HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
REP. JULIE ALEXANDER
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday,
August 13,
2019
9:30
AM
Michigan State University Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock
Education, 4301 Farm Ln, Lansing, MI 48910
The Senate Agriculture Committee was called to order by Senator Daley at 9:30 a.m.
The House Standing Committee on Agriculture was called to order by the Chair Alexander.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Alexander, Meerman, Eisen, Mueller, Elder, Coleman, Garza, Cynthia
Johnson, Witwer.
Absent/Excused: Reps. LaFave, Wendzel.
Representative Alexander moved to excuse Representatives LaFave and Wendzel from the
meeting. There being no objection the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
Representative Meerman moved to adopt the meeting minutes from May 8, 2019. There being no
objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
Michigan State Executive Director Joel Johnson, representing the United States Department of
Agriculture Farm Service Agency, Michigan State Conservationist Garry Lee, representing the
United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Senior
Risk Management Specialist Adrienne McTaggart, representing the United States Department of
Agriculture Risk Management Agency, provided a presentation regarding the United States
Department of Agriculture Farm Production and Conservation and reviewed the following
topics: Assistance Programs; Loans, Incentives, and Grants; Safety Net programs, financial
Assistance, and Insurance for Mitigating Risk; Financial and Technical Assistance to Implement
Conservation Activities; and Customer Service. Questions and discussion followed. State Public
Affairs and Outreach Coordinator Savannah Halleaux, representing the United States Department
of Agriculture Michigan Farm Service Agency, approached to answer questions from committee
members.
Director Gary McDowell, and Chief Deputy Director Ken McFarlane, both representing the
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, provided testimony regarding
various Michigan programs and initiatives to help farmers with ongoing challenges due to recent
effects of weather on Michigan’s agriculture industry. Questions and discussion followed.
President and CEO Dave Armstrong, representing the Greenstone Farm Credit Service, provided
testimony regarding individual solutions and programs available to farmers from the Greenstone
Farm Credit Service. Questions and discussion followed.
Ron Hendrick, Dean of the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural
Resources, and Jeff Dwyer, Director of Michigan State University Extension, provided a
presentation regarding: The College of Agriculture and Natural Resource’s Role in Michigan’s
Agriculture System; Current Challenges in Agriculture and How They Affect Producers;
Programs and Efforts to Help Farmers; the Extension Program; AgBio Research; and Outreach
Programs. Questions and discussion followed.
Rebecca Park, representing the Michigan Farm Bureau, Doug Darling, a Monroe County Farmer,
and Stephanie Schafer, a Clinton County Farmer, provided testimony on the personal stories of
being farmers in Michigan, and the current and future challenges that have arisen as a result of
the recent wet spring. Questions and discussion followed
President Tim Boring, representing the Michigan Agri-Business Association, provided testimony
on the past, present, and potential future challenges to Michigan’s Agriculture Industry due to
changing climate. Questions and discussion followed.
Philip Korson, representing Michigan Cherry Growers, provided testimony regarding the
challenges to the Michigan Cherry Industry due to increased sales of imported cherries.
Questions and discussion followed.
Senator Daley adjourned the Senate Agriculture Committee meeting at 12:03 p.m.
There being no further business before the committee, Rep. Julie Alexander adjourned the
meeting at 12:03 PM.
Representative Julie Alexander, Chair
Dakota Soda
Committee Clerk
dsoda@house.mi.gov