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LICA’s View: Projects and processes

I am excited to assume the position of National Land Improvement Contractors of America (LICA) President for 2018. This is the same position my father John held in 1999. Much is the same, but a great deal has changed since then. LICA is growing rapidly, largely through the benefits secured by Jerry Biuso, our CEO, and our close ties to government agencies through John Peterson, our director of government relations. Here’s a look at a few of the projects happening at the moment.

Memorandum of Understanding with NRCS
Many years ago, we had a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It has since expired and the executive committee would like to create a new MOU representing LICA and NRCS today. We have established a steering committee to work on a rewrite. The relationship between our two organizations has been very productive since we have similar goals.

The History of Farm Drainage
LICA has embarked on a comprehensive project to publish “The History of Farm Drainage.” America feeds the world and the development of farm drainage systems has been vital to that effort. LICA believes it is important to have a recorded history of the drainage industry in which many of our members work.

Bob Clark, president of Clark Farm Drainage, Inc. and past-president of LICA, is serving as the project chairman, with a goal of collecting relevant information from every aspect of the industry, reviewing and co-ordinating that data, and publishing the results in a leather-bound book which will be available through LICA.

We are reaching out to anyone involved in the drainage industry – researchers, producers, contractors, manufacturers, educators – and asking them to provide any history they may have relating to the drainage industry in America, as well as where they see the industry heading tomorrow.

All editorial submission should include the follow four items:

1. Date: The publication will follow a time line.
2. What: Describe the action, product or service.
3. Impact: Describe the positive impact it had on the industry.
4. Source: Identify the source.

Please submit all editorial to the designated email: LICAHISTORYOFDRAINAGE@gmail.com.

If you have some history you would like to share, please contact either Jerry Biuso, National LICA CEO (908-996-7979 or email: gbiusosr@earthlink.net) or Bob Clark, project chairman (317-694-9167 or email: bob2@clarkfarmdrainage.com).

National Summer Meeting
The Michigan LICA state chapter will host the 2018 National Sumer Meeting, July 10 to 15, 2018 in Grand Rapids. We will be staying at the beautiful Amway Grand Plaza, and offer tours the first two days. I am proud to be reviving a children’s program at the summer meeting and we will have trips and activities planned for everyone. Look for details coming soon on our national website at www.licanational.com. I hope to see you there.

Work safe and best wishes for a prosperous year. DC

Mike Cook is the current president of the Land Improvement Contractors of America. Visit www.licanational.com for more updates from LICA.