This Week's File

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Nov. 9, 2007 – Week 10

To: CNS Editors

From: Eric Freedman & Vic Rauch

THANKSGIVING WEEK HEADS-UP. We will file on Tuesday, Nov. 20, rather than Friday, Nov. 23.

HERE’S YOUR FILE:

FARMPRESERVATION: Five acres an hour. That’s how much open space and farmland Michigan loses daily primarily due to development, undermining the state’s agricultural industry and impairing its attractiveness as a tourism destination. A state Agriculture Department program uses tax incentives to persuade farmers not to use or sell their land for development. The Farm Bureau, Michigan Environmental Council and  Agriculture Department explain the situation. For news and farm desks. By Gregory Herbert. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, MACOMB, OAKLAND, BAD AXE, LANSING & ALL POINTS.

STATEPOLICEHQ: Republican legislators from Farwell, Grand Ledge, Harrison Township, Mount Pleasant and Sheridan are among the opponents making an 11th-hour effort to block construction of a new State Police headquarters in downtown Lansing. The project is too costly--$3.7 million a year in rent—at a time of state budget woes and is an unsuitable location, they argue. State Police defend the project as a necessary move from current antiquated facilities. By Hayley Outslay. FOR CLARE, GLADWIN, LANSING, GREENVILLE, & ALL POINTS.

CHRISTMASTREES: An estimated 3 million Michigan-grown Christmas trees are being cut this season, with two-thirds of them heading to out-of-state and foreign celebrants. A Christmas tree farmer in Oxford, a MSU forestry professor and a state Christmas Tree Association official talk about opportunities and challenges. Wexford, Missaukee and Oceana are the three top-producing counties. By Melanie Trusty. FOR OAKLAND, CADILLAC, LUDINGTON & ALL POINTS.

PRISONSCLOSEJAILSOPEN: As the state closes more prisons and prison camps—three this year alone—some counties are planning new jails or worrying about how to pay for operation of existing ones. The sheriffs in Allegan and Mason counties and a member of the Midland County Commission discuss their situations. So far in 2007, the Corrections Department has shut facilities in Ionia, Jackson and Schoolcraft County. By Crystal L. Burks. FOR MICHIGAN CITIZEN, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, GREENVILLE, MARQUETTE, LANSING & ALL POINTS

BOVINETB: The state’s 10-year battle against bovine TB has succeeded in preventing the infectious disease from spreading beyond the northern Lower Peninsula, the state Agriculture Department director says, and the control program is the only part of the department’s budget to get an increased state appropriation this year. One recent discovery was an infected herd in Alcona County. For news and agriculture desks. By Jeff Riley Jr. FOR ALPENA, GRAYLING, MARQUETTE, PETOSKEY, UP NORTH, TRAVERSE CITY & ALL POINTS.

BUYMICHIGAN: Michigan inmates are dining on spuds and apples grown in the state under a Buy Michigan initiative intended to boost markets for Michigan-grown produce and agricultural products. Industry and state officials are looking for ways to channel more Michigan fruits and vegetables into state facilities and agencies. The results will include more farm production---such as 2.1 million extra pounds of taters a year—and cost savings for taxpayers. Incidentally, all those potatoes will be bagged at a prison in Newberry. For news and agriculture desks. By Andrew F. Mutavdzija. FOR LANSING,  GREENVILLE, ALPENA, HOLLAND, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, SOUTH BEND, MONROE, TRAVERSE CITY, LUDINGTON & ALL POINTS.

BRIDGEBUCKS: The state has achieved its safety target for non-freeway bridges and hopes to meet the same goal for freeway bridges in 2008, MDOT officials say. The department spent $180 million last year for rehab and rebuilding. Teams of safety inspectors look at all Michigan bridges at least every two years. Officials in Lansing and the Escanaba discuss the issue in the aftermath of the Aug. 1 collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge that left 13 dead in Minnesota. By Hayley Outslay. FOR MARQUETTE & ALL POINTS.

MICHIGANWOOD: Will grown-in-Michigan labeling of wood and wood products help the state’s timber industry? That’s the goal of the new Select Michigan Wood and Wood Products marketing campaign, say the Michigan Forest Products Council and Agriculture Department. The $12 billion-a-year industry already has a toehold—literally—in China, where the 2008 Olympics basketball court will be floored with Upper Peninsula wood. For news and business desks. By Jeff Riley Jr. FOR MARQUETTE, CADILLAC, GRAYLING, LUDINGTON, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LANSING, CLARE & ALL POINTS.

MIGRANTWORKERS. Michigan growers are being hurt by a shortage of farm workers, with asparagus, cherries, peaches, apples and Christmas trees among the most dependent on a shrinking pool of migrant labor. Experts at Oceana County Extension, the state Asparagus Advisory Board and the Department of Labor & Economic Growth discuss the problem. The state Agriculture Department director wants the federal government to issue more worker permits for farm labor. For news and agriculture desks. By Tim Alberta. FOR HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND, TRAVERSE CITY, LUDINGTON, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, GREENVILLE & ALL POINTS.

AGTOURISM: Agricultural tourism is parlaying two of Michigan’s top-three industries—agriculture and tourism—to improve the state’s beleaguered economy and, at the same time, protect generations-old traditions and communities. Agritourism business owners in Charlotte and Stevensville talk about their operations, and officials of the state Grape and Wine Industry Council and Agriculture Department provide a broader overview. For news and travel desks. By David Salisbury. FOR LANSING, SOUTH BEND, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.

CNS

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