Economy

Corn and soybean growers have seen several years of low commodity prices and increased costs for supplies like fertilizer and fuel. That has many farmers worried about whether they'll turn a profit this year and drawn some comparisons to a dark time in American agriculture.

"We don't have a clear answer from Dow as to how many employees in Midland are going to be affected," Dave Clark, editor of the Midland Daily News, said.

Michigan State University research estimates that grower production costs had risen from 35 cents per pound in 2022 to 44 cents per pound in 2024.

Once considered a premium option, buying beef in bulk from a rancher has become comparatively affordable as retail prices rise. But it requires paying more upfront — and enough freezer space.

A decline in international student enrollment at Central Michigan University has left a multi-million-dollar gap in its budget, leaving union officials concerned that impending cuts will interfere with their contract goals.

As many as 11 Great Lakes shipping vessels near Sault Ste. Marie have been delayed due to icy conditions since the shipping season got underway Wednesday morning with the opening of the Soo Locks.

A recent economic impact report shows businesses in northwest Michigan are experiencing a workforce shortage even with recent growth.

A key waterway in the Middle East known the Straits of Hormuz is blocked off because of the war, which is preventing large amounts of oil, natural gas and nitrogen-based fertilizer to get through.

Michigan has lost thousands of farms in recent years as farmers retire or sell their land. A new program connects aspiring farmers with farmers looking to retire so those farms might continue.

President Donald Trump says his tariffs are the reason the country's trade deficit has decreased and claims he's revived Detroit's auto industry — though companies have had mixed success recently.