By Andi Anderson
The Michigan Potato Industry Commission (MPIC), in partnership with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), will hold a public hearing on December 18, 2024, to discuss a proposed adjustment to the potato assessment cap. The proposal suggests setting the assessment rate at no more than 9.5 cents per hundredweight for growers with 20 or more acres of potato production.
The hearing will begin at 1:00 p.m. (ET) at Greenstone Farm Credit Services, located at 3515 West Road, Room 116, East Lansing, MI 48823. Participants unable to attend in person can join via teleconference by calling 248-509-0316 and entering the meeting ID 432821681#.
During the hearing, MDARD will gather input from growers and the public about the proposed changes. The feedback will help determine whether the amendment will move to a vote by eligible potato growers. A separate proposal concerning assessments for potato shippers will not be discussed, as the existing legislation does not provide a process for modifying shipper assessments.
The MPIC, established to support the potato industry through research, promotion, and market development, invites interested parties to review the current program and proposed amendment online at www.michigan.gov/mdard or by contacting MDARD at 517-284-5730.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-npantos
Categories: Michigan, Crops