U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin wants you to buy American produce and food, especially considering the U.S. had a record agriculture trade deficit in 2024 and another one predicted by USDA for 2025. In front of almost 100 Michigan farmers at MFB’s Washington Legislative Seminar, Slotkin promised to be pro-farmer, pro-food, and that she would push back at her political counterparts about what’s important to farming.
“You’ve got to be loud about it,” Slotkin (D-Holly) said. “This is why I believe taking a more muscular national security approach to farming works because people understand the importance of making microchips in America. They understand the importance of making our warships and our submarines and our planes in America.
“They should understand that food is in that category. That without food, we're nothing.”
In February, USDA’s Economic Research Service’s (ERS) released its quarterly outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade. It predicted U.S. ag trade deficit to hit $49 billion, adding another $3.5 billion to the November estimated deficit figure. This, while growers maneuver on-and-off again tariffs against the nation’s three largest agricultural export markets: Canada, Mexico and China.
According to Slotkin, who’s previously advocated on behalf of farmers to pause the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), which is used to calculate wages for H-2A or seasonal workers, “Our country is going through something right now, and it’s swinging like a pendulum from one side to the other.”
“What happens is normal policy-making and thoughtful approaches to things … go out the window because everybody's being really … political about everything — Democrats and Republicans,” she continued. “I think farmers know more than most (that) serious people can get in a room for 45 minutes, cut out the media, cut out Twitter, and get to a productive solution — but not when people are obsessed with politics.”
It’s this whose-side-are-you-on rhetoric Slotkin aims to maneuver herself.
“My job is to try and cut out all that noise and say, ‘What are the farmers saying they need?’” Slotkin said.
“And how do I go and get that? I will partner with anybody, especially right now, to go and get those answers.”
How Michigan farmers can help
Throughout the week, federal politicians and agricultural leaders encouraged Michigan Farm Bureau members to speak to their legislators when they go back home — to invite them to their farm.
Slotkin’s message was no different: She encouraged members to invite legislators, both federal and state, Democrats and Republicans, to an event.
“(You’re) briefing them, not just on the data and information, but on the personal stories from the heart; that’s what has moved me,” said Slotkin, noting that on the possible AEWR wage rate freeze, for example, many people in her party didn’t agree with it.
“But I sat with farmers, and they just walked me through their stories, and I'm like, ‘What are we doing here, right?’” she continued.
“So we’ve got to create those forums and create those invitations to get the real information. This is sometimes hard for farmers. They're the least complaining people that I know. … I'm not asking for people to lower themselves.
“I'm asking for them to just tell the straight story of their experience because that is impactful for people who otherwise just see things in terms of dollars and policy.”
Click below to see more images of MFB members in action.
