HAMILTON, MI (WHTC) - Congressmen Bill Huizenga and Fred Upton attempted to allay some fears that Allegan County farmers had during a one-hour town hall meeting at the Dykhuis Farms complex in Hamilton. The ongoing heat wave and subsequent drought conditions have added to an already dire situation caused by an early thaw followed by devastating April frosts, according to Upton, the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and the economic impact has been immense already. The St. Joseph Republican said that Monday’s announcement that low interest federal loans for fruit farmers in Michigan are available will help.

Upton and Huizenga, a freshman Representative from Zeeland, talked with the farmers about the upcoming farm bill being considered on Capitol Hill, energy prices, the impact of last week’s Affordable Care Act affirmation by the Supreme Court, and other agricultural-related issues