WEST OLIVE — Ottawa County’s farming industry faces unique challenges, including farmland loss and a lack of new farmers entering the industry.

The Grand Haven Farmers Market opened for the season on May 1.

You can celebrate local agriculture and farming in West Michigan at the opening of the Grand Haven Farmers Market on Saturday, May 1.

Ottawa County’s unique farmland produces a variety of different goods and commodities.

BLENDON TWP. — Passed down from one generation to the next, family heirlooms are a legacy. For some, an heirloom is a bracelet or pocket watch. For others, it’s a classic car.

More than 550 Michigan farms produce nearly 100 million pounds of quality fresh and frozen blueberries annually. But the recent explosive growth in imports, unfair trade practices and market-price manipulation strategically timed to undermine domestic growers at their peak harvest has taken …

WEST OLIVE — Few would argue agriculture is an easy profession. When Mother Nature or the market throws a curveball, farming industry professionals stand ready.

With blueberries ripe for the picking, Ottawa County is already primed for a season just as strong as last year.

LANSING — State Sen. Roger Victory was recognized last week by the Michigan Future Farmers of America (FFA) Association for his support of the agricultural industry and the state’s future leaders.

WEST OLIVE — Ottawa County is accepting applications for its Purchase of Development Rights program, part of an effort to preserve the county’s disappearing farmland.

This past year has been one of extremes, including a polar vortex, late-season snow, high water levels and winds and early winter weather setting in around Halloween.

The weather challenges that delayed planting this past spring continue to haunt producers this fall as heavy rains throughout September and October, and now early snowfall in November, interfere with harvest activity, according to Michigan Farm Bureau field crops specialist Theresa Sisung.

ROBINSON TWP. — Many local farmers and others interested in the industry gathered at Spring Meadow Nursery on Friday to learn some statistics and plans for farming.

ROBINSON TWP. — Ottawa County may be one of the fastest-growing counties in Michigan, but over the past few years it has seen a loss in farms and acreage, according to Becky Huttenga, economic development coordinator for the county.

Although National Farm Safety and Health Week has come to a close, those who work on farms and in similar settings should always keep safety in mind.

LANSING — One of Michigan’s wettest planting seasons in history forced Doug Darling to leave about two-thirds of his Monroe County farmland unplanted. And the corn, soybeans and wheat he managed to plant in between downpours? He doesn’t expect any of it to grow up normally. The soil moisture…

LANSING (AP) — The Michigan Legislature on Thursday voted to allocate $15 million to a low-interest loan program to help farmers who face financial losses because wet weather is making it hard to plant crops.

WEST OLIVE — A recent survey has confirmed local landowners’ desire to preserve Ottawa County’s farmland.

EAU CLAIRE (AP) — The polar vortex that enveloped much of the Midwest early this year nearly wiped out the peach crop in southwestern Michigan, according to experts.

The Grand Haven Farmers Market will open for the season Saturday, May 4.

A local community garden movement is growing more than plants in recent years. 

Officials in Michigan’s fastest-growing county are aiming to preserve the county’s farmland.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday for a sweeping agriculture bill that will fund key farm safety net programs for the next five years without making significant changes to the food stamp program.

NEW YORK (AP) — After repeated food poisoning outbreaks linked to romaine lettuce, the produce industry is confronting the failure of its own safety measures in preventing contaminations.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is moving to allow year-round sales of gasoline with higher blends of ethanol, a boon for Iowa and other farm states that have pushed for greater sales of the corn-based fuel.

John Zysk has been selling apples at the Grand Haven Farmers Market since the 1990s. And, shortly after 3 p.m. this past Wednesday, he was still making sales hours after the market had closed for the day. 

HUDSONVILLE — Ottawa County’s Farmland Preservation Program is hosting its second annual Farms are the Tapas fundraising event from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Terra Square in Hudsonville.

It’s harvesting season for blueberries in Michigan, and Ottawa County is one of the state’s leaders in the industry.

Don’t miss your opportunity to get down on the farm this summer.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Even before the specter of a trade war with China and other countries threatened to cost them billions of dollars, American farmers were feeling the squeeze from fluctuating crop prices and other factors that have halved their overall income in recent years.

A recent 12-day stretch of little to no rain has caused some trouble to the crops at area farms.

The Ottawa County Farmland Preservation Program is planning to host a second annual Farms are the Tapas fundraiser to support farmland preservation throughout the county.

With the wolves of Isle Royale National Park on the verge of dying out, federal officials Thursday announced a plan to relocate 20-30 of the elusive predators from the mainland to the Lake Superior archipelago over the next several years, starting as early as this fall.

Despite the extended cold temperatures earlier this spring, West Michigan fruit farmers are looking forward to a good season.

ALLENDALE — Tuesday was a national day of celebration for farmers.

COOPERSVILLE — U.S. Sen. Gary Peters visited Dream Winds Dairy farm on Friday to announce new, bipartisan legislation to preserve loans used by small farmers to start and grow their operations.

MINNEAPOLIS — Tens of thousands of soybean and cotton farmers across the country are taking free but mandatory training in how to properly use a weed killer blamed for drifting and damaging crops in neighboring fields.

Despite national reports of potential Christmas tree shortages, tree farms in West Michigan have so far experienced a successful season.

With the recent drop in temperatures, the impending threat of some light frost in the air, and whispers of potential snow, local farmers are beginning to switch gears to prepare for the cold months.

The big reason the Michigan apple crop will be lower this year is the damaging frost event in early May.

About 80 miles northwest of Grand Rapids, fruit and vegetable grower Tim Tubbs was on edge this spring as harvest time approached for the asparagus crop.

PARK TWP. — The Ottawa County Fair opened Monday to crowds of families coming to join the fun.

By Ann Zaniewski/Detroit Free Press (TNS)

KALAMAZOO — A union has filed a grievance in response to Western Michigan University's hiring of goats to clear 15 acres of woodland on campus.

Hot, dry conditions were becoming commonplace across Ottawa County and much of West Michigan for most of the late spring.

As if one below-freezing event wasn't bad enough, fruit farmers had to deal with a second consecutive overnight with below-freezing temperatures Tuesday morning.