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Michigan farm groups urge lawmakers to protect ag funding in final budget deal

Michigan agriculture groups are calling on lawmakers to support key provisions as final budget negotiations are being made.

Michigan Pork Producer Association’s CEO Mary Kelpinski tells Brownfield it’s critical to maintain animal disease prevention and response efforts.

“We don’t have, fortunately, a huge animal crisis or animal disease crisis right now, like some other industries in Michigan, but we want to be prepared if something does come to the state or come to this country,” she shares.

Proposed cuts by the Michigan House would decrease the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s funding by about a third and could restrict technical assistance needed in livestock emergencies.  

“When we talk about having a disease and having to respond to a disease, we have to have testing done,” Kelpinski says. “We have to have tests run and so every time you cut a person out of the equation, that could lengthen the time that it takes to get permits or to get test results.”

Fourth-generation dairy farmer Brian Preston says agricultural research funding through the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture (M-AAA) is keeping farms in business.

“What’s going on at Michigan State is revolutionizing the dairy industry, and it’s bringing a lot of economic value to the farms, and it’s making farms more sustainable, he says.

The Michigan Soybean Committee, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Michigan Potato Industry Committee, and Michigan State University Ag Bioresearch have been highlighting the importance of research funding at risk of being eliminated in current proposals.

Preston made his comments as part of the video series.

Late Thursday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and state leaders announced a budget deal had been made to avert a government shutdown. Details are pending.