The Michigan Ag Today Podcast for 7/9/26

It’s the Thursday edition of the Michigan Ag Today Podcast for July 9, 2026. On today’s podcast, you’ll hear from Richard Fordyce, USDA Under Secretary for Food Production and Conservation. After a devastating late-April freeze ravaged orchards for producers of Michigan Apples, he says that USDA is fast-tracking crop insurance payments so growers can receive critical financial relief months before harvest. Fordyce adds that the goal is to be “farmer first,” giving producers the cash flow they need to recover, keep harvesting, and prepare for next season.