Safe, renewable and enviornmentally friendly, wind power is getting plenty of attention these days. Long a staple in Europe, modern windmills can offer farmers income opportunities which can lead to farmland preservation and reduced dependence on foreign oil. Zoning restrictions, however, are threatening one farmer's attempts to farm the wind on his Cheybogan County family farm. - Photo courtesy of Madison Gas and Electric
Sowing the windmill, reaping the whirlwind
If Cheboygan County farmer Matthew Bonnett loses his fight with the zoning board, he won't be allowed to harvest wind power through commercial windmills on his farm - a $400 per month per windmill opportunity. Click here for full story.Fruit juice markets showing more potential
Juice and juice products have long been important to many of Michigan's fruit industries. In today's world of rapidly changing consumer-oriented agriculture, it is useful to reflect on trends in the markets for these products. Click here for full story.Interest rates should remain stable in 2003
Continued sluggishness in the general economy allowed interest rates to drop even further during 2002 from their already historically low levels. Click here for full story.Government payments keep dairy cash flow afloat
Dairy farm profit margins are currently the tightest in many years as dismal milk prices combined with feed prices that climbed following summer droughts. The result is the lowest milk/feed price ratio in a decade. Click here for full story.Farmland prices in 2003 - where do we go from here?
Michigan farmland prices continued to increase in 2002. The most recent downtrend in land prices occurred in the early 1980s, reaching bottom in 1987. Since that time, land prices have increased each year. Click here for full story.Farm income may go up, still historically low
Gross and net cash farm income in Michigan declined in 2002 with the net down to levels that were the lowest since the early 1970s. This is in nominal terms, not in inflation deflated terms. In real terms, the year 2002 was the lowest since at least 1960. Click here for full story.Production inputs should remain stable
For the most part, the 2003 outlook for production inputs projects relatively little change in availability and pricing from last year. The lone exception revolves around the highly uncertain area of energy which unfortunately could have a potentially negative influence on fuel and the nitrogen component of fertilizer. Otherwise, few supply or price problems appear on the short-term horizon, and a continuation of one of the most competitive marketplaces in years will likely lead to a acceptable cost environment for most producers. Click here for full story.