The Michigan Agri-Business Association today congratulated Dr. Matt Daum on his recommendation to serve as Dean of the Michigan State University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources and Associate Provost.
“Dr. Matt Daum is an outstanding choice for this leadership role—one that extends far beyond the Michigan State University campus to impact Michigan agriculture and rural communities across our state,” said Michigan Agri-Business Association President Chuck Lippstreu. “As Interim Dean, Dr. Daum has served with distinction, building strong industry relationships, engaging stakeholders, and demonstrating a commitment to the partnerships that move our industry forward.”
“Dr. Daum understands the important impacts the College makes every day for education, ag research, and the success of our state’s farmers,” said MABA Chairman John Tilt, General Manager of Vita Plus Corporation. “I have had a number of opportunities to see Matt’s thoughtful leadership firsthand, and I am confident he will continue to strengthen ties between MSU and Michigan’s agricultural community.”
View the announcement from Michigan State University at this link.
SB235-236 and HB4424-4425 will help meet Michigan’s clean energy goals, spark rural economic opportunity
May 1, 2025 – Michigan Agri-Business Association (MABA) President Chuck Lippstreu today issued the following statement of support for Senate Bills 235-236, and House Bills 4424-4425:
“These bipartisan bills will ensure Michigan is a go-to source for clean fuels to meet growing demand from America’s air carriers, and just as important, they will fuel a stronger rural economy that starts with Michigan farmers and Main Street businesses. We thank House Agriculture Committee Chairman Jerry Neyer, as well as State Senators Sam Singh and Joseph Bellino, for this thoughtful strategy that will spark rural economic growth, help meet Michigan’s clean energy goals, and capitalize on a rapidly-emerging market opportunity for Sustainable Aviation Fuel.”
The bills were introduced in the Michigan Senate by Senator Sam Singh and Senator Joseph Bellino; and in the Michigan House by Representative Jerry Neyer. The legislation would provide a $1.50-per-gallon tax credit for those who purchase, produce, or blend sustainable aviation fuel. The credit is designed to directly support farmers and the businesses that develop and supply cleaner-burning, ethanol-derived aviation fuels.
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Updated April 3, 2025 | 6:00 AM
The Michigan Agri-Business Association continues to receive various inquiries from our members about potential tariffs.
MABA is sharing regular updates as a service to our members and interested partners. This message primarily concerns potential tariffs on USMCA partners.
Current Update on Tariffs – April 3
In summary, President Trump announced on April 2 that the U.S. will enact a baseline 10% tariff on all imports, and enact various higher duties on select countries. A chart of these tariffs can be found at this link. The White House issued a fact sheet on the President’s announcement, which is here.
For Canada and Mexico, there are not major changes versus what was already enacted last month. The policies enacted last month remain in effect. In other words, goods from Mexico and Canada that comply with the USMCA trade agreement are largely exempt, except for auto exports and steel and aluminum which fall under separate tariff policies.
Additional updates and resources were sent to MABA members on April 3. Refer to the AgFacts for more.
MABA’s position on trade and tariffs:
Resources on Tariff Compliance
Amid tariff discussion in recent weeks, some MABA members have asked operational questions about compliance with tariffs. U.S. Customs and Border Protection offers several introductory resources on this topic which may prove useful in the future:
The Michigan Agri-Business Association is actively engaged in advocacy related to proposed new port fees that would increase costs for agricultural exporters and importers. This week, the Association joined two national-level efforts to provide information to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on this important topic.
USTR has proposed a new set of penalties under Section 301 trade authority, including additional fees on China-built vessels. If implemented, these fees would disproportionately impact agricultural industry shippers, both by affecting shipping cost and availability for key inputs and disrupting export logistics.
While the effort is well-intentioned and aims to support the U.S. shipbuilding industry, we share the concerns of the broader agricultural and business community that these fees would harm U.S. exporters, increase costs for farmers, and reduce our industry’s ability to compete in global markets. The proposed changes could also add new layers of complexity to an already strained supply chain.
MABA will continue advocating on behalf of Michigan’s agricultural industry and working alongside national partners to oppose policies that could disrupt trade and increase costs for our members.
For more information on this issue, please contact the MABA team.
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