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economy ,” said Terry Spencer , Supervisor of Monitor Township , where the company ’ s Bay City factory is actually located . “ It never ceases to amaze me the ongoing investments this company makes to benefit the community . Michigan Sugar literally invests millions of dollars each year to improve its facilities and operations . We are so fortunate the company ’ s growerowners have continued to invest here year after year .”
Jim Reaume , President and CEO of Bay Future Inc ., called the project ‘ exciting , substantial , and transformational .’
“ The impact of this project will have a ripple effect throughout Bay County , the Great Lakes Bay region , the State of Michigan , and beyond ,” he said . “ This investment will provide both direct and indirect benefits across businesses and to community members who call Bay County and the region home . I am thankful for Michigan Sugar Company – for their leadership , and for their longstanding financial investment in economic development in Bay County .”
Onward and upward
Juhnke , who became Michigan Sugar Company ’ s President and CEO in April 2023 , continuing a career in the agribusiness sector that stretches back to 1990 , said Michigan Sugar is on a journey to go from Good to Great , harnessing lessons taught in the 2001 best-selling book with the same name by author Jim Collins .
Most recently , the company ’ s board of directors voted to implement a new Quality Beet Payment formula that will take effect with the 2025 crop . The new formula better aligns with the company ’ s processing economics , incentivizing the production of recoverable sugar over tons of sugar beets harvested .
“ The result will drive a change in agronomic practices , specifically a reduction in the amount of nitrogen growers spread on their sugar beet fields ,” said Juhnke . “ The way I see it , this new formula provides an opportunity to make an investment in our future with an infinite return . It requires no capital investment , reduces costs and impacts on the farm , and is designed to provide an opportunity to increase revenue per acre
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