As Michigan farmers struggle with weather that has caused them losses this year, Congressman Fred Upton and colleagues from the state have sent a letter to the U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking for a disaster declaration. Upton tells WSJM News arctic cold in the winter damaged peaches, and spring and summer rains have preventing planting.
“I’m looking forward to spending a good amount of time this next week with growers and farmers throughout our district, looking at the damages ourselves, and hopefully by then we may have some word in terms of a disaster declaration by the secretary himself,” Upton said.
The letter to Perdue comes after Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a USDA Secretarial Disaster Designation request.
“Now that the governor has submitted a request, it’s up to the secretary, and by getting a bipartisan letter, as we were able to do this last week, hopefully that can be done relatively quickly, and we can see some positive changes.”
If approved, Upton says the Disaster Designation would make additional help available to farmers. Upton and the delegation also commended the USDA for its swift decision to provide flexibility under the Federal Crop Insurance program.
