Michigan Agricultural Credit Conference Returns Amid Market Uncertainty
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EmailThe conference provides agricultural lenders, agribusinesses, and policymakers with updates on the economy and agricultural industries in Michigan and outlooks for the future.
After two years, the Michigan Agricultural Credit Conference returned to MSU at a time when uncertainty for both Michigan farmers and their lenders has been growing amid rising international trade market tension. High inflation, tariffs, farm labor shortages, and immigration policies have only added pressure to the business of growing food.
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The 2025 Michigan Ag Credit Conference, hosted by the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics (AFRE) at Michigan State University (MSU), invited speakers from AFRE, MSU Extension, the Michigan Farm Bureau and leading experts in agriculture to share their expertise on issues impacting agriculture and directly engage with agricultural credit lenders on.
This year’s conference was held October 21 in East Lansing, MI and was attended by over 100 representatives of the agricultural credit and banking industry. Presentations at this year’s conference included breaking down farm labor and international trade as it currently stands; speakers and panelists also provided outlooks on grain, dairy, livestock, and specialty crops.
For conference attendees, this conference provides an opportunity to have access to individual experts who provide valuable information that will help them make beneficial decisions for their clients.
Jessie Bulloch, an Animal Nutritionist with Caledonia Farmers attended this year’s conference. Bulloch shared, “I see the value in this conference to add value to my working toolbox of knowledge that I use with my customers. I primarily work with dairy producers and as we saw the other day, there's a lot happening on the policy end of things that will affect how lenders approach risk, which directly affects my clientele. Having the understanding of what is happening in the world makes my decisions and advice clearer to the producer and hopefully more effective.”
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This year’s keynote speaker was Jonathan Coppess from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Coppess is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Gardner Agriculture Policy Program. He focused his keynote presentation on the Farm Bill, current uncertainty for soybean farmers, and policy changes needed for American agriculture to remain viable and competitive.
In addition to the presentations, AFRE graduate students also participated in a poster session at this year’s conference. Conference attendees were able to see the ongoing research projects that AFRE and MSU are working on in the state.
The 2025 Michigan Agricultural Credit Conference was made possible by the generous support of Greenstone Farm Credit Services, Harsh Endowment Fund, and Elton R. Smith Food and Agricultural Policy Endowment.
If you are interested in attending next year’s conference, be sure to follow MSU Extension and MSU AFRE news throughout the year for the latest details.
