Michigan Rep. Luke Meerman values MSU’s longstanding support of Michigan agriculture
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EmailFrom his farming roots to his role in the Michigan Legislature, Rep. Luke Meerman understands the importance of MSU research that's driven by agriculture industry priorities.
This story is part of a series highlighting the impact of MSU AgBioResearch’s work with Michigan agriculture and natural resources told through our stakeholders' perspectives. Through partnerships with the State of Michigan and industries, MSU AgBioResearch is finding solutions to some of the most timely problems facing our state. To view the entire series, visit agbioresearch.msu.edu.
In addition to the written story, listen to the below podcast with MSU AgBioResearch Director George Smith and Michigan Rep. Luke Meerman, 89th District, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
LANSING, Mich. — Although Michigan Rep. Luke Meerman, 89th District, spends much of his time in Lansing working with legislative colleagues, his mind is never too far from the family farm.
Meerman was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2018, but prior to his foray into politics, he spent many years as a fifth-generation dairy farmer on an operation that sits within the district he represents.
The strenuous efforts of farming are rewarding, he said, but he understands the growing pressure the industry faces.
“I come back to the farm almost every day,” Meerman said. “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.”
While farmers continue to deal with many problems, those in Michigan have benefits not available in other states. In addition to favorable climate conditions for a plethora of commodities, Meerman said the agriculture industry’s history of partnership makes Michigan special.
“We’re second in the nation in number of commodities produced after California,” Meerman said. “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 agrees with Meerman about the importance of collaboration and believes Michigan agriculture has a tremendous opportunity to be a nationwide leader moving forward.
“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,” Smith said. “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 credits MSU with being responsive to farmers’ needs, citing his family’s personal experiences and what he hears from constituents, as well as two programs that are partnerships among MSU, agriculture industries, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Project GREEEN and the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture (M-AAA) are State of Michigan-funded initiatives that have played a critical role in helping farmers deal with emerging issues in plant and animal agriculture, including production challenges and workforce development.
“When you see programs like Project GREEEN and M-AAA, they are especially important,” Meerman said. “We’re facing a situation where we’re going to have to cut the state budget this year. Falling state revenues plus dedicating more money toward roads are two of the main factors. My hope is that my colleagues and I can show the value those programs bring to the state. They’re based on the industry groups saying, ‘This is what we need, and we can’t get this research any other place.’”
In addition to Project GREEEN and M-AAA, Meerman mentioned the new MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center as a mechanism to pave the way for a strong agricultural economy.
The initial $30 million investment to fund construction of the center was provided by the State of Michigan in 2022, and Meerman was a leading advocate.
“We have great new facilities like the new dairy, but that also means MSU got a lot of use and a lot of dollars out of the previous facility,” Meerman said. “We see a lot of value from MSU, and it’s a big help as the first land-grant university in the country. The people of Michigan look to MSU to help the state be strong in agriculture.”
The state-of-the-art MSU dairy center will support the growth of the dairy herd to nearly 700 cattle, offering more research, teaching and outreach opportunities than ever before. But with more cattle comes more manure. Expanding the anaerobic digester on MSU’s south campus to help manage the waste burden is a vital aspect of the new dairy facility, and it delivers multiple benefits.
Anaerobic digestion is a process in which microorganisms break down organic matter — such as food waste or animal manure — in the absence of oxygen. Two products are created from anaerobic digestion: biogas and digestate. Biogas can generate electricity or be refined into renewable natural gas, while digestate can be treated to produce organic fertilizers and recover clean water that can be reused elsewhere.
Roughly 20 years ago, Meerman began learning about anaerobic digestion from MSU researchers. He said it’s a relevant topic today at the legislative level as lawmakers look to support innovative methods to create additional revenue opportunities for farmers, while also protecting Michigan’s water resources.
“The digester at MSU was the first one I’ve ever seen,” Meerman said. “This is being done all over the U.S. and the world. We know the types of benefits it provides. It’s a good example of something we need more information on through research. One of the major things we’re dealing with in agriculture from a legislative level is how we protect our water. If we can do that while producing renewable energy with farm-based digesters, it can give animal agriculture a leg up. If we fall behind innovation in Europe and around this country, our farmers will be at a disadvantage. MSU can help walk us through this process.”
Smith said he appreciates Meerman and other legislators who look to MSU as problem solvers.
“The anaerobic digester helps play a role in the justification for the new MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center,” Smith said. “We are looking at enhancing the digester’s capacity, working on technologies that pull the nutrients out of manure, and cost-effective strategies for converting biogas to renewable natural gas that is applicable on dairy farms of all sizes across the state. We thank our partners in the legislature for their support so we can perform this type of research that can be a game changer for Michigan agriculture.”
The story of impactful research is an important one, Meerman said. He encourages farmers to make their voices heard. If a farmer is willing, Meerman also believes they should consider running for office.
“I would encourage any farmers who have even a little bit of interest to run for state office,” he said. “It’s incredibly important. If you grew up wearing work gloves, getting dirty, we need that perspective.
“Beyond that, I would also say don’t be afraid to make your voice heard about research or agriculture in general. The more personal you can make the story, the better. Take the time to sit down with state representatives. If you have the chance to talk to a representative even twice a year, you’re going to stick out. I think agriculture can continue to be strong so long as we’re engaging in those ways.”
Michigan State University AgBioResearch scientists discover dynamic solutions for food systems and the environment. More than 300 MSU faculty conduct leading-edge research on a variety of topics, from health and agriculture to natural resources. Originally formed in 1888 as the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU AgBioResearch oversees numerous on-campus research facilities, as well as 15 outlying centers throughout Michigan. To learn more, visit agbioresearch.msu.edu.
