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Executive Director Clover Adams Warns of Fallout from Escalating Labor Costs
December 18, 2023. An opinion piece penned by MAAB Executive Director Jamie Clover Adams that appeared in the Detroit News highlighted the real threat to Michigan’s fruit and vegetable sector if policymakers do not address the escalating labor costs faced by...
Asparagus Sector Struggles with Long-Term Viability
May 19, 2023. Brownfield reports that change is nearing a tipping point in Michigan — one of the nation’s largest asparagus-growing regions. They also reported that Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Tim Boring told them the asparagus industry…
MDARD Director Tim Boring Tours Michigan Asparagus Industry
Today, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring highlighted the positive and dynamic impact of Michigan’s asparagus industry by touring NJ Fox & Sons, New Era American Asparagus, Michigan Freeze Pack and the Michigan Asparagus Research Farm.
2023 Michigan Asparagus Season Kicks Off
The Michigan Asparagus season is almost here, and consumers are excited to head into stores to incorporate this popular summer vegetable into their meal plans. Harvest preparation is underway, and growers are working diligently to deliver fresh asparagus from the field to retail shelves.
Asparagus Growers Recognized in Fruit & Vegetable 40 Under Forty
Residue Data Collection to Use Miravis Prime on Purple Spot Moves Forward
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.
MSU Recap of 2022 IR-4 Project Selection Effecting MI Growers
Sep 30, 2022. MSUE put together a great recap of the 2022 IR-4 Food Use workshop – the meeting where chemistries are selected for residue data collection that can lead to an EPA submission for label change consideration. IR-4 is invaluable to vegetable growers since it is the primary way we keep crop protection options available to address things like purple spot, asparagus beetle and herbicide resistant weeds. There is a handy chart at the bottom of the article setting out which commodity and product IR-4 will begin work on in 2023
MAAB Receives Specialty Crop Block Grant Award for Asparagus Beetle Research
MAAB Supports Expanding Crop Protection Toolbox to Address Purple Spot
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.
Michigan Farm News Features Asparagus
July 15, 2022. Michigan Farm News featured asparagus and Oomen Veggie on page 1 last week.
Asparagus Featured by Brownfield Ag News
MI Asparagus Promotion Story
May 10, 2022. Michigan asparagus was featured in Know U Know, a trade publication read by producer buyers and company executives.
Farm Bill Field Hearing
May 6, 2022. MAAB submitted written comments to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry in conjunction with their field hearing held in East Lansing on April 29. It was an opportunity to educate the committee about the challenges faced by the asparagus industry.
ASPARAGUS GROWER MEETING FEB 14 :
Information & Discussion on Robotic Asparagus Harvesting
Governor Appoints MAAB Board Members
Jan 24, 2022. Governor Whitmer re-appointed Dwight Fuehring of Mears and Kyle Weber of Watervliet to MAAB Board of Directors. These appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Federal Gov’t Requiring Covid-19 Vaccination for H2A Workers Entering The US
Jan 21, 2022. The Department of Homeland Security announced last night that all non-US individuals seeking to enter the US via land ports and ferry terminals – including essential workers – must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. MAAB understands that these individuals – which include H2A workers — must be vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the CDC which does not include some of those available in Mexico.
Michigan Ag Today Podcast Features Asparagus
Michigan 2022 AEWR for H2A Labor Set at $15.37 per hour
December 14, 2021. Today, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued the Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) for H2A workers in calendar year 2022. Michigan’s rate is $15.37. This rate comes directly from the USDA 2021 Farm Labor Survey. AEWRs are the minimum wage rates the DOL has determined must be offered and paid by employers to H2A workers as well as U.S. workers in corresponding employment. California has the highest rate in the nation at $17.51 per hour followed by Oregon and Washington at $17.41 per hour. Florida’s rate will be $12.41 per hour.
MSU Extension Releases Fertilizer Cost Comparison Tool for Vegetables
December 1, 2021. The Fertilizer Cost Comparison Tool provides growers with the ability to consider nutrient needs and fertilizer product costs. Up to three fertilizer plans can be created for each crop. Plans can be based on either soil test-based recommendations or nutrient removal rates. You can develop plans to compare different fertilizer products for the same recommendations and you can compare plans for either type of nutrient recommendation.
MAAB Board Member Chosen to Lead Michigan State Horticultural Society in 2022
Application Period for USDA’s Pandemic Response & Safety Grant Program Ends Monday, Nov 22
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
MAAB Awarded Two Grants for Asparagus Research
November 9, 2021. Today, Senator Debbie Stabenow announced Michigan recipients of the 2021 Specialty Crop Block Grants that include two Michigan asparagus research grants valued at $186,750. One grant will be led by Dr. Mary Hausbeck and focus on comparing asparagus cultivar susceptibility to rust and purple spot and test new fungicide products to protect the plant. The second grant will be led by Dr. Younsuk Dong and will focus on improving disease management with a sensor technology package that is affordable, provides easy access to data in real time, and provides timely disease model outputs. Both projects are focused on extending field longevity and reducing disease management costs. These projects will begin next spring.
Letter to U.S. Senators on 2022 H2A Labor Rates
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.
82 Ag Groups Object to EPA Chlorpyrifos Tolerance Revocation
MAAB Vice Chairman Recognized in Fruit & Vegetables 40 Under Forty
October 13, 2021. The Vegetable Growers News recognized MAAB Vice Chairman Jordon Walsworth as part of it’s Fruit and Vegetable 40 Under Forty. He and others in the Class of 2021 will be honored on Tuesday, December 7 during the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo in Grand Rapids.
USDA Opens Application Period for Pandemic Response & Safety Grant Program. Sign-up Closes Nov 22, 2021
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
MDARD Opens Rural Development Grant Applications for FY22
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.
USDA’s Ag Marketing Service Announces Sign-up Changes for The Pandemic Response Grant Program for Small Entities
September 24, 2021. The Agricultural Marketing Service announced that sign up for the Pandemic Response Grant Program for small entities has been delayed. The application period will open in early October and entities will have 45 days to apply.
USDA’s Ag Marketing Service Announces Pandemic Response Grant Program for Small Entities
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.
National Asparagus Council Joins Letter Expressing Concern on Chlorpyrifos Tolerance Revocation
MDARD Extends Migrant Worker Housing Emergency Rules Throught The End of Calendar Year
August 31, 2021. In a letter to licensed migrant labor housing providers, program manager Majed Ghussaini lays out what this extension means for those who still have workers in their housing – essentially to continue to follow your COVID-19 preparedness and response plan through the end of the calendar year or until your camp is closed.
MAAB Newsletter
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.