From the Michigan Corn Growers Assoc.

As this edition of Farm World goes to press, we are evaluating our monthly article and examining the most important information to get to you, our growers. As you enter the fields and harvest begins, I want to make sure you’re aware of the issues we are working on.

The most critical issue on our minds is the farm bill, which as you know is up for reauthorization next year. The Michigan Corn Growers Assoc. (MCGA) board of directors and staff began work on the bill months ago, with discussions and brainstorming. While only approximately 10 percent of farm bill spending is dedicated to farm commodity programs, nearly 80 percent is spent on the domestic food assurance programs.

The 10 percent spent on farm programs – an estimated $17.3 billion annually – includes the commodity title, conservation programs, crop insurance, renewable energy and export. Of the 80 percent for food assurance programs, $63 billion is spent on food stamps.

MCGA is working with U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, and her staff in Washington and here at home, to better inform them about that 10 percent.

We have been providing ongoing education, and when her staff was here in August, we coordinated a statewide tour to give them a firsthand look at the corn industry. Michigan growers were also on hand when USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Sen. Stabenow were at Michigan International Speedway earlier this summer.

One of our growers, Clark Gerstacker of Midland, who is also on the National Corn Growers Assoc. (NCGA) board of directors, testified at the farm bill hearing in May at Michigan State University. During his comments, Clark explained the need for risk management tools and, most certainly, for crop insurance.

Michigan corn growers recently organized a meeting with eight other Michigan grower groups to provide a unified voice to help protect and maintain our state’s vital agricultural industry. The Michigan growers came together through their organizations to express their ideas and concerns to address deficit hurdles, while still maintaining important farm programs that greatly affect Michigan’s economy and job creation.

The commodity groups discussed and developed priorities for the next farm bill and, in a letter to Stabenow, presented their points on the bill and suggested areas to target for possible cost savings and reduction.

By incorporating a Michigan focus to the group’s summary, Michigan farmers were well-represented when Stabenow presented her committee’s recommendations to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction – more commonly called the “Super Committee.”

The 12-member committee, which includes Reps. Dave Camp and Fred Upton (both R-Mich.), is charged with developing long-term budget solutions by Nov. 23. Many agricultural programs will be examined by the committee as it looks for ways to trim the federal deficit.

The agriculture committees in the U.S. House and Senate were the only committees to present a bipartisan, bicameral proposal to the Super Committee. Michigan Corn and the other commodity groups thanked Stabenow and House Chair Frank Lucas  (R-Okla.) for their support, as well as Ranking Members Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Rep. Collin Peterson (R-Minn.).

The Super Committee must propose ways to reduce the deficit by Nov. 23, and will vote on the proposals by Dec. 23. If the committee fails to produce a debt reduction plan, as much as $1.2 trillion in across-the-board cuts will be evenly divided between defense and non-defense spending.

Our summary to Stabenow focused on the development of a program to support Risk Management programs, including crop insurance and disaster programs essential for Michigan growers. We also know it is important to protect sensitive lands through the conservation programs, but tillable land could be removed, creating significant savings and allowing for greater crop production.

In addition, we looked at the possible consolidation of revenue assurance programs and even talked about savings through memorandums of agreement between state and federal government for single oversight of many programs.

If you are a member of the MCGA, you received your fall newsletter that includes more information on the farm bill and other legislation we are working on or monitoring. If you are not a member and would like more information, do not hesitate to contact the office at 517-668-CORN (2676) to become a member.

A one-year membership is $60; a three-year membership is $155; a lifetime membership is $500; and a student membership is $20. Your MCGA membership will give you access to additional policy information both on the state and national levels.

As we are talking about policy, we also want to introduce you to our new staff person, Val Vail-Shirey, who will help coordinate policy work both in Washington, D.C., and in Lansing.

Val is a born-and-raised farm girl, having lived on a farm her entire life. She worked in various roles in the Michigan Legislature from 1995-2004, prior to launching Julian Vail, LLC with former Speaker Pro Tem Rep. Larry Julian.

She is involved in her community as a 4-H leader and founded and served as president for several county nonprofits, including Clinton County Habitat for Humanity, Bath Community Interest Assoc. and the Rights Alliance for Michigan. She has also served on the Bath Township Board as trustee and supervisor and has a bachelor of arts in business management and organization development.

Val took on the role of policy coordinator with the MCGA earlier this year, representing corn growers and striving for policy advancement at both the state and federal levels. Most recently she was named to a state staff position on the NCGA Public Policy Action Team, which is the grower group focused on corn policy, including the farm bill.