GRAND RAPIDS - Michigan Sustainable Business Forum is hosting a webinar introducing the state’s potential for agrivoltaics, the planting of food crops, pollinator habitats and other vegetation underneath photovoltaic solar panels. Featured speaker is Byron Kominek, founder of the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center and owner and manager of Jack’s Solar Garden, the largest commercially active
DETROIT - Looking for a career change? That’s becoming increasingly common these days, as more people have started to realize the range of options available to them. Some are facing the uncomfortable realization that they might have been underutilizing their potential, while others just want a change of scenery. This is a particularly common sight
LANSING—The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has awarded 20 Rural Development Fund Grants designed to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure that benefits rural communities. “Rural Michigan isn’t some strange, faraway, uninhabited land,” said MDARD Director Gary McDowell. “Most of the people in this great state are either from or
LANSING—The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced a request for proposals through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. The program is designed to enhance the competitiveness of Michigan’s specialty crops, which are defined as "fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and
LANSING - Funding is still available for farms and agricultural processors with employees of 10 or more through the Michigan Agricultural Safety Grants program, as well as for small farms with fewer than 10 employees through the MEDC Small Farm Safety Grant program. These funds aim to help both large and small Michigan farms, as
ANN ARBOR – Wild bees are indispensable pollinators, supporting both agricultural productivity and the diversity of flowering plants worldwide. But wild bees are experiencing widespread declines resulting from multiple interacting factors. A new University of Michigan-led study suggests that the effects of one of those factors—urbanization—may have been underestimated. The team found that the sex
DETROIT – Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million are available to some agricultural related businesses damaged by excessive rains in May and June in Allegan, Barry, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa and Van Buren counties. The news came this week from the U.S. Small Business Administration. “When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster
MONROVIA, Ca. - An autonomous drone that allows farmers to monitor their crops to detect issues and improve efficiency is now available on Amazon. The commercial drone comes with a one-year subscription to AeroVironment's decision support software, included in the $16,500 price tag. The supplemental software allows farmers to monitor their crops in order to
MUSKEGON - Researchers at Grand Valley State University's Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute will be able to investigate topics that government funding programs are typically not willing to take on, thanks to a new endowed fund created by Allen and Helen Hunting. The Huntings initiated the Allen I. and Helen J. Hunting Research and Innovation Fund
DETROIT - Despite the rapid expansion of Michigan farmland dedicated to growing hops and grains for the state’s craft beverage sector, experts say the industry has more room to grow. A new Michigan State University Product Center study examines the potential economic impact for Michigan craft breweries to produce beer exclusively with in-state ingredients. It
