While Michigan's 10th Congressional District is often recognized for its suburban communities, it is also home to hundreds of farms and is a leader in nursery, greenhouse and floriculture production. Republican congressional candidate Michael Bouchard said he wants to be a strong advocate for the district’s farms and agribusinesses in Washington.
Bouchard recently received the Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPac's "Friend of Agriculture" endorsement in his campaign to represent the district, which includes most of southern Macomb County and the Rochester area in eastern Oakland County.
Despite today's political climate, Bouchard said agriculture remains an issue that should bring lawmakers together.
"Supporting farmers has always been a bipartisan effort, and it should stay that way," Bouchard said. "The farm bill, trade policy and workforce reform are issues where both sides of the aisle have a real stake in getting it right. That common ground exists, and I intend to use it.
"…(I)f a Democrat brings a good idea that puts Michigan families and American farmers first, I will work to get it done. I do not have patience for partisan posturing when there is real work to be accomplished."
Although not a farmer himself, Bouchard said agriculture has been part of his life since childhood. Growing up, his family raised corn, wheat and pumpkins on a small acreage, while his mother maintained a lifelong passion for gardening and supporting local nurseries and greenhouses. Those experiences, he said, helped shape his appreciation for the families who produce the state's food, fiber and fuel.
Those experiences, Bouchard said, helped shape his belief that agriculture is closely tied to many of the priorities that prompted him to seek office, including strengthening the economy, protecting national security and ensuring a reliable domestic food supply.
Among the biggest issues facing Michigan agriculture, he identified aging drainage infrastructure, rising production costs, workforce shortages, regulatory burdens and uncertainty surrounding the farm bill.
Bouchard said he would advocate for federal investment in drainage and water infrastructure in Macomb County while opposing expansion of the federal Waters of the United States definition. He also supports passing a long-term farm bill, protecting stepped-up basis, eliminating the estate tax on family farms, expanding year-round E-15 sales, and reducing unnecessary federal regulations on agriculture.
Workforce challenges are another priority, according to Bouchard. He supports reforms to improve the H-2A guest worker program, including codifying recent changes to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate and reducing administrative burdens. He also said maintaining strong export markets while addressing unfair trade practices is critical to Michigan agriculture's future.
A graduate of Michigan State University, Bouchard spent the past decade serving in the U.S. Army, including assignments with the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions. Most recently, he served as a military advisor with the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve after serving as chief operations officer for a Michigan Army National Guard infantry battalion. He also serves as a reserve deputy with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.
Bouchard said Michigan's agricultural diversity is often overlooked by people outside the state.
"Most people outside Michigan don't fully grasp what we have here," Bouchard said. "Michigan is the most agriculturally diverse state in the country outside of California, producing more than 300 commodities commercially. We grow asparagus and cherries, corn and sugarbeets, blueberries and apples. We have world-class dairy and livestock operations and a floriculture industry that rivals anywhere in the country. That diversity isn't an accident. It's the result of generations of Michigan farm families who knew their land and worked it right."
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