Great Lakes Echo (https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/capital-news-service/page/27/)
Local businesses looking to save on energy costs have an opportunity for low-interest loans through an expanded statewide energy financing program. This initiative comes from Michigan Saves Inc., a nonprofit organization helping businesses to lower their expenses and improve their energy efficiency.
A tiny invasive bug is threatening havoc on Michigan’s biggest-in-the-nation blueberry industry. The spotted wing drosophila is causing an estimated $27 million in damage to this year’s crop, with a more devastating hit predicted for 2013.
Municipal electric utilities plan gradual rate increases this winter, and some have already implemented them to comply with federal environmental regulations and to keep local jobs.
Michigan has 10 million acres of farmland, but only 10 percent is in the north.
State farm officials say there is more opportunity and a trend of more acres being farmed in those regions.
A recent report about major forest insect and disease conditions by the U.S. Forest Service said the population of gypsy moths decreased dramatically in Michigan last year.
The muskie production program of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has turned a huge corner by stocking only Great Lakes muskies. The department has raised muskellunge for stocking for decades but had always used northern muskies. This is the second year it produced strictly Great Lakes muskies.
The drought of 2012 will affect Christmas tree farmers in the Great Lakes eight to nine years from now.
That’s because the dry landscape was bad for planting new trees.
Michigan ranks only behind Oregon and North Carolina in the national tree market.
Michigan’s annual grape wine production ranks around tenth in the nation.
the quality and quantity of this year’s wine is very good.
State officials recently visited China to explore more business cooperation, including the exporting of wine.
Michigan Highway Hazard Recovery is contracted to clean up deer and other animal roadkill in several counties across the state of Michigan. Oakland County pays about $20,000 a year on deer cleanup.
Michigan’s chestnut growers are facing the same problems other fruit growers confront this year.
The early surge of temperatures in March and the inevitable cold weather in April and May curtailed nut production, just as it did for apples and cherries.