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Congressman Upton takes in planting woes

A Michigan Congressman is meeting with growers in the Eastern Corn Belt to see the extent of delays firsthand. 

Congressman Fred Upton tells Brownfield farmers across his district in Southwest Michigan are weeks behind or completely unable to grow crops this year.

“It’s a nightmare and with prices as variant as they are, we’re trying to get accurate ag statistics.  But, it’s not just us, it’s everywhere, it’s the whole region, it’s the whole Midwest.”    

He says recent travels throughout surrounding states echo what he saw on a farm tour throughout his region this week.

“I was in Illinois earlier this week, Indiana earlier this week—their fields don’t look a lot different than ours.”   

Upton’s tour made stops with farmers raising specialty crops, grain, dairy, and livestock.    

“Everybody’s hurting more than ever before, nobody has seen a year like this.”       

He wants to see Michigan eligible disaster assistance and is asking for more regulatory relief from USDA.