By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN

Michigan Correspondent

LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Rick Snyder recognized Michigan's agriculture industry for its growth during his final State of the State address on Jan. 22.

“We have the second-most diverse agriculture industry in the nation and we should be proud of that,” he said. “It has grown to a $100 billion industry, and to pick one illustration to show the kind of growth and potential is the Michigan wine and hard cider industry.

“To give you an idea in terms of economic impact, the economic impact of that industry is now $5.4 billion annually, up from $300 million in 2005. Think about that growth and, very importantly as part of agritourism, we had over 1.7 million visitors to our wineries in the last year.”

According to Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Chief Deputy Director Gordon Wenk, in 2005, Michigan had about 50-60 wineries. Today, there are close to 140 in the state.

“We are seeing the effect of wineries in the area of tourism. When people visit, they go to the winery, they buy wine, they shop in local stores and they eat at local restaurants.”

He said the industry also benefits from more than 40 varieties of grapes now being grown in the state. “The quality of the wine being produced in Michigan is much higher now than it was in 2005,” he said, due partially to the types of grapes being used.

Wenk said growth in the hard cider industry also has had a sizeable economic impact on the ag industry. “In 2005, there was hardly any hard cider being produced in Michigan commercially. Now, a tremendous amount of hard cider is being produced from Michigan apples.”

During his speech, Snyder announced he would soon roll out five new infrastructure and environmental initiatives. Rural broadband has long been an issue in the state.

“We need broadband access in every corner of Michigan,” he said. “It’s critically important to bring back our smaller communities – it’s about economic engines of these communities and great places to live.”

The Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) has developed policy in recent years that calls for a comprehensive policy to help deliver universal broadband access statewide that is equitable in both cost and quality in both rural and urban settings. MDARD Director Jamie Clover Adams said, too, it is imperative for farmers to have quality and reliable access to effectively be able to do business.

“I have consistently heard from agriculture industry and business leaders that access to broadband is needed for them to reach their markets,” she said.

Snyder also announced this year will mark the groundbreaking for the new Gordie Howe International Bridge to Canada. “I'm looking forward to joining with our Canadian partners this summer and starting construction in Detroit.”

“Once it is finished, it will reduce the cost of transportation,” Clover Adams said, which should help bolster the state's agriculture industry. “Perhaps if the logistics are a little bit simpler, they will buy more from us.”

MFB President Carl Bednarski agreed, saying “with Canada as Michigan’s leading trade partner, the bridge is vital to the state's agricultural industry.”

Snyder also is focusing on enhancing career and technical education. “Last year we did the Career Pathways Alliance, which is about a public-private partnership to bring education together with private industry to say we can do more,” he said.

Clover Adams said MFB has worked with Michigan State University to help bring some of MSU's programming to community colleges, thus increasing access to this specialized training. According to Bednarski, MFB and the Alliance are supporting a five-bill package that, among other things, increases career and technical education promotion. The bills still must be approved by the state legislature.

Continuing to work to halt the invasion of Asian carp into Michigan waterways and continuing to work on the state’s clean water initiative are the other two infrastructure and environmental issues the Governor is focusing on during his last year in office.

“We’re encouraged by these success stories and believe we need to continue focusing on food and agriculture processing innovations and expansions,” Bednarski said.