News

Farm Bureau calls for a “no vote” if Congress ignores ag recession

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is upset about lack of congressional action to help farmers. In a Dec. 14 news releases, the Washington, D.C.-based AFBF expressed disappointment that Con... more »

Southwest Michigan Horticultural Days set for February

The 2025 Southwest Michigan Horticultural Days will be Feb. 5-6 at Lake Michigan College’s Mendel Center in Benton Township, Michigan. The event is organized each year by the Michigan Grape Socie... more »

USDA Marketing for Specialty Crops (MASC) program offers competitiveness funds

Specialty crop competitiveness assistance funds from the USDA are available. Applications are being accepted for a federal program providing $2 billion to help U.S. specialty crop growers remain co... more »

Farmblox brings automation to almond farms

Farmblox, a farm automation system, is expanding its reach to help almond and nut growers address critical challenges in the industry. Farmblox helps growers by connecting equipment and in-orchard ... more »

MSU Extension introduces strategic direction plan

Michigan State University Extension is updating and redefining its role. In early December, MSU released a newly completed 2024 Strategic Direction Plan for Extension, the community outreach arm of... more »

Court-ordered pause in federal filing requirements applauded by Farm Bureau

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is commending a federal court’s halting of a federal form business filing requirement that could have jeopardized growers through unknowingly facing fines ... more »

Mississippi court blocks nationwide H-2A worker protection rule 

An attempt by the U.S. Department of Labor to provide protections to H-2A workers who organize to form labor unions has been dealt its biggest blow since its challenged implementation in April. A p... more »

New York Produce Show to host Produce Distributors Association annual meeting

The Produce Distributors Association (PDA) plans to host its annual meeting during the New York Produce Show (NYPS). The meeting is scheduled for the afternoon of Dec. 10 at the Sheraton Times Squa... more »

MSU researcher receives USDA grant to develop new biopesticide for spotted wing drosophila

A Michigan State University researcher has received a $325,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to develop a yeast-based biopesticide that t... more »

Farm organization comments on farm bill text release

With the clock ticking on legislative action on the 2024 farm bill, Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan U.S. senator and Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee chairwoman, has released the bill’s te... more »