Michigan Dry Bean Producers Approve Continuation Referendum

Oct 03, 2024

Michigan dry bean producers have approved a referendum to continue the Michigan Bean Commission and its activities.

The Michigan Bean Commission and program will continue for an additional five years beginning Jan. 1, 2025, and ending Dec. 31, 2029. The current assessment is $.10 per hundredweight sold.

A total of 238 ballots were cast; 224 producers voted yes (94 percent) representing 5,665,735 hundredweight (99 percent) and 14 producers voted no (6 percent) representing 84,181 hundredweight (1 percent). For the Commission and its activities to have been renewed, more than 50 percent of the voting producers, representing over 50 percent of the hundredweight sold by those voting, must have approved it.

The Michigan Bean Commission was created to improve the economic position of the state's dry bean producers by promoting research on bean varieties and agronomic practices as well as research on developing and discovering the health, food, therapeutic, and dietetic value of beans and bean products; carrying out market development, market research, and promotional programs; and compiling and publicizing commodity information.

Source : michigan.gov

Video: What Successful AI Implementation Looks Like in the Protein Industry | Ben Allen, CEO of BinSentry

In this conversation, Ben Allen, CEO of BinSentry, explores what separates successful AI implementation from early experimentation across the protein industry. As producers begin integrating artificial intelligence into their operations, the most effective implementations share common themes: strong data foundations, practical use cases, and a focus on solving real operational challenges. Ben discusses why data quality and integration are essential for AI to deliver meaningful results, and why technology alone is not enough. Successful adoption also depends heavily on people, training, and company culture, ensuring teams understand how to use new tools and trust the insights they provide. Looking ahead, the conversation highlights the steps protein producers can take today—from improving data infrastructure to embracing digital tools—to position their operations for long-term success in an increasingly AI-driven industry.