January 5, 2023 – MABA is pleased to announce our Sustaining Sponsor program supporters for 2023! Each year, Sustaining Sponsors play a crucial role in supporting the Association’s activities on behalf of our members across Michigan.
You can view a full list of our 2023 Sustaining Sponsors here, and we will continue to highlight these members throughout the coming year. Here are our 2023 Sponsors:
Ruby:
AT&T Consumers EnergyMichigan Agricultural Commodities, Inc.Star of the West Milling Co.
Diamond:
BASF CorporationBayer CropScienceCaledonia Farmers ElevatorCorteva AgriscienceGreenStone Farm Credit ServicesHelena Agri-Enterprises, LLCMichigan Milk Producers Assn.MosaicNutrienNutrien Ag SolutionsSyngentaThe Andersons, Inc.
Platinum:
AgroLiquidBrink Farms, Inc.Cooperative Elevator Co.Ceres Solutions CooperativeDetroit Wayne County Port AuthorityGowan USAHarvey Milling Co.ICL Growing SolutionsLockton CompaniesMichigan Farm BureauMichigan Potash CompanyMichigan Sugar CompanyPotato Growers of MichiganVarnum LLPWilbur-Ellis Co.Zeeland Farm Services, Inc.
Gold:
A&L Great Lakes Laboratories Advanced Micronutrient ProductsAgri Star by AlbaughAssuredPartnersCameron ChemicalsCHS, Inc.CoBankFarmer’s Co-Operative Grain CompanyFMCInternational Agribusiness Group LLCMichigan Soybean Association Michigan Soybean CommitteeRiveron
Silver:
Barrett, Easterday, Cunningham & EselgrothFreeland Feed & LawnFreeland Bean and GrainLawgix InternationalLincoln Financial Agribusiness ServicesMosher Consulting GroupRob-See-CoSpecialty Industries, Inc.Treasure Valley Seed CompanyVerdesian
The Sustaining Sponsor program provides a way for our members to support the Association’s activities with a “one-time” contribution. If you have questions or are interested in participating, contact anyone of the MABA staff.
Applications Open: Public Policy and Communications Intern, Summer 2023
Go here to view this position in PDF format.
Organization Overview
Based in Lansing, MI, the Michigan Agri-Business Association is a strong voice and dedicated advocate for Michigan agriculture. MABA represents nearly 300 businesses spanning ag retail, seed, fertilizer, and crop protection businesses; grain handlers; feed suppliers and food processors; truck and rail transportation providers, utility services and beyond. We offer a range of networking events in the agricultural industry, support our members with continuing education, and advocate for our member businesses before the Michigan Legislature, departments of state government, Congress and federal agencies.
MABA will host one intern for Summer 2023 to assist our team with a range of membership support, advocacy and communication activities. This is a unique internship opportunity tailored for an emerging leader interested in agriculture and related industries, and/or Michigan government.
Position Description
Objective: To help advance the Michigan Agri-Business Association and Michigan’s agriculture industry, while gaining critical communication and public policy skills.
Functions:
Schedule: 20 to 40 hours weekly dependent upon your schedule. Start and end dates to be determined alongside your schedule.
Compensation: This is a paid internship at an hourly rate of $15.00.
Qualifications & Skills
How to Apply
Submit a resume and short cover letter by email to maba@miagbiz.org. Please clearly state your goals for an internship at MABA. Include your availability (including any Summer 2023 dates you are unavailable) and potential start date in your cover letter. For more information contact Grace Smith at grace@miagbiz.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled and will be accepted no later than January 31, 2023. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.
December 16, 2022 — If you managed a group viewing session for MABA’s December Credit Sessions and would like to submit RUP credit verification for your group, please follow these instructions.
1. Download the form available here.
2. For each session, input the information for each individual who attended.
3. Note on the form the email address of the person who signed into the session and registered for the Winter Conference.
4. Email the completed form to kara@miagbiz.org. We will review it and submit it to MDARD.
You can also view an individual reporting tool here. You are welcome to fill this out for each of your attendees if you wish. The above spreadsheet is designed to give you an option to make larger-group reporting a little easier.
If you have questions, contact any member of the MABA staff. Thank you for attending our event!
Rail network shutdown would be catastrophic for Michigan businesses
LANSING, Mich. – Leaders of trade organizations representing hundreds of Michigan businesses today called on Congress to intervene in the rail labor dispute that threatens to shut down America’s freight rail network in early December.
“A rail strike would be devastating for Michigan’s economy and cannot be allowed to occur,” said Chuck Lippstreu, president of the Michigan Agri-Business Association. “Michigan agriculture is a leading economic engine for our state, pumping more than $100 billion into our economy every year. Rural businesses depend on rail to move grain, fertilizer and many other products. A rail strike would pile on to existing logistics challenges in our industry and snarl the agricultural supply chain.”
“Rail service is essential to the transportation of chemicals key to manufacturers of all kinds, as well as water treatment, refining and electricity generation,” said John Dulmes, executive director of the Michigan Chemistry Council. “The business of chemistry would be among the first impacted, and hardest-hit, in the event of a rail network shutdown, and we are counting on Congress to act.”
In September, the Biden administration helped broker tentative contract agreements between major rail carriers and their labor unions. Unfortunately, these agreements have been rejected by several unions. The ‘status quo’ period where unions have agreed to continue working ends Friday, Dec. 9. With no work agreement and no Congressional action, a strike would begin. Certain commodities shipped by rail could start to be embargoed as soon as this weekend.
President Joe Biden yesterday called for Congress to intervene and approve the contract agreements reached in September.
Dulmes said chemical manufacturers in Michigan rely on regular rail shipments to operate and would face potential disruptions within days of a strike. Chemicals transported by rail support industries – including automotive, semiconductor and steel production – accounting for 4% of GDP. Freight rail is also needed to deliver essential services to people across Michigan, particularly for chlorine and other water treatment chemicals.
A rail strike would also be a major disruption for rural Michigan, Lippstreu noted, with grain and fertilizer transportation, and access to export markets of particular concern. A wide range of Michigan-grown products are sent by rail to markets across the nation and to export terminals. Additionally, Michigan farm supply retailers depend on rail service for fertilizer shipments, and a rail strike would further tangle fertilizer supply chains that have faced historic disruption in recent years.
A rail strike would amplify existing rail service problems faced by Michigan and U.S. businesses that primarily stem from national ‘Class I’ freight rail carriers. These rail service disruptions were recently termed a “service meltdown” by the chairman of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.
“Our industries and many others need reliable, timely rail transportation service, and this threat of a rail strike is the latest potential disruption faced by Michigan businesses,” said Dulmes. “Long-term reforms are still needed to ensure the viability of freight rail, but a rail strike would be a huge setback and greatly amplify existing problems in the network. We are counting on Congress to act without delay and avert such a disruption.”
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About the Michigan Agri-Business Association: The Michigan Agri-Business Association serves as a strong advocate and dedicated resource for Michigan’s food and agriculture sector. The Association’s 300 members span the agricultural value chain. They include retailers that provide seed, fertilizer, crop protection and technology to farmers; businesses that handle and export grain; animal feed suppliers; food processors; logistics companies and beyond. Learn more at www.miagbiz.org.
About the Michigan Chemistry Council: The Michigan Chemistry Council, established in 1967, represents Michigan’s chemical manufacturers, formulators and distributors. Chemistry is one of Michigan’s largest manufacturing sectors, supporting more than 80,000 Michigan jobs and directly impacting more than 96% of all manufactured goods. Chemical products are one of the leading categories of freight rail moved in Michigan. Learn more at www.michiganchemistry.com.
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