The MABA Sustaining Sponsor Program has been a tremendous success for several years, both in terms of participation, and helping you better plan your expenditures and contributions. It’s an easy, straightforward way to support our activities, while supporting your Association and helping keep registration fees affordable.
With your generous support, we continue to expand MABA communication and program offerings. In 2026, thanks to the efforts of Sustaining Sponsors, MABA was able to maintain reasonable costs for member activities such as the Winter Conference and Grain Grading Seminars. Your support equipped the association to launch new workplace communication programming for members free-of-charge in January and May. And sponsor support made possible new member listening sessions in the spring, which will continue into Q4 and 2027. These are just a few examples of what was only possible due to the support of all of you, the Association’s Sustaining Sponsors.
We continue to highlight our Sustaining Sponsors wherever our work takes us, and I hope you will continue as a Sustaining Sponsor for 2027 or sign up as a sponsor! Go here to support MABA with a 2027 Sustaining Sponsorship. You can also contact any MABA staff member.
2027 Program Levels Are Unchanged:
Support levels for 2027 remain the same, with five levels of contribution options:
*Includes one week of AgFacts sponsorship.** Includes recognition at bottom of every AgFacts, at least one and up to two weeks of AgFacts sponsorship.
The following benefits remain available for you as a Sustaining Sponsor, effective for the 2027 sponsorship year:
Lobbying Notice: While MABA continues to achieve strong results for you at the state capitol, no Sustaining Sponsorship funds are spent on lobbying activities. Up to 10% of annual membership dues support MABA state lobbying expenses.
Thank you for your strong support of MABA and Michigan agriculture.
The Michigan Agri-Business Association today filed a Notice of Intent to Participate with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) in its review of the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern.
The procedural filing ensures MABA can participate as a Party of Record as the STB considers the proposed transaction and its potential impacts.
“Our membership relies heavily on freight rail to move agricultural commodities and inputs. Reliable, affordable and competitive freight rail service is important for our industry and MABA members have a substantial interest in the outcome of this merger proposal,” said MABA President Chuck Lippstreu.
In September 2025, MABA joined a letter led by the Rail Customer Coalition raising concerns about the transaction.
As the STB review moves forward, MABA will remain engaged in the proceeding and work to ensure Michigan agriculture’s voice is heard. Association members with questions and input can contact Chuck Lippstreu at chuck@miagbiz.org.
An audio summary covering a selection of these updates is available here.
As a service to all of you who support and advance the Michigan Agri-Business Association, we provide regular summaries of highlights from your association’s work. This is not an all-inclusive update. If you have specific questions, please contact Chuck or Kara from the MABA staff.
August tends to be an active month for our association as summer events continue, we prepare for the busy meeting season, our summer interns wrap up their work with us and (in election years such as this one) we work hard to meet with candidates and promote the industry. The past few weeks have also included some developments regarding state policy, which are included at the top of our update.
A brief note on your support of MABA
As you work to finalize FY27 budgets, please be aware MABA dues will remain unchanged for 2027; the association committed to you in 2024 that dues will remain at the same predictable levels through at least 2028. Additionally, 2027 Sustaining Sponsor Program support levels will remain unchanged.
Members and sponsors continue to step up for the Association. We never take your support for granted and work hard each day to earn it.
Membership dues renewals will be distributed October 1, 2026. Sponsorship commitments for 2027 will be requested by December 31, 2026 (we need a verbal or written commitment by this date) and are billable anytime in the coming year. Contact any staff member with questions.
Policy and Political Updates from August
Rule 641, Commercial Fertilizer Bulk Storage: In late July, MDARD finalized the first major update in 25 years to Michigan’s commercial fertilizer bulk storage rules. The final rule reflects substantial industry input gathered during a nearly two-year process and modernizes requirements related to facility construction, maintenance, infrastructure and recordkeeping. MABA led the way on this effort to ensure you, as MABA members, had substantial awareness and opportunities for input on these rules. The proactive communication, transparency and collaboration from MDARD on this rule set provides a good example of how the regulatory process should work. Read more at this link from the Michigan Farm News.
Proposed Changes to MDARD Rules 633 and 636: MDARD is currently taking stakeholder comments on changes to Rules 633 and 636, which govern restricted-use pesticides and pesticide applicator credentials. The proposed changes largely align Michigan with updated EPA certification and training requirements being implemented in other states. MABA members met with department leaders in August to discuss the proposals, and we also welcomed MDARD staff to the August 17 Pesticide Committee meeting for further discussion. Several MABA members have brought good ideas to the table that could help both the department and industry. We appreciate the department’s continued partnership and openness to industry input during this process. You can eview the proposed changes and comment process at this link.
Dust Mitigation and Michigan GAPPs: MABA provided technical comments on the proposed addition of dust-mitigation practices to Michigan’s Generally Accepted Processing Practices. You can read the proposed GAPPs here. While the proposed language does not create a new regulatory requirement, it would outline steps agricultural processors can use to demonstrate our continued good-faith efforts to prevent fugitive dust from their facilities. The GAPPs were developed in partnership with an industry advisory committee. MABA’s comments support reasonable dust management while recommending flexible guidance that reflects the diversity of Michigan facilities.
August 4 Primary Election: A short briefing on the Primary Election results was sent to MABA Committees following the August 4 primary. Briefing information is available at this link.
Candidate Engagement and 2026 Endorsements: MABA continues to meet with candidates for legislative and statewide office, including the two candidates for governor. The association will once again make a limited number of state legislative endorsements ahead of the general election. Endorsement information has been provided to state legislative candidates; candidates who did not receive the information should contact the association.
Upcoming Event Reminders
Be sure to mark you calendar for upcoming association events!
Ag Club Breakfast events are upcoming in October, November and December. Information, along with dates for 2027 and 2028 Ag Club Breakfast events are posted at: www.miagbiz.org/events. If you are interested in hosting breakfast, contact the association.
We encourage members to save the date for Winter Conference activities, including the association’s virtual RUP seminars on December 15-16, 2026 and the Winter Conference & Trade Show in Lansing on January 12-13, 2027.
MABA Activities in Recent Weeks
Farmers for Free Trade USMCA Roundtable: On August 11, MABA and Farmers for Free Trade hosted Congressman Tom Barrett and Michigan farmers and agricultural leaders for a roundtable at AgroLiquid in St. Johns. Participants discussed the importance of Canadian and Mexican markets, which receive more than $1.7 billion in Michigan agricultural exports annually, and the need for producer voices to help shape the upcoming USMCA review. Read more at this link.
Promoting U.S.-Canada Trade: MABA remained actively involved in efforts to support a strong Michigan-Canada trading relationship. We helped mark the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which modernizes and streamlines one of North America’s most important commercial corridors. With approximately 43% of Michigan’s agricultural export value moving to Canada, this new infrastructure will directly support farmers, agricultural shippers and rural businesses. MABA continues to join national industry in urging a common-sense renewal of USMCA. Read MABA’s statement on the Gordie Howe Bridge at this link.
Presentation at the RISE Annual Meeting: MABA President Chuck Lippstreu spoke at the annual meeting of Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment about results achieved at the state capitol in Lansing. RISE is one of several national trade associations we work with to ensure the industry’s continued ability to operate. Chuck discussed results we have achieved this year in Michigan, including most recently the prevention of a 200-300% proposed fee increase affecting specialty-fertilizer registrants; this comes on the heels of our successful effort last year to prevent fee increases of up to 40% from hitting farmer fertilizer sales and pesticide registrations. We also discussed the industry’s strong support for the federal-state pesticide regulatory framework, including science-based reviews of pesticides by EPA and strong state level enforcement of RUP sales and use. MABA successfully advocated for full funding of state pesticide regulators in the most recent state budget, to help ensure pesticides are used safely, responsibly and in full accordance with label instructions. We appreciate the partnership of RISE and its members, and we look forward to welcoming RISE Executive Director Scott Herndon to the MABA Outlook Conference on Mackinac Island next week.
Breakfast at the AgroExpo: We once again had an opportunity to cohost breakfast during the AgroExpo, now in its 10th year. University of Illinois professor Jonathan Coppess returned to Michigan to provide the keynote presentation on federal farm policy. Attendees also heard from MDARD Director Tim Boring, AgroLiquid CEO Nick Bancroft and Consumers Energy Senior Vice President Chris Fultz. We thank AgroLiquid and Consumers Energy for making the breakfast possible. See photos from the event at this link.
Keystone Cooperative Co-op Classic: Allie and Karle from the MABA team traveled to Scircleville, Indiana, for Keystone Cooperative’s second annual Co-op Classic. The event offered a valuable opportunity to learn from one of the region’s major farmer-owned cooperatives and connect with agricultural leaders from across the Midwest. We appreciate Keystone Cooperative welcoming members of our team to this special event. See photos at this link.
On that note, thank you to MABA’s Summer 2026 Interns! We thank Allie Tilt and Karle Welden, both MSU students, for their hard work at the association throughout this summer. Karle and Allie will continue to help our team as their schedules allow during the coming months, so be sure to say hello to them.
Nutrien Ag Solutions Leadership Visit and Pesticide Committee Meeting: MABA welcomed Nutrien Ag Solutions state government affairs representative Patrick Murray to Michigan. Patrick’s visit included a stop at the farm of House Agriculture Committee Chair Jerry Neyer, and Patrick joined the August 17 MABA Pesticide Committee meeting as a guest speaker. MABA Pesticide Committee Chairman Scott DeVuyst with Nutrien Ag Solutions played an integral role in these meetings. We appreciate the Nutrien team for stepping up as strong advocates for the Michigan industry, and Chairman Neyer for taking time to meet with us.
Tour and Meeting with U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin: U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin, Michigan’s member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, toured Co-op Elevator Co. at its Ruth, MI location on August 27. Experts from Co-op Elevator discussed industry economics, the importance of export markets for Thumb products like dry beans, advancements in agricultural technology and more. As part of this tour, MABA raised several important topics affecting our members, including the importance of North American trade, USMCA renewal, and common-sense regulations for the use of agricultural drones. We also discussed efforts to promote safety and security at agricultural facilities. Read more here.
Michigan Corn Between the Rows: MABA attended Michigan Corn’s Between the Rows event at Heasley Seeds in Byron Center. This was one of many stops on this year’s tour. We congratulate Michigan Corn on another successful series of events bringing agricultural leaders together across the state. See more at this link.
The National Grain and Feed Association and NGFA Foundation once again led Harvest Safety Week, and we were proud to help amplify the effort: NGFA continued its world-class safety programming by making information and resources available to industry at www.ngfa.org/safety. We also ran into billboards in the Port Huron, MI area promoting farmer and industry awareness of Harvest Safety Week. Great job by the NGFA team on this critical topic.
Scholarship Funds Awarded: MABA in Mid-July announced scholarships were awarded to 19 students planning to enter the agriculture industry. These scholarships offered through the Educational Trust totaled more than $24,000 for the Fall 2026 collegiate semester. From 2020-2026, the MABA Educational Trust has awarded more than 180 scholarships to deserving young people pursuing higher education. Read more here, and we encourage you to get the scholarship application for the coming semester in the hands of young people who may qualify! The deadline for scholarships is October 1.
Several MABA members helped support the Educational Trust at the end of August, as 22 people participated in the 3rd-Annual Ed Trust Fishing Trip at Pine Portage Lodge near Wawa, ON. This fishing trip raises substantial funds to support scholarships and we thank all those who contributed to it, especially Ward Forquer, Phil Needler and Jon Rush who helped to organize the trip.
U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin, Michigan’s member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, toured Co-op Elevator Co. at its Ruth, MI location on Thursday.
Experts from Co-op Elevator discussed industry economics, the importance of export markets for Thumb products like dry beans, advancements in agricultural technology and more.
As part of this tour, MABA raised several important topics affecting our members, including the importance of North American trade, USMCA renewal, and common-sense regulations for the use of agricultural drones. We also discussed efforts to promote safety and security at agricultural facilities.
“Michigan agriculture is fortunate to have Senator Slotkin as a leading voice on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, and it means a lot that she took the time to visit the Thumb and hear directly from the growers and rural businesses at the heart of our industry,” said MABA President Chuck Lippstreu. “With so many issues impacting agriculture, it’s important that we help policymakers understand what’s happening on the ground and how they can help.”
We appreciated Senator Slotkin’s thoughtful questions and interest in learning about the Co-op’s many roles serving Thumb agriculture.
The visit was covered by the Huron Daily Tribune and the story can be found at this link. The visit was one of several meetings Senator Slotkin has had this week with Michigan growers and agricultural leaders.
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