Farm Bureau members adopt policy on hot issues impacting ag

As last updated Dec. 5, 2011

GRAND RAPIDS, Dec. 2, 2011 - Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) members confirmed their support for the proposed New International Trade Crossing (NITC) between Michigan and Canada as they forged policy to guide the state's largest general farm organization for the coming year.

The bridge was among a gamut of issues that farmers serving as voting delegates on behalf of county Farm Bureaus across the state considered at the MFB 92nd annual meeting in Grand Rapids. Resolutions adopted at the meeting dealing with state issues will direct MFB action in 2012. Adopted resolutions dealing with national issues will be forwarded to the American Farm Bureau Federation for consideration at the AFBF 93rd Convention and Annual Meeting in Honolulu, Jan. 8-11, 2012.

In considering the NITC issue, the MFB membership agreed that "good bridges make good neighbors."

While Farm Bureau's support for Gov. Rick Snyder's bridge proposal was formerly in a general highways policy, delegates narrowed their focus in new policy, in part because "the NITC promises to be more efficient with easier access from highways and shorter delays from international customs inspectors."

The policy was made just hours before Snyder addressed the MFB membership, although some farmers remained skeptical.

"Do you really believe that this will cost nothing?" one farmer asked. "Don't get too wrapped up in the euphoria that this will cost you nothing."

At a press conference following his dinner address, Snyder said he's always been straightforward on the bridge's cost issue.

"We made a commitment to say it wouldn't be a financial burden on the citizens of the state of Michigan in terms of taking on liabilities or debt," he told MFB's member newspaper, the Michigan Farm News. "The legislation we proposed said that multiple times."

Snyder said Canada has made the commitment to be "great partners to advance the funds we'd normally pay, and to be paid back out of funds from the bridge operation."

In many ways, the bridge will become a promoter of international trade, Snyder said, which will mean long-term job creation and more success for Michigan farmers.

While the Legislature has been reluctant to wholeheartedly accept the concept of a new bridge, Snyder refused to say that he will proceed by executive order if the Legislature does not act.

"We're going to get a bridge done, and as a practical matter, we're continuing to talk to the Legislature on this process, and we're making progress," he said.

Among the 148 proposed policies Farm Bureau members were asked to consider, the sensitive issue of feral swine promised to be contentious because of the delicate balance between members who raise hogs and Farm Bureau's long-standing support for independent small businesses such as game farms and hunting preserves. Many of those businesses derive a majority of their livelihood from swine hunts.

Branch County hog farmer Pat Albright addressed the controversial issue of the Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) order to label certain species of swine as invasive and the proposed Farm Bureau policy that seeks to preserve private small businesses by regulating hunting facilities that feature swine hunts.

"Although we would prefer that no swine hunting take place at all," he said, "we will concede and say 'if we're going to have it, here are the rules you have to follow.' But we do not want an invasive species here, and it's the wild Eurasian boars (the species most popular to hunt) that are causing us the most problem."

In the end, voting delegates reaffirmed existing MFB policy which firmly supports the elimination of feral swine in Michigan.

The 2012 policy, as adopted, also takes into account the Oct. 8, 2011 order by the DNR which names certain species of pigs as invasive, saying MFB supports the order along with the "continued development and implementation of regulations on hunting facilities that allow swine hunting."

MFB's continued support for regulating swine game farms and hunt clubs is a reaffirmation of existing policy which calls for regulations such as disease testing of all incoming and outgoing animals, strict fencing requirements, stocking sterile animals only, and permanent, individual animal identification.

Farm Bureau policymakers also passed a revised resolution on wildlife management, showing support for "sound, biological science" in managing wildlife and "competitive license fees to encourage resident and non-resident hunting and fishing opportunities."

Policy also reaffirmed Farm Bureau's opposition to artificial baiting and feeding of free-ranging deer.

In national issues, MFB members forged policy that opposes proposals from the U.S. Department of Labor to restrict children from many activities involved with working on farms.

"Farm Bureau opposes all efforts to restrict the ability of young workers to obtain appropriate employment in agriculture if they desire to work," the approved policy reads.

As for seasonal laborers who travel to Michigan to work, policymakers promoted a "simple guest worker program" and opposed any mandate on employers to use E-verify until a guest worker program is in place for workers not currently authorized.

The E-verify system has been controversial because of its cost and questionable effectiveness. Because farmers need a reliable, skilled work force to bring in time-sensitive crops that will be ruined if not harvested in a timely manner, the policymakers expressed "support for a regulated, legal work force for agriculture which provides a sufficient and predictable employee supply."

As farm bill negotiations are expected to begin in the coming year, MFB members adopted policy that recommends farmers be ineligible for disaster assistance payments from the government if they did not purchase crop insurance. They also approved national dairy policy that opposes any type of supply management program.

MFB represents more than 48,000 farm families statewide. The MFB annual meeting took place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place. More than 1,000 farmers and guests participated over the course of the four-day event. The policy portion of the meeting involved 488 voting delegates representing MFB's 67 county Farm Bureaus.

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Editor's note: For more information after Dec. 2, contact Public Policy and Commodity Division Director Sarah Black at (800) 292-2680, ext. 2040.

Click here to return to the Additional News Releases index page.


	Home Page Agenda Photographs Young Farmers Media Services Entertainment Location Free Wireless at DeVos Place Farm Bureau members adopt policy on hot issues impacting ag As last updated Dec. 5, 2011 GRAND RAPIDS, Dec. 2, 2011 - Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) members confirmed their support for the proposed New International Trade Crossing (NITC) between Michigan and Canada as they forged policy to guide the state's largest general farm organization for the coming year. The bridge was among a gamut of issues that farmers serving as voting delegates on behalf of county Farm Bureaus across the state considered at the MFB 92nd annual meeting in Grand Rapids. Resolutions adopted at the meeting dealing with state issues will direct MFB action in 2012. Adopted resolutions dealing with national issues will be forwarded to the American Farm Bureau Federation for consideration at the AFBF 93rd Convention and Annual Meeting in Honolulu, Jan. 8-11, 2012. In considering the NITC issue, the MFB membership agreed that "good bridges make good neighbors." While Farm Bureau's support for Gov. Rick Snyder's bridge proposal was formerly in a general highways policy, delegates narrowed their focus in new policy, in part because "the NITC promises to be more efficient with easier access from highways and shorter delays from international customs inspectors." The policy was made just hours before Snyder addressed the MFB membership, although some farmers remained skeptical. "Do you really believe that this will cost nothing?" one farmer asked. "Don't get too wrapped up in the euphoria that this will cost you nothing." At a press conference following his dinner address, Snyder said he's always been straightforward on the bridge's cost issue. "We made a commitment to say it wouldn't be a financial burden on the citizens of the state of Michigan in terms of taking on liabilities or debt," he told MFB's member newspaper, the Michigan Farm News. "The legislation we proposed said that multiple times." Snyder said Canada has made the commitment to be "great partners to advance the funds we'd normally pay, and to be paid back out of funds from the bridge operation." In many ways, the bridge will become a promoter of international trade, Snyder said, which will mean long-term job creation and more success for Michigan farmers. While the Legislature has been reluctant to wholeheartedly accept the concept of a new bridge, Snyder refused to say that he will proceed by executive order if the Legislature does not act. "We're going to get a bridge done, and as a practical matter, we're continuing to talk to the Legislature on this process, and we're making progress," he said. Among the 148 proposed policies Farm Bureau members were asked to consider, the sensitive issue of feral swine promised to be contentious because of the delicate balance between members who raise hogs and Farm Bureau's long-standing support for independent small businesses such as game farms and hunting preserves. Many of those businesses derive a majority of their livelihood from swine hunts. Branch County hog farmer Pat Albright addressed the controversial issue of the Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) order to label certain species of swine as invasive and the proposed Farm Bureau policy that seeks to preserve private small businesses by regulating hunting facilities that feature swine hunts. "Although we would prefer that no swine hunting take place at all," he said, "we will concede and say 'if we're going to have it, here are the rules you have to follow.' But we do not want an invasive species here, and it's the wild Eurasian boars (the species most popular to hunt) that are causing us the most problem." In the end, voting delegates reaffirmed existing MFB policy which firmly supports the elimination of feral swine in Michigan. The 2012 policy, as adopted, also takes into account the Oct. 8, 2011 order by the DNR which names certain species of pigs as invasive, saying MFB supports the order along with the "continued development and implementation of regulations on hunting facilities that allow swine hunting." MFB's continued support for regulating swine game farms and hunt clubs is a reaffirmation of existing policy which calls for regulations such as disease testing of all incoming and outgoing animals, strict fencing requirements, stocking sterile animals only, and permanent, individual animal identification. Farm Bureau policymakers also passed a revised resolution on wildlife management, showing support for "sound, biological science" in managing wildlife and "competitive license fees to encourage resident and non-resident hunting and fishing opportunities." Policy also reaffirmed Farm Bureau's opposition to artificial baiting and feeding of free-ranging deer. In national issues, MFB members forged policy that opposes proposals from the U.S. Department of Labor to restrict children from many activities involved with working on farms. "Farm Bureau opposes all efforts to restrict the ability of young workers to obtain appropriate employment in agriculture if they desire to work," the approved policy reads. As for seasonal laborers who travel to Michigan to work, policymakers promoted a "simple guest worker program" and opposed any mandate on employers to use E-verify until a guest worker program is in place for workers not currently authorized. The E-verify system has been controversial because of its cost and questionable effectiveness. Because farmers need a reliable, skilled work force to bring in time-sensitive crops that will be ruined if not harvested in a timely manner, the policymakers expressed "support for a regulated, legal work force for agriculture which provides a sufficient and predictable employee supply." As farm bill negotiations are expected to begin in the coming year, MFB members adopted policy that recommends farmers be ineligible for disaster assistance payments from the government if they did not purchase crop insurance. They also approved national dairy policy that opposes any type of supply management program. MFB represents more than 48,000 farm families statewide. The MFB annual meeting took place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place. More than 1,000 farmers and guests participated over the course of the four-day event. The policy portion of the meeting involved 488 voting delegates representing MFB's 67 county Farm Bureaus. -30- Editor's note: For more information after Dec. 2, contact Public Policy and Commodity Division Director Sarah Black at (800) 292-2680, ext. 2040. Click here to return to the Additional News Releases index page. [ American Farm Bureau Federation ] Copyrights, Disclosures & Disclaimers