As Congress continues to hash out the new Farm Bill, I’m growing increasingly concerned about a specific provision that could seriously hurt our local agricultural community. The so-called “Save Our Bacon” language is a direct threat to Michigan farmers. It would bar state or local governments from having protections for animals at farms.
Over the last few years, local farmers have invested heavily to meet higher Michigan state agricultural standards. They’ve spent the money, upgraded their operations, and made tough business decisions to adapt to where the market is going. If Congress allows this new language to override those state standards, they will effectively be pulling the rug out from under every farmer who played by the rules.Who benefits from that? Massive industrial operations in other states that refused to make those same upgrades. It’s completely unfair to give giant corporate interests a free pass while punishing the independent producers who adapted in good faith.Farming is already difficult enough right now with volatile markets and rising costs. The last thing our local growers need is Washington rewriting the rules mid-game and creating more instability.We need Sen. Elissa Slotkin and our other lawmakers to step up and kill this language from the start. Michigan has a proud history of backing its independent farmers, and we need federal policy that protects our local Belleville-area producers, not just giant corporate conglomerates.
Kimberly LaPere
Belleville
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Language in new Farm Bill threatens Michigan farmers | Letter
Reporting by Letter to the editor / The Detroit News
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