ON THE JOB FOR MICHIGAN: Cherry Growers Highlight Peters’ Efforts to Protect Their Crops Against Harmful Invasive Species

SUTTONS BAY, MICHIGAN - In a new "On the Job" video from U.S. Senator Gary Peters' (MI) office, Michigan cherry growers highlight Peters' efforts to protect their crops and livelihoods against invasive species. Growers Emily Miezio, Manager of Cherry Bay Orchards, and Jim Bardenhagen, Owner of Bardenhagen Farms, expressed their support for Peters' work to author and pass his SWAT Act. The bipartisan bill would combat the spread of spotted wing drosophila (SWD), an invasive fly hurting fruit growers in Michigan and across the country. Dr. Nikki Rothwell, Extension Specialist at Michigan State University's Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Center, also discussed how Peters' SWAT Act would support MSU's efforts to advance research on, and develop mitigation methods for, SWD. The video is part of the On the Job for Michigan series, which highlights Peters' leadership and advocacy on behalf of Michigan constituents and communities.

"I've been farming probably 45 years," said Bardenhagen. "Most of the insects that we have in the U.S. have an enemy of some sort, and that helps to control them. But SWD does not have an enemy. So, it's been a real challenge for growers. We need a friend down there in Washington."

"What we have here in Northern Michigan is kind of a sweet spot to grow cherries. I grew up on the farm. I am a second-generation cherry farmer," said Miezio. "SWD is spotted wing drosophila, which is a cherry fruit fly, or a fruit fly that we see in different fruits… As a farmer, we don't want to be doing inputs on our cherries all the time. Talking with Senator Peters' office over the last couple years, just continuing that support that they've given us to help research so we can find ways to produce the best quality fruit that we can, we're seeing that dial switch a little bit. We want to keep that momentum going and Senator Peters' office and the support of legislators to continue the research so we can do that is vitally important."

"The flies were detected in 2010 here in Michigan, and then in 2012, we happen to see them up here infesting fruit," said Dr. Rothwell. "You know, we've adjusted our spray programs, we've decreased the amount of pesticides we've been using tremendously because of these federal funds. We put those dollars to work really fast."

Watch the "On the Job" video here.

"I've heard firsthand from Michigan growers about how these invasive insects continue to damage their blueberries, cherries, and other fruit crops, and pose a serious threat to their livelihoods and economic success," said Senator Peters. "I'm never going to stop fighting for this much-needed, bipartisan bill to help bring down costs for fruit growers and mitigate the spread of this invasive pest to prevent their crops from being spoiled to in the first place."

The spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is an invasive pest from East Asia that lays eggs in soft-skinned fruit crops, including cherries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. SWD is estimated to cause more than $700 million in economic loss per year nationally - in part because fruit buyers have a zero-tolerance policy if the invasive insect is spotted on crops, meaning entire crop loads can be rejected if a single larva is detected. Thorough pest management strategies are required for farmers to ensure their crops are SWD-free, raising costs along the way.

A Spotted Wing Drosophila Response Team is led by researchers at Michigan State University and many other U.S. universities - and has been funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture's Specialty Crop Research Initiative, Project GREEEN, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and various Michigan grower organizations. In talks with members of the Spotted Wing Drosophila Response Team, Professor Rufus Isaacs of Michigan State University and officials with USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service have all said current federal funding levels are inadequate for the management of these invasive insects.

Peters has fiercely fought to support Michigan growers. In 2020, Peters' bipartisan legislation to address the shortage of agricultural inspectors - who protect the nation's food supply and agricultural industry at the border - by authorizing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire additional inspectors was signed into law. Peters also fought to level the playing field for small- and medium-sized businesses that have been negatively impacted by unfair trade practices from foreign countries, including Michigan cherry growers hurt by dumping and subsidies on imported goods. Additionally, after a push by Peters, the U.S. International Trade Commission announced in 2020 it would start tracking foreign imports to accurately measure the impact of trade on Michigan's tart cherry industry.

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