Into a Bright Future
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MICHIGAN SUGAR COMPANY • SUMMER 2017 VOLUME 31, ISSUE 2 Looking Back at the 2016 Growing Year Pushing Forward into a Bright Future ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: RESEARCH UPDATES: HERBICIDE RESISTANCE ON THE HORIZON 2017 MICHIGAN SUGAR QUEEN & COURT ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED COMMUNITY CORNER: MICHIGAN SUGAR TRAILS SUCCESS Sugarbeet_B&W.eps MICHIGAN SUGAR COMPANY • SUMMER 2017 • VOLUME 31, ISSUE 2 CONTENTS Root of the Business ..............................................................................5 Ag View .............................................................................................................6 Washington Update ..............................................................................8 Ray VanDriessche Receives Recognition ...........................9 12 RESEARCH 18 REFLECTING ON A CAREER OF CHANGE AND GROWTH .............................................11 26 SPRAY CLINICS 2017 ....................................................................12 THE VALUE OF CROP RECORDS ............................................14 THE BENEFITS OF FACTORY LIME .......................................16 HERBICIDE RESISTANCE ISSUES ON HORIZON ........18 AG COMMUNICATIONS GMO Spokeswomen ....................................................................20 GROWER IN THE NEWS Darrin Siemen ..................................................................................22 PERSONNEL PERSPECTIVE Employee Service Awards .....................................................24 YOUTH PROGRAMS Sugarbeet_B&W_2.eps 53rd Michigan Sugar Queen Crowning .....................26 Annual Scholarships Awarded ......................................28 COMMUNITY CORNER 30 Michigan Sugar Trails .................................................................30 THE NEWSBEET EDITORIAL STAFF: CONTRIBUTORS: THE NEWSBEET is published by Michigan Sugar Company, Bay City, Michigan. Publisher: Mark Flegenheimer Zachary Branigan Dr. Christy Sprague It is prepared for grower members of Michigan Sugar Company, from information Senior Advisor: James Ruhlman Mark Flegenheimer James Stewart obtained from sources which the Company believes to be reliable; however, the Company cannot guarantee or assume any responsibility for the accuracy of the Editor: Julie Perry Dr. Corey Guza Elizabeth Taylor information or be responsible for the results obtained. Mention or illustrations of a Contributing Editor: William Gough Steve Poindexter Ray VanDriessche special technique, specific equipment or products does not constitute endorsement Circulation and Advertising: Barb Wallace David Pratt Barbara Wallace by the Company. Reprinting or quoting articles appearing in THE NEWSBEET is Creative Director: Karen Gerhardt Jim Ruhlman granted with the exception of those items credited to outside sources. Cover Design: Karen Gerhardt ©2017 Michigan Sugar Company SEND INQUIRIES TO: CIRCULATION & ADVERTISING: Editor, The Newsbeet Barb Wallace, The Newsbeet 122 Uptown Dr., Suite 300, Bay City, MI 48708 122 Uptown Dr., Suite 300, Bay City, MI 48708 [email protected] [email protected] THE NEWSBEET Summer 2017 3 Nobody said sugarbeet farming was pretty, But it sure is sweet. Your Michigan / Ontario Seedex Contact: Dave Wishowski, Seedex Sales Manager 989-513-4586 [email protected] seedexseed.com While the 2016 crop is one we would like to put out of our memory, there are many valuable lessons to be learned from it. We have responded well from previous challenges and I expect we will do the same this time. ROOT OF THE BUSINESS by Mark Flegenheimer, President and Chief Executive Officer CHANGES IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES The 2016 crop was one of the most disappointing crops we have had in our factories. We also frequently travel to Washington, D.C., to visit with recent memory. The payment to shareholders was not at a level which is and inform the staff members of our representatives about the nuances sustainable. Sugar content and overall sugarbeet quality were extremely of our industry. These opportunities would not be possible if we did low and storage conditions were very challenging. Frankly, it is a crop we not have a robust and active PAC. Shareholder and employee would like to forget about. contributions to our PAC allow us direct access to our congressional offices. While issues in D.C. do not get fixed as quickly as we would like, Rather than forgetting about the 2016 crop, we have the opportunity we often can get issues and concerns addressed. Unlike the weather to learn many lessons from last year’s challenges that will make us a where we have no ability to change it, government policy and actions stronger, better cooperative for years to come. The low beet payment are something we can and do influence. Our PAC is a critical tool we was caused by two main factors: 1) low sugar prices 2) poor quality. must maintain so we can be effective in Washington, D.C. Sugar prices in the United States are primarily influenced by weather The other major factor that negatively impacted our payment for the and the government. 2016 crop was beet quality. While weather played an important part in We cannot control the weather — whether certain growing regions hampering sugar content and purity, there are a number of other factors have a bumper crop or disaster is beyond our ability, influence, or that also hurt our results. To just “blame it on the weather” would be change. When a major hurricane or freeze damages a large growing a huge mistake and a missed learning opportunity. As the climate area, we often see an uptick in prices as supply disruptions impact continues to be erratic, we must adapt to this new reality. New more certain customers. Conversely, when large producers have ideal weather aggressive spray programs need to be followed, better more resistant and record production they can push prices lower as they market their seed varieties must be developed, and innovative pile storage crop. techniques are required as we adjust to different and unique weather patterns. Michigan Sugar Company’s Agriculture Department is working The other major factor impacting our prices is how well, or poorly, the diligently to develop, research and deploy new programs to enhance U.S. government runs the sugar program and enforces our trade laws. sugarbeet quality. Our shareholders have always been willing to change Over the last few years, Mexico had dumped massive quantities of low their agronomic practices to enhance their returns. Working cooper- priced, subsidized sugar into our market and our government had atively, we will get beet quality back on track, which will allow payments been very slow to implement corrective actions. Through our consistent to growers to return to sustainable levels. pressure on the government and help from our legislative champions While the 2016 crop is one we would like to put out of our memory, there the United States recently negotiated and signed a new trade are many valuable lessons to be learned from it. We have responded agreement with Mexico which stops this massive influx of cheap sugar. well to previous challenges and I expect we will do the same this time. Having legislators who understand our industry and are willing to go to bat for us takes a large amount of time and money. As a cooperative, Good luck with your 2017 crop, I hope you have a safe and bountiful we spend a lot of time educating our elected officials about our harvest. n industry. We often host legislative tours on shareholders’ farms and at THE NEWSBEET Summer 2017 5 AG VIEW We should all recognize that our company continues to evolve through a cooperative process and we should all have “faith” in our practices and our execution of our plans. Whether it is on farm practices or management of company processes, we have to have faith that we are doing the right things in the right manner. HAVING THE FAITH TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD by James Ruhlman, Executive Vice President Through recent conversations with many of our shareholders, the word There will be times this summer and fall when we will again be faced that comes up time and time again is “hope.” Hope that Cercospora with challenges and tough decisions — it might be disease; it might leafspot does not invade our crop again; hope that sugar prices esca- be an abundance or lack of rainfall; or it might be temperatures. When late; hope that this year’s crop will store better; and hope that all crops influences like these creep into an unstable economic environment, see better economic returns. we can sometimes overreact. Back in the late 90s, I had the opportunity to sit in on a number of conference calls with our parent company, The word “hope” allows us to move forward. It puts us in an emotional Savannah Foods & Industries, and when times got tough, a gentleman state that does not allow us to give up. It is a catalyst for our intellectual by the name of Ben Oxnard always calmed us by saying, “There is and physical beings to engage in actions that prepare us for the worst, always time to panic later.” That phrase stuck with me throughout my yet “hope” for the best. Hope is certainly among us as we look at the career and in most cases, panic never came, and the time spent worry- 2017 crop. ing was avoided. This leads us to the word “faith.” As we hope for this year’s crop to produce an abundant yield with high We should all recognize that our company continues to evolve through sugar content, we all need to be diligent in our agronomic practices, we a cooperative process and we should all have