Minutes Archive

Agricultural Preservation Board Meeting Minutes

Calhoun County Agricultural Preservation Board
April 9, 2007

Meeting Minutes

The regular meeting of the Calhoun County Agricultural Preservation Board (APB) was held on Monday, April 9, 2007, at 3:00 p.m., in the Planning Department Conference Room, County Building, Marshall, Michigan.

Chairman Ken Blight called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. Roll was called with the following members present: Greg Moore, Matt Davis, Larry Metzgar, Sue Ann Jessup, Dan Kesselring and Wayne Cornell.

Also present: Jennifer Bomba, County Planning Director

Meeting Minutes
Jennifer noted that the meeting minutes of the March 12, 2007 meeting were not available to date. No action was taken.

Communications
Jennifer noted the following items as communication.

Letter from Agricultural Preserve Boards of Michigan, March 20, 2007
Michigan Ag Preserve Board Report, Agricultural Preserve Boards of Michigan, March 17, 2007
Michigan Ag Preserve Board Report, Agricultural Preserve Boards of Michigan, March 31, 2007

The letter from the Agricultural Preserve Boards of Michigan was discussed. Jennifer was directed to contact Jim Coury, Potawatomi RC&D Council, to seek funds for the membership fee associated with this organization.

It was also suggested that members be included in the e-mail distribution of the Michigan Ag Preserve Board Reports. Jennifer agreed to forward along to members when received.

Matt Davis shared an additional item of correspondence. Congressman Walberg is holding a listening session from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at Barton Farms in Albion regarding the 2007 Farm Bill.

Old Business
2007 PDR Application Status
Jennifer noted that she has received one application to date, from a landowner in Burlington Township. Jennifer encouraged members to discuss the program and application cycle at other meetings. Jennifer will attempt to summarize the applications for the next meeting, which is scheduled after the deadline has passed.

New Business
Calhoun County Ag Stats Brochure
Jennifer provided members with a draft brochure created by Ken Blight. After much discussion, members agreed that the scope needed to be broader to include items such as nursery stock, fruit orchards, etc. Information needs to relate to the general public. Dan Kesselring noted that we need to provide this information on more than one occasion in order to get people to digest it. Greg Moore suggested an insert similar to the Rusk Study that could be a stand alone report with a variety of articles and facts on the ag industry. Jennifer agreed to contact the AdVisor to see how these special reports are published. It was agreed that each member would research stats they think are necessary to include in the brochure and bring to the next meeting.

Further discussion took place on the economic benefits of agriculture. The idea of the brochure being produced now, and a bigger report being distributed in the fall when agriculture is more visible to the public (through harvest) was discussed. The possibility of using the Upjohn Institute, MSU Ag Economics department, American Farmland Trust, etc. were considered for analysis of data to demonstrate the economic contribution of ag. Members should provide stats at the next meeting and Jennifer will report on the feasibility of the broader report for fall distribution.

Staff Comments
A-Maizing Corn Harvest Celebration
Jennifer noted that she has been in contact with the organizers of this event. Collaboration will provide a larger audience for our annual field tour that could be held in conjunction with this event. Jennifer will provide future meeting dates to members who might like to assist in coordinating this event.

With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:32 p.m.

Calhoun County
315 West Green Street
Marshall, MI 49068
Phone: (269) 781-0700
Fax: (269) 781-0140

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