ST. JOSEPH (WKZO) — Part of the agriculture package passed by Congress last year, included some special projects for Michigan, included by Senator Debbie Stabenow to prevent farmers from clogging up the state’s waterways.
Work will begin once the weather warms up on protecting the St. Joseph River watershed in Michigan and Indiana.
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters of Michigan and Joe Donnelly of Indiana visited Pier 33 Marina in St. Joseph to talk about the nearly $14 million public-private investment as part of the 2014 Farm Bill.
Stabenow says a big part of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program is to work with farmers to enact ways to prevent soil from running off into the river, which helps both agriculture and the entire region financially. She says it could save millions if they can dredge less often.I
n all, the federal government is putting $40 million toward five projects in the Great Lakes, with that money being matched by the private sector. All three senators noted it’s a collaborative project, with the government working with organizations like Farm Bureau, Michigan State University Extension and the departments of agriculture from both Michigan and Indiana.
