farming

Halloween may be behind us, but that doesn’t mean you have to throw away your jack-o’-lanterns. Washtenaw County is collaborating with local farms to give pumpkins a new purpose. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

Anaerobic biodigesters — biogas plants that turn animal and food waste into renewable energy — are raising a stink in Freedom Township. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor reports.

We the People Opportunity Farm has been giving formerly incarcerated and returning residents in our community a new path forward for years. The work continues, and now the nonprofit is in the process of expanding its outreach with a new café. WEMU's David Fair talked with founder and director Melvin Parson and about expansion and impact.

During the Biden administration, local food distributors were encouraged to apply for grants funding to help build infrastructure for local farms and food. Now, the USDA is making cuts that could undermine the local food system and its suppliers...like Argus Farm Stop in Ann Arbor. WEMU's David Fair talked with co-owner Bill Brinkerhoff about immediate and longer-term impacts.

Bird flu is spreading throughout lower Michigan. In fact, in early February, about 100 dead birds were found in Washtenaw County alone with "highly pathogenic avian influenza" listed as the likely cause. In other parts of the country, bird flu has spread to humans, and recently, the first human death has been attributed to the disease. Cathy Theisen is a retired veterinarian in Washtenaw County and has previously served as an avian influenza first responder. She joined WEMU's David Fair with the latest information and what the future may hold.

Manchester City Council has given the greenlight to the construction of Washtenaw County’s first USDA-approved slaughterhouse. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

Lodi Township residents are being asked in this election to allow marijuana growing and processing within the township. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

The first frost of the season probably isn’t too far away. Properly preparing the agricultural soil for next spring and summer is a matter of timing. Getting the cover crops in place is essential before a hard freeze occurs. The Washtenaw County Conservation District is working to make it convenient and effective for local farmers. Conservation technician Matt Dejonge explained it all in his conversation with WEMU's David Fair.

Avian Influenza is running rampant through Michigan and other parts of the country. Bird flu is nothing new, but this year, it has spread to dairy cattle. The impacts affect animal farming, consumer prices and the economy. As such, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has issued an emergency order to try and stop its spread. Department director, Dr. Tim Boring, provided the most up-to-date information in his conversation with WEMU's David Fair.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFOs, are a significant part of the American food and agricultural systems in Michigan and around the country. We knew CAFOs posed hazards to the environment, but a new report indicates it is worse than previously thought. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak, spoke with one of the authors of the report, Katie Garvey. She is a staff attorney with the Environmental Law and Policy Center, and she discussed the troubling findings in the center’s 2024 report.