MABA will host at least one Summer 2025 Intern to assist our team with a range of membership support, advocacy and communication activities.
This is a unique internship opportunity tailored for emerging leaders interested in agriculture and related industries, Michigan government, and state/federal agricultural policy.
Applications are due by December 6, 2024.
You can view more information about this internship opportunity, and application instructions, here!
We often say the #1 way MABA members demonstrate support for your association’s efforts is through your time and participation. By that measure, we had an excellent kickoff to the fall and winter meeting season, as members from across the state came together for another strong Educational Trust golf outing and our largest Outlook Conference in at least five years. Thank you to all MABA members for your continued support and participation as we head into the new FY. Don’t forget to reach out to us anytime you have a question, concern about an issue, or suggestion for us on the MABA team.
Educational Trust Golf Outing sells out The Fields: On September 4, the MABA Educational Trust hosted its second golf outing of 2024, with a full golf course at The Fields in Ithaca, MI. This was another great year for the Educational Trust, which has raised tens of thousands of dollars and delivered much of that back to students in the form of scholarships, while increasing the Trust fund for the future. Thank you to all golfers, and 2024 hole sponsors! Thanks as well to Ward Forquer, Educational Trust Chairman, and all of those who stepped up with time and contributions to make this event possible.
Outlook Conference returns to Mackinac Island, MI: On September 5-7, more than 200 members and friends of agriculture joined us on Mackinac Island for this year’s Outlook Conference. We appreciate all those who participated as speakers at this special event. Mark your calendar for next year’s conference, which will be September 11-13, 2024.
Michigan CCA Chairman attends ICCA: Tim Schaub with Rob-See-Co, in his capacity as 2024 Chair of the Michigan Certified Crop Adviser Board, attended the Certified Crop Adviser International (ICCA) Board meeting alongside CCA program leaders in Gainesville, FL. Throughout this year, under Tim’s leadership, the CCA program has focused on revising the Michigan exam for the first time in 15 years, and recognizing the efforts of Michigan’s 300 CCAs through Winter Conference activities and MABA’s continued CCA Spotlights. We have appreciated Tim’s dedication, enthusiasm and leadership that has helped position this program for the future!
Educational Briefing on Vomitoxin Testing: In mid-September, MABA partnered with North Dakota Grain Inspection (NDGI) to provide a briefing for grain handlers on Vomitoxin testing best practices. Vomitoxin has presented a complex challenge for the industry, especially last year and this webinar served as a refresher on key testing information. We appreciate Moses Teel with NDGI for leading the webinar.
Registration opened for the 2025 Trade Show: This year’s Trade Show will be January 7-8, 2025 in line with the Winter Conference. Last year’s Trade Show sold out by Thanksgiving, and the 2025 event is already more than one-third full. Head to this link without delay to begin the registration process for your booth!
Thank you to our September Ag Club host, Harvest Solar! Harvest Solar works on solar installations for businesses, including several MABA member locations. We appreciate their support and participation in the Ag Club Breakfast!
Upcoming Events
Visit www.miagbiz.org/events for information on upcoming activities, and registration information.
October 9: Lansing Ag Club hosted by Consumers Energy
November 6: Lansing Ag Club hosted by MSU
December 17-18: Virtual RUP Training Sessions
January 7-8, 2025: MABA Winter Conference and Trade Show
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)
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!
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