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Michigan Agri-Business Association celebrates 2023 wins

The head of the Michigan Agri-Business Association says standing up for agriculture is making a difference in Lansing.  

Chuck Lippstreu tells Brownfield the past year focused on educating new lawmakers about the state’s second-largest industry and finding bipartisan solutions on several issues.

“There was legislation, for example, earlier in the year in the Michigan Senate that would have placed some new restrictions on the movement of grain trains and fertilizer transportation that was concerning to us,” he shares.  “But the system worked how it was supposed to work. Agriculture and other business organizations met with legislators, met with the committees of jurisdiction, and we’re glad that leadership in the House and Senate in those cases heard our concerns.”

He says legislation that would have banned some pesticides in local communities was also reworked in the state House.

Lippstreu says he expects recent state investments in ag innovation to support growth of the sector.

“Especially as we think about things like climate-smart agriculture, regenerative agriculture, soil health—really important issues that many of our member companies are working on every day,” he says. “We’re glad that Michigan State University, thanks to legislative leadership and coordination down in Lansing, is going to have some additional resources to work on those things.” Lippstreu says the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will also play a leading role in this effort.

He says the organization supports policy that “does no harm” to the ag economy and positions the state to be a national and international leader in the industry.

Brownfield interviewed Lippstreu during this week’s Michigan Agri-Business Association Winter Conference.