PA 232 Information
Michigan Wine Grape Growers PA 232 Program Temporary Committee
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has appointed a Temporary Committee of Wine Grape Growers in accordance with PA 232 Michigan Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act (1965) to develop a program to be considered by Michigan wine grape growers at future public hearings. The intent of the program is to establish a grower funded assessment program to support marketing, research and education within the wine grape industry. Fifteen other grower commodities in Michigan have established PA 232 Committees to include Apples, Asparagus, Blueberries, Cherry, Carrots, Tree Fruits, Onions, Corn, Wheat. The efforts of their contributions have paid benefits to their respective industries in marketing, production practices and industry outreach/education. For more information about the benefits of Michigan’s PA 232 visit the QR code of the Michigan Wine Collaborative PA 232 Town Hall Meetings below.
Temporary Committee Members
Chairperson, Bob Schutzki, Daddy Long Legs Vineyards
John Braganini, St Julian Winery
Bob Jacobson, Leelanau Cellars
Tom Jaenicke, Straits Area Grape Growers Association
Matt Killman, Walloon Lake Winery
Mike Laing, Mawby Sparkling Wines
Jeff Lemon, Lemon Creek Winery
Brian Lesperance, Fenn Valley Vineyards and Wine Cellar
Dave Miller, White Pine Winery and Vineyards
Dustin Stabile, Mackinaw Trail Winery
Jessica Youngblood, Youngblood Vineyard
The Temporary Committee is a diverse group of wine grape growers including small growers with and without wineries, and mid-large growers with wineries. The Temporary Committee is charged with developing a proposed program that will be presented to and considered by all wine grape growers in Michigan. The final form of the PA 232 Wine Grape Growers Program whether it goes forward or not will be shaped with input from wine grape growers in the entire state following the public hearings.
The Proposed Program
The proposed program will include definition of terms, purpose, maximum rate of an assessment, method of collection of assessments, and size of a permanent committee/board, representation, qualifications for representation and nominating procedures. In addition, the program will identify provisions and priorities for establishing market development, research and educational programming for the benefit of the wine grape industry. The proposed program will also include provisions for soliciting and awarding grant contracts.
Development of the Proposed Wine Grape Growers PA 232 Program is in progress. When completed, it will be introduced to the state independent wine grape growers and wineries growing wine grapes through printed information and at public hearings conducted by MDARD and the Temporary Committee in four locations around the state (Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast) in April/May 2026. An announcement with proposed program information and specific dates, times and locations for public hearings will be announced and mailed/emailed to independent wine grape growers and wineries growing wine grapes.
Identifying Wine Grape Growers and Wineries Growing Wine Grapes
Michigan is home to five federally designated American Viticultural Areas - Fennville, Lake Michigan Shore, Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission Peninsula and Tip of the Mitt. Michigan also promotes Wine Trails focusing on wine and grape production throughout the state that may or may not be in these AVAs. In addition, Michigan has a host of other wineries and independent wine grape growers in areas of the state that are not within an AVA or on a designated wine trail.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is using USDA NASS 2020 Grape Report data on wine grape production to establish the number of farms and recorded acreage for referendum purposes. The USDA 2020 Data is listed in the following charts.
USDA NASS 2020 Grape Report Data
The data lists farms according to size group and acreage. In addition, it identifies districts in Michigan where wine grapes are produced. The Northwest & North district includes Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission Peninsula, and Tip of the Mitt. The Southwest district includes Lake Michigan Shore and Fennville. According to the 2020 data, there are approximately 257 farms producing wine grapes on 3,375 acres.
Potential figures for calculating (predicting) assessments.
The Temporary Committee has determined that the assessment will be based on weight (tonnage) and a dollar figure per ton of wine grapes. For example, Washington State Grape assessments for wine grapes are $12/ton for grapes and 0.08cents per gallon of wine. Michigan’s Public Act 232 applies only to the agricultural commodity and does not allow an assessment on wine. The Michigan Apple Committee assessments are 0.52 cents per hundred weights for fresh apples and 0.28 cents for apples used for juice. The Apple assessment equates to $10.40/ton for fresh and $5.60/ton for juice apples. The Michigan Tree Fruit Commission set assessments for peaches at $2.00/ton and plums at $4.50/ton. Michigan blueberries are under a grower initiated federal market order with assessments at $18/ton. Michigan wine grape assessment will be based on $/ton with a cap in contributions for growers producing large tonnage of grapes. Assessment parameters will be presented and open for discussion at the public hearings.
10,000 tons has been discussed as the estimated total tonnage in Michigan for referendum purposes. Given the 10,000-ton figure, 3 tons will be used as the average yield per acre.
3,375 acres @ 3-ton average per acre = 10,125 tons
Additional figures to consider:
Farms by acres by size group
1-9 acres (190 farms) – 650 acres @ 3 tons/acre = 1,950 tons
1–9-acre farms are 19.2% of total tonnage.
10-29 acres (44 farms)– 815 acres @ 3 tons/acre = 2,445 tons 10–29-acre farms 24.1% of total tonnage.
30+ acres (23 farms)– 1,910 acres @ 3 tons/acre = 5,730 tons
30+ acre farms are 56.5% of total tonnage.
Wine Grape Growers in Michigan
The Temporary Committee is working with MDARD to develop an up-to-date and creditable list of independent wine grape growers and wineries growing wine grapes in Michigan. This list will be used to distribute information, publicize announcements for the public hearings and subsequently mail referendum ballots. Work on building the list is currently in progress. When the list is completed, program information including assessment figures will be distributed. If you are a winery purchasing grapes from independent growers, please pass this information on to your suppliers. They can receive future information directly by sending their contact information to the Chairperson of the PA 232 Temporary Committee, schutzki@msu.edu.
Public hearings will be conducted to allow independent wine grape growers and wineries growing wine grapes an opportunity to provide input into the program. Comments and suggestions will be used by the Temporary Committee to refine/modify the program. The Director of MDARD will use the information obtained at the public hearings to determine whether a referendum on the Proposed Program will be sent to the Wine Grape Growers and Wineries growing wine grapes for a formal vote. Referendum ballots will be sent to the list of independent wine grape growers and wineries growing wine grapes and collected by MDARD. Approval of the referendum requires 50% of those voting, representing 50% of the total tonnage (10,125 tons) to vote yes.
Wine Grape Growers PA 232 will establish a unified statewide voice for wine grape growers and provide an ability to leverage funds for broader research, education and marketing projects through federal, state and other agencies. It is simply an investment in our industry by our industry. The intent of the Temporary Committee is to be transparent, equitable and keep the interest of the independent wine grape growers and wineries growing wine grapes (regardless of size) in mind when presenting a basic program for discussion.
The Temporary Committee will keep you informed on progress as we move forward. If you have any questions, please contact a member of the PA 232 Temporary Committee or send your questions to schutzki@msu.edu. Let your voice be heard, comment and attend the public hearing in your area.