SUPPORTING MICHIGAN FARMERS AND THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY

Written by Ryan Carley, President/CEO of Bay Area Chamber of Commerce

Here’s some food for thought.

Michigan farmers produce more than 300 agricultural commodities, making the state second only to California in terms of agricultural diversity.

Michigan ranks No. 1 in 18 different products, including blueberries, tart cherries, cucumbers for pickling, Niagara grapes, black beans, cranberry beans, small red beans and a variety of flowers, including potted Easter lilies and geranium pots. Furthermore, Michigan ranks in the top 10 for 56 other commodities. It is the second-largest producer of navy beans, carrots, celery, squash and Christmas trees and third-largest producer of apples, asparagus, light red kidney beans and sugar beets.

Michigan boasts 54,900 farms with 10 million acres of farmland.

Agriculture contributes more than $100 billion annually to Michigan’s economy.

Closer to home, Bay County has more than 750 farms with nearly 200,000 acres of land. Sales of Bay Area agricultural products are worth more than $165 million annually, which makes up one-third of the area’s economy.

Bay County also is home to two major agricultural companies – Bay City-based Michigan Sugar Co. and Fraser Township-based Bay View Foods, a major pickle producer in the state.

Duane and Terry Scheuerlein, who operate L & M Scheuerlein Inc., a farm in Bay County, describe farming as a business, an art and a science. Any way you slice it, agriculture is an important piece of the economic landscape statewide and on a local level.

And here’s the best part: even if you can’t tell the difference between a tractor and a combine, supporting Michigan farmers and the agriculture industry is relatively easy. Here are just a few ways:

• When you buy sugar at the grocery store, be sure to pick the bag with the Pioneer or Big Chief label. That sugar is produced by Michigan Sugar Co., a grower-owned cooperative that has been in business for more than 110 years, has 700 year-round employees and generates about $500 million in economic activity annually in the communities where it operates.
• With the holiday season just around the corner, consider purchasing a real Christmas tree from one of the many tree farms in the Bay Area, including Bremer’s Tree Farm in Munger, Jim’s Tree Farm in Auburn and Warren Homestead Tree Farm in Linwood. They are among an estimated 600 Christmas tree farms in Michigan.
• If you’re looking for some fun, family entertainment this fall, consider a trip to Warmbier Farms or LeCronier’s Baby Acres, both located in Bay County’s Williams Township. Both businesses fall in the agri-tainment category. Aside from their retail business, Warmbier features a corn maze, hayrides and plenty of pumpkins for purchasing. LeCronier’s is best known for its animals, like goats, sheep, calves, pigs and bunnies, that children are welcome to feed, pet and hold.
• When you head out to purchase fresh produce, plants or other agriculture products, consider spending your money at a local farmers market. Michigan ranks third in the nation for its number of markets – more than 300. Bay City has choices, the Downtown Farmers Market, the Bay County Farmers Market on Columbus Avenue, and the new Marketplace is scheduled to open in April 2017. That’s in addition to the many roadside stands you’ll find as you drive around the Bay Area.

There is no doubt agriculture is a driving force of the Bay Area economy and one we all should support.

Why?

Duane Scheuerlein sums that up best:

“You can have a factory in Bay County … there’s one phone call from Detroit and that plant’s gone, and we have no control over that,” he said. “But, the soil and the people who work the soil who are here, they’re always going to be here.

“So that’s a resource you can bank on and it offers a stability that a lot of areas don’t have.”

About the Author

Ryan T. Carley, President and Chief Executive Officer Bay Area Chamber of Commerce

Ryan T. Carley joined the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce in May, 2015 as the President and CEO.  Prior to joining the Chamber, Ryan was Senior Vice President of Retail for Citizens/First Merit Bank in which he lead sales process, execution, and operations for 220 branch locations.

Outside of his career, Ryan has been active in the community. He is the current treasurer of BaySail and the United Way of Bay County.  He’s a past board member of the Bay Arts Council and of the Bay City Tall Ships Celebration.  Ryan is a 2012 recipient of the RUBY Award, which stands for recognizing the upward, bright and young and a 2005 graduate of the Bay Area Chamber’s Leadership Bay County program.  He’s also a travel and recreation soccer coach for the Bay Area Soccer Association.

Ryan serves on various committees including: the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance Board of Directors, Advocacy Council, and Institute for Leaders and Ambassador Council; Bay Future, Inc. Board of Directors and Executive Committee; Great Lakes Bay Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors and many more.

Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Degree from Cornerstone University and lives in Bay City with his three children; Grace, Mia and Macks.