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| Hi there,
This August, I’ve really focused on Michigan agriculture and ways to support our farmers. A big reason is because this fall Congress will consider the Farm Bill, which is legislation passed every five years that sets national agriculture policy. As the only Michigander on the House Agriculture Committee, it’s important that I hear from Michigan farmers about how we can make the 2023 Farm Bill work for them. And by introducing agriculture bills now, we can set them up to be included in the larger package of legislation. There’s much to report on that front, so I wanted to give you an update: At the beginning of the month, I introduced the bipartisan FARMLAND Act, which would ensure that purchases of American farmland by foreign countries are more closely scrutinized. Food security is national security, which means we cannot allow strategic competitors like China to gain control of the land that feeds us. Next, I introduced the bipartisan Specialty Crop Security Act, which was endorsed by 11 Michigan agriculture organizations from all across the state. The bill would increase federal assistance to farmers that grow specialty crops – a class of crop that includes fruits and vegetables, and is critical to our state’s economy. That’s why it earned enthusiastic support from organizations like the Michigan Agri-Business Association and Michigan Farm Bureau. And soon after, I traveled to Grand Rapids, where I joined Michigan Director of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Tim Boring and agriculture leaders for a roundtable on strengthening crop resiliency and Michigan’s priorities for the upcoming Farm Bill. It was invaluable to hear directly from the farmers and leaders who put food on our tables, and I plan to participate in more conversations like this around the state ahead of negotiations.
When we invest in agriculture, make crops more resilient, and increase yields, everybody wins – from farmers to consumers. – Rep. Elissa Slotkin |
Focusing on Agriculture in August
