By Gretchen Millich, WKAR News
EAST LANSING, MI – Michigan US Senator Debbie Stabenow has chosen East Lansing for the first field hearing on the 2012 Farm Bill. Stabenow is the new chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. The Farm Bill is up for reauthorization every five years and sets federal rules on everything from agriculture to energy, conservation, and nutrition.
Tom Coon is director of Michigan State University Extension. He says for the first time in more than 120 years, Michigan has some clout in determining future farm policies.
"Senator Stabenow ascended to the chair seat of the Senate Agriculture Committee this year, and that hasn't happened since I think 1887 was the last time a Michigan Senator chaired the Agriculture Committee," says Coon. "Generally it's a state that has a dominance of one of the big commodity crops like corn, soy, wheat, cotton and rice."
Stabenow has said she's concerned about government support for agricultural programs that might affect farm employment in Michigan.
The hearing is set for May 31 at the Kellogg Center on the Michigan State University campus.