By Nina Misuraca Ignaczak, Planet Detroit
This article was republished with permission from Planet Detroit. Sign up for Planet Detroit’s weekly newsletter here.
Federal aid is coming to Michigan’s sweet cherry farmers, who lost much of their crops this year due to erratic weather patterns and subsequent pest infestations.
In response to this agricultural disaster, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued disaster declarations for Antrim, Grand Traverse, Leelanau counties and eight contiguous counties.
The federal recognition opens the door for emergency resources for northern Michigan’s cherry producers. Qualified farmers in the affected areas will now be eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the USDA’s Farm Services Agency.
Michigan sweet cherry farmers lost between 30% and 75% of their crops this season, prompting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to request federal assistance for the hard-hit industry. This year’s crop loss was one of the worst in recent history because farmers spent a great deal of money fighting bugs and fungi but largely failed to save the season.
The situation in Michigan’s cherry orchards is a microcosm of the larger climate crisis facing agriculture worldwide. As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, farmers are on the front lines, battling to maintain their livelihoods and feed their communities.
The USDA-FSA will accept loan applications for farmers seeking assistance for the next eight months.
Each application will be considered individually, considering the extent of losses, available security and repayment ability. Beyond emergency loans, the USDA-FSA offers a variety of programs to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.
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Featured image: Cherry branch. (Photo Credit: Mila Usmanova/iStock)
