren for her months of tough, relentless leadership, without much – without which we would not – this bill would not be possible. And I also want to commend the leadership of the United Farm Workers. They – Arturo Rodriguez has been working on this bill for almost a generation, for 17 years. He and Teresa Romero have sent a statement of support for this legislation, which very clearly points out the need and the answer that this bill is about, and I would like, without objection, to submit the United Farm Workers’ statement of support for the Farm Workforce Modernization Act for the record.</p>
<p><u>Speaker Pro Tempore</u>. Without objection, so ordered.</p>
<p><u>Speaker Pelosi</u>. Thank you, Madam Speaker.</p>
<p>So many Members brought their vision, their voices, their values to this process. Thanks to all of you for strengthening the bill we have on the Floor today, and we thank our friends, the groups, for doing the outside organizing that makes the inside maneuvering successful.</p>
<p>We have all been inspired by the immortal words of beloved Dolores Huerta: ‘Si se puede!’</p>
<p>This legislation honors workers’ dignity and supports the farm economy with strong, smart reforms. The bill provides a path to legalization, as Mr. LaMalfa referenced, for currently undocumented farm workers. No one that feeds our country should be condemned to permanent second-class status.</p>
<p>The bill secures the agricultural workforce of the future by updating, expanding and strengthening the H-2A initiative to ensure farms have stable, secure workforces.</p>
<p>And critically, it demands fair, humane treatment for farm workers, following the lead of legislation in California by securing fairness in pay, improving access to quality housing and ensuring robust safety and heat illness protections.</p>
<p>Many in this chamber – particularly, I know firsthand from California – helped lead the fight for farm workers for decades. This fight is not only about ensuring fair wages and fair treatment, but about honoring the spark of divinity within each person, which makes us all worthy of dignity and respect.</p>
<p>This bill honors the two million farm workers who are the backbone of our economy and country, powering our farm economy and producing the food on our tables, even as they persevere through harsh working conditions and low wages.</p>
<p>As the United Catholic Conference – as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote last month in support of this bill, and I quote, ‘The dignity of work of farm workers and their families is a central concern. Farm workers produce the food that we eat and contribute to the care of our community.’</p>
<p>This legislation is a critical step forward for workers, for growers and for the farm economy, but our work is not done.</p>
<p>Led by Chair Zoe Lofgren and Members from every corner of the country, we’ll continue to work to stabilize the farm economy, protect workers and their families and maintain America’s proud agricultural preeminence in the world, and as we do so, we remember the words of late Cesar Chavez. He said this, ‘To make a great dream come true, the first requirement is a great capacity to dream. The second is persistence.’</p>
<p>Thank you, Madam Chair, for your persistence. Thank you, Arturo, for yours.</p>
<p>I’m pleased at the bipartisanship of this bill, thank our Members for their persistence on this legislation, for which I urge a strong bipartisan vote and thank you, Mr. – for your leadership on this as well.</p>
<p>Thank you so much.</p>
<p>–The Office of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi</p>
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<p>Original Post: <a href="https://www.morningagclips.com/farm-workforce-modernization-act-passes-house/">Farm Workforce Modernization Act Passes House</a></p>
</div>Victoria Wittenbach Crowned Michigan Apple Queen2019-12-12T17:06:45+00:002024-03-18T22:06:03+00:00MFPA Staffhttps://michfpa.org/blog/author/mfpa/https://michfpa.org/blog/victoria-wittenbach-crowned-michigan-apple-queen/<header class="entry-header">
<h3 class="sub-title">Victoria Wittenbach crowned the 2020 Michigan Apple Queen; Sarah Rasch is first runner-up</h3>
<p class="entry-meta">PUBLISHED ON<span> </span><b><time class="entry-time" datetime="2019-12-12T11:18:30-05:00" itemprop="datePublished">DECEMBER 12, 2019</time></b></p>
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<div class="feat_img_caption">Sarah Rasch (L) and Victoria Wiitenbach (R). (Courtesy of The Michigan Apple Committee)</div>
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<p>GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Victoria Wittenbach of Belding, Mich. has been crowned the 2020 Michigan Apple Queen. Sarah Rasch of Grand Rapids, Mich. is first runner-up.</p>
<p>Wittenbach is the daughter of Michael and Marnie Wittenbach, and is a student at Grand Valley State University. She is the sister, daughter and granddaughter of apple growers.</p>
<p>“The Michigan Apple Queen has the great responsibility of serving as an ambassador for the Michigan Apple industry,” said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee. “Before the competition, the candidates undergo a rigorous interview and essay writing process. Victoria will be very busy in 2020 representing the industry at various parades, schools, festivals, grocery store events and more.”</p>
<p>Wittenbach will spend the next year attending events and festivals across Michigan as the face of the Michigan Apple industry. She will also travel to schools throughout Michigan teaching students about apples.</p>
<p>Rasch is the daughter of Barb Rasch and the late Ed Rasch, and is a student at Grand Valley State University. She is the daughter, granddaughter and niece of apple growers.</p>
<p>The 2020 Queen was crowned on December 10 at the 17th annual Michigan Apple Committee grower luncheon. It marks the 68th year of the competition that awards an apple representative based on poise, beauty, apple knowledge and public speaking ability.</p>
<p>Queen contestants must be between 17 and 23 years of age and have a link to the Michigan Apple industry. The Michigan Apple Committee sponsors the annual event. The queen and first runner-up each receive scholarships from the Michigan Apple Committee and the Michigan State Horticultural Society.</p>
<p><em>The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded nonprofit organization devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption in Michigan and around the world. For more information, visit<span> </span><a href="http://www.michiganapples.com/">www.MichiganApples.com</a>.</em></p>
<p>— The Michigan Apple Committee</p>
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<p>Original Post: <a href="https://www.morningagclips.com/victoria-wittenbach-crowned-mich-apple-queen/"> Victoria Wittenberg Crowned Michigan Apple Queen</a></p>
</div>Putting Conservation Innovation To Work On U.S. Farms 2019-12-01T15:46:52+00:002024-03-18T22:06:06+00:00MFPA Staffhttps://michfpa.org/blog/author/mfpa/https://michfpa.org/blog/putting-conservation-innovation-to-work-on-us-farms/<h3>$24M in grants will help partners implement, evaluate innovative approaches to conservation<strong></strong></h3>
<p><em>“The Conservation Innovation Grants program is funding the future of conservation and agriculture,” said NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr. (NRCS Oregon, Flickr/Creative Commons)</em></p>
<p>WASHINGTON — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is awarding more than $24 million in grants designed to help partners implement and evaluate innovative approaches that have demonstrated conservation benefits on farmland.</p>
<p>The funding is provided through On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials (On-Farm Trials), a new component of the Conservation Innovation Grants first authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill.</p>
<p>“The Conservation Innovation Grants program is funding the future of conservation and agriculture,” said NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr. “These On-Farm Trials will allow us to put the latest innovations in conservation to work on the land, while providing new data to show producers across the nation what these systems and practices can do for the health of their operations and our natural resources.”</p>
<p>On-Farm Trials awardees work with NRCS and farmers and ranchers to implement innovative practices and systems on their lands that have not yet been widely adopted by producers. Awardees are required to evaluate the conservation and economic outcomes from these practices and systems, giving NRCS critical information to inform conservation work in the future.</p>
<p>Sixteen projects are receiving On-Farm Trials awards, including nine awards under the banner of the Soil Health Demonstration Trial. These nine projects focus on the adoption and evaluation of soil health management systems and practices. The remaining seven projects focus on irrigation water management, precision agriculture and a variety of management technologies.</p>
<p>Awardees include:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>The Soil and Water Conservation Society:</strong>Proposes to work with almost 50 producers to carry out trials or comprehensive zone nutrient management and precision cover crop strategies. The Soil and Water Conservation Society is partnering with several agriculture retailer co-ops on the project, which includes economic and social evaluations of the on-farm activities.</li>
<li><strong>Water Resources Monitoring Group:</strong>Proposes to partner with local ag organizations in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin and others to carry out trials of innovative cover crop approaches with at least 120 ag producers. Part of the Soil Health Demonstration Trial, this project will use a replicated strip, field and paired-basin scale approach to robustly measure the conservation, economic and social outcomes of the field trials.</li>
<li><strong>Clemson University:</strong> Proposes to work with 18 farmers in South Carolina to implement its Clemson Water Management System, which combines sensor-based and site-specific water application technologies with an Internet-of-Things approach to make precise water application information available on a handheld device in real time. The field trials intend to demonstrate that the system can enhance water use efficiency and farm profits while reducing energy use and nutrient leaching into groundwater.</li>
</ul>
<p>For a full list of recipients or to learn more, visit the <a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/financial/cig/?cid=nrcseprd1459039">On-Farm Trials webpage</a>.</p>
<p>–USDA NRCS</p>
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<p class="smallText" style="text-align: left;"><span class="smText">Original Post: </span><a href="https://www.morningagclips.com/?s=putting+conservation+innovation" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span class="smText">Putting conservation innovation to work on U.S. farms</span></a></p>MSU Extension and FSA to Host Farm Bill Meetings2019-12-01T15:43:03+00:002024-03-19T06:46:50+00:00MFPA Staffhttps://michfpa.org/blog/author/mfpa/https://michfpa.org/blog/msu-extension-and-fsa-to-host-farm-bill-meetings/<h3 class="entry-title">We finally have the field crop commodity section of the national farm bill program</h3>
<p>To help farmers navigate the best plan for their farm, Michigan State University Extension and the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) have teamed up to offer meetings throughout Michigan this winter. (Courtesy of MSU)</p>
<p>EAST LANSING, Mich. — A year in the making, we finally have the field crop commodity section of the national farm bill program ready for producer participation. To help farmers navigate the best plan for their farm,<span> </span><a href="https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/">Michigan State University Extension</a><span> </span>and the<span> </span><a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Michigan/index">USDA Farm Service Agency</a><span> </span>(FSA) have teamed up to<span> </span><a href="https://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?eventID=CC1C89ED076D73995B2EA1A23CCCECCCCEDEE35427EAC91C27EA4484C80A0E9B">offer meetings</a><span> </span>throughout Michigan this winter.</p>
<p>A normal farm bill process would have had producers signing up for the 2019-year in March 2019 but because of the delay in implementation, farms will be signing up for the 2019 and 2020 crop year almost concurrently. This delay benefits farmers in that it does make the 2019 crop year decision much more informed and has a direct impact on your choice between the Agricultural Risk Coverage program (ARC) versus they Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program.</p>
<p>The ARC program provides revenue-based payments when farm revenue falls below a “Coverage Guarantee” level. While the PLC program provides price-based payments when prices are less than the “Reference Price” level and uses an individual farm’s PLC yields to determine the payment rate.</p>
<p>This five-year farm bill provides a one-time opportunity to update a farm’s PLC yields (to be used for the 2020-23 program years). Updates will be based on the farm’s yields for 2013-2017. Livestock producers will need to work with their local FSA office to estimate yields for 2013-17. If the updated yields are lower than a farm’s previous PLC yields, farms can stay with their previous yields. When choosing the PLC program for a particular crop, a few bushels yield increase in your farm’s PLC yields can make a significant difference if there is a payment made due to depressed prices.</p>
<p>Another change in this farm bill is that producers will be able to make a yearly choice between ARC and PLC (after the initial sign-ups for the 2019, 2020 year). The choice between ARC and PLC is made by each farm number and by crop base acres associated with each farm number. Current price and yield data would suggest that your decision between ARC and PLC may very well be different for different crops and farms. Keep in mind that the 2018 Farm Bill makes payments based on the county where the farm is located, so you may need to check with your local FSA office if you have fields in more than one county.</p>
<p>In addition, a producer’s risk tolerance will factor into their choice of ARC vs. PLC, and what other crop insurance tools they may be using for their farm.</p>
<p>Roger Betz, MSU Farm Business Management educator, has developed a<span> </span><a href="https://www.canr.msu.edu/farm_management/">spreadsheet</a><span> </span>to help producers make the decision between ARC and PLC by crop and farm. The<span> </span><a href="https://www.canr.msu.edu/farm_management/">decision tool</a><span> </span>has built-in information from each county and helps farmers make decisions for each individual farm for corn, wheat, and soybeans. The ARC/PLC calculator can be found at<span> </span><a href="https://www.canr.msu.edu/farm_management/">https://www.canr.msu.edu/farm_management/</a></p>
<p>Final decisions on ARC vs. PLC must be completed by March 15, 2020, but producers should sign-up, update their yields, and make their initial election decisions now. Farmers will want to visit their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to sign up their farms that have historically produced corn, wheat, soybeans, other oilseed crops, oats, barley, and grain sorghum and have an established base for these crops.</p>
<p>You can change your decision choice until March 15. If you miss this date, you will not be able to enroll and will not receive any potential payments for the 2019 crop year and will be defaulted to the previous 2014 decision for the 2020 year.</p>
<p>MSU Extension has partnered with local FSA offices to offer multiple<span> </span><a href="https://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?eventID=43A394B5D81AED709EAEF358019358C5429C1D8687B891C39B7561A0B09442FA">Farm Bill Meetings</a><span> </span>across Michigan during December 2019 and January 2020.</p>
<p>At these meetings producers will:</p>
<ul>
<li>Hear highlights of the 2018 Farm Bill and assessments of today’s market compared to five years ago.</li>
<li>Learn about the process of updating their yields with FSA.</li>
<li>Work through case examples using the MSU Extension 2018 Farm Bill Calculator to help make better decisions on ARC versus PLC (Each crop and FSA farm number may result in a different choice.).</li>
<li>Discuss specific program details with local FSA staff.</li>
</ul>
<p>Speakers include both MSU specialists/educators as well as your local FSA staff. For a complete listing of locations, dates and times, please visit our<span> </span><a href="https://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?eventID=CB7A7A29794F3FAB0A9978A525F26329F6ECB09EE06C6A11C77BB9663760A8AD">MSU Events page</a><span> </span>at<span> </span><a href="https://events.anr.msu.edu/farmbill/">https://events.anr.msu.edu/farmbill/</a>.</p>
<p>This article was published by<span> </span><a href="https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/">Michigan State University Extension</a>. For more information, visit<span> </span><a href="https://extension.msu.edu/">https://extension.msu.edu</a>. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit<span> </span><a href="https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters">https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters</a>. To contact an expert in your area, visit<span> </span><a href="https://extension.msu.edu/experts">https://extension.msu.edu/experts</a>, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464)</p>
<p>— Michigan State ANR</p>
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<p class="smText">Original Post: <a href="https://www.morningagclips.com/?s=MSU+extension" rel="noopener" target="_blank">MSU Extension and FSA to host farm bill meetings</a></p>Ag Leaders Support Science-based Standards2019-11-10T15:40:47+00:002024-03-16T18:59:00+00:00adminhttps://michfpa.org/blog/author/admin/https://michfpa.org/blog/ag-leaders-support-science-based-standards/<h5>Resolution emphasizes need for science-based ag regulations to facilitate global ag trade</h5>
<p><em>“We have an opportunity to support the agricultural producers in the Western Hemisphere – and across the world – by committing to science-based standards and policies that ensure the quality and safety of our food while also facilitating international trade. I’m pleased that we’ve come together as neighbors across the hemisphere in support of this resolution, which lays a foundation for continued cooperation that will benefit agriculture in the Americas and beyond," said U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney. (USDA photo by Ken Hammond)</em></p>
<p>WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney issued the following statement following the <a href="https://www.iica.int/en">Inter-American Board of Agriculture’s</a> (IABA) endorsement last week of a resolution emphasizing the need for science-based agricultural regulations to facilitate global agricultural trade.</p>
<p>“We have an opportunity to support the agricultural producers in the Western Hemisphere – and across the world – by committing to science-based standards and policies that ensure the quality and safety of our food while also facilitating international trade. I’m pleased that we’ve come together as neighbors across the hemisphere in support of this resolution, which lays a foundation for continued cooperation that will benefit agriculture in the Americas and beyond.</p>
<p>“This resolution addresses pesticide maximum residue levels, or MRLs, which are too often used as a barrier to trade. We heard firsthand this week how missing and misaligned pesticide MRLs can harm farmer livelihoods, contribute to food waste, and decrease food security. On the other hand, transparent and predictable establishment and adoption of MRLs helps farmers access the full range of tools and technologies they need to combat pests and allows them to engage in international trade.</p>
<p>“The United States is pleased to join with our IABA partners in endorsing this resolution supporting collaborative actions to reduce the impact of non-tariff barriers on trade, with particular emphasis on the agricultural exports of developing countries.”</p>
<p>The IABA is the governing board of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), which is comprised of 34 Western Hemisphere countries committed to achieving agricultural development and rural well-being through international technical cooperation.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.fas.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2019-11/res._520_wto_sanitary_and_phytosanitary_measures_3.pdf">PDF iconResolution No. 520: Ministerial Commitment to Pesticide-related Provisions of the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures</a></p>
<p>— USDA Foreign Agricultural Service</p>Michigan Food and Ag Companies to Expand, Create Jobs with MDARD Grants2018-05-09T17:22:17+00:002024-03-09T05:29:24+00:00adminhttps://michfpa.org/blog/author/admin/https://michfpa.org/blog/michigan-food-and-ag-companies-to-expand-create-jobs-with-mdard-grants/<p class="gdp"><b><span>For immediate release:</span></b><span>May 9, 2018 <br/>Media contact: </span>Jennifer Holton<span>, 517-284-5724 <br/>Program contact: </span>Peter Anastor<span>, 517-284-5777<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="gdp"><span>LANSING, Mich. – During its regularly scheduled meeting today, the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development voted to approve Food and Agriculture Investment Fund grants for four food and agriculture projects in Michigan. The projects will help expand and grow companies in the processed fruit, dairy, and juice operations as well as supporting the growth of the seed corn supply chain that will lead to more efficient agricultural operations. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="gdp"><span>“These projects represent the amazing diversity of Michigan’s food and agriculture industry leading to investment and opportunities for rural and urban communities,” said Gordon Wenk, director, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. “The Food and Agriculture Investment Fund provides key support to growing food and ag companies who transform these dollars into area jobs and supply chain efficiencies.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="gdp"><b><span>Peterson Farms, Inc. of Shelby, Michigan</span></b><span>, will receive a $150,000 performance-based grant to expand their fruit processing operations with the installation of a new state-of-the-art individual quick frozen (IQF) tunnel focused on the frozen processing requirements of its growers’ tart cherries, sweet cherries, blueberries and peaches. The project will require a $5.8 million investment and lead to the creation of 30 to 35 new jobs. This additional IQF processing capacity enables Peterson Farms to process greater volumes of high quality fruit products produced by its over 850 growers, 550 of which are in the state of Michigan. With Peterson Farms enhanced processing capability it is expected growers will have greater options to deliver their processing fruit products thereby enhancing growers’ financial returns. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="gdp"><b><span>VernDale Products, Inc. of Detroit, Michigan</span></b><span>, will receive a $100,000 performance-based grant for building renovations necessary to continue their growth and expansion. VernDale Products is a family-owned business located in Detroit since 1958 that manufactures roller dried milk powder and is the largest roller milk production facility dedicated to serving the confectionary industry in North America. The project will require an investment of $933,500 for the renovation of their Lyndon Street plant allowing the company to seek Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification. The project is expected to lead to the creation of 10 new jobs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="gdp"><b><span>DROUGHT of Berkley, Michigan</span></b><span>, will receive a $50,000 performance-based grant to assist with continued growth as the company relocates their operations to a new 15,000 square foot building in Berkley that will serve as their new juice processing facility. The overall project will require a $640,000 investment and lead to the creation of 15 new jobs. The initial project includes building renovations, site improvement and some equipment, and phase two adding additional equipment to accelerate their growth. DROUGHT is one of Michigan’s leading cold-pressed juice manufacturers and the all-female owned business has grown to six retail locations over the past eight years. DROUGHT sources approximately 70 percent of their fruits and vegetables from a variety of Michigan farmers and plans to use High Pressure Processing technology to expand distribution nationally.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="gdp"><b><span>Excel Ag Solutions of Sturgis, Michigan</span></b><span>, will receive a $50,000 performance-based grant to create a full-service, turnkey seed production facility. The project requires a capital investment of $3 million and will lead to the creation of six new jobs. The operation will provide new services including seed corn cleaning, sizing, treatment, bagging, warehousing and distribution in a renovated warehouse in Sturgis. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="gdp"><span>“The Food and Agriculture Investment Program is designed to help accelerate the growth of Michigan’s food and agriculture companies like these,” said Peter Anastor, Director of MDARD’s Agriculture Development Division. “The projects highlight both the diversity of our food and agriculture industry as well as the opportunities available for growth for both well-established and new companies.” The Food and Agriculture Investment Program provides financial support for food and agriculture projects that help expand food and agriculture processing to enable growth in the industry and Michigan’s economy. Projects are selected based on their impact to the overall agriculture industry and their impact to food and agriculture growth and investment in Michigan. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p></p>House Panel Discussing Water Withdrawal Changes2018-05-02T17:05:11+00:002024-03-09T05:29:39+00:00adminhttps://michfpa.org/blog/author/admin/https://michfpa.org/blog/house-panel-discussing-water-withdrawal-changes/<p>There was general agreement at Wednesday's House Natural Resources Committee meeting that changes are due to the state's large water withdrawal process, but environmental groups and the Department of Environmental Quality said some elements of legislation to make those changes are still untenable.</p>
<p><b>Rep. Aaron Miller </b>(R-Sturgis) said the process for approving large water withdrawals, which includes agricultural irrigation, is unsustainable.</p>
<p>The bill <b>(HB 5638) </b>includes some new data that permit applicants can be required to provide and it gives the department some flexibility on the models it can use to determine the effects of a proposed well, Mr. Miller said. It also limits the time the department has to review an application and restricts the reasons for denying it, he said.</p>
<p>"Half the problem that is currently going on is time," Mr. Miller said. DEQ officials acknowledged the average permit takes 35 days to process if the online water withdrawal tool rejects it. But they and others said the 10 days provided in the bill is too short, at least with current staff. "By mandating 10 working days' turnaround for site-specific reviews, the substitute is setting up the department to fail," David Lush with the Water Use Advisory Council said. He said 30 days is a standard time to review a permit request.</p>
<p>Amy Epke, DEQ deputy director, said the time limit would mean about 100 permits annually would be approved with essentially no review. "The bill requires complex data sets to be reviewed within 10 days," Teresa Seidel, chief of the Water Resources Division, said. "The data set that's in here we anticipate would take 30 to 60 days to get through."</p>
<p>Mr. Miller said he would support more funding for the DEQ, but said he was no longer on the subcommittee for that budget. "I think they're strapped right now," he said.</p>
<p>Ms. Epke said the department needs up to four more staff and $1 million to conduct the reviews in the time allowed in the bill and to upgrade the online tool to better review some of the applications.</p>
<p><b>Rep. Curt Vanderwall </b>(R-Ludington) said there needed to be some limit on the time to review permits. "We've got the livelihoods of people on the line," he said. "I think that's not what we originally had planned as a goal," Mr. VanderWall said of the current 35-day average processing time. He also questioned the staff request. "I always get nervous when we start saying it's going to take four extra bodies because four turns into six," he said.</p>
<p><b>Rep. Gary Howell </b>(R-North Branch) had no illusions about funding the added positions with the tipping fee increase <b>Governor Rick Snyder </b>had proposed. "Which is not going to pass," he said when Ms. Epke mentioned it as a revenue source.</p>
<p>Ms. Seidel said the deadline also simplifies the process of reviewing an application. "Staff try to work very closely with applicants to try to get them the water they want," she said.</p>
<p>Among the concerns raised by the bill is that the automatic approval of permits could put the state out of compliance with the Great Lakes Compact, Brian Burroughs, executive director of Trout Unlimited, said. The compact requires participating states to ensure that water resources are protected, he said, which would not happen with an automatically approved permit.</p>
<p>James Clift, policy director for the Michigan Environmental Council, said the bill provides a deadline for the department to respond to an application, but it provides no deadlines for an applicant to notify the department of changes implemented as the well was actually being drilled. He said any environmental effects from a new well that was given automatic approval would be transmitted out to all wells in the region. Because the well was legally permitted, it would not be the only one to have to cut back if there is too much water being taken from an aquifer, he said.</p>
<p>Several witnesses also raised concerns about the language that would provide automatic approval for wells drilled into bedrock. Mr. Burroughs said the state has five bedrock formations and water withdrawals from two of those have shown to affect surface waters.</p>
<p>David Hamilton with the Nature Conservancy said all wells that affected transitional coldwater trout streams should continue to have site-specific reviews. He and others said those streams can be easily affected by changes in groundwater flow.</p>
<p><b>MINING BILLS: </b>The committee reported a package of bills that would make changes to some of the permitting processes for mines in the state. The committee adopted an amendment to <b>SB 839 </b>by <b>Rep. Sara Cambensy </b>(D-Marquette) to include changes to tunnels and shafts in the activities that would not necessarily require a full change to the mine permit that earned her vote and moved the three bills (SB 839, <b>S</b><b>B 840 </b>and <b>SB </b><b>888) </b>on 7-2 votes.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Copyright 2018 Gongwer News Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy</b></p>MiBiz2017-08-20T14:15:00+00:002024-03-09T05:32:11+00:00adminhttps://michfpa.org/blog/author/admin/https://michfpa.org/blog/mibiz/<p><em>Written by John Wiegand</em></p>
<p>West Michigan-based agribusinesses and food and beverage companies will soon have a new source of capital to fund expansion projects.</p>
<p>As of Oct. 1, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) will begin to deploy $4.7 million for its Food and Agriculture Investment Program, which it operated as a pilot project in the current fiscal year.</p>
<p>Officials believe the program will become a mainstay in Michigan’s economic development toolbox because it helps fill funding gaps for agribusiness expansion projects that do not meet the requirements for traditional performance-based grants from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC).</p>
<p>“I found during my time here that the MEDC has a lot of pressure on the funds they have available,” said MDARD Director Jamie Clover-Adams. “Many times, projects in the food and ag space don’t provide as many jobs, but for us, they’re important because of their impact on the whole supply chain. They provide benefits for farmers and people providing feed and truckers. We look at the whole supply chain.”</p>
<p>For projects to qualify for performance-based grants under the MEDC, companies must create more than 25 or 50 jobs, depending on if the company is located in a rural or urban environment. But even with large expansion projects, agribusinesses typically do not generate the required volume of jobs, sources said.</p>
<p>Additionally, the MEDC incentives must go to retain companies in the state, which isn’t normally a concern for agribusinesses.</p>
<p>Beyond supporting existing companies in the state, Clover-Adams hopes to use the funding to attract new, innovative agribusinesses to Michigan.</p>
<p>“You look at our agriculture and how diverse we are, but we rank 18th in the country in food processing,” Clover-Adams said. “We should be much higher than that, and I look at this as an opportunity to bring more of those companies to Michigan.”</p>
<p>The program marks the first time the state has offered a business development incentive targeted specifically at agribusinesses, said Peter Anastor, director of MDARD’s agricultural development division.</p>
<p>MDARD historically has offered a “value-add” grant program aimed at supporting startup agribusinesses. That grant program now will draw from the same pool of funds as the Food and Agriculture Investment Program.</p>
<p>The decision by Gov. Rick Snyder and the state Legislature to fund the program through the next fiscal year serves as a positive sign for the agriculture industry.</p>
<p>“I think it’s a huge win,” said Jim Byrum, president of the Michigan Agri-Business Association. “It’s a recognition that agriculture is a little bit different than some of the other traditional manufacturing economic development activities that the MEDC engages in. It’s a positive for the agricultural industry.”</p>
<p><strong>GROWING THE SUPPLY CHAIN</strong></p>
<p>According to Byrum, incentives for agribusinesses have sweeping effects along the supply chain compared to other industries, even if they may not yield a large number of jobs.</p>
<p>“A processing plant that might handle corn, soybeans or wheat might not employ a lot of people, but the economic reverberation through the community can be tremendous,” Byrum said. “It can help increase the prices farmers receive, helping with transportation infrastructure (and) demands for transportation. The multiplier through the community tends to be pretty dramatic. Also, most of those activities are rural in nature. We spend a lot of time talking about rural economic development and this program will help foster that.”</p>
<p>MDARD awarded Saranac-based Herbruck’s Poultry Farm Inc. $100,000 under the pilot phase of its Food and Agriculture Investment Program this year to support the company’s new facility in Ionia.</p>
<p>“The creation of the Food and Agriculture Investment Program is an important recognition that agriculture is a unique sector when it comes to economic development — whether it’s the need for modern rural roads and highways, enhanced rural energy availability or access to other key public utilities,” Executive Vice President Herb Herbruck said in statement provided to MiBiz. “By working together with the agribusiness community through this new program, MDARD is providing an important complement to existing economic development tools.”</p>
<p>In addition to Herbruck’s, the state agency also awarded $225,000 to Coopersville-based Continental Dairy LLC and Fairlife LLC under the pilot phase of the program. Taylor-based Great Lakes HPP LLC received $150,000.</p>
<p>Sources interviewed for this report emphasized that MDARD is working in partnership with the MEDC to debut the new incentives.</p>
<p>“We’re not looking to go off on our own and do things in a separate manner from what the MEDC is trying to do,” Anastor said, noting one of the MEDC’s key focus areas is on agriculture. “On economic development projects, we’re going to work pretty hand-in-hand with them. I think where this gives us an advantage is that it gives us as a state, MDARD and the MEDC a new way to help companies that maybe don’t fit the MEDC’s requirements.”</p>
<p>Despite the planned collaboration on projects, MDARD has full autonomy and is not obligated to work with the MEDC on projects that receive the new grants, sources said.</p>
<p><strong>FOCUSING ON KEY SECTORS</strong></p>
<p>Although the business development incentives available under the Food and Agriculture Investment Program are open to all subsectors of the agriculture industry, MDARD will focus its efforts on several key groups.</p>
<p>Specifically, the agency is targeting companies in the dairy, savory snacks, baking and craft brewing sectors.</p>
<p>A report from Euromonitor International commissioned by the MEDC notes the dairy sector is Michigan’s largest agricultural sector and has a growth rate comparable to other fast-growing markets. The nearly $65 billion U.S. dairy industry is expected to grow approximately 2.8 percent annually through 2020, according to the report.</p>
<p>“In Michigan spirits, beer, savory snacks and dairy have had the largest historical gains,” according to the report. “The growth of these industries is anticipated to continue in the forecast, which shows a healthy and growing consumer market for these industries across the state.”</p>
<p>For Clover-Adams, the new grant program marks an important step forward to promote Michigan as a hub for agribusinesses.</p>
<p>“We’re just really excited about the growth opportunities that we have and we’re looking forward to working with companies and growing the sector,” she said.</p>