Reps. Schuitmaker, Shaffer, Proos and Nitz offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 295.

            A resolution to urge the Michigan Department of Agriculture to provide indemnification to producers who need to destroy crops and to increase inspections of products from Ontario in order to prevent the spread of downy mildew.

            Whereas, Agriculture is the second largest industry in Michigan. Michigan's agriculture and food industry generates billions of dollars in economic activity annually and employs more than 727,000 people; and

            Whereas, Michigan is the number one producer of pickling cucumbers in the country and a leading producer of fresh cucumbers, squash, and pumpkins. In 2004, the value of these crops was nearly $95 million; and

            Whereas, Downy mildew is a serious plant disease infecting cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, and melons. In 2005, Michigan lost 40 percent of its pickling cucumber crop to downy mildew. Statewide costs to prevent downy mildew from infecting healthy crops can exceed $5 million for Michigan's growers of pickling cucumbers alone; and

            Whereas, There are current outbreaks of downy mildew in southeast Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Ontario. Ontario has experienced a particularly severe outbreak. Infected products imported from Ontario could spread downy mildew to other regions of Michigan; and

            Whereas, One strategy to prevent the spread of downy mildew is to till up infected crops and spray fields with fungicide. A single infected field can release thousands of fungal spores into the wind, potentially infecting other Michigan farms as well as farms in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Ontario. However, farmers may be reluctant to take timely action for the good of the entire farming industry at a significant individual loss; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Michigan Department of Agriculture to provide indemnification to producers who need to destroy crops and to increase inspections of products from Ontario in order to prevent the spread of downy mildew; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the governor, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, and the Michigan Commission of Agriculture.