AgBioResearch

2024 Michigan Farm Bureau Research Priorities

Submitted by:
Michigan Farm Bureau
P.O. Box 30960
Lansing, Mich. 48909
517-323-7000 ext. 2020

• Pest Control
  • • Development of effective controls for current and emerging pests, such as Spotted Wing Drosophila and Spotted Lanternfly
    • Find practical, effective methods to control or reduce the infection of varroa mites, tracheal mites, small hive beetles in honeybees and colony collapse disorder
    • Development of and enhancement of the use of natural plant pest predator species or bio-controls after thoroughly reviewing the potential consequences to the environment
• Disease Control
  • • Development of viable controls for current and emerging diseases such as Armillaria root fungus, Phytophthora capsica and downy mildew
    • The development of new chemical, cultural and biological controls for disease detection, control, and eradication
• Fruit & Nursery Crops
  • • Overall spruce decline
    • The development of new tree fruit varieties for growing and marketing that are specifically geared for growers in the Midwest
    • Development of advanced technologies to propagate and grow plants
• Row crops and hemp
  • • Research into areas of dry bean disease control and pest prevention
    • Research on the use of 100 percent biomass fuels for some vehicles, as well as blending biomass fuels with petroleum-based fuels
    • Research on hemp processing and production techniques
• Industry Needs
  • • Research and other investments to assist the agriculture industry in adapting to climate variability, for example research to determine the amount of carbon sequestered in soils and biomasses across all crops, including forestry
    • Research to verify the accuracy of Michigan’s Water Withdrawal Assessment tool
    • Research efforts related to autonomous technology and mechanization on farms

Updated September 2024