Proposed Policy
Local Resolutions
Ingham County Agricultural Land Preservation
Ingham County Farm Bureau policy has supported efforts to preserve and maintain farmland throughout the region for several years. Since 2003, members of Farm Bureau have participated in committees, taken trips to other states to review programs in operation, and supported State and National initiatives dedicated to this purpose.
In 2008, the voters of Ingham County passed a ballot proposal to fund Farmland Preservation. This year (2009), over $1,000,000.00 is available to begin the preservation of farmland in Ingham County. The program is now eligible for receiving additional matching funds from Federal sources. The process for farm owners to participate in the program is now underway. Ingham County Farm Bureau has participated in this effort by publicizing the farm owner informational meetings and encouraging land owners to get involved. It is expected that a limited number of farms will qualify for funding this year.
Action:
We reaffirm the support of Farmland Preservation efforts in Ingham County. ICFB will continue to assist the Ingham County Farm Preservation Board by publicizing and encouraging Farm Bureau members to learn about ways they can participate in this program. ADOPTED
Taxation without Representation
Farmers who own land in townships other than where they reside are not eligible to vote on issues that affect their property in those townships. Issues such as county and township services, zoning regulations, and taxation occur without any means for the land owner to officially have their voices heard.
Owners of property are expected to comply with all laws and/or regulations established by the voters and administered by township officials whether they live in the township or not. The costs to the land owner, in effect, are set by others allowing no recourse or legal representation.
Farmers should be granted the opportunity to legitimately voice their concerns and vote on issues that affect their property.
Action:
The Ingham County Farm Bureau recommends a review of property owner rights and responsibilities on land owned where the farmer/owner does not reside. ADOPTED
State Resolutions
Part-time Legislature
In the interest of the economy, legislative efficiency and increased support from the public we urge Michigan Farm Bureau to renew efforts toward a part-time legislature in Michigan. The State legislature is wasting time and money. For example: the budget deadline is known but recently this business does not get done in a timely manner so the legislature has to temporarily extend the operating fund until they come up with a budget.
The overall effect is more costs to the taxpayer than needed to get the job done.
We need less politics and a more down to business state government. Elected officials can get the job done in a shorter time frame but their efforts are thwarted by delays in making the hard decisions.
Action:
The Ingham County Farm Bureau supports a part-time legislature. Michigan is in the minority of states with a full-time legislature. In the current economic climate it seems consistent to pursue actions which culminates in the Michigan Legislature to become "part-time." ADOPTED
Reckless Driving
We are experiencing and reading about an increase in vehicular accidents caused by non-attentive drivers. Texting and cell phone use has exacerbated the already dangerous situation on our roads and highways. Death and injury to self and others results in harm & suffering and an increasing rise in the cost of insurance.
We encourage the media, police and others to show films and pictures of accidents and situations leading to harm or death as the result of driver misuse.
Action:
We support and encourage driver education classes, media coverage, & law enforcement activities related to this effort. ADOPTED
Horse Racing Industry in Michigan
The horse racing industry is in a steady decline in Michigan. Due to lower purses in Michigan, the horsemen are moving their stables out to the East Coast or going to nearby states such as Ohio to race in higher pursed, more quality races. The impact of Michigan tracks not having video lottery terminals is also significant to the income of Michigan horsemen.
We need to allow slots or racinos at Michigan tracks. The additional funds from Video Lottery Terminals will help support larger purses.
Action:
The Ingham County Farm Bureau supports racinos or another creative way to make purses larger to keep horsemen in Michigan. We also encourage the Michigan legislature to support legislation to put in place Video Lottery Terminals at Michigan tracks. We believe that the Michigan race industry is a vital component of agriculture. We encourage lobbying efforts to make a stronger horse racing industry in Michigan. ADOPTED
The Unwanted Horses in the United States
The United States horse industry has become increasingly involved in the shift of responsibilities for the breeding, use, and care of horses. Unwanted horses are being released into the wild, state parks and even being left behind at horse shows.
Due to the increased economic challenges including rising costs of feed, the costs of euthanasia and carcass disposal and the recent closing of the nation's horse processing facilities, there is a problem of unwanted horses.
Action:
We need to increase awareness of the issue and its consequences to horses and the horse industry.
We need to provide information including decisions on adoptions, care, and alternative careers for horses. Veterinary decisions need to include euthanasia and disposal.
The Ingham County Farm Bureau encourages support for the horse industry organizations in their effort to spread the word about the unwanted horse issue with presentations at industry gatherings and county fairs. We encourage legislation to reinstate slaughter facilities for horses in Michigan.
ADOPTED
Support for Fairs
In 2009 the State of Michigan reduced several line items in an effort to reduce the statewide budget deficit. Among the cuts made was funding to local county fairs including premium payments and improvement funds.
Michigan fairs are an important part of our state's growing agriculture industry, helping to maintain a much-needed connection to rural traditions while highlighting modern agriculture practices.
The state's 86 local, county, and state fairs provide safe, family-friendly entertainment; celebrate our communities and the bounty of our agricultural harvest with over 4 million people in attendance in the State of Michigan each year.
Over 50,000 Michigan youth and adults participate in livestock and community arts exhibitions each year.
Action:
The Ingham County Farm Bureau encourages the State of Michigan along with Michigan Department of Agriculture and local county fairs to reinstate fair premiums or explore alternative funding sources to continue the payment of premiums to all exhibitors in the future. ADOPTED
Support for a Stand-alone Department of Agriculture in Michigan
Reports from the Governor's office indicate that one way to solve the state's fiscal problem is to combine the Departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, and Agriculture.
The Department of Agriculture serves not only the farmers of Michigan, but every citizen of the State. This Department, representing the second leading industry of Michigan and the health and food security of every resident and visitor must remain a viable and recognized authority. To combine it with other departments in the state will most assuredly relegate its role and effectiveness to second class status with limited visibility and respect for its importance to the people of Michigan.
Every farmer and every Farm Bureau Member must make their voices heard NOW to stop any and all amalgamation efforts to combine the Department of Agriculture with any other state departments. This is a crucial time for Michigan agriculture and Farm Bureau Members must not sit idly by while the State Government limits the voice of agriculture.
Action:
The Ingham County Farm Bureau supports a stand-alone Department of Agriculture in Michigan. We oppose any and all efforts which will result in a reduction of the role of agriculture in Michigan's recovering economy. ADOPTED
Power Quality and Electrical Pollution
Power quality and electrical pollution are problems affecting farms and farm families. These can be problems attributed to a number of potential sources.
Power quality and electrical pollution affects the health of all individuals living or working on the farm, the health and production of all livestock, and the function of all 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.
We urge utility companies to become more efficient by upgrading their electrical distribution system to meet the demands of current electrical utilization and safety standards.
We urge all utility companies, including cable companies to improve their maintenance of utility rights-of-way to decrease the possibility of neutral to ground electrical pollution.
We urge the constant monitoring of power quality and electrical pollution standards and the active involvement of the livestock industry in their updates.
We urge continued research to determine specifically where and how poor power quality and electrical pollution affects animals and people.
Action:
We support the development of realistic standards of measuring electrical pollution. Reaffirm the Ingham County Policy "Power Quality and Electrical Pollution" adopted in 2008. ADOPTED
Resource Recovery
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. We reaffirm the Ingham County Policy "Resource Recovery" adopted in 2007 and 2008. ADOPTED
Agriscience & Natural Resources Education & The FFA - State reaffirmation
We encourage the expansion of junior high/middle schools and high school Agriscience and Natural Resources Education Programs (ANRE) and FFA Chapters as vital tools for educating young people, providing career and technical training and development of leaders to work in careers related to Michigan's second largest industry.
Michigan Farm Bureau commends the Michigan Career Development Council on its support and recognition of agriculture as the second largest industry in the State through the creation of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Career Pathway. This career pathway will enable the future leaders of agriculture to obtain foundational knowledge that will help shape their careers and ultimately promote the sustainability of the agriculture industry.
We strongly encourage agriscience and natural resources courses fulfill the criteria and be recognized as a science credit by all high schools, colleges and universities in Michigan.
Regional Educational School Districts, superintendents, principals and counselors should be provided information on curriculum requirements of agri-science careers so they can encourage student participation.
ANRE and FFA Chapters in the State of Michigan have been supported for years by the local school district, added-cost funding administered by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), and federal Perkins dollars. These appropriations are essential for public school districts to retain ANRE and the FFA as program priorities, and as an incentive to expand these programs into other school districts.
Added-cost funding available to ANRE programs has continued to decline with more than 50 percent of the programs receiving no funding. We encourage the MDE to adequately fund these programs, (e.d., FFA) so as to provide educational and career opportunities in agriculture and natural resources at the high school level.
We support the reporting of all information regarding graduates, or completers, from all Agriscience and Natural Resources programs within the State. This information should help increase the amount of added-cost funding for each student currently enrolled in the program. We also encourage all Agriscience and Natural Resources instructors to engage in an active role in the information gathering and reporting process.
Community support is vital to the survival of high school ANRE programs and FFA Chapters. We encourage county Farm Bureaus and members to assist and become involved with their local FFA Chapters.
We encourage MFB and county Farm Bureaus to assist in state and local FFA alumni activities. We support the Michigan FFA alumni and national alumni associations in their efforts to strengthen and natural resource education across the state and nation.
Michigan's over 100 agriscience and FFA programs are important to the future success of Michigan agriculture. The programs provide future leadership to the agricultural industry and many programmatic and leadership opportunities for non-farm students to learn about and understand agriculture, natural resources and the environment.
Action: We reaffirm the State policy #44 Agriscience & Natural Resources Education & The FFA. ADOPTED
Animal Control Powers
The overly aggressive use of powers to access private property by animal control personnel is growing.
Not held under the same scrutiny as police officers, animal control officers continue to expand on what they see as their right to proceed onto private property to investigate complaints of poor animal care. Animal control officers are often not educated in livestock production or even the physiology of farm livestock. This drastically restricts their ability to make sound determinations on the condition of farm livestock.
Animal agriculture recognizes and supports the adherence to proper animal care standards, but opposes the current enforcement procedures by county animal control departments.
Action:
We urge MFB and the legislature to change operating procedures that govern all county animal control departments to mirror the same procedures as state law enforcement, which requires establishment of probable cause and obtaining either a search warrant or consent of the owner before entering the property. We reaffirm the Ingham County Policy "Animal Control Powers" adopted in 2008. ADOPTED
Young People in Farming
Our farm population is aging and opportunities to encourage young people to enter the profession continue to be a challenge. Farming, not unlike other start-up businesses, is costly and takes many years before a young entrepreneur becomes established.
Action:
We urge Farm Bureau to conduct a farm acquisition study to uncover methods and models to encourage young farmer start-ups.
A young farmer mentoring program exists in other states. We encourage MFB to investigate these programs and implement a variation to fit the needs of young farmers in our state. ADOPTED
State Legislation about Animal Rights and Animal Welfare for Malice Acts Involved with Equine
There is a need to declare that all equine be included in regulation with regard to all other domestic livestock (beef, sheep, swine, dairy, poultry, rabbits, and related domestic animals) that are noted in current legislation.
Special interest groups, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, United States Humane Society (PETA, USHS) have intervened in unsafe horse management incidents. They should be held accountable for any and all damages to public and private establishments.
Action:
We support the equal responsibilities of equine to parallel current animal agriculture legislation.
We need to increase the awareness of the unwanted horse issue and its consequences to the horse industry.
The Ingham County Farm Bureau encourages Michigan Farm Bureau to actively endorse legislation to include horses in current animal care regulations. ADOPTED
Ordinances and Laws Pertaining to the Ban of Poultry and Rabbits
Today, there is a trend of townships and cities banning or restricting poultry and rabbits inside their jurisdictions. East Lansing and Detroit both have laws banning poultry and rabbits completely from being raised. Other townships in Michigan have legislation as well that say exactly how many rabbits and chickens can be raised. These bans are becoming more and more popular nationally as well.
There is a tremendous impact on breeders and growers of poultry and rabbits. Some families save money by raising poultry for their eggs and meat while others raise rabbits for show and meat. Louisville, Kentucky in 2007 also passed legislation restricting poultry and rabbits.
We need to protect the rights of the citizens to raise these animals for their profit, meat, and/or leisure. With the passing of such ordinances, these rights are diminishing. We need to lobby for governments that currently have such laws to change their laws so that citizens can raise poultry and rabbits following generally accepted management practices.
Action:
We oppose such legislations banning or restricting poultry and rabbits in all townships, jurisdictions, cities and states. We urge the Michigan Farm Bureau as well as the American Farm Bureau to send letters of opposition to those government bodies who are composing laws and ordinances banning or restricting poultry and rabbits. We will defend the rights of citizens to raise, breed, exhibit, and butcher such species. We will continue to work with such government bodies that currently have laws restricting such species to change their laws so that the citizens can have their rights back to raise poultry and rabbits following generally accepted management practices. We reaffirm the Ingham County Policy "Ordinances and Laws Pertaining to the Ban of Poultry and Rabbits" adopted in 2008. ADOPTED
National Resolutions
Food Safety Issues
Consumers' desire safe food and H.R. Bill #2749, the Food Security Enhancement Act of 2009, focuses on the authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate food, Under this act, FDA would establish standards for growing and harvesting raw agricultural commodities, ensuring compliance through state agencies. The language requires FDA to consult with USDA when establishing growing and harvesting standards.
FDA would create one or more pilot programs to test a traceability program that would enable a trace back within two business days. Upon completion of the test program, FDA would establish a national food tracing system. Farm markets, direct sales, grains, poultry and livestock are exempt. FDA would issue science-based performance standards to food-borne contaminants that apply to products and product classes.
This bill does not require farms to register with FDA or pay an annual fee.
Action:
We support passage and implementation of H.B. #2749 to help establish a traceable food chain for fresh/raw agricultural commodities in the U.S. We urge Farm Bureau to pursue further legislation to provide traceability for all food products including imports. ADOPTED
Agriculture Career Preparation and Job Opportunities
It is noted that people involved with agriculture experiences and interest in the agriculture career areas are changing due to secondary and higher education requirements to complete a degree or diploma. The lack of effective agriscience education has taken a secondary role for career development.
The importance of agriculture related careers and job preparation are expanding ($60.1 billion and 1 million jobs). The connection of our industry to the food and fiber of all consumers is vital for the U.S. economy.
The economics and employability of people interested in agriculture related fields need the increased knowledge and skills to achieve a viable career. A lack of trained people with the interest and skills is a major concern.
Action:
We need to have an increased focus on current and prospective agriculture workers that are properly equipped to meet the physical and mental challenges of obtaining a quality job, improving their skills and contributing to the economic well being of the entire industry of agriculture.
A need to implement recommendations to aid in the recruitment and meet the needs for effective farm business men and women in the work force by:
• More agriculture related training for high school and higher education students
• Encourage current and immerging businesses to hire and train more people in agriculture careers
• More effective recruitment tools and programs that encourage the agriculture industry as the "cameo" business for all the people in Michigan.
• MDA & MI Works should embrace the active role as "Agriculture Ambassadors" for our local communities, schools and businesses, to promote, hire and train people in the agriculture industry. ADOPTED
