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Farm bill critical to rural development

A rural development director with USDA says the farm bill is essential for supporting and expanding rural communities.

Branden Fewins, state director for Michigan, tells Brownfield economic development initiatives in the farm bill along with broadband, infrastructure, and other programs are key for rural areas.

“Without the passage of a farm bill, we simply won’t be able to deliver those services so it’s essential that this takes place,” he says.

The 2018 Farm Bill came with an estimated $428 billion price tag with more than two-thirds of the funding supporting nutrition programs. 

Fewins encourages anyone with a stake in food and agriculture wanting to revise existing programs make their voices heard.

“I think one of the concerns that everyday people have is that they don’t always have a voice with government and here we have a process that accepts public comment and so this is our opportunity to try to make these programs work for us,” he says.

Brownfield interviewed Fewins during the recent Senate Ag Committee field hearing in Michigan.