By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Rick Snyder told a statewide television audience that Michigan’s “No. 1 job is jobs” during his State of the State address Jan. 19. He also announced that his administration will strongly support agriculture and build on the industry’s strengths to help revitalize Michigan’s economy.
In partnership with the Michigan legislature, Snyder said his administration will “focus on substance rather than form. We will not continue the fighting that resulted in rhetoric and paralysis. It is time to solve problems.”
Snyder cited several key initiatives focusing on economic growth, health and education, value for government, quality of life and public safety. A web-based dashboard at www.Michigan.gov/MiDashboard details progress made on 21 different measures.

“Lack of progress will be evident,” Snyder said of the information presented at a glance on the dashboard.

Within those initiatives, Snyder recognized agriculture as an integral component to growing jobs and furthering economic development in Michigan.
“We need to better recognize agriculture’s importance to our economy,” he said.

Studies indicate that agriculture has been expanding at a rate five times faster than the growth rate of the general economy in recent years.
Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) President Wayne H. Wood said Snyder’s actions already are supporting his commitment to the state’s second largest industry, which generates $71.3 billion a year and employs more than one million people in Michigan.

“Snyder recently made rural development a function of the Michigan Department of Agriculture,” Wood said. “This is a progressive step, as agriculture is one of the largest contributors to economic growth in Michigan’s rural communities.”

Snyder backed up his respect for agriculture by vowing in his address to work with the state legislature to make the nationally-acclaimed Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) part of state statute, a long-time policy goal of Michigan Farm Bureau. In doing so, Snyder said that “MAEAP should be a ‘seal of assurance’ so farmers who run environmentally-sound operations are protected from unneeded regulations and frivolous lawsuits.”

“Throughout his campaign Snyder talked about ‘outcomes- and results-based government,’ so to have the Governor formally acknowledge that MAEAP meets his high standards for a streamlined, effective and performance-based program is a crowning achievement for MAEAP and one that the Michigan Farm Bureau looks forward to working with the state Legislature to implement,” Wood said.
Currently housed within the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, MAEAP is a voluntary, incentive-driven program which helps farmers of all sizes and commodities proactively minimize and/or eliminate agricultural pollution risks on their farms by teaching them how to identify and address those risks in compliance with state and federal environmental regulations.

“Giving MAEAP statutory teeth will help the program appeal to more farmers by providing some of the regulatory stability they are seeking to effectively operate their farms and grow jobs for Michigan families,” Wood said.

Keith Creagh, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said Michigan agriculture will benefit from Snyder’s commitment to open up Michigan’s 21st Century Jobs Fund.

The fund was established to help diversify and grow the state’s high-tech economy by investing in research in competitive-edge sectors including: life sciences; alternative energy; advanced automotive, manufacturing and materials; and homeland security and defense. Under Snyder’s plan to “grow the garden” – or focus on growing businesses that already exist in Michigan – expanding the scope of the fund will help provide financial support for businesses, including agriculture.

“Traditionally, agriculture has had a difficult time meeting the criteria to rise to the top,” Creagh said of the jobs fund.

Snyder also announced plans to move forward with a proposal to construct a new bridge connecting Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, Canada. In 2009, Michigan did about $44 billion in trade with Canada and Snyder said, “global demand for entry is expected to increase steadily.
“This is not just a Detroit issue,” Snyder said. “Every farmer and manufacturer can tell you why it’s important to have world trade. A new bridge will create jobs, strengthen our economy and help establish Michigan as a hub for global commerce.”

Creagh said the state exports about one-third of its agricultural commodities so actions taken to enhance the flow of goods between the two countries would be “a big win for Michigan agriculture.”

Jim Byrum, president of the Michigan Agri-Business Assoc., is also pleased with Snyder’s support of the agriculture industry.

“Governor Snyder shows a clear recognition that for Michigan’s economy to grow, agriculture must play a central role,” Byrum said. “It is clear that Governor Snyder recognizes the importance of spurring agricultural innovation, technology, the development of production and processing, and more to make sure Michigan agriculture can continue to grow well into the future.

“By shining a spotlight on agriculture and its significant contribution to Michigan’s economy, Governor Snyder is demonstrating his commitment to Michigan’s second-largest industry and the need to diversify Michigan’s economy,” Byrum said.