By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) recently was named chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

She succeeds Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), who lost her run for re-election on Nov. 2.

Stabenow, the fifth-ranking Democrat on the agriculture committee, said she is ready to lead the committee in the 112th Congress.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as we begin writing a new farm bill that once again recognizes the importance of America’s agricultural economy and rural communities,” Stabenow said.

Agriculture is Michigan’s No. 2 industry, contributing $71.3 billion annually to the economy. The state produces more than 200 diverse products and is ranked as having the second most diverse variety of crops of any state, behind California.

“Agriculture is critical to Michigan’s economy, employing a quarter of our workforce,” Stabenow said. “Not only does agriculture create jobs and feed our families across America, but it is also helping us develop new fuels and energy sources.”

Many state and national agricultural leaders are showing their support for Stabenow.

Michigan Farm Bureau President Wayne Wood said the state’s largest farm organization looks forward to working with Stabenow in her new role.

“Sen. Stabenow has demonstrated a keen understanding of Michigan’s diverse $71.3 billion agriculture industry and she shares our enthusiasm for utilizing Michigan’s growing agriculture industry to help our state and national economies flourish,” Wood said.
The organization also looks forward to strong representation from Michigan as Congress prepares to write a new farm bill.

“Unlike other states that produce only a handful of agricultural commodities, Michigan farmers produce more than 200 unique products. So, U.S. farm policy has far-reaching implications for Michigan farmers,” Wood said. “Having Sen. Stabenow’s leadership on the Senate agriculture committee is an asset to Michigan agriculture.”

Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said Stabenow has a proven track record as a proponent of Michigan’s agriculture industry.

“We are confident in Sen. Stabenow’s ability to provide leadership on the 2012 Farm Bill and other important issues related to agriculture and rural communities,” Stallman said. “Chairwoman Stabenow’s committee will play an important role as we look forward to the future of American agriculture.”

Stabenow has served on agriculture committees in the Michigan legislature, U.S. House of Representatives and currently the U.S. Senate. She was instrumental in achieving significant victories for Michigan in passage of the 2008 Farm Bill, including the addition of a new fruit and vegetable title to the Act.

Phillip J. Korson II, president of The Cherry Marketing Institute, said Stabenow and her staff “worked very hard on the 2008 Farm Bill to make sure there were new provisions that are specific to specialty crop farmers in Michigan and throughout the United States. She has been a champion for food safety programs, conservation, energy and research.”

Steve Robinson, president of the National Assoc. of Conservation Districts (NACD), said Stabenow has been a strong advocate for conservation.

“As Congress begins work on the 2012 Farm Bill, we’ll be calling on Sen. Stabenow and the rest of the committee to stand up for locally-led conservation by maintaining full funding for technical assistance and other critical conservation programs,” Robinson said.

“Getting resources directly into the hands of states, communities and conservation districts for locally-led efforts on the ground is the best way to maximize the value of our conservation investment from the national level.”

Julia Baehre Rothwell, chair of the Michigan Apple Committee, said Stabenow has been a champion for Michigan fruit growers, as well as growers of vegetables, nursery and floriculture crops.
“All of agriculture should embrace an agriculture chair who understands and supports specialty crops, in addition to traditional livestock and row crops,” she said.

Michigan Agri-Business Assoc. President Jim Byrum lauded Stabenow for her track record as an advocate for agriculture.
“Stabenow understands the importance of agricultural policy to farmers and agribusiness, but also rural communities.

Feeding the world and encouraging new technology, while protecting our natural resources are issues Sen. Stabenow has been engaged in her entire career,” Byrum said.