Michigan’s Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) program provides resources, continuing education and networking opportunities for professional agronomists spanning our state’s agricultural industry. Nearly 300 Michigan professional agronomists are CCAs, and they bring a wide range of experience and skills to our state’s agricultural industry. Today we are spotlighting Kala Pierucki, a CCA with Keystone Cooperative.
Kala Pierucki’s background in Michigan agriculture started from childhood, growing up on a farm in Pittsford, Michigan. However, after graduating high school, Kala left Michigan for school, attending Allen Community College in Kansas where she played volleyball for two years. She later transferred to Oklahoma Panhandle State University to finish her degree.
While in Oklahoma, Kala met her future husband, a native Michigander and member of a harvest crew working in the plains states. Together they would eventually return to Michigan in 2011.
Back in Michigan, Kala went into agronomy. She started out working with Britton Elevator then after a year, she transitioned to Gro Alliance, specializing in the seed corn industry for two years. Later, in 2014, she joined North Central Co-op, which after several transitions is now known as Keystone Cooperative. Today, Kala plays a vital role in handling corn and soybean production agronomy for Keystone’s Coldwater location. In addition to her role at Keystone, Kala also helps her husband with their corn, soybean, wheat, and hay farm. They also have two girls, ages 4 and 7.
Kala earned her Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) certification soon after finishing college. “It was always a goal of mine,” she said recently. “I wanted to have my CCA on my resume to show I go above and beyond and that I have the knowledge to help growers succeed. And I’ve just maintained it ever since.”
Kala also noted staying current with industry trends and knowledge is key to delivering the best possible advice and solutions. That’s where the continuing education credits come into play, a critical component of maintaining her CCA status. “Seeing what’s new in the industry, keeping up on everything, and getting good refreshers” are all benefits of these credits, she says.
Kala also values the interaction and networking opportunities that come with attending educational meetings. “Many meetings provide a chance to interact with growers who are attending…and it helps you broaden your horizons of different stuff that you may not have thought about,” she says. I always like to go in with the mindset that I’m going to learn two new things at this meeting and take something back.”
As one of the 300 CCAs in Michigan, Kala has set a great example of someone who earned their CCA early in their career, has stuck with the program and reaped the benefits of it!
For more information about the CCA program, visit www.miagbiz.org or www.certifiedcropadviser.org/about-program.
Summer, as usual, has flown by. It has been great to see many of our Association’s members around the state and region during the past few months. Fall and winter are “prime time” for MABA events, and we get rolling this week, starting with the sold out Memorial Golf Outing in Ithaca, MI and the Outlook Conference on Mackinac Island.
We return to Lansing on Sept. 11 for the first Ag Club Breakfast of the fall, hosted by Harvest Solar, and have a variety of other upcoming activities. We encourage you to take a moment this holiday weekend to have a look at www.miagbiz.org/events for a full rundown of activities coming up!
Here are some notes and photos on our activities the past month in support of MABA members and Michigan agriculture:
Cohosting the 2024 AgroExpo Kickoff BreakfastMABA once again cohosted a kickoff Ag Club Breakfast at the 2024 AgroExpo,welcoming a key national dairy industry leader as the keynote presenter. International Dairy Foods Association President & CEO Michael Dykes spoke on Michigan’s robust dairy industry, the importance of Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives and the Dairy Nutrition Incentive program, the dietary guidelines process, HPAI, and building the next generation of leaders. We also heard from MDARD Director Tim Boring, Clinton County Catalyst Executive Director Tim Fair, Consumers Energy’s David Hicks and National FFA President, Michigan native Amara Jackson.We appreciate the support of AgroExpo, AgroLiquid, Clinton County Catalyst and Consumers Energy to make this event possible!
MABA delegation joins NASS lockupMABA once again partnered with the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Services for the opportunity to be present for a U.S. Department of Agriculture-NASS Crop Report Lockup at USDA headquarters in Washington. This unique opportunity was made possible through close coordination with the NASS Great Lakes Field Office. Attending a lockup enables grain industry professionals to gain insight into both the methodology and process behind USDA reports, and the robust security measures in place for crop report releases. Attending from Michigan were leaders from with The Andersons, Inc.; Michigan Agricultural Commodities; MDARD; Cooperative Elevator Co. and Advance Trading, Inc.
Promoting awareness of treated seed in grainDuring the past year MABA has been made aware of several circumstances where treated seed found its way into grain delivered to elevators. Overall, farmers and grain handlers continue to do a great job of preventing this problem, but this month, ahead of the harvest season we issued a short update to grain handlers and farm organizations reminding all of the “Zero Tolerance” policy in place at elevators for treated seed in grain. You can view it here.Promoting safe practices on farms and at grain facilitiesMABA once again helped promote the National Grain and Feed Association’s fifth annual Harvest Safety Week. Each year at the end of August, NGFA dedicates a week to sharing safety resources particularly relevant to the busy harvest season. This year’s theme encouraged members to “Participate, Prepare, Protect,” by participating in sharing Harvest Safety Week resources, preparing for hazards during the harvest season and protecting the employees that “transform America’s harvest” into food, fuel and fiber. You can access safety resources any time at www.ngfa.org/safety.
MABA meets with Foreign Agricultural Service officialMichigan is proud to export billions in food and agricultural products globally each year, supporting jobs statewide. We appreciated today’s focus on exports from MDARD, and the opportunity to hear from U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Service official Jim Suits in East Lansing. Mr. Suits discussed FAS’ ongoing efforts to create and sustain market opportunity abroad.
Looking out for the safety of pesticide applicatorsUpon learning of two reported incidents of individuals impersonating pesticide applicators in Michigan, MABA took action to send an alert to Michigan’s law enforcement and justice organizations. We wanted to be sure law enforcement officers and prosecutors are aware of this situation. Law enforcement did a great job of helping get the word out about this – for example, this message from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.
The MABA Educational Trust held its second annual fundraising trip to Pine Portage Lodge. 21 MABA members and partners participated this year, helping raise substantial additional funds for the MABA Educational Trust. We plan to continue this new activity in August 2025 and will send out dates soon. Last semester the Trust provided 16 scholarships to young people pursuing agricultural careers. Applications are open right now for next semester and close on October 1, 2024. Visit this link to learn more.
MABA President Chuck Lippstreu once again provided a political and policy update for the Advance Trading, Inc. Outlook Conference in Toledo. This is an important annual opportunity for MABA to meet with many of our members at an insightful meeting organized by ATI. We covered key policy topics from the past year, what might be ahead in Lansing in 2025, and of course provided some commentary about the election! PSA: As part of our effort to share information, I continue to join member meetings statewide and provide briefings in person, via Zoom or recorded video message. Just reach out to our office.
In the News
CCA Spotlight: Keith Leighton, CHS Inc.
MABA President Chuck Lippstreu discusses budget provisions
A Farm Bill extension simply isn’t enough (Brownfield)
Upcoming Events
Following the sold-out Memorial Golf Outing and Outlook Conference in early September, we will be hosting several virtual and in-person events:
September 11: Lansing Ag Club Breakfast
September 13: Virtual Briefing on Testing for Vomitoxin in Corn
October 9: Lansing Ag Club Breakfast
Visit www.miagbiz.org/events for more!
During the past year we have heard of several circumstances where treated seed found its way into grain delivered to elevators. Overall, farmers and grain handlers continue to do a great job of preventing this problem. However once it occurs, solutions are few. The best strategy is prevention on the front end!
Here are some important reminders on treated seed:
This message is available at www.miagbiz.org. Please feel free to contact the Michigan Agri-Business Association at any time with questions.
Brownfield Ag News today included an interview with MABA President Chuck Lippstreu focused on what’s included in Michigan’s FY25 budget. Following are highlights from the interview, lightly edited for length and clarity.
Audio and full interview details are available here from Brownfield.
On the recently signed budget:
“The big news in Lansing in the past few weeks has been approval and signature of the state’s budget for the next year. This is a really important milestone every year and we’re glad to see it get done.”
“This is important [to ensure] that the work of state government continues uninterrupted, and that our state government agencies and those who work very hard on our behalf every day have some certainty in terms of what programming will look like and budgets will look like for the coming year.”
On what’s in the MDARD budget: Farm to Family, climate research, HPAI response, produce prescriptions:
“As we zoom into the agricultural elements of the budget, this budget is a lot of things. For example, the budget includes a new Farm to Family program that focuses work on diversity of production and connecting people across the food value chain, connecting families and farmers and farm businesses…It funds research into agricultural climate resiliency, widely supported by Michigan agriculture that puts Michigan State University and MDARD in the driver’s seat in terms of conducting really important climate smart agriculture research…The budget invests in the response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, an emergent issue, something we all need to continue to be focused on.”
“It also has a number of programs to help promote fresh fruits and vegetables, things that we grow here in Michigan, and making sure that especially those who may struggle with access to fresh produce might have some new ways to get their hands on it. Specifically, the budget funds a new pilot program to try out what’s called a produce prescription program, just in one part of the state, but a model that’s worked in other places that we think could be very promising.”
On the governor’s veto of a new E15 rebate approved by the Legislature:
“Unfortunately, one thing this budget is not, it is not a pro-biofuel budget. That is not for lack of trying by legislators. In fact, our House Agriculture Committee chairwoman, Reggie Miller, helped lead the effort to create a new tax credit for the sale of E15 fuel, 15% ethanol blended fuel, at fuel stations around the state.”
“This would’ve been a small part of the budget, but a really important one. It would have benefited Michigan farmers by helping to cement strong markets for biofuel made from crops that are grown here on Michigan farms. It would’ve benefited the rural economy and rural businesses.
“This is [also] a cleaner burning fuel. It is a good move from an environmental perspective. Which is one reason why E15 has enjoyed bipartisan support from Republicans and Democrats across virtually every upper Midwest state.”
“And importantly, it would’ve been a pro-consumer tax credit, making sure that families across the state, from our very biggest cities to our smallest towns, have the opportunity to fill up their tank with a higher ethanol blend.”
“From our perspective, it would’ve been a win-win-win, and so we were perplexed and disappointed when the governor made the decision to veto that tax credit…we hope going forward, that policymakers will refocus on the benefits of biofuels, whether it’s ethanol or biodiesel or sustainable aviation fuel, and work together with industry to be sure that Michigan is not left behind.”
Looking ahead on SAF
“The past two years have seen a number of very promising efforts to promote clean fuels production and use in our state, including legislation that would help incent the production and use and purchase of sustainable aviation fuel.”
“This is something that airlines are very focused on, that they view as a key future fuel source. Again, we’re in a situation where many other states have already taken some step, varying by state, to incent the production or purchase of sustainable aviation fuels for use in aircraft.”
“This is technology that’s mature, that works. It’s simply a question of airlines being able to meet growing demand to fuel the aviation fleet with sustainable fuels. This is demand that Michigan farmers and U.S. farmers can meet. At the same time, it’s important that Michigan not be left behind as other states take action to incentivize the production and use of these fuels.”
Go here for the full audio recording and story from Brownfield Ag News.
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