HOLLAND (WTHC-AM/FM) — The recurrent rain and chilly weather may be annoying to city dwellers, but for farmers, it’s close to a disaster.
U.S. Fred Upton called the situation dire during an appearance at the West Coast Chamber’s legislative breakfast Monday, June 17, 2019.
West Michigan has seen about 5 inches more rain than is typical for this time of year, with temperatures are nearly 2 degrees cooler than is typical for this season. The combinatin creates a poor outlook for many crops.
Delayed and diminished havests have larger implications for trade and the economy, Upton said.
State Sen. Roger Victory, himself a farmer, told WHTC state and federal officials should be ready with aid in the form of low-interest loans, given that some of Michigan’s best farmland is lying unexpectedly fallow for the season. Harvest dates have been pushed back for most fruits. Some Southwest Michigan farmers say the peach crop is all-but gone.
“A few years ago we had a devastating frost for our fruit growers,” Victory said. “The state stepped up to the point, did the program, and worked with it and (farmers) came whole. So, it was an overall cost (and) did put some liability on the books, but those loans were paid back and we were able to make the transition.”
Consumers can expect to pay more for groceries, between the bad weather and high tariffs creating a nationwide problem, both lawmakers said. With less corn and soybeans planted, the cost of feed will rise, pressuring livestock farmers.
“Cheap grains aren’t going to be there anymore,” Victory said. He also noted that diary farmers are suffering from chronically low prices.
