As MABA members and Michigan farmers were hard at work with planting this past month, our Association was focused on our core goals of information sharing, advocacy and convening the industry. We had an opportunity to travel the state for meetings with members, partners and elected officials, and announced yet another big step forward on the member services front! Here are some highlights from May 2024:
In 2023, the Michigan Pesticide Container Recycling Program collected approximately 174,480 pounds of empty, properly-cleaned containers from more than 60 participating businesses
We encourage MABA members to learn about, and participate in this program. Here’s how you can participate in the Pesticide Container Recycling Program:
Skyrocketing labor costs threaten the future of Michigan’s fruit and vegetable sector
LANSING, Mich. (May 22, 2024) – Michigan Agri-Business Association President Chuck Lippstreu today thanked members of the Michigan Congressional delegation who voiced bipartisan support for freezing the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) at 2023 levels through 2025. The Members of Congress were among 120 total U.S. Representatives – Democrats and Republicans – calling for this sorely-needed action in a joint letter. The letter is available here.
HART, Mich. – Amid Michigan’s asparagus harvest season, Michigan Agri-Business Association President Chuck Lippstreu joined Jamie Clover Adams, Executive Director of the Michigan Asparagus Association to spotlight the urgent need for reform of high labor costs facing Michigan specialty crop farmers.
“Skyrocketing labor costs driven by an unrealistic, unsustainable federal government calculation pose a critical threat to the future of Michigan fruit and vegetable production,” said Lippstreu. “Rural businesses and communities in West Michigan and across our state depend on a thriving specialty crop sector. Unfortunately, runaway costs created by a broken U.S. Department of Labor program threaten the future of this industry. We thank the bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress who have supported a freeze of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, and we continue to call for lasting reform of this broken system.”
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