Labor issues have been resolved, at least in part, at Cherry Bay Orchards in Leelanau County, because Don Gregory, right, and brother Bob hire local students to help with the tart cherry harvest. Two of the student workers, interrupted while they were skimming and overseeing cherry cooling, are Hannah Walton, left, a college-bound employee, and Lizzy Freed, a high school student.
Molding a work ethic from age 14
Employing local high school students doesn't ease all of Cherry Bay's labor challenges, of course. During the fall apple harvest, the kids are back in school, so migrant labor fills in the gaps. But during cherry season, a local high school or college student can make $2400 in a month, and still have June and August to do what teenagers do. Click here for full story.Pay a fee, buy-in to farm bill assistance programs
USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) will allow producers who would otherwise be ineligible for new disaster assistance programs to become eligible by paying a fee as required by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Act). Click here for full story.Remember the 80s as land values rise, experts advise
If report cards were doled out to the agriculture industry in Michigan, there would be passing grades all around. High land values, record-high commodity prices and product demand are the factors driving the high marks, according to agriculture experts in the region. Those same experts, however, urge producers to stay alert and be prepared for lurking economic warning signs. Click here for full story.Creating leaders to build the future
Preparing leaders to withstand all kinds of inclement conditions is part of the mission of the Great Lakes Leadership Academy (GLLA), an extensive and sometimes exhaustive program designed to develop leaders who will consider all inputs thoughtfully, be willing to bend - but not break - in a strong wind, and lead the masses into the best solution for everyone concerned, not a specific special-interest group. Click here for full story.Managing higher-priced fertilizer inputs
Increasing worldwide demand for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium has brought significant increases in the costs of these materials, especially potash. Click here for full story.