Environmental regulations have a strong political component. Environmental regulations, like other policies, are reflective of the party in power.

President Trump’s Administration preferred fewer regulations and famously (or infamously depending on your viewpoint) withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord. In contrast, President Biden has expanded environmental regulations and the reach of the regulations. Early in his administration, President Biden issued an Executive Order stating climate change and environmental justice would be incorporated in all areas of the government.

This past spring, there were a flurry of final environmental regulations that reflect this view of increased regulation. The ink was barely dry on one regulation when a new one hit the printing press. The regulations were advanced rapidly because according to Thompson Reuters, “The Biden administration (was) racing to finalize a slew of major environmental regulations to help safeguard them from potential reversal should former President Donald Trump win the 2024 presidential election.”

One of those recently promulgated regulations, The Clean Water Act – Facility Response Plan is reflective of the Executive Order mentioned above. This regulation assumes increased severe weather events as a result of climate change. This climate factor requires more facilities to prepare a Facility Response Plan then would have been required without factoring in increased “weather events.” Environmental justice is mentioned more than 30 times in the final regulation.

Environmental justice has also been used to justify enforcement efforts and in some cases deny permits (and permit renewals) in certain areas of the country that have been deemed as “overburdened.”

This political component is often what adds controversy to developing regulations – they should not be so strict or they are not strict enough. As outlined below, political interests not only influence environmental regulations – but the challenge of regulations as well.

Updating PFAS Regulations

In the fall 2023 Partners, we covered the developing regulations involving per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It is not hyperbole to say that these chemical compounds, which number in the thousands, are found everywhere across the globe.

The Environmental Protection Agency has recently taken several steps to regulate PFAS, part of the slew of major environmental regulations mentioned by Reuters.

First was establishing maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for six of the PFAS chemicals under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The lowest of these MCLs is 4 parts per trillion (ppt). For perspective, a ppt is 1 second over 31,500 years.

The other final PFAS regulation is the classification of two PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances under the “Superfund Law.” This means if you have these chemicals above regulatory levels, it could result in Superfund liability. It also (potentially significantly) will affect buying and selling property, including agricultural property.

PFAS Liability

There is growing concern over the magnitude of PFAS liability, which touches nearly every business sector. Attorney Ralph DeMeo (Guilday Law) said of the PFAS liability, “There’s not enough gold in Fort Knox to pay the damages and the settlements that are gonna come out of this. There’s just literally not enough money…there is a lot of concern about bankruptcy.”

With trillions of dollars in environmental liability and the potential for bankruptcy, the domino effect could have some impact on agriculture or agricultural suppliers.

One of the biggest concerns for agriculture when it comes to PFAS is the biosolids component. We covered this in the fall 2023 issue of Partners. While we cannot predict how this will conclude – it is potentially a very big issue to monitor.

PFAS Regulations Challenged

The American Water Works Association and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies are challenging the PFAS in drinking water regulation. In the challenge, they state the EPA, “failed to adequately consider comments filed by the organizations and other stakeholders, and did not abide by all the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act during the development of the standard.” Estimates to address PFAS in drinking water are as high as $175 billion.

The Associated General Contractors of America, Inc., National Waste and Recycling Association, and the Chamber of Commerce of the United States filed a petition in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia challenging the EPA’s designation of certain PFAS as hazardous substances. They are challenging whether the EPA appropriately considered the cost before promulgating the rule.

The Chamber estimates the annual cost for compliance with the hazardous waste designation to be $700 to $900 million.

One of the critics of the PFAS standards is Susan Goldhaber (American Council on Science and Health). In 2023, Ms. Goldhaber wrote, “The extraordinarily low numbers will lead to years of litigation, unnecessary consumer fear, and billions of dollars spent on low-risk compounds.”

In a perfect world, environmental regulations are developed and implemented based on sound science and without political influence.  We don’t live in a perfect world so how PFAS is resolved and the fate of the many other environmental regulations that were recently passed may rest in the courts and the elections this fall – because it’s political.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Alan Hahn has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and completed a graduate program in Environmental Management.  He has worked in environmental management for 45 years. He has written hundreds of blogs and articles. In addition to GreenStone Partners, his published work includes Progressive Dairy, Manure Manager, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Detroiter, Michigan Forward, and HazMat Magazine.

The opinions stated herein are not necessarily those of GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

To view the fall 2024 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

Whenever I start preparing to share another set of tech tips, I always hope it comes at a time free of alarming news about a recent security breach or some other dire cybersecurity issue.

However, like clockwork, another breach happens. So, before diving into the topic of AI and Deepfakes, let’s address the recent significant data breach.

This time, it was National Public Data, a data aggregator for background checks, which confirmed their computer systems had been compromised. The hacking group USDoD alleges to have stolen the personal records of 2.9 billion people (DeLetter, 2024). These records include name, address, and social security numbers. If you want to find out if your personal information was part of that breach the following sites can help NPD Breach Check – Pentester.com and Have I Been Pwned: Check if your email has been compromised in a data breach – now onto our regular scheduled program (topic).

A few years ago, terms like Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Large Language Model (LLM) would have been unfamiliar to many people. Unless that is you were a fan of the Terminator movies and equated AI with Skynet, but I digress. Fast-forward a few years and AI and LLM are all the rage. It seems like every new product is offering some fancy AI features, and even Apple, Microsoft and Google have introduced AI into the tools that we use every day, changing the way we use technology. While AI is not as scary as Skynet, the rapid advancements have made it easier than ever to create highly convincing fake content, and the really scary part is we are only at the infancy of these technologies.

Deepfakes are hyper-realistic videos or audio that mimic real people and even their voice. Products like ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot can generate human-like text which is blurring the lines between reality and fiction. While these technologies offer numerous benefits like the ability to quickly summarize information or explaining complex topics, they also pose a significant risk. Threat actors are weaponizing these AI tools to commit fraud, steal financial information, and spread misinformation.

Imagine this scenario: you receive a video call or message from someone who appears and sounds identical to your financial advisor, requesting sensitive information such as your social security number. Similarly, imagine getting an AI-generated email that lacks the typical signs of phishing, like misspellings or grammatical errors, and instructs you to transfer money to a fraudulent account. How would you evaluate and respond to these types of communications? As AI technology continues to evolve, the threats are becoming more prevalent, making it more crucial than ever to safeguard yourself.

How Deepfakes and AI Pose Risks to Your Financial Security

Threat actors are finding new ways to exploit financial services by using deepfakes and AI-generated content to impersonate trusted individuals, manipulate communications, and trick people into making harmful financial decisions. Here is how these technologies are being used to target customers like you:

• Impersonating Financial Representatives – Criminals are using deepfake technology to create highly convincing videos or phone calls that impersonate bank officials, financial advisors, or company executives. These deepfakes can be used to instruct you to transfer money, share sensitive account details, or approve financial transactions. The AI-generated content looks and sounds so real that even the most vigilant person can be deceived. In February, a multinational firm was tricked into paying out $25 million to a threat actor using this type of deepfake technology (Chen, 2024).
• Phishing Emails – Tools like ChatGPT can generate incredibly convincing phishing emails that mimic legitimate financial communications, including the nuance of someone’s tone and writing inflection. Threat actors use these emails to trick you into clicking malicious links, providing account credentials, or transferring funds to fraudulent accounts. The level of realism in these messages makes it much harder to spot the fraud. Since 2022 there has been an increase of 1,265% of malicious phishing emails, and a rise of 967% in credential phishing (Violino, 2023).
• Identity Theft Through AI – Deepfakes and AI-generated content can also be used to steal your identity by creating fake videos or audio of you interacting with financial institutions. There have been examples where hacking organizations have been able to successfully steal biometric data. These forged interactions can be used to open new accounts in your name, apply for loans, or authorize fraudulent transactions, all without your knowledge.

Steps to Help Safeguard Against Deepfakes and AI Risks 

As these risks continue to advance, it is essential to adopt stronger cybersecurity practices to protect your personal financial information. Here are specific steps you can take to safeguard your accounts and financial assets from AI-enabled fraud:

1. Verify Requests for Financial Information – Always be cautious when receiving requests for sensitive financial information, especially if they come through unexpected channels like email or video calls. GreenStone will never ask you to reply to an email message to update your confidential information or to provide a PIN, account number, social security number, username, password, or other similar information. We recommend to our customers never to respond to any email or call that asks for such information, even if it appears to be from GreenStone or another financial institution. If you are unsure of the authenticity of a communication, contact us to confirm. If you suspect fraud has occurred in connection with your GreenStone accounts, please let us know immediately and we will promptly assist you in resolving the matter.
2. Use Strong Authentication Methods – If you could do one thing today to protect your personal financial information, it would be enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) everywhere you can, including email, online banking and financial accounts. Our customer portal, My Access, offers MFA by sending a code via text or a phone call to your device to verify it’s you. MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of identification beyond your password, such as a code sent to your phone or email. MFA can help prevent unauthorized access, even if your login credentials are compromised.
3. Stay Skeptical of Unusual or High-Pressure Requests – Threat actors often create a sense of urgency to trick you into making quick decisions. Be wary of any financial communication that pressures you to act immediately, especially if it involves transferring money or disclosing sensitive information. Take the time to double-check and verify the request. Trust but verify!
4. Monitor Your Financial Accounts Regularly- Keep a close eye on your bank statements, credit card transactions, and investment accounts for any unusual activity. Set up account alerts to notify you of suspicious transactions, withdrawals, or changes to your account information. Additionally, putting a freeze on your credit file prohibits consumer reporting agencies from releasing your credit report without your express authorization. Protecting Your Information | GreenStone FCS

With the advancement of deepfake and AI technologies, the threats to financial security are increasingly significant. Threat actors are using these tools to generate believable counterfeit communications, impersonate reputable financial officials, and deceive customers into disclosing sensitive data or approving fraudulent activities.

Protecting your personal financial information and assets from the new surge of AI-driven fraud involves staying informed, implementing robust cybersecurity measures, and verifying any suspicious financial requests.

To view the fall 2024 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

What’s a way to get even more out of your hunting land? Buy it with friends or family!

While making a purchase with other people has its own set of challenges, you can avoid many of the pitfalls and only realize benefits by keeping these tips in mind:

Set up an LLC

When it comes to financing, setting up an LLC makes it easier to work with your lender. For instance, if you have ten people involved in an LLC, you don’t have to have all ten apply for a loan. Instead, you can take just one or two people who have good credit and cash flow, and the lender can work with those applicants. GreenStone is able to make the entire process simpler for groups seeking financing.

Discuss your goals and management plans

Owning property comes with many options, and having answers to some common questions can simplify it. Who will be involved in decision making? What will you do with the land? Will everyone use it at the same time or different times? It is also important to discuss if you will improve the land, and if so, how you will pay for it. Discussing these factors ahead of time can help set you up for success in the future and avoid difficult conversations later.

Come up with a workable budget

It is easier to buy more land if you’re pooling resources, but everyone needs to know where to start. Is every party putting in the same amount of money? Who’s responsible for paying the tax bill? Are there buildings on the property that require dollars for upkeep? Will there be attorney costs?

Taking time to talk about these issues keeps everyone apprised of the financial impact of owning recreational land. This way, if the property seems out of reach for some members of the group, they’ll be able to decide ahead of time, not later when they’ve already made the investment. Of course, friendships are more valuable than hunting land, so be certain that all the information is on the table before proceeding. For this to be successful, everyone needs to be open about their personal financial budget.

Establish a “Slush” Fund for Maintenance or Improvements, Taxes, and Other Incidentals

Like owning any property, particularly if there is a house or building on it, funds will be needed for maintenance, improvements, taxes and other costs associated with the property. Determining a monthly amount for each member to contribute provides the money necessary for ongoing expenses. Many groups will create a designated account to hold these funds to make loan payments and cover other expenses.

Talk schedules

We’ve all heard about problems with shared vacation homes that you do not want to experience! Avoid arguments about which hunter got the most deer and what’s fair by making certain you are buying with people who agree on when and what land use is allowed. Can everyone go at the same time at the beginning of hunting season? Is it okay if some people go more than others? Are guests allowed? Discuss all the issues before purchase, so by the time it’s hunting season everyone knows where they stand.

Discuss long term plans and potential conflicts

Sadly, life events happen such as death, divorce, or job loss, and new life chapters take place like marriage or geographic moves. All of these changes can complicate land ownership. It is also difficult to transition land ownership generationally when there are multiple parties involved. However, these issues can be tempered by the positives of requiring less individual money to own land, making your own rules, and sharing costs so you can own a piece of paradise to share with your friends and family.

By keeping these few tips in mind, it will make the transition of buying group hunting land a little smoother.

And when it comes to financing, visit your local branch to speak with a financial services officer and start working toward your dreams today!

One on one relationships are key in personal relationships, but what about as a consumer? What if you were able to have a one-on-one relationship with the people growing and producing your products. That is a large part of Dandan Zhu’s operation. She and her husband, Adam, self-distribute all of their products to keep the one-on-one relationship with their customers.

The Zhu’s family operation consists of beef, pork, lamb, chickens, ducks, goats, turkeys, eggs, and flowers by season! Dana says they want “to show that a mid-scale, multi-species farm can be viable.” They first bought the farm in 2019, and in 2021 they started selling meat. When they bought the land, it had been fallow for 5-10 years and needed major improvements before being planted, but little by little they have been accomplishing their goals.

To continue to grow their operation, this year Dandan used the CultivateGrowth grant to attend the Make It In Michigan Seminar. This seminar is an MSU Sponsored conference for Michigan small scale food producers to network and meet distributors. When asked her favorite part it was “Meeting with passionate makers of specialty foods from the state. We have added a number the products of several other producers to our farm store.”

Their overall goals are “To be the trusted supplier of regeneratively produced animal proteins in northwest lower Michigan.” Regenerative agriculture is a food production system that uses and reuses farm resources to restore soil health, support the climate, water resources and biodiversity. Practices like cover crop rotation, keeping roots in the soil, rotational grazing, and using natural compost or animal byproducts to spread on soil allow them to waste less and utilize more opportunities in their farm.

The CultivateGrowth grant has allowed Dandan to realize how important it is to her to self-distribute their products and build that relationship with those around her. GreenStoneunderstands the importance of supporting education for young, beginning, and small farmers like Dandan. We work to provide the educational and financial resources needed to help establish a solid foundation. To apply for a grant, visit CultivateGrowth Grant.

How Land Value Benchmarks are Determined

Every year, annual land value trends are observed by GreenStone Farm Credit’s team of expert appraisers. These trends are measured by re-appraising the same thirteen plots of land representing unique market areas in Michigan and northeast Wisconsin. GreenStone evaluates these properties annually to give landowners and customers a picture of how the value of cropland, transitional land, recreational land, and dairy improvements have changed throughout the past year. Factors such as commodity prices, governmental regulation, tourism, and weather all help determine the market value of land within these regions. Reevaluating the same plots of land every year also eliminates any variance that could occur with other survey methods, leading our appraisals to the best representation of market value trends.

The Results are In

Overall, the results across all thirteen benchmarks grew again this year as you can see in the table below. For the fourth year in a row, land values only increased, ranging from a 3.7% increase all the way to 19%. For landowners, these results ring positive, but for those looking to acquire land, these rising prices continue to present challenges. Many aspiring landowners are now facing all-time-high land prices coupled with challenging commodity price outlooks. Despite these realities, demand for land remains high and inventory is scarce. With this competitive environment, it’s easy to see why we’re noting significant positive gains in value across the board for all thirteen land benchmarks.

Dairy and Cash Crop Summary

In 2023, our value benchmark representing a CAFO sized dairy operation saw a historic year-over-year increase in value due to rising construction costs and a thriving dairy market. That trend somewhat moderated but continued into 2024 with a 12.2% increase in value for large dairy operations in Michigan and Wisconsin. As this trend is heavily influenced by construction costs, the benchmark has nearly doubled in value over the past four years.

Land benchmarks for cash crops continued to hold steady in the northeastern Wisconsin region with a year-over year increase of 3.8%. The western part of northeast Wisconsin saw another spike in land value due to rising competition for limited land. This trend has been constant in the region over the past several years and appears it will remain the same going forward. In keeping with the trend, all Michigan cash crop value benchmarks also experienced steady increases in value.

Recreational and Transitional Summary

Recreational land and transitional land (agricultural land expected to be developed into another use in the future), continued to experience increases in value. However, that increase was not as significant as it has been in years prior. The period directly following the COVID-19 pandemic showed a widespread movement of people leaving urban areas to more rural destinations or purchasing recreational land. That trend seems to be leveling off, as the value of these land types has become more moderate in the past year. This trend can be seen across the land benchmarks in Michigan’s southeast and southern thumb regions, and northern Michigan. Increased interest rates, inflation, and other economic factors all play a role in the decreasing strength of land values.

It’s Still a Good Time to Own Land!

An unwavering fact from this year’s land benchmark results is the value of land continues to increase, and the good news for landowners is it’s very likely the value of your land has increased over the past year. Buying land continues to be a strong investment for your future!

GreenStone’s team of financial experts can help find a unique solution that’s tailored to you, whether that’s helping you secure your dream plot of vacant land or expanding your farming operation. Click here to learn more about the resources GreenStone provides when it comes to purchasing land.

This blog was originally published in Michigan Farm News.

As summer comes to an end and hunting season approaches, the idea of purchasing your own hunting land may be floating around in your mind. For any avid hunter, fisher, or outdoor enthusiast, owning your own land can make each trip even more enjoyable. When deciding to purchase your own hunting land, there are a few things to keep in mind.

How to Buy Hunting Land

Understanding the process of buying hunting land can help you decide if the purchase is right for you. Typically, buyers start with a prequalification process similar to the process of purchasing a home. If you’re thinking of purchasing your own hunting land, get prequalified early! Hunting land is in high demand and offers must be put in quickly to secure your dream property.

While going through the qualification process, keep in mind many lenders like GreenStone require a 20 percent down payment for hunting land. Another part of the loan conversation is interest rates and amortization schedules. The most common loan type for hunting land is a 30-year loan because it will keep the monthly payments lower.

After your purchase offer is accepted, your lender will conduct an appraisal and discuss various aspects of the property with you, such as if the property is wooded, if it has tillable areas, and ensure it has road legal access and necessary aspects required for financing.

We are here to help you every step of the way! You can always reach out to your local financial services officer with any questions you may have before, during, or after this process!

Benefits of Purchasing Hunting Land

Hunting land is becoming harder and harder to come by and having guaranteed access to leased land can also be hard to obtain. When using land owned by someone else you can run the risk of your access being denied. Unfortunately, leased property can change ownership at any time and imagine losing access to hunting land right before the season begins.

With your own land you are always in control! You never have to worry about missing a season and you can make all of the decisions for the use of the land. You can decide to develop habitats for wildlife, dig a pond, plant crops, or enroll in a state funded conservation reserve program.  Whether it’s deer lures, or trout habitat, this control can help you improve the quality of wildlife on your land and raise the overall property value for future resale.

Historically, real estate value is continuously rising, meaning once bought you may have the opportunity to earn a return on your investment if you have a need to sell it later.

When you decide the time is right to make the purchase, we recommend speaking with a local realtor who specializes in hunting land. In this competitive industry, it is best to have someone who knows the area and can help you find your dream property. Remember to always tour the property, keep an eye out for environmental concerns, and make sure the land is perfect for all of your goals!

And when it comes to financing, visit one of our branches to speak with your local financial services officer and start working toward your dreams today!

If you grew up on the farm, you would know all about “harvesting” rocks out of the field. It’s a tedious task that never seems to stop, but why does it need to be done? The rocks, if left in the field, can do immense damage to harvesting or planting equipment. Grabbing even one rock out of the field can help the equipment become less damaged. Harvesting, or as some call picking, the rocks allow the operation to get better and more efficient each year.

Constant improvement is a goal of many farmers, and Ty Bodeis is no different. He grew up on his family farm and in high school his dad rented him his own field. Ty oversaw the field’s crop inputs and finances. This experience led him to pursue a degree of Crop and Soil Sciences from Michigan State University.

After college he started his own operation of corn, soybeans, white wheat, and black beans. Now he has over 120 acres himself, while still helping his dad on the family farm. Four years ago, Ty joined teams with GreenStone to secure more land, and since then has been consistently growing with the help of the CultivateGrowth program.

This year Ty focused on better managing his operation and he found a pathway through the CultivateGrowth Conference and grant program. He attended the conference this past February and has since been awarded the grant to help him with better management systems.

He currently is using an accounting software that allows him to get a full cost analysis field by field. Every input in the fields is different, so this allows him to keep track of all of his acreage finances and understand how he can better his farm each year.

Ty is familiar with harvesting rocks out of the field each year, and just like how that betters each field, he hopes to continue to use his education, the resources available to him through GreenStone’s CultivateGrowth program, and field management to continue to get better. Over the coming years Ty hopes to continue to expand his operation while helping out where his roots were grown on the family farm.

GreenStone understands the importance of supporting education for young, beginning, and small farmers like Ty. We work to provide the educational and financial resources needed to help establish a solid foundation. To apply for a grant, visit CultivateGrowth Grant.

Our interns had a busy summer, between intern events, job shadows, and work projects our interns had the chance to do it all! At GreenStone, our interns do real work and projects that help the company tremendously, and they even got the chance to share their experiences during the company-wide Intern Presentations.

These presentations encompassed each intern’s experience at GreenStone. Staff spent the morning learning about each of the 19 interns through their presentation where each discussed their background, projects they worked on, and overall takeaways. Many discussed the challenges they overcame and how much they learned working within their departments.

Many team members, executives, and managers came out to support the interns during the presentations, asking inquisitive questions and networking over lunch after the presentations. This allowed the interns to mingle with people from other departments and thank those that supported them.

As a GreenStone intern, each completed hands-on projects to help our teams tremendously. This presentation and networking opportunity allows GreenStone to recognize the interns for their hard work and learn more about each intern and what they have accomplished during their time at GreenStone.

The work day wrapped up after the presentations, but it wasn’t the end for the interns! Later that evening many of them headed to Jackson Field to watch the Lansing Lugnuts baseball game. They got to enjoy their last full day together as a cohort while enjoying food, the game, and their suite seats!

This was a wonderful way to wrap up summer and show how thankful GreenStone is for this year’s summer interns. It has been a summer full of growth, connections, and opportunities. We wish our 2024 summer interns best of luck in their next adventures.  If you’re interested in learning more about our internship program, click here!

Here at GreenStone, we take great pride in getting to know our members and finding the right solutions for their unique needs. We know our customers’ success is our success, that’s why we’re proud to share for the second consecutive year we have achieved a customer satisfaction score of 96% on our annual customer satisfaction survey.

Despite fluctuating economic factors like rising interest rates, strengthening customer relationships and providing tailored financial services and solutions has been the driving force behind earning a record-high customer satisfaction rate for the second year in a row.

GreenStone has achieved a customer satisfaction score over 90% for the past 21 years.

“The relationship we have with our customers is the foundation of everything we do at GreenStone,” said President and CEO Travis Jones. “Understanding the unique needs of our members is very important to us so we can strive to provide the best service and expertise possible.”

More than ever, customers are seeking a financial partner they can trust. Responses from customers surveyed in both Michigan and Wisconsin indicated they felt a strong sense of support and partnership from GreenStone, and were highly satisfied with the attention to detail and level of service they received.

The customer satisfaction survey uses a seven-point scale ranging from being “very dissatisfied” to “very satisfied”, as well as measuring customers’ perception of GreenStone’s performance over the past year. This year, GreenStone’s “very satisfied” results met the record high 74% again from last year’s survey. Many customers (24%) even reported they felt GreenStone’s performance had improved and exceeded their expectations in 2024.

Other notable areas of high satisfaction included GreenStone’s financial soundness, clerical staff, loan officers, and being a lender that values customers. For the second year in a row, 98% of members surveyed answered GreenStone was a financially sound lender with funds readily available.

“These scores are a testament to how our staff continually goes above and beyond to find the right solutions for our customers,” said Jones. “We take great pride in serving the rural communities of Michigan and northeast Wisconsin, and we know our customers’ success is our success.”

Customers also commented on our Patronage program, which is an annual event in which GreenStone gives back a portion of its profits to members. This year alone another $120 million was given back to customers, who expressed their appreciation of the member benefit in the annual survey.

Overall, this year’s survey results have proven that customer success and the relationships we foster with our members continue to be the driving factor behind GreenStone’s reputation as a trusted financial partner.

A Lifestyle Worth Living

Tucked in the heart of Michigan blueberry country, just off the beaten path you’ll find a blueberry operation with family, hard work, and a whole lot of heart at the center of their operation.

“We’re doing the best thing we think we can do for the future, and for us that’s providing handpicked fresh fruit.” Scott Harris, owner of Harris Blueberries located in Bloomingdale, MI, radiates pride for his product, his operation, and his livelihood. Scott, along with his wife, Marcy, and his Uncle Al, started Harris Blueberries in the late 70s with a dream to grow a sustainable full-time blueberry operation. But for Scott, his dream of operating a blueberry farm started much sooner, back as a 12-year-old working for a local blueberry farmer. “He told me if I planted 10 acres of berries here, that’s all I would have to do, and I could retire on that. That’s what started it for me.”

Of course, Harris Blueberries has expanded well past 10 acres of farmland, and Scott and his family don’t show any signs of slowing down. Harris Blueberries now spans 265 acres, and they hand pick and pack over 1.2 million pounds of fresh blueberries a year. Uncle Al, a patriarch of the farm who is now in his 90’s, still eagerly manages the operation’s nursery, overseeing more than 80,000 new blueberry plants until they are mature and ready to be planted.

For the Harris family, raising and packing fresh blueberries is more than just a job. “This is our livelihood,” says Marcy. “A lot of people don’t realize this is more than a job. Farming is a lifestyle to us, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.” Marcy herself manages the farm’s food safety protocols and keeps the office operations running smoothly and efficiently.

Family First

Family is an obvious pillar in the Harrises’ operation, and it’s more than apparent in the part they each play in running a successful family business. The Harrises take great pride in their farm as well as the several multi-generational families they employ who are helping make their dream a reality. This strong foundation of families working together has played a key role in the success of the business and remains an important part of the operation.

The Challenges of Operating a Blueberry Farm

Michigan’s fair summers, lake effect weather, and sandy soil conditions prove to be the perfect atmosphere for producing blueberries. However, their growing season doesn’t come without its own set of challenges. Uncharacteristically hot and humid summers, unpredictable weather, sporadic temperature drops, and seasonal pests all affect the harvest and can take a toll on the yield of fruit they produce every year. In addition, the Harrises have found themselves adapting to changes in demand from consumers as well.

The ongoing challenge of supplying the market with new varieties can be a risky endeavor. “We’re seeing a demand now for larger, crispier berries,” says Scott. This means planting new proprietary varieties of berries, which take time to mature and develop, posing a potential risk that may not pay off in the end.

The Value of a Reliable Partnership

It’s these unique challenges of farming that make having a trusted financial partner in your corner so important. “GreenStone understands us, because they understand ag,” says Scott.

When the Harrises began considering taking their operation full time, they knew they needed the support of a trusted lender, and one who understood the agricultural landscape.

“GreenStone really allowed us the opportunity to take our operation from part time, as something we were doing on the side, to full time. Because of their ag knowledge, they were able to help us purchase land that we needed for investing in more plants, and we were able to go full time with the business a little over 20 years ago,” Scott recapped. “They believed in us, even with all the challenges that we faced along the way. They’ve been a big part of our growth, and it’s been a great partnership for Harris Blueberries.”

Miles Bowman, Senior Financial Services Officer at GreenStone adds “Working with Scott over the past three years has been a fantastic experience. The dedication and hard work he put into his operation is inspiring. At GreenStone our goal is to support farmers like Scott to continue to grow and innovate. His story is a great example of how GreenStone can work with our customers to facilitate growth.”

GreenStone possesses the experience and knowledge necessary to help farmers succeed in growing and developing their unique operations. Click here to learn more about the services we provide to farmers and rural communities in Michigan and northeast Wisconsin.