LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) Agri-Pac committee recently interviewed U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D) and challenger John James (R) to feel them out on their views, in preparation for the upcoming election this November.

Peters took over the U.S. Senate seat that was vacated by retiring Sen. Carl Levin in 2014, after defeating Republican Terri Lyn Land in the general election. James, a veteran, has worked at his father’s supply chain business since he left the service in 2012; he also ran an unsuccessful but competitive campaign against U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2018.

The MFB’s Agri-Pac is made up of MFB members who ultimately make recommendations on which candidates for political office will best serve the needs of Michigan farmers. Mike Fusilier of Fusilier Family Farms conducted the interviews. Peters was asked about biotechnology, and what role it ought to have in Michigan agriculture. Peters said biotechnology is very important for farmers, because it could help them increase crop yields and be more competitive in the marketplace.

“My priority is going to be that we have to get the economy back on its feet and moving forward,” Peters said. Peters touted job training efforts and other forms of education and skills training short of a college degree, which he said is so essential to the farming industry. “Right now I’m real concerned about Covid-19, which is why I’ve been laser focused on our small businesses, to make sure they can stay in business and keep their employees employed. Whatever it was a month or two ago, it’s different now, because we’ve got to get our economy going again.”

In specific reference to the cherry business in Michigan, Peters said there needs to be continued attention on exporters “who aren’t playing by the rules; we have to make sure they’re playing by the rules.”

When asked a question about biotechnology and farming, James said he believes in “a science based approach. A science based approach will help lower costs, increase yields, and maintain safety for everyone. I think a science based approach does much more good than harm.”

James said as a businessman he spends more time fighting with regulators than he does competing with other businesses. He said that sometimes he gets the impression that regulators are trying to put him out of business. “The first thing I would do is make policy less onerous,” James said, adding he would focus on taxes, trade, regulation and immigration to try and help farmers in these difficult economic times. Make sure that policies “make sense” in the business world, he explained. “Our government is actually pushing opportunity away from Michigan.”

Peters said he worked alongside Sen. Stabenow to make sure there was aid to farmers in the recent CARES Act to deliver relief to Americans who’ve been impacted by the novel coronavirus/Covid-19 crisis.

“We’ve got to make sure our farmers can continue to produce,” Peters said. He added that reports about problems meatpacking plants have been having lately with production due to labor problems brought on by Covid-19 needs to be a “wake up call” to everyone that those who produce, package and deliver food to Americans are truly essential workers. He said dairy farmers should not have to pour out milk. “There should always be a market for it,” Peters said. Peters stated the government should be a “backstop” for the American farmer.

Both James and Peters said they supported the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is an update of the longstanding North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Both candidates also said that they are sensitive to farmers’ and the tourism industry’s need for labor; both James and Peters said they are for immigration reform.

The 49-minute segment can be found  in its entirety at the MFB’s web site at michfb.com.