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Proposed Policy
Local Resolutions
Ingham County Agricultural Preservation (2007)
The Ingham County Board of Commissioners passed the Farmland Purchase of Development Rights Ordinance in 2004. The Ingham County P.D.R. program is intended for landowners interested in permanently protecting their farms and is voluntary. Twenty-six applications were received in 2006 and seven applications were received in 2007.
Financial resources limit the number of farms and acreages, which can be purchased in any one year. The I.C.B.P.B is exploring various options for funding these efforts. Federal funds are available thru the current farm bill to assist in the effort.
Action:
We support Farmland Preservation efforts in Ingham County. Ingham County Farm Bureau will assist the I.C.B.P.B. by publicizing the Farmland Preservation Program and encourage its members to learn about ways they can become involved. Reaffirm the Ingham County Policy "Ingham County Agricultural Preservation" adopted in 2006. ADOPTED
State Resolutions
Wildlife Damage (2007)
Farmers are experiencing increasing crop damage caused by deer, raccoons, woodchucks, Sandhill cranes, Canadian geese, and wild turkeys.
Commodities such as corn, soybeans, wheat, vegetables, and fruits are being damaged at an increasing rate.
Action:
We encourage hunting of raccoon, woodchucks, Canadian geese and turkey on personal property. We suggest a permit system for Sandhill crane reduction and their removal from the endangered species list. Reaffirm the Ingham County Policy "Wildlife Damage" adopted in 2006. ADOPTED
Support For The Food Bank Council Of Michigan (2007)
An endorsement by Michigan Farm Bureau would lend credibility to statewide efforts to secure support from the state as well as strengthen efforts to provide locally grown food and resources to local emergency food providers.
Action:
Michigan Farm Bureau and its members support statewide efforts to end hunger in Michigan through the Harvest for All and the Michigan Agricultural Surplus system, in partnership with the Food Bank Council of Michigan and its members. ADOPTED
Resource Recovery (2007)
Daily we generate vast quantities of all types of recoverable resource materials. Our society must reduce as much solid waste as practical through a wide variety of ways. However, recycling is very difficult in this county. There are few recycling centers, and once at a center, the process is very time consuming. In addition, there are no options for many items that could be recycled.
Landfills are filling, resources are being used up and litter continues to grow.
We need safe and readily available recycling programs for all reusable materials.
We suggest having at least one recycling center in each township, city, town, and village. Each recycling center should be easy to use, with all plastics going one place, all paper another, and etc.
Action:
We encourage Farm Bureau members on all local and county governing bodies to work towards a safe, convenient, and effective recycling system within each county. ADOPTED
Electrical Pollution (2007)
Electrical pollution and ground currents (sometimes referred to as stray voltage) are problems that affect all aspects of agriculture operations to include: the health of all individuals working on or living in the operations environment; the health and production of all livestock; and the function of all equipment that uses electricity.
Electrical pollution has a negative effect on:
1. Human health
2. Animal health
3. Productivity and profitability
4. Repair and maintenance of equipment.
The use of and reliance on electricity for farm and home operations has increased tremendously over the years. During this time of increase in electrical demands, the electrical distribution system in many parts of the state has not been adequately updated. In addition many of today's appliances and equipment utilize electricity differently than in the past. They are putting increasingly more demands on the electrical distribution system.
Recommendation: The reduction and eventual elimination of all ground currents related to electrical transmission (put "return" ground currents on "return"/neutral wires, not through the ground.)
Action:
Ingham County Farm Bureau supports the following:
1. The development and establishment of uniform and realistic standards of measuring ground currents.
2. The elimination of GAG orders on all electrical pollution related issues and lawsuits. (Open information leads to easier and "smarter" elimination of electrical pollution situations.)
3. The enforcement of all policies and laws to any and all parties or companies that introduce electrical currents into the soil.
4. Reaffirm the Ingham County Policy "Electrical Pollution" adopted in 2004, 2005, and 2006.
Support the enforcement of all policies and laws by any and all parties or companies that introduce electrical currents into the soil. ADOPTED
Part-time Legislature (2007)
Michigan is one of only 11 states to have a full-time legislature. We are second behind California in pay for legislators, and we have one of the highest staff ratios of all states. In 2006 the house had 98 session days and the senate had 99, this fact alone almost makes it a part-time legislature at full-time cost.
Legislative pay in Michigan is $79,650 per year per legislator plus $1,000 per month per diem. This does not include staffing costs. Impact to farming is more regulation and a higher tax burden.
We need to bring the Michigan Legislature into line with 39 other states, which have part-time legislatures and reduced salaries and staffing costs.
Action:
We support legislation and/or a constitutional amendment which would limit session days, staffing levels, and pay of legislators without ending term limits. ADOPTED
Family Farm (2007)
The use of the term "family farm" has changed over the last decades. To many people a "family farm" no longer means a farm owned and operated by a family unit and passed down generation to generation.
Whereas the use of "family farm" is becoming popular to describe farms with a specific marketing approach, such as "organic", or "locally produced" or "free range", and while most of these farms are family farms, they fit the definition because they are owned and operated by families and not because of what they produce.
Whereas it is important that the general public is aware that "family farms" make up a large percentage of all farms and that the use of new technologies and modern management practices has allowed farms to greatly increase the amount of production capable by one family.
Whereas the economics of the change to national and international markets in many commodities has forced agriculture to increase to a scale to be competitive in these markets.
Action:
Therefore be it resolved that Michigan Farm Bureau and its membership make a planned effort to inform the public that most farms are "family farms", owned and operated by families that are active members of the community and their neighbors. ADOPTED
Bio-Energy Taxation (2007)
A retail fuel establishment is required by Michigan Treasury to list on a receipt or invoice to consumers the amount of biodiesel in the fuel and the tax rate charged for a 5% or more blend. Treasury also requires that the blended product and the correct fuel product code along with the motor fuel tax rate for each product shall be listed separately on each invoice. As of this time, retailers are concerned that there is no receipting process to accomplish this. Due to this regulation, all retail biodiesel sales in Michigan have been curtailed substantially. Many retailers have stated that they are discontinuing to offer biodiesel at retail centers due to consequences of the current legislation.
Why is this important to Ingham County and Michigan farmers?
The expanded use of soybeans for the production of soybean oil used as the main feedstock for the production of biodiesel has a direct impact to Michigan farmers. As farmers and agribusiness work to expand the value of products grown, profitability for growers will increase. It is important that farm organizations encourage and support the infrastructure, which result in increased utilization of farm products.
Action:
Ingham County Farm Bureau recommends and supports efforts by the Michigan Treasury and the Legislature to examine, Section 8 of the Motor Fuel Tax Act, section (6), MCL 207.1008(6) and to work towards a more retailer friendly yet proper mechanism for reporting. Retailers should be able to promote and educate the public on the value of utilizing biodiesel without the current cumbersome reporting process. ADOPTED
Change In Property Tax as Related to Preserving Open Space and Agricultural Land (2007)
Within the past several years increasing concern has arisen regarding the continuing loss of open space and agricultural land in Michigan. Each year several thousands of acres of farm and other land are converted to home sites and numerous other types of developments. The face of much of rural Michigan is changing due to conversion of land to non-farm or forest related use. The negative consequences of agricultural land conversion are many and have been the topic of several studies.
To reduce the loss of agricultural land several programs and/or efforts have been undertaken, including some legislatively mandated changes in property taxes (P.A. 116, Commercial Forest Act, Private Forest Land Act) as well as private and locally funded efforts such as purchase of development rights and conservation easement programs among others. These have had limited success, primarily due to a lack of adequate funding and reluctance on the part of landowners to relinquish control of their property.
It is suggested that a new approach be considered. This approach suggests using property taxes as an incentive to maintain agricultural and forest land in larger ownerships and in long-term ownerships. It is suggested that a program be developed, with input from appropriate professional and affected organizations, including townships, that "rewards" long-term ownership and the ownership of parcels of land that remain in large acreages. At some predetermined level per acre property tax assessments would be reduced for landowners who maintained large acreages and who maintained long-term ownership. The suggested program would establish a minimum acreage for consideration, and should develop a scale of acreage classes for which differential tax assessments would be made. Similarly, longer-term ownership categories would also be established. Such a program, considering both parcel size and length of ownership would progressively continue to reduce annual property tax levies the longer the acreage was held and maintained in a non-development status. A decade-long classification grouping might be one method of adjusting the annual property tax assessment; obviously recognizing that the longer the property remains "open" or undeveloped, the greater the open-space, non-development contribution to the community and to the state. The proposal would also require a "penalty" not unlike that associated with P. A. 116 if land were withdrawn from the program.
The specifics of this new approach to maintaining open space and reducing loss of agricultural/forest land to development need to be carefully assessed and developed. However, the contributions are several; including the maintenance of open space, continuation of a resource designated for agricultural production, a method of providing a tangible and realizable incentive to the landowner and his/her successors to maintain land in a non-developed condition. These values are important to both urban as well as rural residents, thus by "rewarding" the landowner for non-development by providing a lower property tax assessment that will continue to decrease the longer the land is held open, the more likely land conversion will not occur.
This approach is new and it is anticipated it will be met with considerable skepticism as well as opposition, especially from taxing authorities (e.g. Counties, Townships, etc.); however, it is an idea whose time has come and should be carefully evaluated. Present programs, although well intentioned are doing very little to eliminate or even slow down the loss of agricultural/forest land to other uses.
Action:
Ingham County Farm Bureau supports this proposal and requests MI Farm Bureau to consider backing legislation to promote this assessment program. Reaffirm the Ingham County Policy "Change In Property Tax as Related to Preserving Open Space and Agricultural Land" adopted in 2006. ADOPTED
Wind Energy (2007)
Demand for electrical power is increasing as population expands, while the cost per kilowatt-hour is simultaneously growing, a reflection of the growing scarcity and expense of conventional fossil fuels (coal, oil, etc.). One alternative to burning fossil fuels, with its attendant negative aspects such as air pollution, is harnessing wind energy, which while capital-intensive will become more inexpensive over time. However, many still oppose it, arguing that the wind turbines disturb the landscape, make too much noise, and cost too much to implement, For a variety of reasons, financing for wind projects remains more expensive than for mainstream forms of electrical power generation.
The economics of wind energy have changed dramatically over the past 20 years as its cost has fallen approximately 90 percent in comparison to use of fossil fuels. Wind energy costs can be expected to decline as the industry grows and matures. Improvements in turbine design make use of wind energy more efficient, and if placed at a site with more consistent wind speed, the use of this resource is increasingly cost-effective. Further, a large wind farm is more economical than a small one, a demonstration of its economy of scale, without the environmental costs of conventional energy sources. The top five states in Wind Power megawatt production are currently: 1) Texas (2,700 Megawatts), 2) California (2,300 Megawatts), 3) Iowa (900 Megawatts), 4) Minnesota (895 Megawatts), and 5) Washington (830 Megawatts). There is room for considerably more development throughout the nation, without environmental costs found with other energy sources. Development of these wind farms would greatly benefit farmers and ranchers who own the land on which they would be built, producing more steady income than many other land applications, and in turn assist rural communities.
The United States has tremendous wind energy resources that can be exploited for virtually no ongoing costs, while much of the world's fossil fuel resources are rapidly declining. In 2006 the nation's electrical generating capacity was estimated at 24.8 billion KWH (kilowatt-hours). In contrast, the total amount of electricity potentially available from wind in the United States has been estimated at 10,777 billion KWH, a vast increase in the amount of electricity today generated in this country.
The United States should continue to increase its wind energy capacity as rapidly as possible. Wind power capacity increased 27 percent in 2006, and is expected to increase another 27 percent in 2007, with more than 2,400 new Megawatt towers and $4 billion in investments. Total wind capacity at present serves an average of 3 million households. In Texas alone there has been $1 billion invested in a single large wind farm scattered over two counties. This could be duplicated around the country, reducing dependence on imported oil, dirty coal, and nuclear power, and providing employment in and entirely new industry, producing windmill parts and maintaining wind farms. This might also become a profitable new export industry.
Action:
We should support and work to expand this fledgling industry, to reduce continuing dependence on petroleum-based energy sources, thereby increasing the security of the United States. ADOPTED
Nuclear Energy (2007)
Even with the extended down turn in the Michigan economy we will need more capacity to generate electricity in the near future. This can be done using coal, natural gas or nuclear power. Alternate sources (solar, wind, etc.) cannot produce the electricity needed at a steady and reliable level.
We need reasonably priced reliable electric energy to help keep costs stable and help Michigan's economic growth.
If we look at Frances's solution to their electric generation problem they decided in 1974 after the first oil embargo to use nuclear energy as their solution. Currently, France has 59 reactors generating 78% of their total electric use, with a cost among the lowest in Europe. They made comparisons between natural gas and nuclear generated energy and found no economic advantage with natural gas. A key component of France's nuclear program is environmental impact and they have little opposition from the green movement. France reprocesses their radioactive waste, resulting in only 3% as truly disposable waste.
Action:
We need to support legislation at the state and federal levels to be able to immediately build, operate and maintain increased numbers of nuclear reactors for power generation. ADOPTED
Methane Digesters (2007)
The use of methane digesters for electric power generation is not profitable. Electrical utility companies only pay farmers a fraction of what they charge consumers per kilowatt-hour.
Action:
Ingham County Farm Bureau urges electrical companies and the public service commission to resolve this unfair payment and develop a realistic standard for paying farmers for green energy.
Ingham County Farm Bureau also supports government cost share and tax incentives on construction of new methane digesters. ADOPTED
National Resolutions
Internet System for More Efficient Commerce (2007)
Today's global economy is driven by effective, efficient and timely communications. The Internet system is one method of providing this needed service for industry. However, there are obstacles to its use, to include viruses, unsolicited e-mails and labor intense systems, and other security related issues.
The obstacles listed above cost industry, to include agriculture, untold dollars and labor. There is a need for a virus free and secure Internet environment for commerce.
A highly policed, secure Internet system that would encompass the NAFTA region and allow more efficiency and the ability to compete with other trade associations is needed.
Action:
We recommend that American Farm Bureau support efforts toward keeping a secure business Internet system. ADOPTED
Safety Standards of Imported Goods (2007)
Imported products that do not meet the standards as set by the United States are affecting increasing numbers of people.
These deviations from U.S. standards have affected the safety of imported goods. We need to enforce safety regulations of all imports including food and food products, toys, pet foods, and pharmaceuticals.
All inspecting agencies should be give the authority and resources to enforce these standards.
Action:
We move to adopt this resolution which expands National #79 to include all imported products and all labeling should include country of origin so consumers can make safe and informed decisions when purchasing products. ADOPTED
Sustainable Agriculture (2007)
Whereas there is a constant struggle to maintain agricultural entities in Michigan and other states in the United States.
And whereas there is a parallel effort for agriculture to be environmentally friendly.
Action:
Therefore be it resolved that "Sustainable Agriculture" shall be used to define agricultural entities where the individuals are able to maintain a sufficient profit margin to support the families involved in the operation without the need for "outside" employment and the agricultural enterprise is environmentally friendly and able to maintain the nutrient levels in the soil sufficient to produce viable crops on an annual basis. ADOPTED
