Newsletters

Oct 3, 2022. Dr. Mary Hausbeck successfully got residue work for Miravis Prime on the IR-4 work plan starting in 2023.  This work could lead to a label change to use Miravis Prime to address Purple Spot on asparagus.  IR-4 will lead this research and submit their data to U.S. EPA for a label change.  This effort is supported by Syngenta (the product registrant) and will take about four years to complete.

The research work that led to this point began in 2019 with funding from Michigan Asparagus and MSU Project GREEEN.

Aug 31, 2022.  MAAB sent a letter supporting efforts to secure a spot on the IR-4 2023 work plan for two products that grower supported research has shown address Purple Spot.  These products are not currently labeled for use on asparagus.  Securing a spot on the IR-4 work plan ensures the necessary data will be collected and submitted to U.S. EPA for a label change. 

May 10, 2022.  Michigan asparagus was featured in Know U Know, a trade publication read by producer buyers and company executives.

November 16, 2021. As a reminder, USDA’s Pandemic Response & Safety Grant Program ends Monday, November 22. If you are interested, please don’t wait until the last minute. The first step to apply is getting a DUNS number which can take up to 5 days. According to USDA, once you have your DUNS number the application takes less than 10 minutes. For more information, follow the links below.

Determine Eligibility Document

Program Information Q & A

Video to Help Fill Out the Application

November 5, 2021. MAAB Executive Director Jamie Clover Adams wrote to Senators Stabenow and Peters sharing information on the likely impacts of COVID on 2022 H2A labor rates. She shared that rates have increased 27% since 2015 and that it appears the 2022 rates will increase significantly given the spring USDA Farm Labor Survey results and the current wage pressure in the general economy.

October 6, 2021.  The sign-up period for USDA’s Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program is open.  It covers specific COVID-related expenses in the areas of workplace safety measures, retrofitting facilities, marketing pivots, transportation, worker housing and medical costs that have not been reimbursed by other sources.  The minimum funding request is $1500 and the maximum is $20,000.

For more information, follow the links below.

Determine Eligibility Document

Program Information Q & A

Video to Help Fill Out the Application

October 1, 2021.  MDARD is taking applications for its rural development grants until November 18, 2021.  They will host an informational webinar on October 19 at 11am.  These grants are capped at $100,000 and require a 30% cash match.  Grants are available for projects addressing the expansion and sustainability of land-based industries (agriculture and others) as well as energy, transportation, housing, communications, water and wastewater infrastructure to benefit rural communities. 

September 9, 2021. The Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program provides funding to help small specialty crop producers, food processors, manufacturers, distributors and farmers markets to recover costs incurred by responding to COVID-19. Small farmer is defined as annual receipts of no more than $1 million for a concern and its affiliates. Food manufacturers (frozen and canned) can have no more than 1000 employees. Entities are required to have a DUNS number. Grants are capped at $20,000.

August 25, 2021. Get the latest news for the asparagus industry including a 2021 crop recap, information on the outcomes of the first year of our Specialty Crop Block Grant promotion effort and our efforts to raise the profile of Michigan asparagus at the PMA Fresh Summit in late October.