Michigan Agri-Business Association

Registration is Open for the The State of Digesters in Michigan - Spring Meeting 2025 Tuesday, May 6, 2025 10AM-2PM PLEASE REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/em-tvgFy Hear from farmers, food companies and technical experts on the challenges of reducing food waste and innovative solutions for green and renewable energy!?Full agenda will be sent in the coming weeks!?? MSU AgBioResearch West Central Michigan Research and Extension Center 5185 N Oceana Drive Hart, MI 49420 Sponsored by EBC Energy

One of the best parts of my job is getting to know, and partner with, the many brilliant and passionate individuals in the U.S. Soy supply chain. I'm looking forward to working in the coming year alongside Janna Fritz, newly elected USSEC Chair. In addition to being a sixth-generation Michigan farmer growing soybeans, corn, wheat, triticale and dry edible beans, Janna is an American Soybean Association (ASA) director and the president of DF Seeds, a Michigan-based seed company. Janna was on hand for Commodity Classic, and I had a chance to spend a few minutes learning more about her great experience and her goals as USSEC Chair.

I appreciated the opportunity to join Michigan Radio's Stateside last week. We covered a lot of ground, from trade with Canada, to skyrocketing ag labor costs and the Protect Our Produce effort, to the "day to day" work happening at trade associations like MABA.

MABA continues to call for urgent action to address Earned Sick Time Act mandates. “Virtually every business in Michigan agriculture relies in some way on workers that are are working part of the year or on a part time basis,” said MABA President Chuck Lippstreu to 9&10 News, noting requirements slated to go into effect Friday lack critical flexibility for businesses.

MABA is pleased to announce we will host two interns for summer 2025: Sara Dammann of New Lothrop, MI and Madyson “Maddy” Garza of Palms, MI. Both are undergraduate students at Michigan State University, and past recipients of scholarships from the MABA Educational Trust. We are excited to have them join the team this summer! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gvhb8J5X

MABA is proud to work alongside The Nature Conservancy in Michigan to advance agricultural stewardship, and we were glad to help spotlight some of these efforts in the 2024 TNC Michigan Annual Report: https://lnkd.in/g28VNXkR

Today we honor the memory of students Arielle Anderson, Brian Fraser and Alexandria Verner as well as all affected by the tragedy that occurred on our campus two years ago. As we join in remembrance, it is important to recognize and accept what you are feeling. Take care, Spartans.

With our MABA Leadership Program group in Washington this week, we would like to thank our national trade association partners for taking time to brief the group! These organizations help ensure agriculture is at the table in Washington, DC every day, and their expertise is critical for our industry. Our group met earlier in the week with experts from The Fertilizer Institute, CropLife America, the Agricultural Retailers Association, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Grain and Feed Association. We also had the chance to hear from government affairs leaders for two member companies, Nutrien and CF Industries. Thank you again to these key partners!

MABA issued the following statement Saturday, Feb. 1 regarding tariffs on Canada and Mexico: “As a border state, leading agricultural exporter, and major North American trade and transit hub, Michigan deeply values our strong, long-term commercial relationships with Canada and Mexico. We are deeply concerned that across-the-board tariffs risk substantial negative economic consequences for Michigan agriculture and rural communities in our state.”

This morning MABA President Chuck Lippstreu represented the association at an agriculture industry meeting with new U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, hosted by Michigan Sugar Company. Congresswoman McDonald Rivet’s recent appointment to serve on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee is critically important for Michigan agriculture. Industry leaders raised topics ranging from the next Farm Bill, to tariffs and trade, federal program delivery and beyond. Thank you, Congresswoman, for your attention to Michigan Agriculture and for stepping up to lead on the House Agriculture Committee. We also appreciate Michigan Sugar for hosting this meeting.