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Michigan's Farmers Get Creative

This weekend's Free Press had a pair of great features looking at several entrepreneurs in Michigan's agriculture industry who are finding ways to boost their operations' bottom lines without trying to squeeze more crops from their plots. Innovations profiled include:

The U-Ball, a cone-shaped container for balled-and-burlapped trees that requires less labor for digging and wrapping

Wind turbines on farms in the Thumb (previous articles, Thumb links)

Kevin Brabant of Saginaw County's St. Charles Township who farms 2,000 acres of corn, wheat, soybeans and sugar beets in, bought himself a corn-burning stove and also sold dried corn for fuel to neighbors

Peterson Farms of Shelby who employ 60 (with plans for 40 more) to package Apple Dippers (McDonald's apple slices plus low-fat caramel dip)

Cherry Republic, creating a cherry product mecca in Northern Michigan

Russ Allen of Seafood Systems Shrimp Farm who is pioneering commercial, indoor shrimp farming in Michigan

The Earth Shine Farm in Shiawassee County, who raised and processed 2,400 organic chickens last year

The second article looks at how Michigan's 21st Century Jobs Fund is poised to provide assistance to entrepreneurs in the agricultural and food-processing industries.

Read Farmers find creative, energetic ways to earn extra cash in the Freep (if that article is gone, try this link!)
Also see Agricultural risk-takers help grow, diversify Michigan's economy in the Detroit Free Press

Posted/updated Apr 17, 2006
by Andrew McFarlane (Absolute Michigan)