Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—January 28, 2014. U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich), Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, yesterday announced a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on a five-year Farm Bill that will reform farm programs, reduce the deficit, and help farmers and businesses create jobs in agriculture, our state’s second-largest industry. The bill includes major reforms like eliminating the direct payment subsidy program, streamlining and consolidating other programs, and cracking down on fraud and misuse. The bill also invests in initiatives to help strengthen Michigan’s fruit and vegetable industries, increase American agriculture exports, and help family farmers sell more goods locally. Additionally, the bill includes disaster assistance for Michigan’s cherry growers and other specialty crop producers who were hit hard by freezes and other bad weather in recent years.
