MSU Extension Helps Farmers Discover Risk Protection by the ACRE

Partner Report Bringing Knowledge to Life! Allegan County

Human Services Building, E-mail: [email protected] 3255 122nd Avenue Fax: 269-673-7005 Allegan, Michigan 49010-9511 Web: msue.msu.edu/allegan Phone: 269-673-0370 Director: Paul Wylie

September 2009 MSU Extension helps farmers discover risk protection by the ACRE Nearly 30 Allegan County producers participated in the program, which was taught by Betz and held at The 2008 Farm Bill offered field crop producers the Allegan County Area Technical and Education a new risk management option called the Average Center on July 28. Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program. Producers Before the meeting, participants were asked if they needed to choose between ACRE, which offers planned to use ACRE and 11 percent responded revenue (yield times price) protection and the old “Yes.” Staton reported that after the meeting, 86 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment (DCP) percent of the participants answered yes to the same program, which protects only price. question. Roger Betz, MSU Extension district farm Participants indicated that they will move 3,481 management educator, and MSU agricultural acres from the DCP program to ACRE. Using a economists Jim Hilker, Roy Black and Dave conservative estimate of $40 per acre of additional Schweikhardt, carefully analyzed the two options revenue captured by electing to use ACRE, the and found that ACRE offered significantly greater projected financial impact of this activity is nearly risk protection than DCP. This was especially true if $140,000 in 2009-2010. producers elected ACRE for the 2009/2010 crop Dave Mroczek, director of the Allegan County year. Farm Service Agency, indicated that Allegan County Only five Michigan farmers had signed up for the farmers signed approximately 170 ACRE contracts. ACRE program three weeks before Aug. 14 Mroczek credits MSU Extension, especially Betz’s deadline. Because he was concerned about the low efforts, for the higher than expected ACRE participation rated and believed that the program had participation. a high probability of helping local producers, “Roger held two educational meetings in Allegan Allegan County MSU Extension agriculture and and interest in the ACRE program and the number of natural resources educator Mike Staton undertook an contracts signed increased significantly following the effort to help producers gain a better understanding program on July 28,” Mroczek said. of ACRE and its potential for their operations. He wrote and distributed a press release to local Wind Energy Resource Zone Board media, conducted individual consultations, posted identifies Allegan County’s potential educational materials on the Allegan County MSU Extension Web site, sent information via U.S. Mail Last year Michigan approved the Clean, and e-mail and conducted an educational program. Renewable and Efficient Energy Act, which called

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. for the increasing energy efficiency and development The MSU Extension Wind Energy Project Web site, of renewable energy. which can be found at www.msue.msu.edu/wind, has Continued wind power siting guidelines, a sample ordinance and a wind lease worksheet. WERZ board—continued Exceptional equestrians learn that The act called for the creation of a Wind Energy mares eat oats and other healthy foods Resource Zone (WERZ) board to identify regions of the state with the highest potential for wind energy Participants in the Allegan County Allegan County production. Exceptional Equestrians (ACEE) program move past the The WERZ board identified four regions with the boundaries of their mental and physical disabilities and highest wind energy potential. Region 1 is in western experience the joy and benefits of exercise that come from Allegan County and includes parts of Casco, Clyde, riding a horse, including improved balance and posture, Fillmore, Laketown, Lee and Manlius townships. stronger muscles and better coordination. Allegan County’s potential was identified as ACEE riders include children and adults who learn supporting up to nearly 300 1.5 megawatt turbines with about horsemanship while getting exercise and having fun. the capacity to generate nearly 250 megawatts. These Taking the program another step to help them learn about numbers represent about 8 percent of the potential of the the value of good nutrition was an easy move, once again total for all four regions. with the help of the ACEE horses. The WERZ board will seek input on zoning ACEE coordinator, MSU Extension 4-H youth considerations and public acceptance. Based on its educator Jan Brinn, modeled a program on a similar findings and other considerations, including the activity in the Upper Peninsula and she received funding projected costs and benefits of the long-term wind through the 4-H Participation Fee Grant process to develop energy potential and transmission needs, the Michigan “Your Horse & You…Healthy Together”. Public Service Commission must designate at least one With help from Allegan County MSU Extension wind energy zone in Michigan. Family Nutrition Program associate Janet Wolfe, Brinn A wind energy zone designation doesn’t guarantee developed an educational program that featured riding and that wind energy projects will be constructed within the nutrition lessons. The students do not even realize that they zone; decisions on where to locate wind projects will are working on balance, hand and eye coordination as they continue to be left to market forces. A zone designation take part in activities like sticking an apple on a large food will also not abrogate the authority of local governments pyramid color wheel from horseback. over the siting and approval of wind energy projects. They have discovered that horses and humans like It will, however, facilitate the planning, siting, and healthy foods like carrots and apples, and have learned a construction of transmission lines to ensure that wind hand washing song helps that features messages about energy systems can be connected to the system and germs. deliver power to customers in a timely manner. This ACEE volunteers gain knowledge about the healthy may make it more likely that wind energy development lifestyles along with the students. The parents/guardians of will move forward and succeed in the long term. the students ask nutrition-related questions while their Large-scale wind farm development is likely to create student is riding. jobs and economic activity. Land owners could see significant long-term income from wind power leases. It’s also likely there will be protests and concerns from some residents. Townships should review their master plans and compare with the wind power maps the WERZ board developed to identify potential conflicts. Township officials should have a good wind energy generator siting ordinance in place soon. The full preliminary report (PDF) from the WERZ board is available from Paul Wylie, Allegan County MSU Extension director. E-mail him at [email protected] for a copy.

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. ACEE volunteer Keith Mansfield, Sugar the ACEE horse, ACEE student David Faile and Janet Wolfe discuss the food guide pyramid.

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.