8-4-2021

Harvested wheat fields are an opportunity to manage nutrients and implement conservation

Few operations on the farm have as much impact on economic profitability and environmental protection as nutrient management, and with the tools and technologies available today, few practices are as cost effective or easy to implement. Harvested wheat fields are prime candidates for intensive soil sampling, utilizing grid or zone sampling schemes to identify nutrient variability in the field. Managing fertility on an intensive basis is the key to maximizing the economic and environmental benefits of today’s technology. 
 
Areas of fields with deficient nutrient levels can be located and be brought up to sufficient levels, boosting yield potential. Identifying areas with excess nutrient levels offers the opportunity to reduce nutrient application rates in those areas, while still maintaining full yield potential. Modern variable rate application equipment can utilize the data layers generated by intensive soil sampling to precisely apply prescribed fertilizer rates on a sub-acre basis. Gains in crop productivity typically more than compensate for the additional costs of lab testing and high-tech fertilizer application equipment.
 
Harvested wheat fields also offer an excellent opportunity for mid-summer cover crop establishment. Cover crops can be put to work scavenging nutrients, building nitrogen for the next crop, improving soil tilth and breaking up deep compaction on these open fields. Boosting soil biology through the use of cover crops can help cut fertilizer and herbicide next spring and make fields more resilient to heavy rains and seasonal droughts.
 
Specific site conditions and cropping needs will dictate the best cover crop species. Some cover crop species with strong taproots are particularly well suited to breaking up compaction, while others with fibrous root systems improve soil structure and tilth. Blending several cover crop species together not only broadens the range be benefits, but also helps ensure establishment success. Weed control and stemming the proliferation of herbicide resistant weeds should be top of growers minds as well. While cover crops can suppress weeds, they don’t necessarily eliminate weeds. Escapes that go to seed can create problems down the road. Termination plans are important to develop at seeding. Both herbicides and tillage can successfully terminated cover crops, but management plans, including back up plans, need to be in place.
 
Managing open wheat fields through the summer and into the fall with intensive soil testing and cover crops offers to growers the opportunity to improve their farm economics in both the short and long-term.
7-30-2021

Leadership Group kicks off in Grand Rapids

July 30, 2021 – We were very excited to welcome our 2021-22 Leadership Group to Grand Rapids this week, where they kicked off the program with two full days of discussion on a wide range of issues facing Michigan agriculture.

This year’s Leadership Group has persevered through a unique challenge, having originally planned to be together more a year ago before the program was delayed due to COVID-19. We are glad to have this group back together and look forward to our upcoming sessions in Lansing, Washington and Detroit!

Leadership Group participants pictured are (L to R): Cody Harris, Star of the West Milling Company; Keith Leighton, Co-Alliance; Claire Zahm, Zeeland Farm Services, Inc. (ZFS); Dave Chamberlin, Vita Plus Corporation; Jason Sawatski, Nutrien; and Mackenzy Blair, Michigan Agricultural Commodities.

Thank you to our presenters! We’d also like to say “thank you” to leaders spanning our Michigan agriculture industry who joined our group for this special meeting, and lent their expertise to the discussion, listed here.

7-25-2021

Agenda and Registration for MABA 2021 Outlook Conference

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We hope you will be able to join us September 16-18, 2021 for the Michigan Agri-Business Association’s 2021 Outlook Conference, once again being held at the historic Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Following is information on this year’s conference, including changes to the dates and timing of the program, and registration information.
Conference Dates: This year’s Outlook Conference will begin Thursday evening, September 16, concluding in the afternoon on Saturday, September 18.
 
Many previously delayed conferences and events are returning this fall, including the major Detroit Regional Chamber conference immediately following the Outlook Conference at the Grand Hotel. This year’s Thursday-Saturday program helps ensure no disruption during our meetings, and is an opportunity to try something new!
 
Program: This year’s Outlook Conference will include some changes from prior years and the program will proceed as follows:
 
Thursday evening, September 16
  • Evening reception, Grand Hotel Porch
Friday, September 17
  • General Session, 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
  • Break, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Luncheon (Spouses/Guests Invited), 12:00 PM – 1:45 PM
  • Friday Afternoon Tee Times Available
  • Evening Reception, Grand Hotel Porch, 6:00 PM
  • Dinner on your own on the Island
Saturday, September 18
  • General Session, 8:30 AM – 11:40 AM
  • Adjournment
 
Grand Hotel Reservations: The Grand Hotel is once again offering a special rate for our conference for the evenings of Thursday, Sept. 16 and Friday, Sept. 17. A limited number of rooms at the Grand Hotel will also be available following the conference on Saturday, Sept. 18 and we encourage you to register as soon as possible if you wish to stay for Saturday night. 
 
 
Safety: While not required to attend, we strongly recommend attendees be vaccinated for COVID-19 for your safety and the safety of those around you. Safety precautions during the event will comply with state and federal guidance in place at the time of the Outlook Conference. You can learn more about the Grand Hotel’s plan for safe operations at this link.
 
Dress Code: Since the Grand Hotel is a resort, we want everyone to feel at ease and dress comfortably. Prior to 6:30pm, casual resort clothing is appropriate.  Please no midriff baring tops, sweatpants or cut-off shorts for ladies. For gentleman no sleeveless shirts, sweatpants, or cut-off shorts.


Every evening at the Grand Hotel is a special occasion. After 6:30pm, dresses, skirts, blouses, dress sweaters and dress slacks for ladies are preferred, while gentleman are required to wear a suit coat, necktie and dress pants, no denim or shorts. This applies for all areas inside the hotel with the exception of the Cupola Bar and the lower level when going to and from the elevator to enter and exit the hotel. Children 12 years and older are expected to be in dress similar to the adults.  

Please visit the Grand Hotel web site for additional information: https://www.grandhotel.com/before-you-go/. 

Transportation to Mackinac Island: If you have never been on Mackinac Island, please note that vehicles are not allowed on the Island and you will need to make arrangements for ferry service from either Mackinaw City, or St. Ignace. For this service we have partnered with Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry. A link to their schedule can be found here.

To purchase advance tickets online, use our group promotion code: MABA21. Otherwise, guests can reference Michigan Agri-Business Association or MABA at the ticket office upon arrival to make their purchase at the discounted rate of $21 roundtrip for adults and $12 roundtrip for children. All parking is arranged at the time of arrival.

For additional information, or if you have questions, contact the MABA office at maba@miagbiz.org. We look forward to seeing you on the Island!

7-14-2021

Seminar video now available on Feed Inspection and Tonnage Fee Report (ITFR)

July 14, 2021 — The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MDARD) Feed Safety and Fertilizer Section and the Michigan Agri-Business Association (MABA) recently led a training seminar on “Completion of the Michigan Feed Inspection and Tonnage Fee Report (ITFR) form” on July 14. We also had a very positive discussion with MDARD staff about potential future adjustments to feed tonnage reporting.

We appreciation the Department for partnering on this training opportunity, which is useful for anyone who fills out tonnage reports! Go here to view video of the tonnage report training.