AGRICULTURE

Michigan’s agriculture industry adds over $4 billion annually to the state’s economy and is Michigan’s second largest industry next to the auto industry. Farming however, is more than an industry; it is a way of life. Michigan has 53,000 farms, with an average farm size of 200 acres. Over ninety percent of these are family owned farms, many of which have been in the same family for generations.

Few states have Michigan's diversity of agricultural crops. Michigan is one of the nation’s leading producers of traditional crops such as corn, wheat and soybeans as well as “specialty crops” such as apples, asparagus, beans, blueberries and cherries.

Michigan ranks first in the nation in the production of black beans, cranberry beans, light red kidney beans, blueberries, tart cherries, cucumbers, Niagara grapes, flowering hanging baskets, geraniums and impatiens.

Michigan ranks in the top five nationally in the production of all dry beans, celery, apples, asparagus, snap beans, carrots, concord grapes, radishes, sweet cherries, plums, sugar beets tomatoes and pumpkins.

In addition, Michigan’s farmers are among the nation’s most creative. They have led the way in developing new crops, finding innovative uses for traditional crops while developing cooperative ventures that allow farmers and Michigan’s rural communities to keep more of the value of their products. In addition to providing food to the world, Michigan’s farmers play a key role in limiting sprawl, preserving environmentally sensitive land and ensuring water quality.

Michigan 's farmers are also at the forefront of alternative fuel production, which is essential to breaking our dependence on foreign oil. Several farmer owned ethanol facilities have opened up over the past few years and more are on the way. With our excellent University system and significant private sector investment, Michigan is sure to play a major role in future biofuels research and development, including cellulosic ethanol.

Senator Levin has consistently supported measures to assist family farmers as they continue providing Michigan, our nation and the world with a safe, healthy and affordable food supply while acting as stewards of our nation’s natural resources.

Some of the agricultural issues addressed by Senator Levin:

• Senator Levin successfully encouraged the United States Department of Agriculture to purchase Michigan commodities such as apples, cherries and grapes for use in the school lunch program.
• He worked to guarantee the continuance of the Great Lakes Basin initiative. This program is a federal/state partnership managed by the Great Lakes Commission in consultation with the USDA, EPA and the Great Lakes states. Approximately 63 million tons of topsoil erodes from cropland in the Great Lakes basin each year, reducing agricultural productivity. Sediment is a major water quality impairment and a source of pathogens and other contaminants in drinking water. In addition, sediment disrupts fish spawning areas and smothers fish eggs and other aquatic animals. The 389 projects undertaken under the program have kept more than 1.1 million tons of soil and 2500 tons of phosphorus and nitrogen from entering the basin's lakes and streams.
• Senator Levin worked with Senator Stabenow to obtain money for USDA and the Michigan Department of Agriculture to fight bovine tuberculosis in Michigan. This funding will assist current staffing levels and fund survey and eradication activities.
• Senator Levin has consistently worked with Senator Stabenow to secure increased appropriations funding for combating and eradicating the emerald ash borer in Michigan, which is decimating the region's ash tree stock. He has also encouraged the USDA to extend emergency and supplemental funding to support these efforts.
• Senator Levin successfully urged the Commerce Department to investigate whether or not China was illegally dumping apple juice into the United States. The Commerce Department determined that the Chinese were indeed dumping apple juice into the country and undercutting the U.S. farmers as they sought to sell their juice. As a result of the ruling, the Commerce Department immediately began collecting a duty on all Chinese apple juice concentrate imported into the U.S.
• Senator Levin has consistently obtained funds for agricultural research at Michigan State University. These monies have been used to conduct research into areas such as bovine tuberculosis, apple fireblight, armillaria bacterium as it affects cherries, and advanced technologies for hardwood utilization.

Links to Agriculture-Related Web Sites:

Government: These links provide access to both federal and state sites that deal with agriculture policy.

• United States Department of Agriculture
• The official website of the Michigan Department of Agriculture
• Michigan Department of Natural Resources
• United States Senate Committee on Agriculture

Farm Assistance: These sites provide links to a few sites that offer financial assistance to farmers.

• Farm Service Agency - handles the USDA's farm loans, farm program and conservation incentive programs
• Locator for Farm Service Agency office nearest to you.
• USDA's Farm Credit Administration

National Farm Groups: These groups represent farmers, young and old, on an array of issues important to agriculture.

• Michigan Farm Bureau
• The National Farmer's Union
• The American Farm Bureau Federation
• Future Farmers of America
• 4-H

Conservation, Rural Development and Land Use: Links to a variety of issues of importance to all who care about conservation and the health of rural America.

• Michigan United Conservation Clubs
• American Farmland Trust
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
• National Association of Conservation District
• Rural Partners of Michigan
• Rural Policy Research Institute
• Center for Rural Affairs
• Michigan Land Use Institute
• Smart Growth America
• Sprawlwatch Clearinghouse

Cooperatives: Cooperatives can provide farmers and consumers the chance to obtain greater value from their products.

• National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
• University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
• USDA Rural Development

University Research and Extension Services: Links to Michigan institutions of higher education.

• Michigan State University Extension
• Locator for MSU Extension Locations
• MSU Department of Agricultural Economics
• MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Michigan Technological University School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

Nutrition, Food Safety and Hunger Issues: A healthy diet is essential for all Americans. These links provide information about proper nutrition, food safety and a variety of national, international and Michigan based organizations that are seeking alleviate hunger.

• USDA Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
• Food and Drug Administration
• The Food Guide Pyramid
• Food Research and Action Center
• America's Second Harvest
• Food Bank of South Central Michigan
• The Greater Lansing Food Bank
• Forgotten Harvest
• Yad Ezra

Organic Foods: These links provide insight into the latest developments among organic growers.

• Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance
• Organic Growers of Michigan

Apples: Depending on the crop year, Michigan is the second or third largest producer of apples in the United States.

• Michigan Apple Committee
• U.S. Apple Association

Asparagus: Michigan is the nation=s third largest producer of asparagus.

• Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board

Beans: Michigan is second largest producer of all dry beans, and is largest producer of dry black bean, dry cranberry beans and dry navy beans. Every day, the Senate is required to serve bean soup which includes Michigan white beans. Click below for the recipe of Senate Bean Soup.

• Michigan Bean Commission
• American Dry Bean Board

Beekeeping: Provides honey for consumers and pollination for many Michigan crops.

• Southwest Michigan Beekeepers Association
• Southeastern Michigan Beekeepers Association

Blueberries: Michigan is the nation's leading producer of blueberries.

• Michigan Blueberry Growers Assoc.

Cherries: Michigan is the leading producer of tart red cherries.

• Cherry Marketing Institute
• National Cherry Festival

Christmas Trees: An overlooked, but festive Michigan commodity

• Michigan Christmas Tree Association

Corn: Michigan is the 6th largest producer of corn for silage.

• Michigan Corn Growers Assoc.
• National Corn Growers Assoc.

Flowers and Horticulture: Michigan is one of the nation=s largest producer of flowers. Much of this industry is located in Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Monroe and Ottawa counties.

• Michigan Floral Association
• Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association

Forestry: Michigan is home to three National Forests: the Huron-Manistee, Hiawatha and Ottawa.

• United States Forest Service
• Ottawa National Forest
• Hiawatha National Forest
• Huron Manistee National Forest
• Michigan State University Forestry Department
• Michigan Technological University School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
• Michigan Association of Timbermen
• United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Forestry Page

Grapes: Michigan is the fourth largest producer of grapes in the United States.

• Van Buren County MSU Extension - Grapes
• Michigan Wines

Livestock: Livestock farms are found throughout the state. Approximately 8 million turkey are raised in MI each year and nearly 110,000 cattle come from MI each year.

• Michigan Pork Producer's Assoc.
• Michigan Cattlemen's Assoc.
• Michigan Milk Producers Assoc.
• United Dairy Industry of Michigan
• Michigan Beef Industry Commission
• Michigan Horse Council
• National Cattleman's Beef Assoc.
• Dairy Farmers of America

Maple Syrup: Michigan is the nation=s seventh largest maple syrup producer.

• Michigan Maple Syrup Association

Mushrooms: Edible mushrooms in MI are found in the wild and cultivated.

• Mesick Mushroom Festival
• Michigan Morels

Peaches: Peach trees were first planted in Michigan in the 1780's.

• Michigan Peach Sponsors

Potatoes: Michigan is the largest producer of potatoes for potato chips is the nation.

• Michigan Potato Industry Commission
• Michigan Seed Potato Assoc.
• Potato Growers of Michigan
• National Potato Council

Soybeans: Soybeans are a staple crop found on many of Michigan's farms.

• American Soybean Association
• United Soybean Board

Specialty Crops: The Western side of Michigan is some of the most fertile land for growing specialty crops in the United States.

• USDA Minor Crop Pest Management Program
• Kalamazoo Valley Plant Grower Co-operative

Wheat: This staple crop is grown throughout much of Michigan.

• National Association of Wheat Growers