MSU Ready to Welcome Obama

Michigan State University and its Agriculture Department will take center stage today when President Obama comes to town for a bill signing--one of the few times that such a signing will be held outside of the nation's capitol.

The event is set to begin shortly after 2 p.m. at the McPhail Equine Performance Center.   It is closed to the public.  Mostly students will be in attendance--all receiving a special White House invitation.

Obama will be signing into law the new bi-partisan Farm Bill, which was crafted in large part by Michigan Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow.  She is scheduled to appear with the President at the signing along with other democrats hoping to bask in what is left of Obama's popularity.  Recent polls show favorability ratings for the two-time president as low as they've ever been.

The much-anticipated Farm Bill that was years in the making is a massive, five-year, multi-billion dollar piece of legislation that sets agriculture and nutritional policies.   The President is also expected to unveil an initiative to help connect rural businesses wtih federal resources that can help sell theri products and services abroad.

Immigration issues could also be discussed.  Michigan is second only to California in the number of seasonal workers utilized by farmers.