Looking Under the Hood of Michigan's Agriculture

From USDA:

Posted by Jay Johnson, Acting Census and Survey Division Director, on December 18, 2014 at 2:00 PM

That’s a lot of cherry pies! Check back on January 8 when we resume the Census of Agriculture Spotlight!

The Census of Agriculture is the most complete account of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Every Thursday USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will highlight new Census data and the power of the information to shape the future of American agriculture.

When you think of Michigan, you may think of Detroit and the car industry, however our agriculture industry is also critical to our state’s economy. Agriculture’s economic impact on the Michigan economy recently surpassed the $100 billion mark. Traveling through Michigan, you can easily see just how diverse agriculture in our state truly is. In the latest Census of Agriculture, Michigan farmers reported growing many various types of fruits, vegetable and livestock commodities. In fact Michigan produces more than 300 different commodities.

While the Great Lakes provide our crop growers with an abundance of fertile lands and water, it is our dairy farmers that produce our most valuable commodity. According to the Census, in 2012, Michigan dairy farmers sold more than $1.5 billion worth of milk from their cows. And despite the decrease in the number of such farms, the number of dairy cows in Michigan keeps growing. As of 2012, there were more than 376,000 milk cows on 2,409 of our dairy farms.

It is our fruits and vegetable farms, however, which truly make our agriculture unique. For example, our tart cherry growers lead the nation in production of this essential fruit. Michigan had nearly 37,000 acres of farmland dedicated to tart cherry production.

Our farmers are also the second largest producers of tame blueberries, accounting for nearly a quarter of all cultivated blueberry production in the United States. In 2012, Census counted nearly 19,000 acres of Michigan land dedicated to these berries. So when you’re buying blueberries in a supermarket, there’s a good chance that you’re getting a taste of Michigan.

Another interesting fact that you may not know is that most of the cucumbers used for pickling in the United States comes from Michigan. Our farmers harvested more than 25,000 acres of cucumbers for pickle processing in 2012. That’s more than a third of all the acres in the nation dedicated to this crop.

Finally, considering that we’re currently in the holiday season, I’d be remiss if I didn’t boast Michigan’s Christmas tree industry. In 2012, Michigan farmers cut down more than 1.7 million Christmas trees to make everyone’s holiday season as jolly as possible.

As you can see, Michigan agriculture is very diverse and its impact is extremely widespread. Of course this is just a sample of the wonders our farming industry has to offer. To check out all of the other elements of our unique agriculture sector, check out the latest Census page.

Secretary's Column: Farm Bill Supports Specialty Crop Growers, Improves Access to Healthy Food

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, on April 18, 2014 at 12:00 PM

The 2014 Farm Bill has already set in motion and accomplished so much for our country. With historic support for specialty crop producers across the country, the bill will touch every one of our lives through one of the most basic of human needs: food.

Specialty crops make up the bulk of what we eat—all of our fruits and vegetables, tree nuts and dried fruits—as well as things like cut flowers and nursery crops. They are half of MyPlate at every meal, and the daily source for most of our vitamins and nutrients. For many in rural America, these crops not only provide nutrition, they are also a primary source of income.

For nearly a decade, USDA supported specialty crop growers across the country through the Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) program. These grants enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, sustain the livelihood of American farmers, and strengthen rural economies.

Last year, the program provided $55 million for 700 state-selected projects nationwide that contributed to food safety improvements, increased access to healthy food, and provided new research to help growers increase profitability and sustainability. The new farm bill expands support through the SCBG program to more than $66 million in grants for specialty crop growers—a historic high.

With projects focusing on everything from food safety to business planning, the block grants are designed to increase the long-term success of producers and broaden the market for specialty crops.  Many states select projects that dovetail with community needs, such as establishing farm to school programs, providing training in good agricultural handling practices (GAP), creating organic and sustainable production practices, and developing food hubs that will increase opportunities for small-scale growers.

In Michigan, a 2009 grant helped the state Department of Agriculture and Resource Development work with partners to increase sales opportunities for specialty crop farmers in Southeast Michigan. They were able to identify and overcome barriers that prevented schools from purchasing products directly from local farmers, and ended up increasing the sales of apples, cucumbers, peppers, red potatoes, broccoli and several other crops within their state.

Another grant in Idaho established a partnership between the state Department of Agriculture and Boise State University-Tech to provide workshops that helped improve food safety and implement sustainable production practices for onions, potatoes, apples, cherries, peas and lentils. The project resulted in higher audit scores, increased efficiency and sustainability for participating companies, which both improve consumer confidence and help producers’ bottom lines in the long run.

Our dedication to strengthening rural America and increasing opportunities for specialty crop farmers will help keep our nation’s economy—and people—healthy for years to come. This week, we made the next round of SCBG funds available so that states can begin funding projects. If you’re interested in applying, I encourage you to contact your state department of agriculture. You can find more information atwww.usda.gov/farmbill.

USDA Partners with a Michigan Town to Improve Quality of Health Care

AVG Free direct download





USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Alec Lloyd, Michigan Rural Development Public Information Coordinator, on August 23, 2013 at 3:00 PM

Michigan U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow speaks at the ground-breaking for the new USDA-supported Cassopolis Family Clinic. USDA photo.

Cassopolis, located in southwest Michigan, recently celebrated the ground-breaking for the new USDA Rural Development supported Cassopolis Family Clinic.  Like many rural communities, Cassopolis has limited facilities for health care, particularly for low-income residents.  The Cassopolis Family Clinic was founded more than 50 years ago to serve the surrounding community and the facility will bring that service into the future.

USDA Rural Development was represented at the event by Paw Paw Sub-Area Office Team Leader Lisa Epple, who was joined by local leaders and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow.

“This is an excellent example of how USDA Rural Development is working with partner agencies to improve access to health care for Michigan residents,” Epple said.  The agency is providing a Community Facilities direct loan to fund the project which is being combined with a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.

“Today’s groundbreaking is welcome news for families in Cassopolis and across Cass County,” said Stabenow, chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.  “For almost 50 years, the Family Clinic has served as the family doctor for so many residents in need of basic medical care. I am pleased that this brand new clinic will provide physical, mental, and dental health services to thousands of additional patients for years to come.”

For rural areas, a local clinic can mean the difference between a lengthy drive to the emergency room and timely care.  By partnering with the Cassopolis Family Clinic and HRSA, USDA Rural Development is helping to keep quality health care close to home.

Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow (sixth from left) joins officials in breaking ground for a new health care facility funded in part by USDA. USDA photo.