Midwest

Baseline testing of Michigan workers has Aug. 24 deadline

The Michigan departments of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Agriculture and Rural Development are reminding employers that the Public Health Order mandating baseline testing for agricultural and food processing workers has a deadline of... more »

Ruling denies Michigan farmworkers’ plea to end testing mandate

U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney of the Western District of Michigan issued a ruling late Friday, Aug. 21, denying a request from farmworkers and their employers for an injunction against an emergency order issued by... more »

Oceana Research Update & Root Crop Virtual Field Day set in Michigan

The Oceana Research Update & Root Crop Virtual Field Day will be held in Michigan on Sept. 16 from 6-8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The free event will be held in an online Zoom format.... more »

Farms, processors COVID-19 safety efforts backed by Michigan funds

Applications for grant funds are still available through the Michigan Economic Development Corp.'s Michigan Agricultural Safety Grant and the MEDC Small Farm Safety Grant programs for farmers and agricultural processors throughout the state. In tandem,... more »

Midwest farmland values up slightly second quarter, AgLetter reports

The AgLetter reports farmland values for the Seventh Federal Reserve District in the second quarter of 2020 were 1% higher than a year ago. Values for “good” agricultural land in the second quarter of 2020... more »

Court denies temporary restraining order on testing of Michigan ag, food employees

After the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan denied a temporary restraining order in a lawsuit challenging Michigan’s order requiring the testing of farm and food processing employees for COVID-19, the Director... more »

Ag disaster GIS viewer launched for Michigan’s farming community

Michigan’s farming community is certainly no stranger to the challenges thrown at it by Mother Nature. Thankfully, there are several programs to help farmers weather those challenges. In order to help the state’s farmers more... more »

Fourth annual Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day goes virtual

The Midwest Mechanical Weed Control (MMWC) Field Day is the nation’s largest event devoted to weeding tools. This year, due to Covidian circumstances, the field day is taking a quantum leap forward and will move... more »