Spartan Newsroom (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/category/news/business/agriculture/page/3/)
IN-SEASON PRODUCE: Buying locally grown fruits and vegetables rather than imported produce benefits Michigan farmers and consumers. By Stephanie Rauhe. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, GRAND RAPIDS, FARM NEWS, WKTV, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS AND ALL POINTS.
FARM BILL: Congress is working on the Farm Bill which will help set national agricultural policy for the next five years. What do Michigan farmers want in it? We hear from experts at the Michigan Farm Bureau, MSU Extension Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute and Michigan Farmers Union. By Liz Nass. FOR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, CORP! GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.
SPECIALTY CROPS: Specialty crops account for Michigan’s status as having the nation’s second-most diverse agricultural industry, but some farmers are unhappy about the timing of produce imports from abroad. They often arrive at the same time the state’s crops are being harvested and thus depress prices farmers get for their fruits and vegetables. Potato-producing Montcalm County mentioned. By Kenzie Terpstra. FOR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP., GREENVILLE, BIG RAPIDS AND ALL POINTS.
FIGHTING INVASIVES: The Midwest Invasive Species Information Network needs help finding and identifying invasive land and aquatic species. The organization leads several citizen science initiatives, two of which – Eyes on the Forest and MI Paddle Stewards – are expanding their programs, looking for volunteers to cover more ground and water. Includes references to Mason, Oceana, Ottawa, Allegan, Benzie, Oakland and Muskegon counties. By Elinor Epperson. FOR LUDINGTON, OCEANA, OTTAWA, DETROIT, PLANET DETROIT, HOLLAND, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS AND ALL POINTS.
SHARED ABUNDANCE: A new book by a food activist shares 20 years of experience in promoting local food systems through the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities in Traverse City. By Jacklyn Sellentine. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, XXX AND ALL POINTS.
FARMLANDS: Lawmakers in some states, including Michigan, are pushing to ban or limit Chinese companies from buying farmland. Legislators from Clare and Richland are among them, but an MSU agricultural economics expert says there’s no serious problem in the state. By Kelsey Lester. FOR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, CLARE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP! AND ALL POINTS.
MILK: Michigan still leads the nation in milk produced per cow. Credit goes to good nutrition, comfortable surroundings and the environment, experts say. Counties with the most dairy cows include Allegan, Ottawa, Lenawee, Clinton and Ionia. We talk to the United Dairy Industry of Michigan and an MSU animal science professor. By Kelsey Lester. FOR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, HOLLAND, BLISSFIELD, ADRIAN, MONROE, LANSING CITY PULSE, IONIA AND ALL POINTS.
SQUASH THE INVADERS: Experts are encouraging the public to squash the invasive spotted lanternfly as the destructive insect rapidly spreads throughout the region. It was first found last year in Pontiac. The state’s invasive species program launched a “See it. Squish it. Report it.” campaign advocating not only killing the pest, but also reporting the deed. It includes public-service videos, social media and billboards along freeways. The Department of Agriculture & Rural Development. By Shealyn Paulis. FOR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, PLANET DETROIT, DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.
DAYLILY FARM: By day, Mary Ann Cleary deals with state tax and budget issues as director of the House Fiscal Agency. The rest of the time she and Saundra Dunn run Along the Fence, a daylily farm in Dansville, southeast of Lansing. It’s home to over 1,200 plants, and post-pandemic business is booming. Cleary’s two worlds intersect when her farm participates in farmers markets on the Capitol grounds. By Stephanie Rauhe. FOR FOWLERVILLE, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
Montgomery County council members Andrew Friedson and Gabe Albornoz began the June 11 meeting with a proclamation acknowledging the work that parks and recreation have accomplished this year.
“I circle this date on the calendar every year because it’s an opportunity for us to acknowledge the incredibly dedicated and professional staff of both departments, ” said council member-at-large Albornoz.
Council vice president Friedson said the recognition has taken new meaning during and after the pandemic. “We have relied on our parks and on our recreation department to provide wellness, community, and health needs,” said Friedson.
Directors from both Montgomery County Parks and Department of Recreation chose employees in the organization and highlighted the work that they provide for them.
Every two years, residents fill out a survey of the services in the county that they appreciate and like the most. Both departments come out in the top three each time the survey is done.
“This is kind of the Super Bowl season, the summer season for our friends at the recreation center,” said Friedson.
Albornoz talked about how staff members were at the Germantown Fourth of July event until 2 a.m. making sure people got home safely and got to their cars.
The recreation department shared a video detailing the work that its employees provide for Montgomery County residents.
“Our team works extremely hard and is relatively a small team, we have about 2,500 seasonal workers from lifeguards, out of school time, to senior programs you name it they do it, ” said Robin Riley, who serves as the director of recreation for Montgomery County Recreation.
Members of Montgomery County Department of Recreation. Photo By Liz Thomas
Members of the recreation department who were acknowledged worked in different sectors such as high school, elementary, seniors and camp directors.
“They are the fuel in our engine and the grease on our wheels,” said Riley.
Montgomery County Recreation has many programs to offer for residents to participate in.
Montgomery County Park Director Michael F. Riley said the eight year plan that was developed called “The Big Three.” This plan focuses on developing a world class public athletic field at parks and schools, destination trail network and park activation that focuses on bringing community members of diverse backgrounds together.
“Historically we have built beautiful parks with beautiful facilities,” said Riley. Montgomery County Parks has over 420 parks across 37,220 acres,102 campsites, 136 picnic areas and 276 playgrounds.