It’s a lonely but rewarding life, growing trees in northern Michigan and selling them nationwide. But a shortage this year means many farmers sold out early and are heading home for the holidays for the first time in years.
Rural Michigan
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Walleye love perch too much. So Michigan is expanding walleye fishing.
The Natural Resources Commission will open the Saginaw River to walleye fishing during spawning season, beginning in 2023. The state hopes expanded walleye fishing will lift populations of yellow perch in Saginaw Bay.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Steelhead bag limits reduced in some Michigan waters amid fish declines
Growing public concern over the prized game fish’s declining population prompted the Natural Resources Commission to lower the daily bag limit from three to one during spawning season.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Michigan needs better trained nurses. Community colleges can help
Bills now in the Legislature would allow Michigan community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing, something that’s needed to address the healthcare staffing shortage.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Child care as economic development? You bet. $1.4B in aid coming to Michigan
The high cost of childcare and limited state aid has shrunk the workforce. In a rare area of bipartisan consensus, Democrats and Republicans are working to boost pay and subsidies.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Rising wages, few workers: A small town in Michigan adjusts to the new economy
Fewer workers mean big changes across Michigan, as hourly wages reach new peaks to lure employees. But people also want more from how they earn a living, like flexibility and satisfaction. The result is creating new pressures that won’t end soon.
Posted inMichigan Government
No thanks: 45 conservative Michigan towns decline federal stimulus money
In Michigan’s slice of Trump Country, some communities say the federal stimulus isn’t worth the hassle. Their neighbors may get the money instead.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Steelhead struggle in some Michigan waters. Will a catch limit help?
Population declines in the prized game fish are forcing the Natural Resources Commission to confront a stark policy choice: lowering bag limits or pursuing other options, such as changes in stocking strategies.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Record elk hunting applications fuel conservation efforts
More than 49,000 hunters applied to hunt Michigan elk in 2021, a record that is part of a steady decade-long rise, state wildlife officials say.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Deer expert: Expect fewer hunters in the Michigan woods this year
An uptick in deer hunting during COVID last year prompted whispers of a renaissance for a sport that has been losing participants for decades. Early numbers suggest many of the new hunters aren’t coming back.