Cooperative Effort Results in Disaster Request Approval

Bringing Knowledge to Life! / Partner Report / MasonCounty
102 South Main Street, Suite 4
Scottville, Michigan49454-1221
Phone: 231-757-4789 / E-mail:
Fax:231-757-2977
Web:msue.msu.edu/mason
February 2009

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Cooperative effort results in disaster request approval

Michigan’s agricultureis valued at$71.3 billion. The fruit industry is a viable contributor to that sector and to Michigan’s economy that is valued at more than $414 million.

Duringthe 2008 growing season, western Michigan, including Mason County,was repeatedly exposed to frost/freeze events from March through May that resulted in one of the worst crop losses in the last decade.

An apple orchard showing fruit loss

due to frost damage.

Based on the crop loss assessment by MSUExtensionDistrict Extension Horticulture EducatorMira Danilovich, MasonCounty growers lost between 70 and 90 percent of their normal crops for sweet and tart cherries, apples and other fruit to the weather during that time.

Mason County is part of the district that produces one quarter of Michigan’s total fruit crop, an income valued at more than $43 million.

Revenue for farms hit by the frost/freeze events was cut tobetween $12 and15 million. MSUExtension educators provided crucial assistance in crop damage assessments throughout the state.

This information submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture/Farm Service Agency Office provided background and support information for the crop disaster aid application.

A frost-damaged apple

At the end of January 2009, news was received that Michigan’s Agriculture Disaster Request had been granted by the United States Department of Agriculture.

This request will allow area farmers to access federal disaster assistance through low-interest loans to cover up to 100 percent of their weather-related production losses.

Contact: Mira Danilovich

Mason County moms have new source for breastfeeding assistance

Mason County MSU Extension announces the appointment of Toni Swinehart as the county’s newBreast Feeding Initiative (BFI) peer educator.

As a peer educator Swinehart assist new mothers in initiating and sustaining breastfeeding their infants. She provides support and resources via hospital and home visits and phone calls.

Swinehart is also an advocate for the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers, infants, and families by sharing information with pregnant Women, Infants and Children (WIC) eligible mothers, pediatricians, OB doctors, and nursing staffs in the obstetrics departments in Mason and Manistee counties.

Swinehart’s position came about thanks to a collaboration between the WIC Health Department offices of Mason and Manistee counties and MSU Extension.

Funding support came from the Mason County United Way, the MSU Extension BFI program and the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Nutrition Education.

By: Cynthia Corey

Professor Popcorn helps elementary students learn nutrition lessons

A new teacher is making his way through Mason County elementary school classrooms: Professor Popcorn. He’s a character who’s part of a new MSU Extension nutrition education curriculum for children.

Through a five-partnutrition lessonseries, the Professor helps youngsters learn about the food groups and food guide pyramid. The program includes accompanying activities and take-home items like stickers and pencils.

Cyndi Jacobi, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Nutrition Education (SNAP-ED)program associate,is presenting this nutrition series to all qualifying elementary schools in the county.

The SNAP-ED team also works with schools' nutrition and/or wellness teamshelping them provide current materialsand researched-based curricula.

By: Cynthia Corey

Mini-Grants seed 4-H’ers gardens

4-H members’ across Mason County had the chance to make plans and watch them grow, thanks to the first Mason County4-H program garden mini-grant program.

Funding for these mini-grants came from the Mason County Garden Club.Four clubs submitted mini-grant club applications and the 4-H program fundedthree of them.

The gardening projects gave the youngsters the chance to learn about planning and submitting grant proposals. The produce of season-long efforts was displayed at the Western Michigan Fair in Ludington, giving the youngsters the chance to show off what they learned.

The Up North Riders received a grant for their “Herb for Better Health” project.Each club member planted an herb garden and studied its progress. They planted various seeds and comparedgrowth rates. They also learned about meal preparation and seasoning with fresh herbs.

The Crafty Critters club members received a grant for their planting boxes project. They grew flowers and vegetables in planter boxes and learned about soil, fertilizing, growing, harvesting and eating what they grew. In addition to creating boxes for themselves, they also created additional planter boxes and shared them with hospice patients and families.

The Circle Rocking S Children’s Farm received a grant for a 4-H Garden project. They started with an unproductive plot where they worked to improve the soil, fence out deer and weed. They also learned about growing, harvesting and eating home vegetables and herbs from the garden.

Funds for the Garden Mini-grants will again be available in this summer. It is the hope of the Mason County 4-H program that more clubs and more 4-H’ers will get involved in learning to be successful gardeners.

Contact: Michelle DeKuiper