By Andi Anderson
Michigan Rep. Luke Meerman of the 89th District balances his legislative responsibilities with his strong ties to his family’s dairy farm. Before entering public service in 2018, Meerman spent years working as a fifth‑generation dairy farmer, gaining firsthand experience with both the rewards and pressures of modern agriculture.
Meerman noted that although he now spends much of his time in Lansing, farming is still a central part of his life. He shared, “I come back to the farm almost every day. I still milk some cows once in a while, and I’m certainly operating equipment and machinery. I do some farming with my brother, too, with corn and soybeans. I just love it and love that kind of work. But agriculture also has a lot of different stresses. Some of it is regulatory, and there are a lot of financial pressures, as we all know. There aren’t a lot of people interested in farming. Less than 2% of people now raise food for the rest of us, so it’s challenging.”
Despite these challenges, Meerman believes Michigan farmers have significant advantages. He highlighted the state’s strong agricultural partnerships and diverse production capabilities, supported in large part by Michigan State University. He said, “We’re second in the nation in number of commodities produced after California. It has to do with our weather and our microclimates from the Great Lakes and our soils. To me, it all comes down to the willingness of Michigan farmers and the agricultural industry to work together to take advantage of it. With those partnerships, I want to thank Michigan State University for the long, long history and support of agriculture. It’s really been the right arm of Michigan agriculture for years.”
MSU AgBioResearch Director George Smith echoed Meerman’s appreciation for collaboration, stating, “I think Michigan agriculture can play an even greater role around the country and the world in solving the problems facing farmers and our communities, such as food security, food safety, environmental stewardship and the economic sustainability of farming. Given our position with agricultural diversity, our access to water and our great partnerships, Michigan is poised to take the lead, and we strive to contribute to that through our work in AgBioResearch. Rep. Meerman and our other legislative colleagues recognize the significance of research, and we’re grateful for that.”
Meerman also commended MSU’s responsiveness to farmers’ needs, noting his family’s experiences and feedback from constituents. He emphasized the value of collaborative programs built through partnerships among MSU, agricultural groups, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Photo Credit: michigan-state-university-msu
Categories: Michigan, Education