In The News
Huizenga, Upton Hold Town Hall With Allegan County Farmers
Washington,
July 8, 2012
Lawmakers Listen To Farmers’ Frustrations The Holland Sentinel Stephen Kloosterman July 06, 2012 Overisel Township — Congressmen Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, and Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, met with Allegan county farmers Friday morning. The lawmakers took a tour of farms in the county before attending the town hall-style meeting hosted by Dykhuis Farms Inc. southeast of Holland. The two fielded complaints from farmers about proposed federal regulations and spoke about preventing rule changes that farmers said would prohibit them from doing business efficiently. “The frustration we’re hearing constantly from the Ag community is, give us a direction, and then leave it, let it actually work then, instead of changing your mind,” Huizenga said. Rick Sietsema of Sietsema Farms was concerned that his growing, third-generation business would be classified as too big to participate for programs outlined in the federal farm bill. “It’s a common theme among growing family farms,” he said. The family business is based in Allendale, but farms in several West Michigan counties including Allegan. Sietsema was frustrated that even as the farm is on the cusp of becoming a serious food supplier — producing 800,000 swine and 1.3 million turkeys a year, according to the farm’s website — government support seems to be dropping away. At the same time, he told the lawmakers, hobby farmers and small-time operations still qualify for the programs. “If the farm bill isn’t written for food producers, what is it written for?” he asked. Other subjects discussed ranged from the federal deficit to the extent of crop damage in West Michigan after spring’s early arrival and a late frost — and, most recently, the drought. “We’re going to try to listen and try to be on your side,” Upton said as the event closed. If he’s re-elected, Upton’s district would include most of Allegan County, based on redistricting. Upton called the leadership of some government organizations, including the Environmental Protection Agency, aren’t farm-friendly. “We’re looking for a change in the administration,” Upton said. “We need a secretary of agriculture that’s going to be on our side.” |