President & CEO David Armstrong were among those who expressed support for Senate Bill 885. | Michigan Farm Bureau photo
Leaders from Michigan agricultural, food and business organizations are voicing their support of a supplemental spending bill that would provide $1.4 billion to programs involving food security, infrastructure, and rural development.
Introduced by Sen. Roger Victory (R-Hudsonville), the Food Security and Rural Development Supplemental, or SB 885, would be divided into multiple agriculture segments, including $350 million toward infrastructure grants, $350 million toward food distribution security and stability grants, $150 million toward ag labor housing grants, and $150 million toward bovine mitigation grants.
Other agricultural sectors and issues addressed are rural broadband ($100 million), protein processing ($75 million), sustainable infrastructure ($50 million), Michigan State University greenhouse ($50 million) and dairy barn ($50 million), and farmers markets ($45 million).
During the state’s Senate Appropriations Agriculture and Rural Development Subcommittee on Thursday, lawmakers heard from Michigan Farm Bureau President Carl Bendarski, a Tuscola County farmer, about the challenges facing agriculture.
“What was remarkable about the meeting Thursday is you could see how much agriculture has been affected the last two years,” Bednarski said after speaking at to the subcommittee. “We’re not hearing just from the farmers; we’re hearing from the food processors; we’re hearing from the grocery stores and in the products not available to them; we’re seeing the disconnect between agriculture on the farm and in the store shelves, and it’s this story that unites us.”
Other groups testifying Thursday include representatives from Meijer, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, Food Bank Council of Michigan, Lakeshore Advantage, and Eastern Market.
“Agriculture affects all 10 million Michiganders,” said Sen. Victory, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Agriculture and Rural Development Subcommittee. “We see turmoil throughout the world — with Ukraine, the breadbasket of Europe. That’s going to have an effect on the world on an economy scale and an agriculture scale. It’s also going to have an effect on Michigan. Senate Bill 885 addresses that component in making sure of food security for Michigan and the Midwest.”
To view a recording of the hearing from the Michigan Senate, click here.
