Michigan Tree Fruit Commission Gets Spotlight At Great Lakes Expo
December 17, 2013 During each of the tree fruit sessions at the recent Great Lakes Expo held in Grand Rapids, MI, speakers addressed the proposed Michigan Tree Fruit Commission. The tree fruit commission intends to seek matching funds from the Michigan state legislature to increase the amount of money to support research efforts.
The commission has been created in response to declining resources for research and Extension efforts. Click here for more on the Michigan Tree Fruit Commission. An interim committee was announced by the director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and includes Jim Nugent, Mark Miezio, Mike Van Agtmael, Jim Engelsma, Pat Goodfellow, Randy Willmeng, Fred Koenigshof, Rick Sayler, Steve Thome, and Nels Nyblad.
Jim Nugent, chairman of the proposed Michigan Tree Fruit Commission, noted that over the course of time, research stations have lost 50% of their operating budget and the future of research in the state of Michigan is threatened with priorities in funding at the state and the federal level. Nugent spoke about the Commission at the Great Lakes Expo.
“If we lose that infrastructure of faculty, we lose that ability to research those crops,” says Nugent. “(The Michigan Tree Fruit Commission is an) investment in the future of industry.”
Philip Schwallier, District Horticulture Agent with Michigan State University (MSU) Extension also spoke to attendees at the Expo. Schwallier says the vote will likely be in February.
“The Michigan Tree Fruit Commission is a unique visionary effort by Michigan growers. It will build an even closer partnership with MSU for the betterment of MSU and the Michigan tree fruit industry,” says Schwallier. “The Michigan tree fruit growers need to be more involved in charting their own future in research and extension at MSU and this commission will do just that. Our Michigan fruit industry has always been exceptional at finding solutions in difficult times. I am confident the growers will once again step to the plate and do the best thing.”
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