Michigan Sen. John Cherry, 27th District, makes it clear he’s not a farmer. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t keenly aware of the challenges facing Michigan agriculture or the value the industry provides to the state.
During his first term in the Michigan Senate representing Flint and the bulk of Genesee County, which follows two terms in the state’s House of Representatives, Cherry has spoken with dozens of farmers about their experiences.
“In my district, it’s very diverse in that we have rural, suburban and urban areas, so the conversation around agriculture is very different across the district,” Cherry said. “I’m not a farmer, but the farmers I’ve talked to have spoken to the economic difficulties that exist around agriculture. Margins are very thin. Prices for commodities are not what they would hope. The equipment is very expensive. I’ve talked with orchard operators, and they’ve talked about labor challenges.