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MSUE says all areas are impacted by a tough season

After traveling to every county across Michigan over the past four months, Michigan State University Extension director Jeff Dwyer says there’s hardly a square mile unaffected by the difficult growing season.

“There is not a commodity group or region of the state, in other forums I’ve said I don’t even think there’s a square mile, that is unaffected by the perfect storm of specific conditions facing farmers and the entire industry in 2019.”     

He says the complexity of the challenges should be recognized, and when possible intervene, to support an industry that is critical to put food on the table and support diverse economies.

“As one farmer recently said to me, this is cataclysmic now, but we will be dealing with the effects in our fields and in our homes for years to come.”   

Dwyer testified about the work MSUE is doing to reach farmers and provide stress management and other resources during Michigan’s joint House and Senate Ag Committee hearing Tuesday.