LANSING — Governor Rick Snyder’s steadfast support for Michigan agriculture is hard to overstate—almost as hard as our industry’s gratitude for that support. He has consistently strived to understand the needs, priorities and concerns of Michigan farmers, and under the first six years of his administration, our food and farm sector has prospered like few other industries in the state.
That support has taken many forms, from investing in vital infrastructure improvements to exploring new marketing and processing opportunities and making Michigan’s business environment more conducive to new agricultural ventures.
Parallel to his support for rural Michigan’s primary industry has been Gov. Snyder’s consistent support for uplifting the quality of life in Michigan’s rural communities—the cities, towns and villages in which our farmers market their commodities, attend church, participate in local government, and where their children attend school.
This is one of many priorities Michigan agriculture and the Snyder administration have in common: a commitment to placemaking. As our industries prosper and job opportunities multiply, we must ensure newcomers are comfortable and satisfied with their new homes and hometowns here in Michigan, from our smallest rural villages to our largest metropolitan centers.
Continued improvements to our infrastructure—including our educational systems—can only help raise the quality of life for all Michigan residents, whether they’re new to these pleasant peninsulas or were born and raised here.
We also agree with the Governor’s continued focus on the development of our workforce and in particular a renewed effort into the skilled trades.
Where other industries continue to see cycles of expansion and contraction, growth in our food and farm sector has held steady. That rock-star status is the result of hard work and unwavering focus on enriching the diversity of and opportunities across that sector.
Thanks in part to Gov. Snyder’s efforts to make Michigan a more attractive place to do business, our industry has seen an influx of processing ventures rooted in and now returning dividends to our farm economy. New pork and dairy processing ventures, and expanded markets for grain and soybean producers, are only the latest additions to Michigan’s wildly diverse agricultural landscape.
Finally, as the Snyder administration keeps its nose to the grindstone for two final years, we look forward to continuing the partnership with the Governor and legislature in improving our economic climate that benefits all Michiganders.
— Carl Bednarski, President, Michigan Farm Bureau
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