By NIKKI ROTHWELL
June 05, 2008 04:00 am This forum was prompted by a political cartoon that depicted a taxpayer tied to a silo exploding with government subsidies for farmers. Unfortunately, this cartoon was viewed by many readers in our region, where the majority of farmers grow specialty crops -- a group of farmers that receives no direct subsidies for their agricultural products. Specialty crops are considered any agricultural crop that is not corn, wheat, soybeans, or cotton. In short, specialty crops are our foods: carrots, apples, cherries, potatoes, asparagus and a long list of others. Regrettably, the cartoon lumps all farmers under one umbrella, a generalization that sends the message that all farmers -- regardless of farm size, profitability, or crop -- receive substantial government handouts. Indeed, there have been times when large corporate non-specialty crop farms did collect considerable subsidies from the government, but in northwest Lower Michigan, our growers do not reap this direct funding line. In fact, the most recent Farm Bill is the first time in U.S. history where specialty crops were mentioned in the legislation. So, to help clarify some of the new additions to the Farm Bill, here are what our Michigan specialty crop growers could receive in the coming years: -- $15 million to the asparagus industry to help Michigan, California and Washington producers hurt by the Andean Trade Preference Act. This market-loss program will help growers plant new acreage and upgrade their harvesting equipment. -- $59 million for trade assistance to aid in marketing U.S. specialty crops that are exported. -- $230 million for specialty crop research; these funds will be administered to all U.S. private and public institutions through a competitive process. -- $78 million for organic research to be administered through this same competitive process. -- $600 million for specialty crop growers in the disaster relief fund; these monies will ensure that growers will receive disaster payments in a timely and appropriate manner because past payments often were received too late to maintain production (i.e. save the farm). -- $499 million for State Block Grants for the Specialty Crops Program; this part of the Farm Bill will support state programs that encourage consumption of more fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops. The new Farm Bill is a tremendous step in the right direction for those of us in the specialty crop arena, but nowhere in the Bill is there mention of subsidies to be granted to local Michigan growers. Rather than assuming all farmers, including our neighbors, are raking in the subsidized dough, maybe we should all just give them a nod at the dinner table. About the author: Dr. Nikki Rothwell is a Michigan State University District Extension Horticulturist and the Coordinator of the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Station. She works with fruit growers throughout northwest Lower Michigan in both research and outreach capacities. About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.
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