Michigan state Rep. Betsy Coffia, D-Traverse City, and Tim Boring, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development say Gov. Gretchen Witmer has petitioned Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for federal disaster assistance for sweet cherry growers in the state.
“Here in northwest Michigan, agriculture — and particularly sweet cherry production — is a vital part of our economy. From farmers to producers to retailers, so many members of our community rely on the success of crops like cherries,” Coffia said in a news release. “However, one thing is clear: Michigan is experiencing a natural disaster that threatens sweet cherry production, which brings us here, requesting a federal disaster declaration for our region’s sweet cherry industry.”
Witmer said significant rainfall, including nearly 13 inches in the Northwest part of lower Michigan, caused a warm, wet and humid spring and early summer with both spotted wing drosophila and cherry leaf rot and root rot to emerge.
In a letter to Vilsack, Witmer said crop protection measures were not sufficient, especially during windy conditions.
“Mid-to-late growing season estimates of crop loss across the significant sweet cherry growing counties range between 30% and 75%,” she wrote.
Witmer said sweet cherry growers in Leelanau Antrim, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Manistee, Oceana, Mason, Berrien and Van Buren counties have been negatively impacted.
“In submitting this letter to the USDA, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has taken a bold and crucial step in an effort to bring much-needed relief to Michigan’s sweet cherry industry,” Boring said in the release.
