Following Ag Roundtable, Slotkin Pushes for Crop Resiliency Research

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-07) today introduced new legislation to expand research aimed at protecting Michigan agriculture and increasing yields for farmers. The Specialty Crop Research Act would increase funding for federal programs that support research into new methods for ensuring crop resiliency. 

Slotkin’s legislation comes after she and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Tim Boring hosted a roundtable last week focused on climate resiliency for Michigan agriculture. Financing more research at the federal level was a topic of discussion during the conversation in Grand Rapids.

The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) and IR-4 Project are federal programs that support research on ways to make specialty crops more resistant to environmental threats, such as weather or pests, and increase yields. Slotkin’s bill would increase funding for the SCRI by $50 million annually and the IR-4 Project by $25 million. 

Specialty crops – which include fruits, vegetables, nuts, and more – represent a significant portion of Michigan’s agricultural output and are critical to the state economy. Additionally, Michigan State University benefits from the SCRI and IR-4, so this bill would directly support their efforts.

“When we invest in our agriculture, make crops more resilient, and increase yields, everybody wins – from farmers to consumers,” said Slotkin. “This legislation will support vital research into protecting specialty crops – a critical part of Michigan agriculture – from severe weather, pests, and other environmental factors. And with much of that research happening at Michigan State University, this bill will benefit Michiganders throughout the agriculture sector.”

Also last week, the Congresswoman announced bipartisan legislation that would expand and enhance the current Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which provides dedicated federal assistance grants to specialty crop growers through state agriculture departments for a wide array of projects. The legislation is endorsed by 11 Michigan agriculture organizations from across the state. 

Earlier this month, she also co-led legislation to strengthen American food security by closely scrutinizing farmland purchases by foreign adversaries.

Slotkin is also pushing for a $5/acre crop insurance discount to farmers who plant cover crops to incentivize this important soil health practice, which builds on the federal Pandemic Cover Crop Program and has bipartisan support.