LANSING — Gov. Whitmer penned a letter today to Sonny Perdue, secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), requesting that he declare a USDA Disaster Designation for the entire state of Michigan. The request was prompted by a letter written late last week to the governor by state Rep. Angela Witwer (Delta Township), who requested a state of emergency declaration be issued for Eaton County due to historic rains and other weather conditions that have prevented farming families throughout the state from planting their anticipated number of seeds which may have a devastating effect on crop yields at the end of the year. Following the news, Rep. Witwer issued the following statement:
“Agriculture is and always has been an integral aspect of Michigan’s economy, employing a large percentage of the state’s overall workforce. When a disaster like this strikes, it does not just affect individual people or families, it can devastate entire communities that rely on the industry. This disaster designation would help ensure my community and others like it will get the assistance they need to make it through these tough times. I would like to thank Gov. Whitmer for her swift action on this matter.”
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