Business in Brief: 02/20/2010

Business

February 19, 2010

Anonymous The Record Eagle Fri Feb 19, 2010, 09:10 PM EST

Antrim couple wins farming award

ATWOOD -- Patrick and Sara McGuire of Royal Farms Inc. in Antrim County were named National Outstanding Young Farmers by the United State Junior Chamber.

The couple was honored at the Jaycees 2010 Awards Congress held last weekend in Raleigh, N.C., and were among four farming couples from around the country to receive the award. The McGuires have spent 14 years in farming and their 744-acre farm produces cherries, apples and peaches. The farm specializes in direct sales to consumers, and their business also includes a greenhouse, an ice cream shop, corn maze, pumpkin patch, and a market that includes a bakery and gift shop. The farm also operates an online store.

Royal Farms also participates in the Michigan Environmental Assurance Program that implements various soil and water conservation practices.

The National Outstanding Young Farmers program is the oldest farmer recognition program in the U.S., dating to 1955. It's open to farm operators between the ages of 21 and 40 that derive at least two-thirds of their income from farming. The program is sponsored by John Deere.

Grape and Wine Conference in G.R.

GRAND RAPIDS -- The 2010 Michigan Grape and Wine Conference will be held Feb. 24-26 at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids.

The event will include a program on the history of the Michigan Wine Industry, and speakers will include Bill Nelson, president of Wine America. It also will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Michigan Grape and Wine Council.

Conference information is available at www.michiganwines.com or by contacting Karel Bush at (517) 241-4468.

GAAMP program slated for Feb. 24

TRAVERSE CITY -- A program on new Generally Accepted Agriculture and Management Practices (GAAMP) from the Michigan Department of Agriculture will be held Feb. 24 in Leelanau County.

The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station in Bingham Township. The guest speaker is MDA representative Wayne Whitman and topics will include an explanation on new GAAMP rules and their impacts on farm markets and the farming community, educational outreach and the impacts on GAAMP on local ordinances.

More information is available by contacting the Research Station at 946-1510.

Course offered for new farmers

TRAVERSE CITY -- An 8-class course designed for new and aspiring farmers will be offered through the Michigan Land Use Institute's Get Farming program.

"The Business and Science of Farming" kicks off March 3, and will continue Wednesdays and Thursdays through March 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Michigan Works office in Traverse City. Instructors will include representatives of the regional Small Business and Technology Development Center, the USDA's Risk Management Agency and MSU Extension Service.

The $75 fee covers tuition and field trips to area food and farm businesses, plus individual business counseling. More information is available from Jim Sluyter at 941-6584.