Jun 4, 2019

Michigan Tree Fruit Commission chips in

The second installment of a refrigeration system upgrade and the first installment of a pesticide building remodeling and upgrade at Michigan State University’s (MSU) Clarksville Research Center were the two big projects funded by the Michigan Tree Fruit Commission (MTFC) in 2019.

The second installment to the refrigeration system upgrade brought the MFTC’s total contribution to the project to $318,822 with another $106,274 contributed by MSU AgBioResearch.

“This shows the efforts to leverage grower dollars collected through the MTFC with other sources of funding,” said Jim Nugent, a fruit grower from Suttons Bay, Michigan, and MTFC chair.

The MTFC’s $152,649 contribution to the pesticide building remodel and upgrade is also leveraged with the other half of the $305,297 cost coming from MSU AgBioResearch. Like with the refrigeration system upgrade, the MTFC’s contribution is spread over two years because of its size.

“The MTFC is committed to ensuring the cutting edge, research infrastructure is in place to keep fruit growers competitive in a global economy,” said Phil Korson, president of CMI (Cherry Marketing Institute), and MTFC supporter. “The research stations must be equipped to deal with the challenges – present and future – fruit growers face.”

The Clarksville Research Center also received $46,600 for equipment and $10,000 for operations from the MTFC in 2019.

MSU’s Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center at Traverse City, Michigan, received funding for $50,500 of facility improvements from the MTFC in 2019. The improvements include LED lighting, upgrades to the chemical mixing area and expanded chemical storage. The NWMHRC also received $6,000 for equipment and $10,000 for operations.

MSU’s Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (SWMREC) at Benton Harbor, Michigan, received 2019 MTFC funding of $23,000 for a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) detection system, $25,000 for apple tree plantings, $13,178 for drain tile, $3,464 for cabinets and workbenches, and $10,000 for operations.

MSU’s Trevor Nichols Research Center (TNRC) at Fennville, Michigan, received $33,333 from the MTFC in 2019 for one-third of the cost of a new research pole building.  MSU AgBioResearch is contributing another one-third of the cost and industry funding is being pursued for the last one-third.

The TNRC also received $14,000 for contract pruning, $10,100 for equipment, $10,000 for operations and up to $10,000 to make up any shortfall in maintenance chemical donations from agribusiness partners. “MSU, fruit growers through the MTFC, agribusiness, commodity organizations – everyone is involved. Everyone is a partner,” Korson said.

The MTFC also provided $55,000 of funding in 2019 for research plot maintenance that could be used at any of the four research stations.

A producer referendum established the MTFC in 2014 to collect an assessment on Michigan’s apples, cherries, peaches and plums. The funds are used to support tree fruit research, research infrastructure and, if needed, support MSU Extension positions that growers want, but MSU is unable to fund. A referendum continuing the MTFC for another five years was recently passed by growers.

All assessments collected by the MTFC go to projects. The MTFC has no employees and no overhead costs.  The minor expenses the MTFC does incur are paid for by commodity groups in the tree fruit industry

“All of the money collected is used to get answers – answers that fruit growers need,” Nugent said.

– Dean Peterson, FGN correspondent

This outdated refrigeration equipment was replaced at the Clarksville Research Center with funds from the Michigan Tree Fruit Commission and MSU AgBioResearch. Photo: Gary Pullano