MICHIGAN FARM NEWS the Difference Between of Over 3.5 Million Farming Apples and Oranges Can Be Families and Other Independent Spotted at a Glance
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RURAL LIVING ~:---==S"',~~,;=--;", ~~",~~.""~- .--." .. -_ ' '~ , ~-.~ MICHIGAN FARM NEWS The difference between of over 3.5 million farming apples and oranges can be families and other independent spotted at a glance. Unfor- businesses. The result: top tunately, it's not quite as easy notch health care insurance to tell the difference between at down-to-earth prices. health insurance policies. That's why we recommend As a Farm Bureau member that you take a moment to read you can choose from three the fine print if you're offered traditional Blue Cross Blue health insurance for less than Shield Comprehensive Major Farm Bureau rates. Chances are Medical plans starting as low you're being asked to compare, as $60.12 a month. (The higher well ... apples and oranges. the deductible, the lower the premium.) Regardless of the What you'll find is that dollar plan you choose, you'll get the for dollar, Farm Bureau same Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance is the better value. comprehensive major medical That's because Farm Bureau coverage. offers you the buying strength So go ahead--compare. Just make sure you know what As sure as apples aren't oranges ... you're comparing. When the decision's in, we think you'll choose a Farm Bureau health care insurance plan for its affordability, the services it offers, and the protection it provides against unscheduled time off. What matters to you matters to us. For further information call 1-800-292-2680 or contact your WHERE local Farm Bureau agent. BELONGING MAKES A ... MICHIGAN FARM BIJREAIJ DIFFERENCE. , •• FAMILY OF COMPANIES VOL. 67 NO.3 SUMMER 1990 MACMA FROZEN FOOD RURAL LIVING About the Cover M'iC'H""i"GA N F A~ EXPRESS Fourteen members oJMFB's board oj directors were in Washington recently to meet with Michigan's congressiDnal delega- tion about the importance oj so-called "minor crops" and an amendment to limit the planting of alternative commodities on program crop acreage. House members were also asked to modify the wheat and JeedgratnJormula to resemble theJormulas in the currentfarm bill, fearing that without change the new Jormulas would encourage the accumulation oj govern- ment stock and loss oj export market op- portunities In additiDn you will also.find a com- prehensive list oj AgriPac endorsements along with the issues considered starting onpage 14. Of Special Interest Gypsy Moths, Insects on the Move...Page 4 with frozen fru its A look at the destruction and control methods and vegetables, of a spreading problem. concentrates, fish, and more in bulk savings Food Bank Council of Michigan ...Page 6 Learn how farmers and non-farmers alike play a role in feeding Michigan's hungry. ORDER DEADLINE August 22 Adopt an Acre •••Page 10 DELIVERY See how eight Farm Bureau families are working September 10-21 with media to promote agriculture. Rural Living 1s Published Quarterly: By the Michigan Farm Bureau lnfonnation and Public For more information and full Relations Division. Publ1cation and editorial offices at 7373 West Saglnaw Highway, Lansing. Michigan 48917, Post Office Box 30960 (zip 48909); phone 1-517-323-7000. listing of products available, contact your county Farm Bureau Subscriptions: $1.50 per year to members, included in annual dues. $3 per year non-members in Michigan, $5 per year non-members out of state. Publ1cation No. 345040. Established Jan. 13, 1923, as or call1-BOO-292-26BO ext. 2305 Michigan Farm News, name changed to Michigan Farm News Rural Uvfng Dec. I, 1981. Third-class postage paid at Lansing. Michigan, and at additional ma1Iing offices. Editorial: Dennis Rudat, Editor and Business Manager. Officers: Michigan Farm Bureau President, Jack Laurie, Cass City; Vice President Wayne Wood, Mar- lette; Adm1n1strative Director, Charles Burkett; Treasurer and ChtefFfnanc1al Officer, Tom Parker; Secretary, Wlllfam S. Wllkfnson. miCHIGan'S Director~: District I, Marlin Oubnan, Constantine; District 2, Blaine VanSickle, Marshall; District 3, Diane Homing. Manchester; Dislr1ct 4, Tom Guthrie, Delton; District 5, Mark Smuts, Charlotte; District 6, Wayne Wood, Marlette; Dislr1ct 7, Lany Snider, Hart; Dislr1ct 8, Lyle LeCronier, Freeland; District 9, Joshua Wunsch, Traverse City: Dislr1ct 10, Margaret Kartes, West Branch; District II, Robert Wahmhoff, Baraga. At- FaRm BeST Large: David Conklin, Corunna; Jack Lauric, Ca.s8 City: Faye Adam. Snover; Richard Leach. Saginaw. Promo- tion and Education, Holly Porter, Manchester. Young Farmers, Karen Stoneman, Ithaca. SUMMER 1990, RURAL UVlNG 3 GYPSY MOTHS, PESKY INSECTS ON THE MOVE is where the economic losses to woodlot owners and commercial foresters begin. National, state, and local offi- cials have been aggressive in their efforts to combat the pest. The Michigan Departinent of Agrtculiurehasearmarked $350,000 for gypsy moth this year, including a special one year $100,000 approprtation for educating landowners. "One of the major challenges that we face is to inform and edu- cate landowners about the dif- Even though eradication ef- ferent options available to forts were initiated following the control the pests," said Ron escape of the foreign moth, the Prtest, manager of the MDA's insect continued to spread. gypsy moth program. 'We are Today, the gypsy moth has also working to find biological Michigan's forest in a components like new species of stranglehold. Of the over 3 mil- non-stinging wasps that will eat lion acres in 13 states that were the moths. The MDA determines defoliated by the pesky insect which heavily-hit counties need last year, Michigan's 294,344 to be sprayed and allocates moth-damaged acres gave the funds, along with counties and state the third highest defoliation the U.S. Forest Service, to have ranking in the nation. theses areas sprayed." The moth has been found in At Michigan State University, all counties in the lower penin- research and education sula and in the eastern counties programs are in place, according of the upper peninsula. The to MSU forestry entomologist moth's destruction can be found Gary Simmons. "MSU and the in a line stretching from the MDA are working together on Thumb region across the lower this insect menace. MSU has a central section of the lower penin- full-time employee, Cora Gor- Webster's dictionary sula. Among the hardest hit such, working with 20 counties defines gypsy as "to counties are Midland and Clare. on the gypsy moth problem." wander or live like a Michigan's gypsy moth infesta- Funded by the MDA grant and tion is a known problem without housed at the Clare County gypsy." The appropri- Cooperative Extension office in gypsy a simple solution. Each year, ately-named moth gypsy moth larva hatch in April Hartison, Gorsuch conducts has been wandering and May when tree leaves are training programs and works across the United States forming. The caterpillars eat the with county coordinators to since 1869 when it was leaves of oak, aspen, birch, determine moth activity and a poplar, basswood and other trees course of action. The MSU brought into the country Agrtculiural Experiment Station, by a visiting European through July and then form a cocoon. A moth then exits and Prtest adds, "is involved in re- scientistfor research pur- mates. An egg mass is layed near searching biological pesticides poses and escaped. Since the cocoon and the male and and natural occurring viruses to that time, the moth has female moth die in late July. The combat the moths." been the march, leav- whole process is repeated the The funding for these on programs has been a prtortty for ing a trail of irlfestation follwing year with the larva hatching in May. the Michigan Farm Bureau. in its path. The moth doesn't actually kill Legislative Counsel Ron Nelson the trees as it eats the leaves. says that the organization con- However, the leaf loss affects the tinues to work with the Legisla- tree's growing cycle, using stored ture to ensure funding dollars for carbohydrates to regenerate MDA and MSU. According to Nel- leaves and stresses the tree. son, up to one half of MFB's Coupled with a year or two of membership could be affected by drought conditions, the tree may the gypsy moth. die or be severely stunted. This 4 RURAL LIVING, SUMMER 1990 So what's the answer to the moth problem? Can the gypsy moth be controlled or even eradi- MDA Signage Program cated? Controlled maybe, eradi- cated probably not. MSU's Gary Slnrmons believes that small in- Helping Farmers and festations should just be tolerated and let nature take its course. "Larger, more con- Consumers to Connect! centrated populations may re- quire action such as spraying but only as a last resort," he em- From Allegan to Wexford coun- formation about whether the phasizes. ties, farm marketers are getting product can be purchased pick- If spraying is necessary, a boost from a U-Pick and Farm ed only, u-pick only, or both. biologically produced products Market promotion program, "It's really important to the know as Bacillus thuringiensis sponsored by the Michigan program that we help these farm (or BT for short) should be used, departments' of agriculture and market customers get the most says the MDA'sRon Priest. 'We transportation. The program, up-to-date. accurate information need to stay away from using piloted from July to November available,"says Tanya. 'That's chemicals to spray the moths. 1989 and now operating in why I always recommend that BTs are naturally occurring com- 1990, invites motorists entering the caller phone ahead to verify ponents that do not endanger the state's southwest counties to the information I've given." humans or wildlife." visit farm markets and u-pick The 1990 Farm Market and U- The key player in reducing the orchards and fields.