Normalcy is starting to creep back into Michigan events.
The Michigan Agri-Business Association’s Winter Conference kicked off ag meeting season this week and will wrap up Wednesday. Chuck Lippstreu, MABA president, says the conference is a chance to look at anticipated challenges in 2022 and beyond.
“We remain in a global supply chain crisis, global labor crisis,” says Lippstreu. “It hits home in rural communities in Michigan. It hits home for our rural businesses trying to serve farmers every day. It’s a very challenging environment, so how do we give people the information they need to inform their business decisions? That’s our number one priority as we face a lot of situations where there are not clear-cut answers.”
One of those speakers at this year’s event was Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
“Everyday Ted is working on issues that touch every segment of the MABA membership,” says Lippstreu. “He’s got that unique perspective of having come from several years as serving as an undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He reminded everybody that in addition to having organizations like ours here in Michigan, we need our members to speak up with policy makers.”
For the entire conversation , check out the January 12, 2022 edition of the MAT Podcast in the player below.
