May 5, 2017

Hearing set in Michigan on 2018 Farm Bill

U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, will hold a 2018 Farm Bill reauthorization field hearing at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 6, in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

The meeting will be held from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center, Michigan State University, 3775 S. Reese Road, Frankenmuth. To attend, email your name and organization (if representing a group) to [email protected].

The hearing will be webcast live here.

The hearing will feature testimony from 16 witnesses examining agriculture, as well as conservation, rural economic development, research, forestry, energy and nutrition policies that affect Michigan.

Specialty crop operators scheduled to appear include Chris Alpers, Red Path Orchards and Alpers Farms, Lake Leelenau; and Jim Nugent, fruit grower and chairman of the Michigan Tree Fruit Commission.

Interested parties are invited to submit testimony or comments for the official record for this field hearing in advance, but no later than May 12, 2017, either online here or by mailing it to the Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry, 328A Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 2051.

A news release from the U.S. Apple Association noted that USApple board member Alpers is one of a few experts hand-selected by the committee to speak at the hearing titled, “Growing Jobs and Economic Opportunity: Perspectives on the 2018 Farm Bill from Michigan.”

“The Farm Bill affects agriculture in so many ways, so it’s gratifying the Senate wanted an apple grower’s voice to help shape these critical deliberations,” said Jim Bair, president and CEO of USApple.

The committee, under the leadership of Roberts and Ranking Stabenow, will listen to producers from a wide variety of commodities give an account of the impact of the 2014 Farm Bill and priorities for the 2018 legislation.

Alpers, representing both USApple and its sister organization at the state level, the Michigan Apple Committee, will focus his testimony on the importance of maintaining and growing funding for crop insurance, research and trade promotion programs. Alpers will also emphasize the critical need for a reliable, legal and stable workforce, calling on Congress to pass much-needed reforms.

“Apples are Michigan’s largest and most valuable fruit crop, so it is appropriate that apples are represented at the hearing on Saturday,” said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee. “As a large producer of apples in our state, and a grower who is involved on the state and national levels, I know Chris Alpers will represent the industry well and speak to the many ways in which the Michigan Apple industry benefits from the Farm Bill.”

– Gary Pullano