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Newly-approved federal assistance aims to help US asparagus farmers recover from losses related to drug wars.
Industry officials say the federal government removed tariffs on asparagus from Central and South America in the early '90's to discourage drug trafficking.
The aim, officials say, was to increase import of a legitimate crop.
Asparagus farmers say instead that the move increased production of and competition from cheaply-grown crops.
Now, they might be eligible for assistance from the USDA's Trade Adjustment Assistance program, to develop business plans for adjusting to changing markets.
John Bakker is the Executive Director of the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board. He says he expects the Trade Adjustment Assistance program to help farmers produce their crop more efficiently.
"The first bit of training qualifies a grower for $4,000, and then if they follow through with a detailed business plan, they're eligible for another $8,000. So $12,000 per farm, total.
He says the surge in imports is affecting Michigan farmers.
"For instance, we're selling asparagus to the processing market today for the same price - or even a little bit less - than we did fifteen years ago. So obviously, that makes it very, very difficult for producers."
Bakker says Michigan's asparagus industry shrank from $20 million to $14 million in the last five years.
Industry officials say the federal government removed tariffs on asparagus from Central and South America in the early '90's to discourage drug trafficking.
The aim, officials say, was to increase import of a legitimate crop.
Asparagus farmers say instead that the move increased production of and competition from cheaply-grown crops.
Now, they might be eligible for assistance from the USDA's Trade Adjustment Assistance program, to develop business plans for adjusting to changing markets.
John Bakker is the Executive Director of the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board. He says he expects the Trade Adjustment Assistance program to help farmers produce their crop more efficiently.
"The first bit of training qualifies a grower for $4,000, and then if they follow through with a detailed business plan, they're eligible for another $8,000. So $12,000 per farm, total.
He says the surge in imports is affecting Michigan farmers.
"For instance, we're selling asparagus to the processing market today for the same price - or even a little bit less - than we did fifteen years ago. So obviously, that makes it very, very difficult for producers."
Bakker says Michigan's asparagus industry shrank from $20 million to $14 million in the last five years.
