The agriculture industry nationally continues to deploy new innovation and embrace best practices – optimizing nutrient use, advancing stewardship of the air, land and water and delivering climate solutions. Just some of the results achieved by industry are detailed in the most recent annual report from The Fertilizer Institute that’s available here.
MABA encourages everyone in Michigan agriculture to do their part to keep building on these impressive results. This starts with reviewing and following best practices for use of crop nutrients, including careful review of upcoming weather forecasts and available field analytics.
That information can help avoid losses to heavy rainfall events, the main culprits driving nutrient losses from fields. Proper timing of fertilizer applications in light of the prevailing and forecast conditions is a critical element to avoid nutrient losses that contribute to water pollution, particularly in sloping fields where runoff can be exacerbated.
To address this issue, farmers and agricultural experts statewide refer to and follow the “4R” principles of fertilizer use: applying the Right fertilizer source, at the Right rate, at the Right time, and in the Right place. More information about the 4R program can be found here.
Across Michigan, expert agronomists are key partners for farmers to examine nutrient use and optimize it for each field, leveraging today’s advanced technology.
As TFI notes, “Whether creating custom blends of bulk fertilizers or through precision agriculture techniques for soil analysis and crop mapping, agronomists are a valuable farmer resource…Many industry agronomists are Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs), having met rigorous standards prescribed by the American Society of Agronomy. CCA certification assures farmer customers that their crop advisers are equipped to apply leading edge technical knowledge to fertilizer recommendations.”
Here in Michigan we have 300 CCA’s who play a critical role in safeguarding the environment.
By working together to continue implementing the 4R principles and properly timing fertilizer applications, farmers and agricultural experts can help to reduce the risk of nutrient losses and protect the water quality in watersheds statewide.
In 2023, the Michigan Pesticide Container Recycling Program collected approximately 174,480 pounds of empty, properly-cleaned containers from more than 60 participating businesses
We encourage MABA members to learn about, and participate in this program. Here’s how you can participate in the Pesticide Container Recycling Program:
Skyrocketing labor costs threaten the future of Michigan’s fruit and vegetable sector
LANSING, Mich. (May 22, 2024) – Michigan Agri-Business Association President Chuck Lippstreu today thanked members of the Michigan Congressional delegation who voiced bipartisan support for freezing the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) at 2023 levels through 2025. The Members of Congress were among 120 total U.S. Representatives – Democrats and Republicans – calling for this sorely-needed action in a joint letter. The letter is available here.
HART, Mich. – Amid Michigan’s asparagus harvest season, Michigan Agri-Business Association President Chuck Lippstreu joined Jamie Clover Adams, Executive Director of the Michigan Asparagus Association to spotlight the urgent need for reform of high labor costs facing Michigan specialty crop farmers.
“Skyrocketing labor costs driven by an unrealistic, unsustainable federal government calculation pose a critical threat to the future of Michigan fruit and vegetable production,” said Lippstreu. “Rural businesses and communities in West Michigan and across our state depend on a thriving specialty crop sector. Unfortunately, runaway costs created by a broken U.S. Department of Labor program threaten the future of this industry. We thank the bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress who have supported a freeze of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, and we continue to call for lasting reform of this broken system.”
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