July was another busy month for our team at MABA as we continued with a full range of association activities, most notably the latest meeting of the MABA Leadership Program, while also planning for the packed fall and winter meeting season. We continue to encourage all members to visit www.miagbiz.org/events to be sure you are signed up for key upcoming events!
In addition, we would like to remind MABA members and all those in Michigan agriculture that we are hard at work planning the 2025 Winter Conference and Trade Show, January 7-8, 2025! We welcome your input on topics and speakers to spotlight at this special event. Trade Show Exhibitors should expect another sold out show! Signup information for the Trade Show will be released in August. Registration for the Winter Conference will open later in the fall.
Here is a rundown of a few of our activities during the past month:
Scholarship recipients announcedThe MABA Educational Trust proudly announced its latest round of Fall 2024 scholarship recipients, recognizing outstanding students pursuing careers in agriculture. These scholarships – funded by generous contributions from MABA members – are crucial in supporting future leaders and promoting innovation within our industry. You can find more details about the recipients and their achievements at this link. We encourage members to consider signing up for the Memorial Golf Outing, September 5 in Ithaca, to continue the strong support we continue to see for the Educational Trust!
Conversation with MDARD-PPPM officialIn mid-July, we hosted a conversation with PPPM Pesticide Section Manager Brian Verhougstraete. Brian regularly interacts with our association and members, and he joined us to provide overall updates on the work of the MDARD Pesticide Program. The conversation can be found at this link, and by searching Spotify and Apple. You can learn more about many of these topics at the MDARD Pesticide Section’s new website.
Leadership Program in DetroitThe MABA Agri-Business Leadership Program met in Detroit on July 23-24; we welcomed both our outgoing class for their final session together, and the incoming group comprising the 2024-25 class. During the two-day program, our group kicked things off with an Ag Club Breakfast at Eastern Market; visited the Consulate General of Canada in Detroit for an update on the Gordie Howe Bridge; and learned about the law enforcement community’s support for Michigan agriculture from staff of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the FBI. We also met with experts on the ag economy, urban agriculture and solar siting.
Our outgoing cohort of Leadership Program members includes Raegan Gembarski with Star of the West Milling Company; Rob Clark with Michigan Sugar Company; Eddie Fahley with Helena Agri-Enterprises; Melissa Carter with Caledonia Farmers Elevator; Jeff Leslie with Cooperative Elevator Co.; Alyssa Redding with Nutrien Ag Solutions Michigan; and Justin Edwards with Ackerman Marketing.
This year’s incoming group includes Nathan Greeley with Zeeland Farm Services, Inc. (ZFS); Joseph Bolle with Quality Roasting; Rex Thayer with Nutrien Ag Solutions; Gary Fritz with Cooperative Elevator Co.; Scott Krout with CF Industries; and Matthew Naeyaert with GreenStone Farm Credit Services.
Tour with U.S. Representative Jack BergmanAlongside MABA President Chuck Lippstreu, Rep. Jack Bergman (MI-01) took time to meet with several businesses involved in West Michigan agriculture, including leaders of King Milling Company, Joe Rasch Orchards, and Gold Coast Sales,LLC. We had informative discussions about the wheat milling business, the Michigan apple industry and the important role ag retail plays in farmers’ success. During his eight years in the U.S. House, Congressman Bergman has been a reliable partner for Michigan’s agricultural industry.
Advocacy
In the News
Michigan Governor Whitmer Uses Line-Item Veto to Eliminate E15 Incentive From Budget (DTN)
Whitmer vetoes Michigan ethanol sales incentive, drawing criticism from farming groups (MLive)
U.S. House bill would strengthen HPAI dairy resources (Brownfield Ag News)
Upcoming Events
August 13 – AgroExpo Kickoff Breakfast, St. Johns, MI
September 5 – Memorial Golf Outing, Ithaca, MI
September 6-8 – Outlook Conference, Mackinac Island, MI
September 11 – MABA Ag Club Breakfast, Lansing, MI
Visit www.miagbiz.org/events for information about these and other upcoming activities!
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 Keith Leighton, a CCA with CHS Inc.
Keith Leighton, a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) with CHS Inc., is a great example of someone who followed an “unconventional” path in the agricultural industry, and who today is drawing on his agronomic expertise to make a difference across the region!
Although he grew up in Michigan agriculture being raised on a pig and cash crop farm in Decatur, MI, in Southwest Michigan, Keith followed a winding pathway into his current role. He initially studied electrical systems at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and started out a career in the construction industry. However, as with so many Americans, the 2008 recession impacted his industry and presented the opportunity for a career shift.
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Agri-Business Association and other Michigan agricultural organizations supported the Avian Influenza Research and Response Act, new legislation led by Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin to address ongoing detections of highly pathogenic avian flu in dairy cattle.
You can read more about this legislation here.
“The Avian Influenza Research and Response Act takes important steps to support Michigan and U.S. agriculture as we work together to slow the spread of HPAI,” said Michigan Agri-Business Association President Chuck Lippstreu. “Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin has stood with Michigan agriculture throughout this emergency – reaching out proactively to industry, convening experts to stay on top of the latest developments, and now delivering common-sense legislation that will strengthen critical research and biosecurity education efforts.”
The Avian Influenza Research and Response Act would:
LANSING, Mich. – MABA President Chuck Lippstreu issued the following statement on Governor Whitmer’s veto of a new rebate program for fuel retailers offering E15, a higher ethanol blend:
“We are disappointed Governor Whitmer vetoed a pro-agriculture, pro-environment, pro-consumer policy that had already been approved by the Michigan Legislature. Promoting higher biofuel blends like E15 reduces our reliance on oil, supports the rural economy, reduces harmful emissions and gives families more choices at the pump. Legislators were spot on to approve this boost for E15 fuels and today’s veto by the governor was a missed opportunity.”
The recently-approved Michigan budget had created the program to provide retailers a five-cent rebate per gallon sold of E-15.
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