Fresh From The Field Podcast

Food safety. Public health. These are the partnership pillars between MDARD and the Michigan Association for Local Public Health. 

“I think people might be surprised about the local public health’s role in protecting food safety." - Norm Hess, MSA, Executive Director. 

In this episode of the Fresh From the Field Podcast, discover how MDARD and The Michigan Association for Local Public Health work behind the scenes to keep your food safe and healthy.

World Soil Day is Dec. 5th! To celebrate the importance of soil in our everyday lives, we sat down with well-known soil scientist, Karl Hausler, for an in-depth conversation about the origin of Michigan's State Soil, Kalkaska Sand. Kalkaska Sand was chosen as Michigan's state soil in 1990. It occurs in 29 of Michigan's 83 counties in both the lower and upper peninsulas. 

In this episode, we sit down with Cheryl Collins, Swine Program Manager and Emergency Coordinator for Animal Industry Division at MDARD and Stevie Glaspie, Feed Safety and Fertilizer Field Supervisor, with the Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division. They discuss the role MDARD plays in ensuring animal health and safety. They also share tips on how farmers can maintain good swine health.

Michigan is home to a little over 500,000 acres of wheat in 75 of Michigan’s counties. The economic impact of wheat in Michigan is $180 million. Michigan farmers produce over 35 million bushels of wheat annually. In this episode of, Fresh From the Field, we sit down with Jody Pollok-Newsom, the Executive Director of the Michigan Wheat Program and Todd C. Wright, Vice President of Sales and Grain Purchasing at Knappen Milling Company. They share an inside look into Michigan’s wheat industry.

Learn more about the Michigan Wheat Program here --> https://miwheat.org/

Learn more about Knappen Milling Company here --> https://knappenmilling.com/

Even though it’s not an official holiday, Halloween is much beloved by children and adults alike. Trick-or-treating, games, and costume parties are fun, but parents need to make sure treats are safe for their children. In this episode of, Fresh From the Field, we sit down with Michael Lally, Senior Food Safety Inspector with MDARD to share Halloween food safety tips with parents.

September is Emergency Preparedness Month. To celebrate we sat down with, Brad Deacon, Emergency Management Coordinator with MDARD and Elizebeth Weier, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator with MDARD to discuss how to prepare for emergencies and keep your family and pets safe during emergencies.

September is National Food Safety Month. To celebrate we sat down with James Padden, Food Program Manager, with the Food & Dairy Division at MDARD to discuss proper food preparation, how MDARD inspectors keep the public safe and best practices for eliminating food borne illness. 

MIFMA was established in 2006 as a statewide association to promote local food consumption in Michigan by connecting more farmers to consumers through farmers markets. In this episode, we sit down with Hailey Lamb, Communications Manager for Michigan Farmers Market Association. We discuss the role farmers play in the local food system, how farmers help the community during times of need and also upcoming events. 

August is National Tree Check Month - time to be on the lookout for invasive, destructive pests threatening Michigan's urban and forest landscapes. In this episode, we sit down with Robin Rosenbaum and Rob Miller from MDARD's Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division to discuss the threats that the Box Wood Moth and Asian Long-horned Beetle pose to Michigan.

During the hot summer months, just like humans, pets and livestock are affected by high temperatures. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jennifer Calogero and Dr. Mike Thome to discuss how to protect pets and livestock during the summer months. 

In this episode, we sit down with Slagle's Family Farm owners to discuss their grant from MDARD to expand their kitchen. 

In this episode, we sit down with Susannah lott, Invasive Species Program Specialist, and Mike Bryan, Export and Compliance Program Specialist to talk about the importance of burning firewood where you buy it. 

In this episode, we sit down with Gerald Miller, President of the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts to talk about Conservation day and how MACD and MDARD work together to preserve Michigan's soil and water. 

In this episode, we sit down with Tim Lyons, Feed Safety and Fertilizer Section Manager, to talk about how MDARD keeps animal feed safe. 

In this episode, we sit down with dairy farmer Ashley Messing-Kennedy, owner of Sheridan Dairy in Bad Axe. Ashley will talk about what it’s like to be a dairy farmer and also touch on Michigan’s dairy industry and dairy products.

Ashley is a third-generation dairy farmer from Bad Axe. She lives on the farm she was raised on with her husband Eric and their daughters Calli and Adeline.

June is Dairy Month, and MDARD will be releasing one podcast per week to celebrate the people and companies integral to Michigan’s dairy industry. In this episode, we highlight, Hudsonville Creamery, in Holland, MI. 

This podcast focuses on Hudsonville’s products, the expansion project, and how MDARD, through a grant and through compliance assistance from Food and Dairy Division staff, has assisted the company during the expansion.

Guest features are Shane Gallagher, a dairy inspector for MDARD’s Food and Dairy Division, and Teresa White, a Hudsonville Quality Assurance Manager. 

Learn more about Hudsonville Creamery Here: 

https://www.hudsonvilleicecream.com/

Michigan is known for having the best asparagus in the nation. What makes Michigan's asparagus so good? In this episode, we sit down with Dwight Fuehring to discuss the secret's behind Michigan's amazing asparagus. 

Learn more about Michigan Asparagus and find recipes here: 

https://www.michiganasparagus.org/

June is Dairy Month, and MDARD will be releasing one podcast per week to celebrate the people and companies integral to Michigan’s dairy industry. In this episode, we highlight, MWC and its impact on Michigan dairy farmers, the St. Johns community, and the state.

The podcast features George Chappell, VP of Dairy Operations, for MWC, and Jodi Gruner, Economic/Community Development Specialist for MDARD’s Agriculture Development Division.

In this episode, we sit down with plant experts Jan Meeuwsen, manager at De Bruyn Seed, and Keith Eldred, inspector at MDARD. We discuss the best approaches to keeping your plants strong and healthy. 

This year St. Julian Winery celebrates 100 years of Michigan wine!!! St. Julian Wine Co. has been owned and operated by the same family for four generations. Their passion for local farms, real Michigan fruit, and the production of quality wine and juice have been upheld for 100 years. In this episode, we talk about how their long-term commitment to quality fruit from Michigan has made them the most-awarded winery in Michigan. 

Visit them here: 

https://www.stjulian.com/

In this episode, we sit down with "The Tree Guy" Eric Brandon to discuss the history and future of Michigan forests. We also talk about the importance of Stewardship Week. If you love forests, you'll love this episode!! 

The McDonald's system has purchased $154 million in raw products from Michigan suppliers. In this episode, we sit down with two Michigan McDonald's owners and operators to discuss McDonald's relationship with Michigan's Food and Agriculture businesses. 

In this episode, we sit down with Polly McKillop, from AID of MDARD, Becky Neal, MAACO President, and Michelle Reid, Animal Control Officer. We talk about the Animal Welfare Fund, who can apply for them, why they apply for them, and how the public can contribute to the Animal Welfare Fund.  

Learn More here: http://www.michigan.gov/animalshelters

In this episode of Fresh From the Field, we discuss Food and Agriculture jobs within MDARD and the Michigan food and ag industry. We discuss:

1. Different roles in the food and ag industry.

2. How to apply for jobs with MDARD and the Food and Ag industry.

3. How companies promote job postings.

In this episode, we sit down with, Mike Bryan and Rob Millier of MDARD's Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division to discuss the Mountain Pine Beetle and Japanese Knotweed's potential impact on Michigan. 

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Michele Schalow of MDARD who shares tips on how to keep your pets and farm animals safe during the cold winter months. 

In this episode, we sit down with guests Gina Alessandri and Molly Mott from MDARD and Blain Becktold iHemp Michigan. We talk about the: 

• Recently the USDA approved the state industrial hemp plan. 
• What the new plan means for growers and processors. 
• What the future looks like industrial hemp in Michigan. 

To learn more about industrial hemp visit: 

MDARD Industrial Hemp: http://bit.ly/2l7kjjL

iHemp Michigan: https://ihempmichigan.com/

In this episode, MDARD Director Gary McDowell shares the challenges and the successes of 2020. He also shares the departments' priorities in 2021. 

In this episode, we sit down with Ed Carpenter owner of Peacock Road Family Farm. We talk about his participation in Trees For Troops over the years and the wonderful impact the program has on families. 

Learn more about the farm here:
https://peacockrff.com/ 

In this podcast we share information with growers that will help them comply with WPS on their farm.

In this podcast we share information with growers that will help them implement WPS standards on their farm. 

In this episode, we sit down with Amy Start, Executive Director at the Michigan Christmas Tree Association and Mike Bryan Plant Industry Specialist. We talk about: 

Where to find different varieties of Christmas Trees. 

How Michigan keeps trees safe.

The economic impact of Christmas Trees. 

And the top tips to keep your Christmas Tree healthy. 

Learn more about Choose and Cut Farms here: https://www.mcta.org/

Thanksgiving is the #1 day for cooking fires! The holidays are a wonderful time to spend with family, but you must take the necessary precautions when cooking. In this episode, we sit down with the State Fire Marshall, Kevin Sehlmeyer to talk holiday cooking safety! 

We sit down to discuss everything apples with Dian Smith of Michigan Apple Committee. 

In this episode, I sit down with Louis Ognjanovski, Michigan Food Field Supervisor with Food & Dairy Division (MDARD

and Justin Henderson, Infectious Disease Unit Manager - MDHHS to discuss how they keep Michigan's food safe! 

In this episode, we sit down with Captain Kevin Sweeney of the Michigan State Police Department to talk about the importance of preparing for emergencies. 

In this episode I sit down with Theresa Sisung, Field Crops and Advisory Team Specialist with Michigan Farm Bureau and Mike Bryan, Plant Industry Export and Compliance Program Specialist with Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division of MDARD to discuss Hemp products and Hemp certification. 

In this episode we sit down with Robert Miller, Invasive Species Prevention and Response Specialist to talk about what MDARD is doing to treat and prevent invasive species in Michigan. 

Learn more about PPPM here: 

https://bit.ly/30DL69f

In this episode I sit down with Amanda Smith who is the Executive Vice President of Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association. We discuss how COVOD-19 has impacting Michigan's restaurant industry and how they are making the shift.  

In this episode we sit down with Jolene Griffith Director of Industry Relations for United Dairy Industry of Michigan. We discuss: 

1) The shift UDIM and the Dairy industry has made due to Covid-19

2) The UDIM and Domino Pizza Partnership 

3) A trick to know if Milk was made in Michigan 

In this episode. We talk with Brian Verhougstraete of MDARD and Emily Dinh of Department of Health and Human Services about the impact and control of mosquitos. 

Tom LaGrasso of LaGrasso Bros Produce talks about being chosen for the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program, and shares the origins of the historic LaGrasso Brothers company. 

In this episode we discuss: 

1) 2019 Hemp Report

2) Changes in testing for THC 

3) The many uses of Hemp 

and much more!! 

Guest include: 

Gina Alessandri - Industrial Hemp Program Director, MDARD 

Craig VanBuren - Laboratory Division Director, MDARD 

Blain Becktold - Co-Founder of ihemp Michigan