Partners Summer 2019

GreenStone FCS

Summer 2019

Promoting the business success of our customers and the rural community

+S ummer 2019

Market Outlook +C hoosing between ARC and PLC

FUTURE FOCUSED CummingsMonville pg. 5

SUMMER 19 5 YBSF

Feature. Growing their farm operation from just two steers to over 1,000, Brandon Cummings and Christian (C.J.) Monville of Vassar, Mich., aren’t afraid of getting their boots muddy or working hard to accomplish their farming dreams.

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25 GreenStone Story. The Farm Credit System, exists to be a reliable, consistent source of credit for farmers. Stemming from this is also providing credit to those in rural communities.

36 Crop Insurance. Changes in the 2018 Farm Bill allow farmers to choose between Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) when enrollment opens on September 1.

39 Accounting Feature. Dewey 29 Country Living Feature. Adam Ford recently moved into his country dream home in Scotts, Mich. with his fiancĂŠe, Kelsey Ladley.

VanderVlucht and his sons, Josh and Jake, operate Vans Family Farms, LLC, a custom harvesting and manure hauling business that has benefited from a range of experts at GreenStone.

3 CEO Comments.

President and CEO, Dave Armstrong, reaffirms GreenStone’s commitment to agriculture in good times and bad.

9 Guest Column.

In addition to getting to know and appreciate each other as grown-ups, siblings who own or manage jointly must also learn to make decisions as a team.

11 Guest Column.

Farm businesses feed people. Managing a successful farm business to do this requires skills that go beyond farming, including accounting, financial forecasting, risk assessment, personnel management, and organization, to name just a few.

13 Market Outlook.

The wide-spread uncertainty surrounding this year’s cropping season around the Midwest, including Michigan and Wisconsin, is also creating uncertainty in commodity markets.

23 Legislative Matters.

Unfair trade advantages could eliminate what we know in our region as the cherry capital of the world.

24 PAC Progress.

With the completion of PAC fundraising, dollars are being used to raise agriculture’s voice.

27 Directors’ Perspective.

Directors help lead this cooperative to a stronger tomorrow. Hear directly from these members as they share with you, “Why I serve.”

32 Camping Essentials.

If you are headed out camping, here are some essentials to pack to help get you through your trip.

33 Health and Wellness.

With nearly 170 state parks to choose from across 360,000 acres of land in Michigan and Wisconsin, there is plenty to celebrate this summer at a state park near you.

8 Blog Brief

16 Member News 17 Calendar of Events 18 Election Results 19 GreenStone Interns 20 Candid Comments 21 Behind the Scenes 22 Pause for Applause

31 Blog Brief 35 Commodity Cuisine...

Sweet Blueberry Cheesecake

37 Crop Insurance News 38 Crop Insurance Calendar 41 Tax Calendar 42 Tech Tip

Publisher’s Note: A few years ago in this Editor’s Note, I shared the acknowledgement of coworkers retiring following 36 years of service to GreenStone. Since then, there have been many more marking up to four decades of service to our members, and this past June I felt inspired once again as I stood in appreciation for the 38 years another teammate gave as he turned the chapter to his retirement. A standing ovation, an act reserved for the remarkable, memorable, and truly commendable.

As I reflect on my own time with GreenStone, the program development, the business initiatives, the conversations, the service – it is all so deeply rooted in our members. And that’s because we all believe in the cooperative purpose, and the mission of supporting the success of our members – the members we stand for each day.

Both during my years on the farm and now in the office, I’m continually awed by the determination and optimism of farmers. I know the struggle is all too real – this year puts an exclamation point on that statement – but even so, I see the challenges met with a verbose commitment and tenacity not seen in many other industries. And for that, the standing ovation goes to each of you – the orchard man who tends his trees knowing they’ll bear little fruit; the milker who carefully mixes feed rations to provide the best health and care for her cows while the milk price provides little comfort; the row cropper who brainstorms erosion and weed control for the saturated land that bears no crop for harvest; the farmer who embraces the trying times and gets back up next year with the confidence of a fresh start.

As you read this issue of Partners, you’ll find your cooperative continues to work not in aspiration of our own standing ovation, but with the intent to provide you a financially strong foundation to continually grow and develop, offering the services and partnership for your needs to stand together today and tomorrow.

– Melissa

This newsletter is published quarterly for the customers of GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

Editorial Laura Moser Melissa Rogers Amber Echlin Jeffrey MacCowan Jean Macleod

Art & Design William Eva Annah Horak

Partners GreenStone Farm Credit Services 3515 West Road East Lansing, MI 48823 800-444-3276 marketing@greenstonefcs.com

CEO Comments:

This Summer and Beyond WHAT WILL TODAY BRING? AS I WRITE THESE COMMENTS, I COULD SHARE THE STATISTICS AND FACTS AROUND THE CURRENT MARKET, WEATHER AND FARMING CONDITIONS, BUT IF THIS SPRING HAS TAUGHT ME ANYTHING, IT’S THAT IT WILL CHANGE AS FAST AS I TYPE IT. On top of the changes, the statistics vary widely from one neighborhood to the next, and each soil type provides a separate dynamic. Overall, the Corn Belt planting numbers, particularly in the Michigan and Wisconsin area, say that only half of the soybeans were planted, and three-quarters of the corn – these were not the records our members were looking to break.

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While it appears the national numbers are improving, the situation is very different for each farmer, with many of our members significantly behind and uncertain of what the rest of the year will bring for both yields and the markets.

Winterkill on alfalfa pose a separate threat to livestock farmers, and cold temperatures continue to hinder the growth of the crops that did make it in the soil.

It’s been 40 years since we have seen these widespread conditions, and this time we can add in political pressures and government program uncertainties.

While it appears the national numbers are improving, the situation is very different for each farmer, with many of our members significantly behind and uncertain of what the rest of the year will bring for both yields and the markets.

These historic weather conditions, coupled with the continuing drama over trade and the fifth year of negative margins for many commodities are taking their toll on not just balance sheets, but also on emotional health.

And while the stress of multiple “threats” clings, there is the always palatable reality that everything can change today. Mother Nature may change her suit and play a card from another hand. Clarity may erode from the foundation of the various programs being deployed, and supply may be impacted enough to teeter demand to the other side.

There is no doubt about it. This is the most challenging planting season I have experienced in my 38 years in this business. But one thing that hasn’t changed is our high level of confidence in the American farmer.

Our collective GreenStone membership in Michigan and Wisconsin continues to impress us with their efficiencies and management ability through these difficult times.

GreenStone is locked in on assisting its members with these and other challenges they are facing. Our crop insurance team members are working with customers to ensure they have the information, knowledge, and numbers to analyze a variety of scenarios when making crucial decisions. We have helped lead numerous farmer meetings this spring to share delayed and prevent plant

updates and more importantly, to listen and then answer questions.

As a responsible financial lender, our team of risk analysts continue to review our resource needs, and prepare solutions for implementation should loan servicing levels rise due to known or unknown challenges that today, or tomorrow, may bring. You can be assured GreenStone will be prepared to serve you with the same high level of timely, professional service you deserve in spite of the challenges we all face.

As the summer unfolds, I encourage you to spend time reviewing your 2019-2020 financial projections for any unanticipated gaps and to contact your GreenStone financial services officer as soon as possible to discuss them. The earlier we can identify your needs, the faster we can help provide counsel and assist in identifying a plan to get those gaps

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Our real strength is each of you!

Our members are also talented professionals who are some of the very best at what they do and collectively run their businesses in a financially responsible manner.

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filled. The very worst response to a difficult financial situation is to do nothing and hope it will resolve itself.

GreenStone stands strong against the trend of other financial institutions by continuing to focus on our mission, and bolstering our ability to truly be a lender in good times and bad for our members. It is times like these that test the resolve of the agricultural industry. With a strong capital base, coupled with a committed and experienced team of professionals who truly care about your success, I am very confident about our ability to stand with you.

Our real strength is each of you! Our members are also talented professionals who are some of the very best at what they do and collectively run their businesses in a financially responsible manner. While there are few guarantees in life, this combination should give us all the confidence necessary to bridge us to better times.

Once again, I want to wish you the best for a productive and safe growing season and thank you for your business! Feel free to reach out to me if I can ever be of assistance.

Dave Armstrong

517-318-4105 dave.armstrong@greenstonefcs.com

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GROWING THEIR FARM OPERATION FROM JUST TWO STEERS TO OVER 1,000, BRANDON CUMMINGS AND CHRISTIAN (C.J.) MONVILLE OF VASSAR, MICH., AREN’T AFRAID OF GETTING THEIR BOOTS MUDDY OR WORKING HARD TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR FARMING DREAMS. SINCE ESTABLISHING CUMMINGS-MONVILLE FARMS, LLC IN 2013, THE TWO 23 YEAR OLDS HAVE PROVEN SKEPTICS WRONG TIME AFTER TIME WITH THEIR CONTINUED SUCCESS AS YOUNG FARMERS.

GROW

While they may be young in the agriculture industry, their experience with farming stretches back nearly a decade. At a mere 15 years old, Brandon purchased his first two Holstein steers, enlisting help from his mother to haul the cattle because he wasn’t yet old enough to drive.

Both Brandon and C.J.’s strong passion for farming came from their families. C.J. worked briefly on his family’s farm in Akron, Michigan, but unfortunately, there wasn’t enough work for him. Although Brandon’s family had not farmed since the 1980s, farming was something he dreamed of doing fulltime.

“C.J. and I have been buddies since before high school,” Brandon says. “I always wanted to farm and C.J. always wanted to farm, so we partnered up and got started.”

Despite the many obstacles young farmers face, once Brandon and C.J. teamed up together, nothing could stop them from doing what they love. Much like any business, getting a farm started is a challenge and for the first few years, farming was their second job. They both worked jobs off the farm during the day, and in the evenings they would return to the farm to complete chores. In 2015, Brandon and C.J. left their off farm jobs and began farming full time.

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We knew what we wanted to do and we knew how to get there, but financially, we didn’t know how it would work. When we first walked into the GreenStone branch with hopes of getting a loan, we thought we would get laughed out of there, but we didn’t; Shaun took us under his wing and really helped us out.

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As challenging as being a young farmer is, having a positive support system and people in your corner helps ease the pressure. As Brandon and C.J. grew the farm business, they knew it was important to have a financial lender who would work with them. However, being just 17 years old without a credit score, they were not sure how to get started.

“We knew what we wanted to do and we knew how to get there, but financially, we didn’t know how it would work. When we first walked into the GreenStone branch with hopes of getting a loan, we thought we would get laughed out of there,” Brandon explains. “But we didn’t; Shaun took us under his wing and really helped us out.” ➡ Right: Along with cropping 1,500 acres, Brandon and C.J. raise 1,000 head of steers each year.

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Our first loan was a smaller operating loan and we had one year to pay it back. It was like a test to prove ourselves, and we did. We now have a larger operating loan and a real estate loan with GreenStone.

Shaun Gainforth, GreenStone senior financial services officer in the Caro branch, met with Brandon and C.J. for the first time in January 2015. Shaun walked the boys through a balance sheet, explained how to put together income and expense projections, and went over the loan process.

Within two weeks of stepping foot in GreenStone, Cummings-Monville Farms had its first small operating loan.

“Our first loan was a smaller operating loan and we had one year to pay it back. It was

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like a test to prove ourselves,” Brandon says. “And we did. We now have a larger operating loan and a real estate loan with GreenStone.”

“They have done everything we have asked of them and have been a dream to work with,” Shaun says. “GreenStone fully supports helping get that next generation started by taking a little more risk with our relaxed underwriting standards. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers programs that

provide opportunities that otherwise would not be there and GreenStone has worked in conjunction with FSA to leverage these programs.”

Starting with just 20 rented acres, the two young men have grown their farming operation tremendously since their first loan with GreenStone. Nearly doubling the amount of acres they farm in the past two years alone, Brandon and C.J. went from 800 acres in 2017 to over 1,500 acres stretching across the county. Typically rotating between soybean, corn and wheat, 2019 will be the first year Brandon and C.J. plant sugar beets.

“This past winter, they approached me about getting into the sugar beet industry. They had an opportunity to buy some shares at a good price and I strongly encouraged it. I always say diversity is a good thing,” Shaun explains. “Their hard work, diversity of their business and ability to take calculated risks has helped them succeed.”

They have continuously increased the amount of beef cattle they raise each year,

and are up to 1,000 Holstein steers. After purchasing the 200-300 pound cattle from local dairy farms, Brandon and C.J. raise them until they reach 600-700 pounds and then sell them to a feedlot for finishing. Finding contacts and forming relationships with other farms and feedlots has taken time, but has paid off for Brandon and C.J. In addition to raising cattle and farming their fields, the young farmers stay busy selling Dairyland seed.

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“C.J. takes care of the crops quite a bit and I usually take care of the cattle. Everyone has a job to do and we make it work,” Brandon explains. “We work hard with lots of 20-hour days.”

AGRICULTURE – OPEN FIELDS BLOG BRIEF

After having accomplished so much at such a young age, Brandon and C.J. eagerly look toward the future. While they are content with the acres they currently farm, they are interested in increasing the amount of cattle. Their dedication to hard work and passion for agriculture has helped them tremendously in overcoming obstacles many new farmers face.

GreenStone publishes regular updates on our Open Fields blog. Check out some of the posts you may have missed at www. greenstonefcs.com/openfieldsblog.

“It’s a lot of hard work and it’s about getting the right people in your corner. When we were first getting started, many people wouldn’t work with us because we were young,” Brandon says. “Our whole life people told us we couldn’t start farming, and we are proof you can.” ■

The 5 Ks of Prevented Planting Throughout my experience with crop insurance as both an adjuster and now as an agent, I have concluded there are five important things all farmers need to know to be sure they are accurately covered when it comes to prevented planting decisions and claims.

➡ Below: As young owners, Brandon and C.J. look to others for advice and guidance as needed including Brandon’s uncle Steve Gyomory.

How the 2019 planting season is shaping up To date, the 2019 planting season is best described as cold and soggy for Michigan and northeast Wisconsin – and for much of the country. However, the key words are “to date.”

Watch Now! DMC and Farm Bill Changes Update Dr. Chris Wolf, MSU Extension, and Kyle Varner, Staff Member of Senator Debbie Stabenow’s office, led a virtual discussion covering the DMC program and changes brought on by the new Farm Bill. ■

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The Player-Coach:

How to Build a Sibling Team

By Barb Dartt, DVM, MS BILL RUSSELL IS AN ALL-STAR NBA BASKETBALL PLAYER. HE HAD A 13-YEAR CAREER, DURING WHICH HE WON 11 NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS. THROUGH HIS LAST THREE PLAYING YEARS, 1966-69, RUSSELL WAS BOTH A PLAYER AND THE HEAD COACH OF THE BOSTON CELTICS. HE WAS AN NBA ALLSTAR FOR EACH OF THOSE THREE SEASONS AND THE CELTICS WON TWO NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS. BY ANY MEASURE, PRETTY STELLAR PERFORMANCE WITHIN BOTH THOSE CHALLENGING ROLES.

I’ve been supporting a lot of sibling teams within my family business clients lately. One of the key areas we work on is their coming together as a team of adult professionals. When you’ve grown up together and have lots of memories of your partners as snot-nosed kids, it can be awfully hard to shift perspectives! One of my colleagues says, “Siblings know how to push each other’s buttons – because they installed them.”

In addition to getting to know and appreciate each other as grown-ups, siblings who own or manage jointly must also learn to make decisions as a team. This contrasts with the common past model where one senior generation member called all the shots.

Bill Russell moved from being “just” a player for the first 10 years of his career to successfully playing AND coaching for his last three. How did he make the switch?

Bill said his approach was to, “…cut all personal ties to other players.” He then “seamlessly made the transition from their peer to their superior.”

Cutting all personal ties isn’t a very viable option for sibling teams that work together in a family business. So, Bill’s advice about how to handle the dual roles isn’t that instructive. But if you’re on a sibling team, it’s helpful to note that you’re in the dual role of BOTH player and coach. And, how much time you spend on each of those roles is shifting. You were in a system where you were a player (worker) and the head coach (senior generation leader, manager or owner) often made the final call. Now (or sometime soon), you will be in a system where sometimes you’re the worker (player) and sometimes you’re the decisionmaker (coach). Many of my sibling teams recognize their roles are shifting and haven’t really talked about what that means for each of them. Unless you and your team create a new structure to clarify when you’re the worker and when you’re the decision-maker, confusion, division and inefficiency are certain to follow.

How do You Become an Effective “Player-Coach”?

Since Bill Russell’s approach isn’t feasible for siblings in business together, consider the two practices I believe are the hallmarks of effective sibling teams. They embrace 9

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In addition to getting to know and appreciate each other as grown-ups, siblings who own or manage jointly must also learn to make decisions as a team.

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the challenge of being BOTH a player and a coach at any given moment by: 1. I nvesting in becoming an autonomous sibling team that can operate independently of the senior generation; and 2. D efining who makes decisions and how those decisions are made Build Your Sibling Team

An effective sibling team must be a bit more evolved than a sole senior generation member. Yes, in a dictatorship, decisions happen quickly! But the business doesn’t benefit from the breadth of skills and perspectives required for it to grow and prosper. As Bill Russell can tell you, a team doesn’t win just because you draft a lot of talent. A team must practice together to be great. Practice, in a business setting, means investing in regular meetings together. At these meetings, do the following: • Work on your individual and team skills of listening and sharing your own viewpoint.

Few of us are naturally gifted at effective communication. If you work at it, though, you will get better. And to work at it, you must “practice” together regularly.

• Learn how to manage your conflict. You will have conflict – it’s a natural part of family in business together. Practice talking about these expected differences openly and respectfully. To get better at this, you need the opportunity that regular meetings provide.

• Figure out what you each want from the future. What do you want from your career or employee role in the business? What kind of compensation do you expect? Is it important to you that the next generation have a shot at working together? What do your siblings want? Are you sure, or are you guessing, based on hints and clues you’ve picked up?

At some point, these meetings need to happen separately from the senior generation (let’s call the senior generation “dad” from now on). A sibling team needs to develop its own identity. They need to learn to lean on each other and negotiate how they will handle the overlap in the player and coach roles.

Taylor, John (2005). The Rivalry: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and the Golden Age of Basketball. New York City: Random House. p.

280. ISBN 1-4000-6114-8.

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Aronoff, C. E. (2011). Making sibling teams work: the next generation. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Barb is a consultant with the Family Business Consulting Group, working with families and management teams to help them keep their business healthy and the people happy. Barb can be reached at 269-382-0539 or dartt@thefbcg.com

The opinions stated herein are not necessarily those of GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

If dad is still around and has a key role in the business, these meetings should still happen without him. In this case, the sibling team should meet (without dad), develop a joint recommendation and then share with dad so he can weigh in on the final call. It might feel redundant. I’ve had clients say, “Can’t we just include him in the meeting? Why do we need to talk about things twice?” Dad’s presence in the room has an impact on the discussion, even if he doesn’t say a word. The sibling team must learn to communicate, have conflict and come to their own conclusions.

Sometimes, parents talk about how much they want siblings to “step up and take responsibility,” at that same time that they discourage this critical work of forming their own independent team. “The tug-of-war in which the sibling team tests its autonomy and the parents assert their power is almost as natural as night and day.”

Start having these meetings. Practice working as a real team. Even if the senior generation is skeptical or resistant.

Sibling teams can be a challenging way to manage and own a business. Recognize the work it will take to be a success, as a team.

Embrace your role as both a player AND a coach by investing the time and effort (the practice!) it takes to be a strong team. The rewards for your family and business will be great. ■

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Michigan Good Food Fund Supports Food Businesses By: MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and MSU Product Center

Farm businesses feed people. Managing a successful farm business to do this requires skills that go beyond farming, including accounting, financial forecasting, risk assessment, personnel management, and organization, to name but a few.

Michigan Good Food Fund is a statewide healthy food financing initiative that provides financing and business assistance to food entrepreneurs working to increase access to affordable, healthy food in low-income and underserved communities in Michigan. This includes the range of businesses

that grow, process, distribute, and sell healthy food that reaches those who need it most.

Since its 2015 launch, it has invested more than $12.8 million in financing and business assistance reaching 300+ businesses, which in turn have created or retained 600+ jobs across the state and food value chain.

But partners like the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems know this is just the beginning.

“We’re always on the lookout for Michigan-based food businesses that are making a positive change

➡ Above: With help from the Michigan Good Food Fund, Vicki and Tom Zilke expanded their farm produce to ready-to-eat meals..

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in communities,” said Jamie Rahrig, a specialist with MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and MSU Product Center.

Michigan Good Food Fund: A different kind of food lender

Today, Healthy Food Financing Initiatives, like the Michigan Good Food Fund, exist in 35 states around the country. Created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Treasury and Health and Human Services in 2010, these programs were created to help bring healthy foods to underserved urban and rural communities by providing financing. Initially these programs worked strictly with healthy food retailers like grocery stores, but Michigan leaders wanted to do something different.

• Racial & social equity: Ensuring equitable access to food, jobs, ownership, and flexible investment capital.

• Local sourcing: Increasing the sourcing and supply of locally grown and regionally produced foods.

• Environmental stewardship: Encouraging sustainable environmental practices.

In this way, it was the first-ofits-kind effort working to create financial and social impact throughout the food value chain.

Financing & Business Assistance for Michigan’s Growers

Today, through a network of lenders, the Michigan Good Food Fund is able to provide flexible, patient capital to good food enterprises ranging from $2,500 to upwards of $6 million.

Founded in collaboration between Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, Fair Food Network, Capital Impact Partners, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Michigan Good Food Fund set out to be a different kind of lender.

First, given Michigan’s robust agriculture industry, the Michigan Good Food Fund saw the need to support food businesses throughout the value-chain including farms, value-added product makers, and others increasing access to “good food.”

“Good food” is used in the context of increasing healthy foods to underserved communities, meaning people have better access to and communities economically develop through food that is healthy, green, fair, and affordable.

They also wanted to drive broad-based change, prioritizing businesses that could demonstrate impact in the following areas including: • Healthy food access: Increasing access to healthy food to improve the health of all Michigan residents.

• Economic development: Driving economic development and job creation to grow Michigan’s economy.

➡ Above: With help from MSU, Eric Shevchenko Algeria expanded his pasturedraised poultry farm to include supplying Lending is bolstered by business assistance Detroit-area restaurants. to help entrepreneurs grow their ventures

and prepare for financing. Business assistance includes one-on-one consulting, group trainings, or introductions to experts in financing, farm business, or other areas of interest.

Previous business assistance for farmers has ranged from creating value-added products to financing construction of an on-the-farm commercial kitchen, to reviewing financial documents. It can work with all forms of agribusinesses from conventional to organic.

Such flexibility and targeted support make the Michigan Good Food Fund an asset for farms looking to expand. Plus, it brings integrated connections with Michigan State University Extension and faculty as well as the MSU Product Center.

Such support has helped Michigan farm enterprises including Zilke Farm Kitchen and Old World Farms.

In 2018, Vicki and Tom Zilke, expanded beyond its produce farm in Milan, Mich., to a store-front location selling ready-toheat and ready-to-eat meals made with ingredients from its and nearby farms.

Obtaining a 1,500 square foot retail space just down the road from the farm, allows the Zilke’s to create value-added products

like baked goods, salads, and meals for two in a new commercial kitchen constructed especially for the business. Michigan Good Food Fund financing helped provide funds for construction costs for the store-front and kitchen. Business assistance provided included setting up an online store, payroll and financial reviews.

“The Michigan Good Food Fund gave me an entire palate of resources to choose from,” Vicki Zilke said as she reflected on the partnership. “They’ve also given me real solid, tangible support. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for them.”

Old World Farms, a pasture-raised poultry farm in Saint Charles, Michigan, came to the Michigan Good Food Fund for financing. This venture, owned by Eric Shevchenko Alegria, was expanding its production for selling direct to restaurants in Detroit and obtained funds for working capital and the purchase of waterers/ feeders, mobile coups, and processing equipment.

To learn how the Michigan Good Food Fund can support your farm, visit www.migoodfoodfund.org. ■

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Market Outlook Summer THE WIDE-SPREAD UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING THIS YEAR’S CROPPING SEASON AROUND THE MIDWEST, INCLUDING MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN, IS CREATING UNCERTAINTY IN COMMODITY MARKETS. FEED VALUES AND LATE-PLANTED CROPS WILL HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGHOUT THE MARKETPLACE.

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This uncertainty was reflected in the Ag Economy Barometer report released by Purdue University on June 4. In the survey of 400 U.S. agriculture producers, respondents exhibited a declining sentiment with a barometer reading of 101, 14 points lower than a month prior. According to the report, the decline in farmer sentiment is attributable to big declines in both the Index of Current Conditions, which fell from 99 in April to 84 in May, and the Index of Future Expectations, which fell from 123 in April to 108 in May. The Ag Economy Barometer also measures agriculture producers sentiment on trade. For the second month, the index illustrates one source of anxiety for U.S. farmers

continues to be uncertainty about agricultural trade. While the U.S., Mexico, and Canada (USMCA) free trade agreement is still in process, progress is being made as Mexico has ratified the USMCA, and Canada has begun the legislative process to ratify the USMCA in their country. U.S. congressional leaders continue to talk about the need for enforcement provisions, but it is becoming more clearer that the U.S. may not have the treaty in place by the August recess. On-and off- again tariff talks could also jeopardize approval of the USMCA. At the moment, trade talks between the U.S. and China appear to be closer to a truce than deadlock. President Trump’s previous announcement of additional China pressure in the form of tariffs on an additional $300 billion in goods is currently delayed, pending expected trade talks yielding greater progress.

The Chinese government is also on hold with their previous intentions of ramping up efforts to apply pressure on the U.S., which would otherwise impose punitive economic measures. Previous to the truce, the Chinese government had went as far as discouraging citizens to visit or study in the U.S., potentially hitting universities and tourist destinations. It is unknown if the cautiously optimistic tone will prevail and when the trade issues will be resolved.

On a positive note in agriculture markets, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced May 23 that USDA is initiating a second Market Facilitation Program (MFP) to assist farmers by trade disruptions prompted by unjustified foreign retaliatory tariffs on their products. The President authorized USDA to provide up to $16.0 billion in relief, which is in line with the estimated impacts of the retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods. At this time, there are no additional details about the eligibility of the program and what commodities are included, but Secretary Perdue announced that the team at USDA “gathered feedback on last year’s program to make this one even stronger and more effective for farmers.”

Farmers across the U.S. are experiencing a far-from-normal planting season. The industry has faced prolonged wet conditions preventing the crop to be planted. As of June 2, only 67.0 percent of the nation’s corn has been planted, by far the slowest pace on record. U.S. farmers have planted 62.0 million acres of corn and 31.0 million acres remain to be planted. USDA reported 39 percent of the soybeans have been

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While the U.S., Mexico, and Canada (USMCA) free trade agreement is still in process, progress is being made as Mexico has ratified the USMCA, and Canada has begun the legislative process to ratify the USMCA in their country.

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planted, with farmers planting 33.0 million acres of soybeans and have 52.0 million acres remaining to be planted. It is too early to tell how many farmers will shift crops, or for some, not plant at all. The trade dynamics and the 2019 MFP may help influence some farmers to get a crop in the ground, although yield could be effected due to the late planting dates.

The less-than-stunning crop progress reports has brought to the forefront worries of lower acreage and yields for new corn crop.

Corn prices and margins have staged a swift and large recovery off contract lows in May. The wet weather conditions extended beyond the important June 5 date for corn producers, and it appears that the market has put some weather premium into new crop prices.

The USDA is forecasting milk production at 218.7 billion pounds for 2019, only 0.5 percent above 2018. The industry has also seen recent increases in most dairy product prices, and coupled with the slight increase in production and relatively stable exports, USDA increased its all-milk price forecast to $18.05 per hundredweight (cwt.) for 2019.

The February mailbox milk prices were reported at $16.24/cwt, 10.5 percent higher than prices one year ago. Michigan’s mailbox milk price continues to lag behind the national average driven by processing capacity constraints putting additional pressure on basis, reporting at $14.82/cwt for the same period.

The U.S. swine industry stands to benefit from the global supply shortfall as a result of the African Swine Fever (ASF) that has caused substantial pig losses in China and Southeast Asia. China’s breeding

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herd is down 22.0 percent versus the prior year, and the region is expected to have a supply shortfall in 2019 and 2020, and likely for years to come. The shortfall of pork supply in the region is also forcing consumers to switch to other proteins, including chicken and beef. The U.S. is the largest exporter of animal protein in the world, which puts the U.S. production in a position to benefit as China and other markets increase imports of all proteins. Tariffs on U.S. pork products to China forces the U.S. to be less competitive; however, as competitors in the global market place supply more to China, this will open other markets for the U.S. to export to, making the U.S. a secondary beneficiary of ASF. As U.S. producers respond to the anticipated higher international pork prices, USDA is forecasting pork production to increase 3.8 percent in 2019 to 27.3 billion pounds and by 3.5 percent in 2020 to 28.3 billion pounds. USDA projects the National base cost, 51-52 percent lean, live equivalent at an average of $54.5 per cwt. in 2019 and $60.0 per cwt. in 2020. This compares to the average price of $40.7 per cwt. in 2018.

Non-Agricultural Markets

In its second estimate release, the Bureau of Economics reported first quarter GDP at 3.1 percent. This growth rate was stronger than most analysts had expected, and represents a pick-up in growth relative to the last quarter of 2018. This performance was due in part to strong exports and a narrowing trade gap, as well as an upturn in state and local government spending, accelerations in private inventory investments and smaller decrease in residential investment.

During its two-day meeting beginning on April 30, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced that the federal funds rate will remain unchanged at the range of 2.25 to 2.50 percent. The FOMC further explained that they intend to remain patient in determining future rate adjustments. Overall, the committee cited that the labor markets have maintained solid job gains, on average, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Growth in household spending and business fixed investment has slowed in the first quarter, and for the last twelve months, overall inflation and inflation for items other than food and energy have declined and are running below 2.0 percent. Fear around the trade war remains top of mind for market participants, and helped instigate another recent inversion of the yield curve. The market-implied probability of a rate cut by yearend is rising, which seems to have escalated by recent trade talk. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President, James Bullard, recently said in a speech that the lowering of the central bank’s short-term target rate may be warranted soon, admitting that the Federal Reserve faces an economy that is expected to grow more slowly and an economy with trade uncertainty.

The many factors affecting agricultural markets today, mostly outside of farmers control, points to the importance of using a risk management program to protect margins. Using crop insurance tools, like Dairy Revenue Protection and other products can add some stability to a very unstable marketplace.

Reach out to your GreenStone representative for more information on protecting your margins. â–

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CONNECT

NEWS:

GREENSTONE AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS The 2019 scholarship awardees are: GreenStone contributes to the future success of today’s youth by awarding college scholarships to graduating high school seniors. The recipients exhibit tremendous dedication to their coursework, extracurricular activities, a willingness to lead and a desire to pursue an agriculturerelated career.

As part of GreenStone’s scholarship program, the cooperative recently selected students to receive either a $2,000 or $1,000 award to assist with education costs.

Since 2010, GreenStone has presented more than $195,000 in undergraduate college scholarships to students planning to make a positive impact on the agriculture industry.

“We believe it is important to invest resources in youth pursuing an agricultural career,” Dave Armstrong, president and CEO, says. “We hope providing financial support to these students encourages them to move forward in pursuing their dreams and goals in the agriculture industry.”

Skylar Byrne Perry, MI / Michigan State University Miriam Cook Pewamo, MI / Purdue University Andrew Davis Pigeon, MI / Michigan State University Shannon Good Caledonia, MI / Michigan State University John Grivins Eaton Rapids, MI / Michigan State University

Kyle Propson Denmark, WI / NE WI Technical College Jacob Schimmel Hudsonville, MI / Michigan State University or Grand Valley State University Jospeh Schlies Denmark, WI / University of Wisconsin River Falls Andrew Smith Bayport, MI / Michigan State University Jacob Sprague Durand, MI / Michigan State University

Mary Hartmann Flint, MI / Michigan State University

Clara Tait Caseville, MI / Michigan State University

Jada Janiak Gillett, WI / University of Wisconsin River Falls

Autumn Tait Kinde, MI / Northwood University and Delta College

Mackenzie Leavine Port Austin, MI / Delta College

Toby VanWyck Fowlerville, MI / Central Michigan University

Lauren Maier Deckerville, MI / Saginaw Valley State University Breanne Mallison Freesoil, MI / Michigan State University Marcus Pennnington Charlotte, MI / Michigan State University

Brenton Wolf Oconto Falls, WI / University of Wisconsin - River Falls Applications for 2020 scholarships will be available on the GreenStone website early in the year. ■

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Investing in FFA GreenStone continuously demonstrates its mission of cultivating future agriculture leaders by supporting educational programs like the FFA. Aligning with the cooperative’s goal, the FFA provides leadership, learning and development opportunities for students while equipping them with a vast understanding of the critical role agriculture plays. As a strong advocate for the agriculture industry, GreenStone proudly donated $25,000 to the foundation, helping contribute to its drive of preparing the youth with professional skills needed for future success. Grateful to give back to such a giving organization, GreenStone looks forward to what the future holds for FFA members and their impact on the agriculture industry. ■ Groundbreaking for Critter Barn to Farm Campaign GreenStone joined the Critter Barn crew at their ground-breaking event in celebration of reaching a campaign milestone. Over 70 percent of phase one funds have been raised to help the Critter Barn grow and fulfill its mission of providing knowledge on farming and animal care to the community.

Established in 1984, the Critter Barn has outgrown its current location.

With the generous donations of many individuals and organizations, will continue serving visitors in a brand new facility planned to one day include several large animal barns, classroom and demonstration room, and welcome center.

If you are interested in learning more about the Critter Barn, how you can volunteer, take a tour or donate to the Barn to Farm campaign, please visit critterbarn.org. ■ Sandusky Branch Move Our Sandusky branch has recently moved to a new location at 700 W. Sanilac Road, Sandusky, MI 48471.

The new, more easily accessible location will help us continue to serve you with the one-on-one personalized service you have come to expect from your GreenStone team. You are welcome to stop in and visit anytime to see the new office space. ■ 17

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Mark Your Calendar...

JULY

15

Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy Days and Michigan Dairy Expo (15-19) MSU Livestock Pavilion, East Lansing, MI

16

Michigan Livestock Expo Sale-abration MSU Livestock Pavilion, East Lansing, MI

25

Farmers Market at the Capitol State Capitol Building, Lansing, MI

26

MSU Extension Agriculture Innovation Day MSU Campus, East Lansing, MI

AUGUST

1

Wisconsin State Fair (1-11) Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis, WI

8

National Blueberry Festival (8-11) Downtown South Haven, MI

9

Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center Field Day Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center, Frankenmuth, MI

12

Upper Peninsula State Fair (12-18) Escanaba, MI

13

AgroExpo (13-14) Saint Johns, MI

22

Farmers Market at the Capitol State Capitol Building, Lansing, MI

SEPTEMBER

2

GreenStone Offices Closed In honor of Labor Day

5

Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo (5-7) UP State Fairgrounds, Escanaba, MI

19

Farmers Market at the Capitol State Capitol Building, Lansing, MI

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World Dairy Expo (9/29-10/5) Alliant Energy Center, Madison, WI

GREENSTONE MEMBERS ELECT DIRECTORS TO SERVE RURAL COMMUNITIES AND AGRICULTURE The members of GreenStone have elected four individuals to the cooperative’s board of directors, including one new board member: Troy Sellen.

support and guidance customers such as my family have relied upon to develop their agricultural business in uncertain times.”

tasked with recruiting candidates for the next year’s board elections and nominating committee. The 2020 nominating committee includes:

Troy Sellen of Oconto County, Wisconsin, was elected to a four-year term on the board representing the members in the association’s Region 7. A graduate of University of Wisconsin-River Falls, he is part owner of Valley Line Dairy, responsible for the dairy’s management.

Valley Line Dairy currently milks 650 Holstein cows and farms 1,220 acres.

Sellen replaces retiring board member Matthew Berge of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.

Region 1: Barbara Krupp, Saginaw County; Donald Somers, Saginaw County; Jeremy Werth, Alpena County; Stephen Sobkowski (Alternate), Grand Traverse County ; Region 2: Greg Ackerman, Tuscola County; Ryan Ruggles, Sanilac County; Timothy Ruggles, Tuscola County; Timothy Brusie (Alternate), Lapeer County; Region 3: Thomas Schroeder, Hillsdale County; William “Lyn” Uphaus, Washtenaw County; Region 4: Andrea Boughton, Calhoun County; Edward Kretchman, Jr., Berrien County; Region 5: Keith Bouwkamp, Newaygo County; Brent Skinner, Gratiot County; Region 6: Duane Bowns, Shiawassee County; Leroy Schafer, Clinton County; Region 7: Wayne Bradley, Kewaunee County; Kevin Harmann, Door County. ■

“My formal education in the dairy industry laid the groundwork for fascination with the challenge of building a profitable operation, but the day-to-day operations of a farm have proven how heavily reliant agriculture is on sound financial planning and management for both the short and long term,” Sellen says. “I look forward to working alongside the GreenStone professionals in maintaining the high level of financial

The three incumbents re-elected to fouryear terms include: • Region 6: Laura Braun Clinton County, Michigan • Region 6: Terri Hawbaker Clinton County, Michigan • Region 7: Dale Wagner Manitowoc County, Wisconsin Additionally, GreenStone’s members elected 16 individuals to serve on the cooperative’s 2020 nominating committee, including two alternates. The nominating committee is comprised of GreenStone members from throughout the organization’s territory who are

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GREENSTONE INTERNS GREENSTONE’S SUMMER INTERNS ARE WELL UNDERWAY IN THEIR POSITIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, COVERING A VARIETY OF DEPARTMENTS. AS A GREENSTONE INTERN, STUDENTS GAIN EXPOSURE TO REAL-WORLD PROJECTS AND EXPERIENCES ALIGNING WITH THEIR CAREER GOALS.

Travis Bodhaine St. Charles, Mich.

Title: Credit Intern, Grand Rapids College: Discrete Mathematics at Michigan Technological University Fun Fact: Enjoys snowboarding, golf, basketball and poker.

Devon Davidson Shepherd, Mich.

Title: Business Intelligence Intern, East Lansing College: Statistics, minoring in actuarial science and economics at Michigan State University Fun Fact: Plays the trombone in the Michigan State University Marching Band

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Summer 2019 — Partners

Caitlyn Myers Hope, Mich.

Title: Credit Intern, East Lansing College: Mathematics at Michigan State University Fun Fact: I enjoy showing and riding horses.

Alex Herold Grand Rapids, Mich.

Title: Legal Auditor Intern, East Lansing College: Accounting at Michigan State University Fun Fact: Enjoys living on a lake and loves to travel Benjamin Littlejohn Sanarac, Mich.

Title: Commercial Lending Unit Credit Analyst Intern, Grand Rapids College: Finance at Davenport University Fun Fact: Has a goal of visiting and hiking all the national parks

Lauren Voelker Paris, Mich.

Title: Crop Insurance Intern, East Lansing College: Agribusiness Management at Michigan State University Fun Fact: Enjoys traveling and being outdoors

Emily Kropf Lowell, Mich.

Title: Learning and Development Intern, East Lansing College: Agribusiness Management at Michigan State University Fun Fact: Was the Michigan apple queen.

Robert Dunne Trenton, Mich.

Title: Systems Administrator Intern, East Lansing College: Information Systems at Grand Valley State University Fun Fact: Enjoys anything technology, gaming (video, board or tabletop) and camping.

Zachary Johnson Rochester Hills, Mich.

Title: Application Developer Intern, East Lansing College: Computer Science at Michigan Technological University Fun Fact: Knows Spanish as a second language.

Dennis Cantrell Gladwin, Mich.

Title: Appraisal Intern, Mt. Pleasant College: Finance at Northwood University Fun Fact: Enjoys sports, hunting, fishing and boating.

Cameron Cook Pewamo, Mich.

Title: Appraisal Intern, East Lansing College: Agribusiness Management, Michigan State University Fun Fact: Enjoys showing cows, going to cow shows, traveling and volunteering in dairy promotional events.

Jennifer Pawlowski Mason, Mich.

Title: Tax and Accounting Intern, East Lansing College: Accounting at Baker College Fun Fact: Enjoys mountain biking and spending time outdoors.

Jeffrey MacCowan Lansing, Mich.

Title: Marketing Intern, East Lansing College: Marketing at Lansing Community College and Northwood University Fun Fact: Enjoys watching sports, coaching and weight lifting.

Cait Carpenter Dansville, Mich.

Title: Sales Intern, East Lansing College: Agribusiness Management at University of Tennessee Fun Fact: Enjoys archery, camping, raising and working herding dogs.

“

Hannah Cameron Livonia, Mich.

Title: Legal Audit Intern, East Lansing College: Business Analytics at Michigan State University Fun Fact: Enjoys puzzles and spending time with family, friends and two dogs.

Adrien Freund Traverse City, Mich.

Title: Service Desk Intern, East Lansing College: Computer Information Technology at Ferris State University Fun Fact: Enjoys running, working out, playing games and debating.

Taylor Hawks Millington, Mich.

Title: Business Analyst Intern, East Lansing College: Horticultural Science at Michigan State University Fun Fact: Was the 2016 Tuscola County fair queen.

Amber Echlin Mount Morris, Mich.

Title: Marketing Intern, East Lansing College: Marketing at Northwood University and Mott Community College Fun Fact: Studied biochemistry before changing to marketing

MacKenzie Clare Shepherd, Mich.

Title: Crop Insurance Intern, East Lansing College: Animal Science, Michigan State University Fun Fact: Member of Sigma Alpha agricultural sorority and rodeo club.

Dear GreenStone, Thank you very much for the grant money to attend PDPW this year.

My wife and I were able to take away a lot of great information and make some wonderful connections with others. Again, thank you!

”

— Tyler and Brianna Wagner, Grow Forward Grant Recipient

“

Angela Jungbluth Hartland, Wisc.

Title: Appraisal Intern, Little Chute College: Agribusiness Management at University of Wisconsin – River Falls Fun Fact: Enjoys competing with her horse, snowboarding and hunting.

Tanya Das Okemos, Mich.

Title: Information Technology Security Intern, East Lansing College: Computer Science at University of Michigan Fun Fact: Enjoys traveling and volunteering.

Philip Sloss Macomb, Mich.

Title: Human Resources Intern, East Lansing College: Human Resource Management at Michigan State University Fun Fact: Enjoys tennis, kayaking and watching TV. Lindsey Smith Laingsburg, Mich.

Title: Credit Intern, East Lansing College: Accounting at Michigan State University Fun Fact: Enjoys being outside with her dog, swimming and watching Netflix. ■

I am proud to be the recipient of such an impactful agricultural scholarship. GreenStone has been a part of my family’s farm for generations. Being a recipient of this scholarship shows me how agriculture can have a huge impact on the future of my education and my endeavors. With this scholarship, I will be able to pursue a degree in Animal Science at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls

”

— Jada Janiak, Scholarship Recipient

“

Thank you for selecting me as a 2019 GreenStone Scholarship recipient! I am honored and humbled that I was chosen. This $2,000 scholarship will enable me to complete my business management degree at Delta and Northwood University.

—Autumn Tait, Scholarship Recipient

”

“

I am extremely honored to be awarded one of the 2019 scholarships. This money will greatly help offset the cost of my college tuition at UW-River Fall. I look forward to working in the dairy and agriculture industry in the future.

—Brent Wolf, Scholarship Recipient

”

...Candid Comments

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BEHIND THE SCENES– Our Country Living team provides specialized products and services including construction financing, vacant land loans and rural home mortgages for our customers. These team members provide a deep knowledge and years of experience. In this section we introduce you to two of them.

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Tricia Koenigsknecht Customer Service Representative 11 Years of Service in St. Johns Describe how your role carries out the GreenStone mission of supporting rural communities and agriculture: As a customer service representative (CSR), I sit on the front lines serving the customer and helping GreenStone become rural America’s first choice for financial services. All customer phone calls and walk in’s come through the customer service representative team, allowing us to help set a positive first impression.

Having grown up on a farm in the small community of Fowler, Mich., I understand both the pride and heartache that comes with agriculture. As well as the joy that comes on the country living side of our business when we help someone build their dream home.

This background allows me to relate to our customers, but above all, focus on treating each of them just as I would want my family and me treated.

What role do you play in GreenStone’s efforts to offer the best customer solutions?

I participate in many committees to develop and test new processes to help gain efficiency across the organization.

That is one of the things I appreciate most in my role and about GreenStone – we are always looking for ways to do things better in the future.

What do you enjoy most about your role at GreenStone?

I feel honored to work for a company that supports a great work/life balance by offering flexibility. I also enjoy meeting new customers and helping our current customers with their loan needs. There is no greater feeling than when we receive a referral from a current customer because of our focus on excellent service.

What changes have been incorporated in your role to meet evolving customer needs?

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Derek and our three children, Adysen, Avery and Asher. Our kids love sports, so most times you will find us on a basketball court or a ball field cheering them on. We also enjoy spending summers at the lake. In our down time, while rare, I enjoy traveling and exercising.

James Miller Credit Analyst 9 years of service in East Lansing Describe how your role carries out the GreenStone mission of supporting rural communities and agriculture: On a daily basis, we work with customer loan requests for a variety of country living needs, including unlimited acres and unique types of property. We are unique in that we finance these rural properties; for example, vacant land, homes on acreage, and custom homes.

What do you enjoy most about your role at GreenStone?

I enjoy working with all my coworkers.

We have a really good team and work very well together.

What changes have been incorporated in your role to meet evolving customer needs?

We recently revised GreenStone’s lending standards to ensure they align with customer needs and industry trends while balancing risk for the cooperative.

Through this team approach involving numerous staff roles and responsibilities, we have been able to work with more customers through a shorter timeframe, and better meet the expectations of our members.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

In the summer, I like to golf and go out to the lake. In the fall, I like to hunt and watch football (Go Blue!). ■

Pause for Applause...

SERVICE ANNIVERSARIES Help GreenStone congratulate and thank these staff who are celebrating an employment milestone. From five to 40, the years represent the dedication and service all employees provide our members.

July Lindsey Bliss Matthew Cosgrove Lori Woolever James Nowak Brian Margraf Shaun Gainforth Kimberly Cool

(5) (10) (10) (15) (15) (15) (25)

August Megan Hessbrook Beth Wernette Michael O’Neal Jonathan Rene Matthew Alt Sara Brey Kim Knoerr Autumn Rector Kari Morgan Melissa Stolicker

(5) (5) (5) (5) (5) (5) (10) (10) (10) (15)

September Rebecca Thayer Kandace Haegele Ross Koffarnus Mark Koester

(5) (5) (10) (15)

Have a comment to include in the next issue of Partners? Share it with us on social media.

As we live in a digital world, we continue to focus on technology enhancements and how we can add it into our delivery model, but yet still maintain the local, personalized service our customers appreciate and deserve.

Partners — Summer 2019

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Legislative Matters:

FAIR TRADE FOR CHERRIES– WHAT’S NEXT? CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE A CHERRY FESTIVAL WITHOUT A CHERRY TREE IN SIGHT? HOW ABOUT A REGION THAT CELEBRATES CHERRIES WITHOUT CHERRIES? UNFAIR TRADE ADVANTAGES COULD IN FACT ELIMINATE WHAT WE KNOW IN OUR REGION AS THE CHERRY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD AND AN AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY, WHICH IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR SO MANY BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES.

If checks and guards for fairness are not in place, then all could be lost for the beloved cherry trees. Cherry industry leaders recognized something that had become more than a nuisance, and were compelled to address the underlying trade issues in order to safeguard the jewels of our Michigan and Wisconsin cherry growers.

Other agriculture commodities could face what the cherry growers faced, hence stay alert and engaged.

While establishing and protecting free and fair trade may feel like a simple important concept to support, the devil creeps into the details. Awaking details to explain lack of fairness 23

Summer 2019 — Partners

can be time consuming and expensive, but this is what a group of growers determined was essential.

It took a collaborative courageous group of growers in Washington, D.C. to present the industry story to the International Trade Administration of the Commerce Department.

Presenting a case is not something one just strolls into either; it must be well prepared with clear facts just to get some attention. File a petition, get a hearing, roll the dice, and then pray for what should be an easy outcome.

Nothing is ever easy. There is a lot of work and expense to protect a market, which was created and grown over years by our growers.

What precipitated the need for such action was the Republic of Turkey. Turkey looked to take advantage of the lack of tariffs, and their government support of the stone fruit industry first with cherries, and you may presume more stone fruits to follow, in essence by subsidizing their growers in a very large way.

As an International Trade Administration panel heard the case within a sterile government environment, all the clear data and unfairness of the trading made the panel react. Growth in imports in the USA from 2016 in an amount of 413,893 to 1,511,977 pounds in 2018 from Turkey feels significant.

Labeling differences on whether something is organic or not creates confusion and uncertainty. Pricing and marketing disrupt and corrupt competition and undermine years of work by our growers.

More volume and price numbers, like a price per pound going down on cost of imports from $.92 to $.89 in an unrealistic manner and not correlated with true cost.

The biggest impact on the government panel was the compelling story of generational growers and the effect on families and communities. Our growers demonstrated with their testimony caring beyond themselves, love for our region and the families within it. The proverbial cherry on top before all concluded was that our growers demonstrated a compassion for feeding populations with a reliable source of safe healthy food. Taking steps to be heard went much deeper than trade.

It was about fairness and clarity.

Further steps will need to be taken across agricultural commodities to protect the

stone fruit industry and beyond. U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, held a hearing in June titled, “Certainty in Global Markets for the U.S. Agriculture Sector.” Chairman Roberts stated, “It is time to look toward the future.

While an update of activities is certainly appropriate, today, I hope to also hear about the future of U.S. agriculture trade policy. This includes not just restoring certainty to markets that the U.S. either had through negotiated agreements or as a traditional, competitive supplier, but what will be done to improve access to those same markets and broaden it to others.”

He further commented, “The question is, what is being done today that will enable us to be a reliable supplier around the world tomorrow? How can we continue to strengthen trading relationships that we have worked for years to establish, while also building new opportunities around the world?”

For us in Michigan and Wisconsin, our cherry industry leaders have validated the importance of being and staying engaged early and often. Celebrate your engagement with a cherry on top, or risk impact of having people who do not know making decisions without knowing. ■

PAC Progress:

SINCE THE SPRING ISSUE OF PARTNERS...

GreenStone has been steadily communicating the challenges and opportunities of agriculture and rural America.

The budgeting process for the MI GreenStone PAC has been completed with the conclusion of the 2019 MI GreenStone PAC Contribution Campaign.

Over 40 elected government officials were identified by the Board of Directors to be recipients of MI GreenStone PAC funds with input from Kelley Cawthorne, GreenStone’s outside lobbying consultant.

Delivery of the funds has begun and the goal is to have it completed by year end.

In addition to communicating about the Farm Credit System and agriculture, the beneficiaries are made aware that the funds came from Farm Credit cooperative

members that appreciate the work being done to address challenges and create further opportunities for Michigan agriculture.

In Wisconsin, since the conclusion of the 2019 WI Farm Credit PAC contribution campaign, opportunities to connect legislators to customers and staff in branch “Meet and Greets” have been identified.

Later, when legislators are able to accept contributions to their campaigns, the WI Farm Credit PAC will make disbursements.

The national Farm Credit PAC has been disbursing funds within GreenStone’s territory. Members, directors, and

management have been involved in meeting U.S. Senators and Representatives. All meetings have been mutually beneficial as the Farm Credit story is shared and the happenings of DC are relayed. In addition, current focus is placed on talking about the importance of having a strong farm safety net programs and access to international markets.

Your support of elected officials is commended and greatly appreciated by recipients of PAC funds. Communicating the challenges and new opportunities to elected officials is an important component to raising awareness and gathering support. As champions of the agriculture industry, we all must continue to work closely to ensure agriculture is not forgotten as an essential component to a thriving economy and safe food system. ■

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The GreenStone Story:

Serving Rural America AT ITS CORE, GREENSTONE FARM CREDIT SERVICES, LIKE THE REST OF THE FARM CREDIT SYSTEM, EXISTS TO BE A RELIABLE, CONSISTENT SOURCE OF CREDIT FOR FARMERS. STEMMING FROM THIS IS ALSO PROVIDING THE SAME RELATIONSHIP-BASED, CONSISTENT CREDIT TO THOSE LOOKING TO BUY LAND OR HOMES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. THE DIVERSIFICATION OF GREENSTONE’S LENDING PORTFOLIO TO RURAL LAND AND HOMES ALLOWS US TO SUPPORT THE AMBITIONS OF MANY RURAL CONSUMERS.

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Summer 2019 — Partners

“

This segment of our business, referred to as “Country Living,” represents about a quarter of the total asset portfolio and grows each year as more people learn that we are a viable lender in this market segment.

This segment of our business, referred to as “Country Living,” represents about a quarter of the total asset portfolio and grows each year as more people learn that we are a viable lender in this market segment. As a member-owned cooperative, this growth into the non-traditional agriculture market benefits all our members.

Creating a diversified portfolio, including products serving rural homeowners, works to strengthen the entire association as well as leverage the talent and resources of the GreenStone team into a broader customer basis. Having this diversity helps offset the cyclical nature of both the housing market and the agriculture industry.

The country living customers benefit from GreenStone’s rich heritage of working with those with a passion for a rural lifestyle and a team of employees with a vast amount of experience meeting customer’s needs in a personal manner.

Country living products and services are tailored closely to our farm financing products

with a variety of features for home mortgages including: • Up to 30 year terms • No balloon payment

flexible, easy to use construction loans offer plenty of options to meet individual needs, including:

• Fixed interest rates

• Do-it-yourself or contracted construction

• Specialization in properties of 10 acres or more

• One-time close option

• Options of up to 95 percent loan-to-value • Financing for non-traditional homes Working with customers to purchase vacant land for hunting or other recreational purposes is one area GreenStone utilizes the expertise provided to farm members in order to provide more options to these rural consumers. This commitment and experience is the foundation of our ability to finance vacant land up to 30 years with no building or acreage restrictions. For those looking to add a cabin, pole barn, outbuildings or other site improvements, additional construction financing options provide a complete solution to our country living customers.

When it comes to those looking to build their dream homes, our

• Fixed or variable rate options during construction • Your choice of contractor • Utilize land value for equity • Flexible draws Serving the communities where we live, work and play.

With our strong ties to our local communities, through our products and services as well as long-term employees, we take great pride in supporting a variety of service, outreach, education and youth focused activities in our local communities. Each year we provide both local and regional support at varying levels to activities and organizations aligning with our core pillars of giving. These four pillars provide the structure of our giving and allow us to work with those whose mission and values align with our members.

“

Each year we provide both local and regional support at varying levels to activities and organizations aligning with our core pillars of giving.

”

”

The four pillars of giving are: • Agriculture Advocacy, Customer and Industry Relations and Producer Leadership Development and Education • Young, Beginning and Small Farmers • Youth Education and Agriculture Awareness • Rural Community Engagement Additionally, we offer individual grants to young, beginning and small farmers helping to cover costs associated with expanding their knowledge or strengthen their business. The Grow Forward Grant provides up to a total of $40,000 annually.

Current customers are eligible for up to $1,000, and noncustomers are eligible for up to $500. Grants can be used for: agricultural programs/events; GreenStone resources (tax and accounting, technology, etc) or non-GreenStone services or consultants.

Because we believe strongly in the need for young people to engage in agriculturalrelated careers, we also offer up to $40,000 a year in college scholarships to high school seniors pursuing higher education with career goals to be involved in the agriculture industry. The 2019 scholarship winners are announced on page 16 of this issue of Partners.

Applications for the 2020 scholarships will be made available early in the year.

For more information on any of these programs, visit www.greenstonefcs.com. ■

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Directors’ Perspective– Why Do I Serve?

GOVERNED BY YOUR FELLOW COOPERATIVE MEMBERS WHO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN SEEING GREENSTONE CONTINUE ITS SUCCESSFUL MISSION OF SERVING, YOUR ASSOCIATION IS STRONGER BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE OF THE 16 BOARD MEMBERS. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ENSURING THE ASSOCIATION’S OPERATIONS ARE FULFILLED IN A SAFE AND SOUND MANNER. WHILE DIRECTORS ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR A HOST OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND OPERATIONS, THEIR SERVICE COMES DOWN TO A DESIRE TO HELP LEAD THIS COOPERATIVE TO A STRONGER TOMORROW. HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THESE MEMBERS AS THEY SHARE WITH YOU “WHY I SERVE.” Bruce Lewis

Having a desire to help GreenStone serve its mission of assisting rural America, and the desire to give back to an organization that I partner with, is why I serve GreenStone.

GreenStone is a part of the system which has been in place for over 100 years as a cooperative effort. Membership involvement in the cooperative will help ensure the future success of the organization. It is imperative to not only drive the success, but to also protect what the Farm Credit Act provides

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Summer 2019 — Partners

our members. This gives an opportunity for the membership to have a solid base of funding now and in the future.

Being a board member has led me to have a greater understanding of financial indicators of performance, not only of our organization but also of my business. Meeting Farm Credit members from other states and learning about the different agriculture productions throughout the U.S. has been beneficial to each of us on the board. No matter how isolated you feel at times, there are others across the country that are going through something similar.

Serving Greenstone is a privilege and an honor.

Peter Maxwell:

Whether you are a farmer or resident in a rural community, you have probably witnessed or experienced firsthand the challenges producers have had this incredibly wet, cold, and difficult spring. #Plant19 and #noplant19 will certainly go down in history with growers attempting everything they can to get crops planted.

Stress has been high with the looming pressures of supporting families,

operations, and livestock. The moment I finished planting our last field of soybeans, I was overcome with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

But that relief didn’t last more than a moment before I began to worry about my fellow producers and their success. This is one of the most unique attributes of cooperative membership.

We all share in each other’s challenges and successes.

As I think of my time as a board member, one of the most surprising, yet rewarding things I have witnessed is the amount of care and compassion for each and every shareholder’s success. Every loan (large and small)

is important. The staff and board understand that each member is integral to agriculture and rural America. No decision is taken lightly.

GreenStone is one of the strongest, most efficient cooperatives in America, and I am proud to say I am a member.

I serve on the board because I am part of the fabric of rural America and a passion for agriculture runs in my blood. I am passionate about Farm Credit and its critical role in my operation and others’. I am grateful to have a lender that understands #noplant19 and is there with me, and my fellow shareholders, through good times and challenging times.

Ed Reed

Scott Roggenbuck

Serving on the board at GreenStone is something I regard as a responsibility as a stakeholder in the cooperative. Producers are directly affected by the policies set forth by the Board of Directors; having producer input is key to developing functional procedures.

Being part of an organization whose main goal is producer success guarantees our values remain aligned; your success is our success.

The cooperative model, along with a producerled board, ensures GreenStone is continually working for us, the members.

I serve because I love it. I love working with the people - my fellow board members, the management, all the staff, and especially the customers. The job is challenging, and interesting.

The cooperative structure is imperative to the success of GreenStone and the future of its members because it allows for the members to share in the profits through the Patronage Program while having a say in the future direction by electing a board of their peers

GreenStone has allowed me to be a part of the bigger picture of agriculture. Sometimes as a producer, you can be bogged down with the day to day details of your operation.

GreenStone has forced me to learn about not only the interdependencies of the U.S. agriculture sector, and how my operation is impacted by global events. As an electrical engineer, I wasn’t immersed in the agricultural world as a young adult; I had to learn quickly how to mesh the producer and business ends of my operation to make it succeed.

GreenStone has broadened that scope for me and I look forward to continually learning how to serve our cooperative better.

I have also made some great friends, and that has been very rewarding. But if I had to be honest, when I first became a director, I was concerned I wasn’t going to be smart enough.

I mean - what did I really know about depths of financing? So I was a bit surprised to find that I was actually a quick learner and turned out to be pretty good at it.

I would have to say one of the key benefits I have experienced from being a director has been the way I approach decisions. While it is good to have a passion for your beliefs, I now know the value of this statement: Don’t make your decisions based on your emotions. ■

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A DIY COUNTRY LIVING DREAM

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➡ Left: Armed with a vision and a strong work ethic, Adam Ford and Kelsey Ladley built their dream home. ➡ Right: From building to designing their home, Adam and Kelsey have added their own style throughout.

SITTING AT HIS IMPRESSIVE BUTCHER-BLOCK TABLE, ADAM FORD POINTS OUT THE WILD TURKEYS STROLLING THROUGH HIS BACKYARD. THE OPEN KITCHEN FLOWS INTO THE LIVING AREA, AND WINDOWS ON THREE WALLS SOFTLY ILLUMINATE THE ROOMS. “This is how bright it always is,” Adam says. “It’s something really important to us. It’s great getting up in the morning and having coffee sitting here with the sunshine coming in and the wildlife walking by.”

bathtub on the second floor. Kelsey jokes she and Adam are local versions of Chip and Joanna Gaines from HGTV’s Fixer Upper show.

“We still pinch ourselves,” Kelsey says, gazing around her kitchen.

“We can’t believe the house is really ours. It feels like we’re staying at someone else’s Airbnb!”

Overcoming obstacles

Adam recently moved into his country dream home in Scotts, Mich. with his fiancée, Kelsey Ladley. With the help of family, friends and GreenStone Farm Credit Services, the couple spent the last year working toward their future.

Adam, who works for EPS Security in sales during the day, approached the project with creativity and innovation. Many people ask if he and Kelsey were afraid to build their own house, but Adam answers with a smile and two words: “YouTube videos.”

“We’ve been living in the house for three months,” Adam comments.

“The full build time was about nine months. I acted as the general contractor; my dad (Jim Ford) and I were out here every night from 5 p.m. till 10:30 or 11 p.m., plus every weekend we weren’t rained out.”

“We definitely watched YouTube ‘how-to’ videos from time to time. My dad knew how to build decks and I knew how to drywall, and we both knew how to do framing and flooring. I hired out the roofing, concrete, electrical, HVAC and plumbing and I’m glad I did,” he adds.

Surprisingly, Adam’s only building experience was in high school woodshop, along with some experience in the construction trades through the school’s vocational program. When he was in middle school, Adam’s parents built a house and over the years he helped with renovations.

Despite a DIY attitude and enthusiasm, Adam did not initially plan to build a house.

“I guess that’s where I got the drive,” he admits. “I was always around home projects and I learned to be okay with the idea a house is never really complete or perfect. Even with our house now, there are things Kelsey and I are still working on and would like to complete in the future.”

Kelsey, who works in human resources, does not have much experience with construction but has been quick to learn. She is in charge of designing the house’s three bathrooms and is especially proud of the large, claw-foot

“

My age and experience caused a lot of lenders to close their books on me...

”

“Kelsey and I have been engaged almost two years. We were trying to find an existing home but with the market being as hot as it was, I couldn’t find anything with the amount of land I wanted. When I found this sixacre property, the listing made it look like it was all scrub. But we saw the potential that was here,” Adam says.

After locking in a loan with GreenStone to purchase the land, he noticed a house matching what they were looking to build. Working with an architect, they used the design of the home as a basis, adding their own details and additions to the plan.

“I looked at several options for financing the construction loan,” Adam says. “My age and experience caused a lot of lenders to close their books on me, especially when I said I was going to be the general contractor. I talked with Emelee Rajzer and Jessica MacDonald, financial services officers with GreenStone’s Schoolcraft branch, and realized by using the land as collateral, I qualified for a Do-it-yourself (DIY) construction loan.

Jessica was instrumental in helping Adam lock in his loan, and assisted him with paperwork and a one-time closing. Sindi Kozminske, a customer

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➡ Right: Surrounded by trees and farm fields, Adam and Kelsey are enjoying their new country home.

service representative, helped him create an organizational system, using envelopes in a binder for tracking loan draws and receipts.

“Adam was extremely organized throughout the entire process, which made everything go smoothly,” Jessica says. “The project remained on task and was completed within the expected timeline.

When we saw the finished product, we were in awe. We were so grateful to be able to assist Adam in building his dream home!”

Adam admits to being a bit of a dreamer.

“I get my optimism from my dad. I don’t think he was ever scared of anything DIY and that really rubbed off on me. When I said, “I can’t find a house, Dad. Why don’t we build?” he didn’t warn me to slow down – he was immediately on board,” Adam says.

Their biggest obstacle to building was the weather.

One month last spring, it rained three out of

i

four weekends. It was so wet it was dangerous; Adam purchased $500 worth of tarps and laid them all over the construction. One of his biggest accomplishments was installing the engineered trusses that run across the second floor of the house. Adam hired a crane operator to lift the trusses up into place and then finished the work with the help of family and friends. The heat index that day was 103 degrees!

Optional Tips

“I often wonder how soon we could have knocked out the house if we didn’t have the weather challenges, but my dad and I are still happy that two guys working full-time jobs accomplished it in nine months,” he comments.

3) Work with a GreenStone financial services officer to take the stress out of loan paperwork.

Adam’s tips for DIYers: 1) Attend a construction seminar hosted by GreenStone.

2) Get organized before you become overwhelmed. I used a system of envelopes in a binder for receipts and loan draws, which kept me on time and on track.

4) Develop a relationship with your local DIY home improvement store to be a resource, saving you time and money. ■

COUNTRY LIVING – OPEN FIELDS BLOG BRIEF

GreenStone publishes regular updates on our Open Fields blog. Check out some of the posts you may have missed at www.greenstonefcs.com.

The GreenStone Difference

Short-term mortgage options

We are often asked, “what makes Farm Credit different?” It is best explained by understanding the why behind our business.

Watch our video blog to learn more.

At GreenStone we work with our customers on an individual basis developing individual solutions to meet their needs. When customers are looking for a short-term loan for land purchases or homes, we may recommend a 5-25 or 7-23 loan.

Gratiot County Quilt Trail Family quilts symbolize much more than warmth and comfort - passed down through generations, quilts represent a family’s heritage. Squares from these beautiful quilts began popping up on barns across America, inspiring rural communities like those in Gratiot County to showcase their family’s history on a barn quilt block.

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Improving your credit score Low credit scores can have a negative impact when applying for a mortgage. In this Rural Results video, GreenStone experts offer tips and advice on how customers can improve their credit score. ■

CAMPING ESSENTIALS FOR THE SUMMER DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, MANY MIDWESTERNERS ENJOY CAMPING AT LOCAL PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS. IF YOU ARE HEADED OUT TO DO THE SAME AND AREN’T “GLAMPING,” USING A CAMPER OR RENTING A CABIN, HERE ARE SOME ESSENTIALS TO PACK TO HELP GET YOU THROUGH YOUR TRIP. Bedding – A lightweight, nylon sleeping bag is best to pack to help keep you warm while providing airflow.

You may also want to include a sleeping pad for added comfort under your sleeping bag. And if you have a desire to leave the tent behind and sleep underneath the stars, a sleeping pad can also provide anti-fungal properties and be abrasion resistant. Be sure to select a lightweight tent if your destination requires long distance hiking or quick setup when you arrive at your overnight camp.

Coolers, food and water – Many experts recommend two coolers: one for food and one for drinks. In addition, make sure, you have enough water to stay hydrated and ice to keep your food chilled, or be prepared to find a location for a local purchase while camping.

Insect repellent and sunscreen – Wooded areas can be one of the most popular places for insects, thanks to their high moisture and humidity levels. At the same time, sun can seep through even in wooded campgrounds; applying sunscreen every few hours can help block you from harmful rays.

Clothing – Depending on the level of activities planned, stay cool and dry with clothing that will breathe, such as synthetic fabrics. Including a hat for sun protection is also important to have a spot on your camping checklist.

Every camping list will include many other camping essentials; use this list to get your trip started on the right foot! ■ Source: https://www.active.com/outdoors/articles/yourcamping-supplies-checklist-for-summer

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CELEBRATE SUMMER WITH STATE PARKS WITH NEARLY 170 STATE PARKS TO CHOOSE FROM ACROSS 360,000 ACRES OF LAND IN MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN, THERE IS PLENTY TO CELEBRATE THIS SUMMER AT A STATE PARK NEAR YOU. WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING FOR BIKING TRAILS, A QUIET CAMPGROUND, SAND DUNES TO EXPLORE, HIKING PATHS IN THE FOREST, A WEEKEND ON THE LAKE OR EVEN A FARM TOUR – STATE PARKS HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY.

Michigan has an extra big celebration this year as 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of its state parks. To kick off that centennial celebration, Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources has planned special events throughout the year, encouraging everyone to get outside. Specifically this summer, there are Campfire Storytelling events, documentaries of Michigan’s most unique parks, and special geocaching locations.

Wherever you reside, take the opportunity to enjoy the beauty. And, if you are looking for a few great recommendations, try these: 1. Tawas Point State Park, Michigan Often known as the “Cape Cod of the Midwest,” historic Tawas Point Lighthouse stands tall along Michigan’s Lake Huron shores. Enjoy swimming in Tawas Bay and take your dog for a walk along the petfriendly shoreline.

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2. High Cliff State Forest, Wisconsin Overlooking Lake Winnebago and featuring scenic limestone cliffs, the High Cliff State Park is as breathtaking as it is historic. Take advantage of the boating and swimming, as well as hiking and the General Store Museum.

3. Mitchell State Park, Michigan Watch the sunrise on Lake Cadillac and sunset on Lake Mitchell each day as you travel through the park’s historic canal. With over 300 acres to explore, Mitchell State Park is sure to impress the whole family.

4. Higgins State Park, Michigan With nearly two miles of bike routes and eight miles of hiking trails, Higgins State Park might be the place to leave you breathless. Add in two campgrounds and mini cabin options to create your own week, or weekend, get-away.

5. Point Beach State Forest, Wisconsin While it may be a state forest, there are 127 campsites to choose from, all within

walking distance to Lake Michigan. Visit the 1853 Rawley Point Lighthouse and enjoy a picnic with family along the five miles of undeveloped shoreline.

6. Duck Lake State Park, Michigan Located in Muskegon County, this day-use park will bring out the adventurer in you with 728 acres to explore and two local lakes, Duck Lake and Lake Michigan.

7. Albert E. Sleeper State Park, Michigan Often known as the location of Michigan’s annual Cheeseburger Festival, the city of Caseville is loved for both burgers and the relaxing atmosphere the park offers. Just minutes from downtown, the 723 acres of nature trails, sandy dunes and shorelines help make your vacation an unforgettable one.

8. Potawatomi State Park, Wisconsin View over two miles of rocky shoreline from the park’s 75-foot tall observation tower overlooking Sturgeon Bay. Enjoy Wisconsin’s

wilderness while traveling through the park’s eight-mile off-road bike route or hike a variety of nature trails.

9. Maybury State Park, Michigan Offering guests an adventure-filled visit with miles of biking, hiking and equestrian trails.

On site is a working farm that takes visitors back to the 1900’s through sheep shearing, honey extracting and grain harvesting farm demonstrations.

10. Bewabic State Park, Michigan Just four miles from Crystal Falls, this Upper Peninsula getaway is located off Fortune Lakes with a large beach and boat launch, and plenty of campsites. A trip to Bewabic State Park is known to come with sunshine and good times. ■ Sources: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr https://dnr.wi.gov/

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Commodity Cuisine...

Sweet Blueberry Cheesecake There’s nothing better than topping off your favorite dessert with hand-picked berries from a local farm. Perfect for a picnic with friends or after dinner on the deck, this recipe for Sweet Blueberry Cheesecake is one you will want to share again and again.

Ingredients:

Topping

Blueberry Puree

• Whipped cream

• 2 cups blueberries

• Blueberries

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar • 2 teaspoons lemon juice Cheesecake • 4 (8-oz.) blocks cream cheese • 1 cup granulated sugar • 2 large eggs • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract • ¼ cup sour cream • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt • 1 cup blueberry puree Crust • 1 ¼ cup graham crackers, finely crushed

Instructions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. With a food processor, blend blueberries into a puree and mix into a saucepan with sugar and lemon juice over medium heat, stirring, for 10 minutes.

To make the crust, mix the finely crushed graham crackers with butter and sugar. Press into a pie or 8-9” spring form pan and wrap bottom of pan with aluminum foil.

For the cheesecake, mix together softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth; add eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla and sour cream.

Beat in flour and salt; once combined, fold in blueberry puree. Pour mixture over crust and place in large roasting pan. Fill roasting pan with water so the cheesecake pan is halfway covered and cook for 1 hour and thirty minutes, or until center of cheesecake slightly jiggles. Turn off the heat and let cheesecake cool with oven door propped open.

Place cheesecake in refrigerator for at least 5 hours or until completely chilled. Serve with whipped cream and freshly-picked blueberries. ■

• 6 tablespoons melted butter • ¼ cups granulated sugar

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Source: https://www.delish.com/

The PLC payment amount for a covered commodity is equal to 85 percent times the base attributable to the covered commodity, times the payment rate for the covered commodity. The base attributed to the covered commodity is the covered commodity base plus the generic base attributed to the covered commodity. The payment rate for the covered commodity is the difference between the reference price and the effective price. PLC payments are not dependent on the crops planted and/or considered planted (except for generic base acres as noted above) for the current crop year.

ARC program provides coverage for revenue losses at the county level. ARC payments are issued when the actual county crop revenue of a covered commodity is less than the ARC guarantee for the covered commodity.

CHOOSING BETWEEN PLC AND ARC FOR 2019-2020 CROPS CHANGES IN THE 2018 FARM BILL ALLOW FARMERS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AGRICULTURE RISK COVERAGE (ARC) AND PRICE LOSS COVERAGE (PLC) WHEN ENROLLMENT OPENS. PREVIOUS FARM BILLS HAD A ONE-TIME FOUR-YEAR COMMITMENT TO EITHER PLC OR ARC. THIS YEAR, FARMERS CAN SELECT EITHER ARC OR PLC FOR THE 2019 AND 2020 CROP YEARS. AFTER 2020, FARMERS WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE AN ANNUAL ELECTION THROUGH 2023.

Knowing how the two programs are implemented is important to making the right decision. According to the USDA, the PLC program payments are issued when the effective price of a covered commodity is less than the respective price for that commodity. The effective price equals the higher of the market year average (MYA) price or the national average loan rate for the covered commodity.

The ARC guarantee equals 86 percent of the previous five-year national MYA price, excluding the years with the highest and lowest prices (the ARC guarantee price), multiplied by the average historical county yield (the ARC county guarantee yield), excluding the years with the highest and lowest yields. (A substitute yield is used in any year when the ARC county yield is below 70 percent of the transitional yield for the applicable crop and county.)

The ARC payment is equal to 85 percent of the base acres of the covered commodity times the difference between the county guarantee and the actual county crop revenue for the covered commodity.

Payments may not exceed 10 percent of the ARC guarantee price multiplied by the ARC guarantee yield. For ARC payment purposes, any covered commodity planted on generic base is attributed to the planted covered commodity.

Determining the best selection for individual farms requires calculation of each program based on the farm’s number of base acres, farm yields and ARC yields. GreenStone crop insurance specialists can run individual farm numbers to project the best choice for the farm. These numbers will give the farm a projection based on past performance and anticipated prices to help them make the best decision. Sign-up for the program will be throughout September at local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices.

“Given the current cropping situation in Michigan and Wisconsin, we are encouraging all of our crop insurance customers to visit with their specialist to have their individual projections analyzed,” says Ben Mahlich, vice president of crop insurance for GreenStone.

“Customers can also visit greenstonefcs.com/ yieldreport to submit their yields and receive their projections. We are hopeful we can provide the information our customers need to make this important determination.” ■

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LEARN

CROP INSURANCE NEWS: CLAIMS & APPRAISALS Most producers have been there before.

No matter what is done during the growing season, sometimes Mother Nature just will not cooperate, and yields fall below guarantees. It is not a situation anyone wants to be in, but that is where crop insurance comes in.

If you do find yourself in a claims situation, there are some important things to remember to help the process go more smoothly.

Perils The vast majority of naturally-caused perils are included under multiple-peril crop insurance (MPCI) coverage. This includes, but is not limited to: adverse weather, failure of irrigation water supply, fire, insect damage or plant disease (unless you

improperly or insufficiently applied pest or disease control measures) and wildlife damage. Those covered under Revenue Protection are also protected from a decline in market price.

Timeframe Insurance coverage generally begins at time of application or time of planting, whichever is later. The end of the insurance period is generally recognized as the earlier of: total destruction of the crop, final harvest of the crop, abandonment of the crop, or the end of the insurance period (which is December 10 for corn insured as grain and soybeans).

Insured’s responsibilities For planted crops, the insured must notify

the insurance company within 72 hours of the initial discovery of the damage or production loss, but no later than 15 days after the end of the insurance period, even if the crop has not yet been harvested. If you have a revenue protection policy and have a claim based on strictly price, the insurance company must be notified within 45 days of the harvest price announcement for the crop.

Appraisals If you are going to harvest your planted crop in any non-traditional manner, a crop appraisal needs to be completed, otherwise you may lose a potential indemnity payment. The most common time an appraisal is needed is when it is going to be chopped corn that is insured as grain for silage. If you have a corn policy, any acreage that is not harvested traditionally as dry grain should be appraised. You should contact your Crop Insurance Specialist at least a week in advance of when you are planning on harvesting to schedule an adjuster to perform the appraisals while the crop is still in the field. In the event that you harvest before an adjuster is able to perform appraisals, representative sample strips must be left in the fields so the adjusters can use them for appraisals.

The strips must be at least 10 feet wide and run the entire length of the field. If you do not agree with the appraisal, do not sign it, and call your specialist to schedule another adjuster.

Throughout the whole claims adjustment process, if you feel uneasy, contact your specialist. And, if you have a concern with the adjuster, notify your specialist who may be able to secure another adjuster for you.

No one wants to have a claim; producing a bumper crop is much more enjoyable than receiving a large claims check. Remembering these key points will help make the process go much smoother.

As always, contact your specialist for individual questions and concerns. â–

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Crop Insurance Calendar...

JULY

1 15

Forage & Fall Wheat Premiums Billing Date Spring Acreage Reports Due & Processing Beans Final Plant Date

AUGUST

15

Spring Premium Billing Date

SEPTEMBER

FRESH APPLE REVIEWS— A fresh apple policy can be signaled out for a fresh review at any time during the year or at claims time. Producers must prove apples were sold fresh, and provide documentation of the selling price. The requirement is for 50 percent or more having been sold as fresh, at a fresh price in at least one out of the last four years. Call your specialist for information regarding documents to submit. If you cannot prove fresh sales, RMA requires your apples be changed to processing for the current crop year. ■

30

Wheat, PRF & Forage Production Sales Close Date

30

End of Insurance Period (loss reporting deadline) for Peaches & Blueberries

OCTOBER

IMPORTANT DATE REMINDER! Late fees will be charged on any unpaid premium on October 1.

Please make note of this important change as late fees cannot be waived. If you cannot pay your premium before the due date, please contact your AIP to make payment arrangements.

Payment is due regardless of any outstanding claim(s). ■

15

Forage Underwriting Report Signature Due Date

25

Wheat Final Plant Date*

31

End of Insurance Period (loss reporting deadline) for Fall Crops

31

Final Claim Reporting Date for Dry Beans

* P lease note that some dates can vary by county.

Please check with your Crop Insurance Specialist for specific dates if you are unsure.

HAIL INSURANCE: It is not too late to purchase Hail Insurance for 2019! Hail is a separate policy from multi-peril crop insurance coverage. A hail policy also provides coverage for fire, lightning, vandalism/ malicious mischief and transit to the first place of storage. Rates and coverage can vary by crop and county. Keep in mind, hail insurance must be purchased before damage occurs. Contact your GreenStone Crop Insurance Specialist today to set up an appointment to review your options. ■

CROP INSURANCE ALERT! BEFORE YOU CHOP! Be sure to call for an appraisal before chopping corn for silage this fall. If an appraisal cannot be completed, instructions will be provided to leave samples in your field for later evaluation. ■ FORAGE PRODUCTION

2019 FALL WHEAT & FORAGE CLAIMS

If you may be facing a forage production loss, contact your specialist to file a claim. If you did not have forage insurance for the 2019 crop year and are interested for 2020, the sales close date is the same as wheat, September 30. ■

Appraisals are required when a customer plans to do something with the crop other than harvest in the normal manner. If you do not plan to take your wheat/forage to harvest, GreenStone must coordinate an appraisal prior to destruction. ■

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The Right People in the Right Place AS AN OPERATIONS MANAGER IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, DEWEY VANDERVLUCHT UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPROVING EFFICIENCIES IN ALL AREAS – NO MATTER HOW SMALL – CAN LEAD TO A BIGGER RETURN WHEN ALL THE LITTLE THINGS ADD UP. DEWEY TAKES THE MANY LESSONS HE HAS LEARNED WORKING IN AUTOMOTIVE TO HIS CUSTOM FARMING BUSINESS, WITH ONE IMPORTANT ADDITION: RELATIONSHIPS.

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Dewey and his sons, Josh and Jake, operate VV Heritage, LLC, a custom harvesting and manure hauling business serving dozens of farms in Missaukee County. Together with their wives, Kim, Kayle and Jessica and a team of dedicated employees who work hard around the clock, they have built a reputable business in the farming community.

When he began his custom business, Dewey was managing a 300-cow dairy that, over the years, grew to a 1,800-cow dairy with 3,500 acres of custom work. Working on the dairy, Dewey saw a need to help farmers with their field work, eliminating the need for each farm to purchase and run their own equipment. Starting with a Claas 900 chopper, Dewey began doing custom harvesting work for a couple farms in the area in 2008. Since then, he and his sons have expanded their equipment line, and their customers.

“I have taken what I have learned as an operations manager and applied it to my business which helps my business as well as the farms I work with,” Dewey says. “I look to reduce costs and gain efficiencies anywhere I can. By doing that, I can save the farmers money, too.

When I drive my costs down, I drive down theirs at the same time.”

Having a mutual respect for his customers and building strong working relationships with them has helped Dewey grow his business. He acts as a consultant as well as a service provider to help his customers maximize their efficiencies.

Dewey and his family were struck by tragedy in 2014 when his nephew, Jared, was killed in a farming accident. During the wake of the tragedy, the family witnessed the incredible impact Jared had on those around him during his short life. Dewey takes that realization of how each person can impact another with him in every aspect of his life.

“

My farmers got me the business I have today.

Relationships come first, I have to build trust with the people I work with and they in turn give me a chance.

”

Listening and working closely with his customers allows Dewey and his sons to add the services that will provide the most value to his customers. Before purchasing new equipment or adding a new service, they will survey their current customers to see if there is a need.

While Dewey feels accomplishment in the business he has grown, his true pride comes from watching his sons working hard, building their own relationships, and making daily business decisions. Josh runs the day-to-day business, while Jake works to keep all the machinery running every day.

“My sons are there every day doing what needs to be done,” Dewey says. “I was asked to come back to my previous position in the automotive business, so I am at work during the day while they are

“My farmers got me the business I have today,” Dewey says. “Relationships come first, I have to build trust with the people I work with and they in turn give me a chance.

We want to do whatever the customer needs. The dairy farmers trust me with one of the most important parts of their business – putting up good forages. I get one chance to get it right.”

➡L eft: Dewey and his sons, Josh and Jake, built a business based on strong relationships and giving their customers what they needed. ➡ Right: Providing custom services to other farms creates efficencies for VV Heritage and their customers.

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➡B elow: Investing in the right equipment to meet their customers’ needs is critical to the success of the VV Heritage.

Tax Calendar...

JULY

31

• Non-farm employers file Form 941 for the second quarter to report wages paid, and social security, Medicare, and income tax withheld from wages, and compute employer matching social security payments.

• Form 5500 due for all employers that maintain an employee benefit plan such as a pension plan.

SEPTEMBER

16

• Third quarter estimate is due for 2019 individuals that pay estimated taxes.

• S Corporations file a 2018 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120S) if an automatic six-month extension was requested.

• Partnerships file a 2018 calendar year income tax return (Form 1065) if an automatic six-month extension was requested.

• Corporations deposit the third installment of estimated tax for 2019.

OCTOBER

15

keeping everything in line on the farms. My dad taught me how to work – there wasn’t anything we couldn’t do. And I want to pass that along to my sons.”

One of the key lessons Dewey takes from his “day job” to his business is the concept of putting the right people in the right spots.

It was this thought process that led him to bring his tax and accounting to GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

Dewey first did business with GreenStone with a small operating loan. From the first loan, Dewey began transitioning all his business to the team at the Cadillac branch. Most recently, he started using the tax and accounting services to handle his payroll, accounting and tax preparation.

“GreenStone FCS does a great job putting the right people in the right spots,” Dewey says. “I started working with Ann Allen on aligning my loans with a structure that works for my business.

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Summer 2019 — Partners

• Individuals file a 2018 income tax return (Form 1040) if an automatic six-month extension was requested.

• Corporations file a 2018 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120) if an automatic six-month extension was requested.

Throughout this process I was able to build a relationship with her team. Autumn Rector, credit • Non-farm employers file Form 941 for analyst, has been extremely the third quarter to report wages paid, important with her expertise and social security, Medicare, and income from a credit perceptive. Mark tax withheld from wages, and compute employer matching social security Dingee is my loan officer now payments. and this transition has been seamless. Ann, Autumn, and Mark have done such a great job that I trusted them when they introduced Stacey Mason for tax and accounting. have been able to help him with his payroll Everyone is really good at their jobs!” and taxes, creating seamless transactions Having all his financial business, including the between all the areas we work with.” accounting services, with GreenStone gives GreenStone tax and accounting services Dewey the added convenience of having have evolved over the years to better meet everything in one place. With all his equipment customer needs. The accounting team is financing and accounting at the branch, he is currently offering free tax and accounting able to handle all his business in one stop. reviews for customers wanting to maximize “Dewey is great to work with,” says Stacey their efficiencies. For more information, Mason, GreenStone tax accountant. “We contact your local GreenStone branch. ■

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i EMAIL COMPROMISE

Throughout the year, this tip has covered how to spot a phishing email as well as the importance of enabling multifactor authencition where it is applicable. This time we will discuss what to do if you have fallen for a phishing email and have had your email account compromised.

• Change your security questions – If your email was hacked from an unfamiliar device or location then it is possible that the adversary knows your security questions.

Updating your security questions and avoid common answers that could be easily guessed.

According to the 2018 Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report, 4 percent of people on average are falling for phishing emails, and 1 in 131 emails contain malware.

• Enable two-factor authentication – This requires that a hacker not only needs your email password but also something YOU physically have, such as your mobile phone. Most email providers offer two-factor authentication; if you have not enabled it, you should consider enabling it.

If your email account gets hacked, here are a few items you can do to help resolve the issue and reduce the chance of it happening again: • Keep your computer’s anti-virus and security patches are updated – Most of these email compromises come from malware that has been installed on the computer. Making sure your anti-virus software and security patches are up to date is paramount to keep malware off your computer.

• Update your passwords – If you have an email account that has been hacked, the best thing you can do is make sure that you change the password and consider making it longer in length, typically at least 15-characters in length is a great starting point.

• Let your friends and family know you were hacked – It helps stop the spread of malware when you let those contacts in your email know you have been hacked.

Informing them helps make them more aware of any emails they might have received from you.

While we will never be able to stop criminals from sending phishing emails, knowing what you do if your email account has been hacked will go a long way in reducing the impact to you and your contacts. ■

...Tech Tip

Partners — Summer 2019

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3515 West Road East Lansing, MI 48823

Summer feature highlight...

Adam Ford recently moved into his country dream home in Scotts, Mich. with his fiancĂŠe, Kelsey Ladley. With the help of family, friends and GreenStone Farm Credit Services, the couple spent the last year working toward their future.

Read more on page 29.