As a service to our members who support and advance the Michigan Agri-Business Association, we provide monthly 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.
April was a busy and productive month for MABA, with our team active across Michigan and engaged on major policy developments at both the state and federal level. We wanted to provide a short update to MABA members and interested partners:
Michigan corn grower Matt Frostic and Michigan Agri-Business Association representative Chris Betz will serve on key CFTC committee
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Agri-Business Association (MABA) and the Michigan Corn Growers Association (MCGA) today spotlighted two Michigan agricultural leaders named Friday to serve on the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) Agricultural Advisory Committee.
Chris Betz with Lansing-based Michigan Agricultural Commodities, and Michigan corn grower Matt Frostic, who serves as First Vice President of the National Corn Growers Association, were among the members named Friday to the committee.
Michigan’s agricultural industry was in the spotlight Monday as U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Congressman Tom Barrett visited the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center and held a roundtable with industry leaders. The Secretary and Congressman also announced new federal funding supporting Michigan’s specialty crop industry.
The Michigan Agri-Business Association truly appreciated Secretary Rollins for hosting an in-depth discussion with industry leaders on issues important to the sector. MABA President Chuck Lippstreu represented the association at this discussion, joining Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz, Michigan Farm Bureau President Ben LaCross, several Michigan farmers and others spanning Michigan’s agricultural community. MABA Board member John Tilt was in attendance on behalf of the association.
“Monday’s meeting was an important opportunity to elevate the unique aspects of our Michigan agricultural industry and provide Secretary Rollins actionable information to take back to Washington,” said Lippstreu. “The Secretary’s visit to Michigan State University was appreciated because it underscored the incredible partnerships between MSU and our state’s agricultural industry. The Secretary also took time to hear directly from farmers and rural business leaders, and we were glad to have the opportunity to elevate topics important to our MABA members. We thank Secretary Rollins for her time visiting Michigan and her interest in advancing Michigan agriculture.”
Lippstreu emphasized MABA’s strong support for the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the university’s world-class outreach and partnership efforts with the agricultural industry. MABA also recognized Michigan Farm Bureau and the organization’s president, Ben LaCross, for helping to organize and lead Monday’s meetings.
MABA members interested in learning more about our association’s federal policy priorities and topics raised with Secretary Rollins can contact Chuck Lippstreu at the MABA office at chuck@miagbiz.org.
Throughout March, our MABA team took the opportunity to connect with our members and partners, and we continued to make progress on our advocacy efforts. We wanted to provide a short update to MABA members and interested partners.
At the beginning of the month, we made a major announcement detailing expanded events serving the industry. We encourage all MABA members to review our calendar of upcoming events!
In Lansing, the Michigan Legislature is making its way through a busy spring that’s mainly focused on the creation of an FY27 state budget. MABA has continued communication on our budget priorities, including support for Michigan State University and funding for certain government services important to the industry.
We are also working on a number of bills making their way through the Legislature independent of the budget. Notably, MABA this month joined other agricultural organizations supporting legislation that would streamline water permits in certain circumstances, an important topic affecting many of our members. We also weighed in with testimony to the Michigan Strategic Fund Board, supporting a project that will bring hundreds of new jobs to West Michigan and boost our state’s dairy industry.
We also endeavor to make your voice heard in Washington, DC, partnering with national ag groups to represent the industry. This past month we were represented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Pesticide Control Officials, as well as the Agricultural Leaders of Michigan’s Washington DC breakfast. Thank you to Board members Jacob Hecht from Star of the West Milling Company and Larry Dassance with Helena for helping represent MABA at the breakfast, and in meetings on Capitol Hill. In followup meetings with Members of Congress, we discussed a range of priority topics, including the need for a long-term Farm Bill and the importance for Michigan of USMCA renewal.
As the industry faces serious economic uncertainty, MABA continues to partner with national experts to ensure Michigan policymakers, the press and other stakeholders have good and actionable information on important topics.
Beyond these efforts, one of our main focus areas this year is to continue meeting all of you, our members, in the communities where you live and work. This month we hosted two member listening sessions in Jackson and Bad Axe, and a webinar briefing for members. We also attended the Michigan Milk Producers Annual Meeting, and met with several MABA members located in Southeast Michigan.
We will get back out around the state for more of these meetings into the summer. In the short term, we’re continuing in April with an Ag Club Breakfast in Hart, MI, and welcoming members to grain grading seminars in mid-April.
We appreciate your continued support and we are working hard to earn it! Here are some photos from the past few weeks:
© 2026 Michigan Agri-Business Association - All rights reserved.
