On Aug. 4, U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Michigan) visited Iott Seed Farm in Kalkaska County to hear firsthand from Michigan potato growers about the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. The visit highlighted key legislative priorities for the specialty crop sector as Congress prepares to take up the Farm Bill.

While the reconciliation bill that passed earlier in this Congress was politically divisive, it did include several bipartisan wins for specialty crops — including increased resources for research and support programs. Now, growers are urging lawmakers to build on that progress by finalizing a bipartisan Farm Bill that strengthens crop insurance, supports innovative research in mechanization and artificial intelligence (AI), and expands programs like the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP).

Growers also emphasized the need for common-sense, bipartisan solutions to address agriculture’s labor shortage. Reforming agricultural labor laws is critical to ensuring a reliable workforce for farms like Iott Seed Farm and others across the state. Additionally, Dennis Iott, Potato Growers of Michigan (PGMI) president, urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make regulatory decisions based on peer-reviewed science rather than social media-driven narratives — particularly when it comes to crop protection tools.

International trade also emerged as a top priority during the visit. Michigan’s potato growers are eager to expand market access to countries like Japan. If fully opened, the Japanese market alone could represent $150 million in annual U.S. fresh potato exports — creating more opportunities for family farms here at home.

PGMI encouraged Rep. Stevens, who represents Michigan’s 11th District, to join the bipartisan House Specialty Crop Caucus to continue elevating the voices and needs of specialty crop producers in Washington, D.C.

“Congresswoman Stevens’ willingness to visit the farm and listen to growers is exactly the kind of engagement we need to strengthen agriculture policy,” said Dr. Kelly Turner, PGMI manager. “Potatoes are a key part of Michigan’s economy and agriculture sector, and we appreciate her interest in advancing legislation that helps our growers thrive.”

PGMI President Dennis Iott emphasized the value of making these connections: “Building relationships with our congressional members is one of the most important things we can do as an industry. These partnerships are essential to shaping policies that reflect the realities and needs of Michigan agriculture.”