Proposed Policy

Local Resolutions

USER FRIENDLY RECYCLING PROGRAMS

WHEREAS, recycling is the process of turning one product's useful parts into a new product; this is done to conserve on the consumption of resources, energy and space used in landfills,

WHEREAS, the State of Michigan and the County of Lapeer have designated drop-off sites for its residents to take their recyclable products,

WHEREAS, recycling drop-off sites should be user friendly to those who participate,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Lapeer County Farm Bureau urges recycling sites to expand the types of glass, plastics and paper products to be recycled for a much more user friendly atmosphere and to promote hassle-free recycling to all who choose to participate.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

WHEREAS, the Lapeer County Intermediate School District provides extensive educational opportunities for students to receive training and experience in livestock, horticulture, mechanics, and other farm skills at the Lapeer County Educational and Technology Center (Ed Tech); and

WHEREAS, the Lapeer County Intermediate School District recently expended over Four Hundred Thousand ($400,000.00) Dollars to construct a state of the art livestock facility at Ed Tech; and

WHEREAS, both FFA and 4-H Programs offered through Ed Tech and the Michigan State University Extensive Service provide agricultural education and encourage agricultural activities in Lapeer County. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lapeer County Farm Bureau commends the Lapeer County Intermediate School District and Michigan State University for their efforts on behalf of agricultural education in Lapeer County. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Lapeer County Farm Bureau pledges to continue its support for agricultural education through Ed Tech, 4-H and FFA programs and through Farm Bureau programs such as Project RED (Rural Education Day), Ag in the Classroom, the Ag Poster Contest for 3rd graders, and the Ag scholarship grants

FARMER LIVESTOCK CARE

WHEREAS, agriculture is Lapeer County's largest industry and Michigan's second largest industry, contributing over $71 billion annually in economic activity and employing over a quarter of the state's workforce in the food and fiber industry; and

WHEREAS, we recognize that farms in Lapeer County are family owned and operated and that our farmers take great pride in caring for their families, land, livestock, and the natural environment; and

WHEREAS, we recognize that farmers take excellent care of their animals as no one has greater concern for the care and welfare of farm animals than the farmers who raise them; and

WHEREAS, a number of laws currently exist for safeguarding the proper care of animals, including the Care for Farm Animals Management Practices authorized by the Michigan Right to Farm Law.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in recognition of the above, the Lapeer County Farm Bureau is opposed to inflicting additional economic stress to our economy and our agricultural industry through outside groups coming into our state and dictating farming practices via misleading ballot initiatives, essentially bypassing our regulatory process.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Lapeer County Farm Bureau supports continued livestock protection through the Michigan Right to Farm Act based on experienced input from farmers and agricultural research verified by Michigan State University.

State Resolutions

MANDATORY BOTTLE DEPOSITS

WHEREAS, the State of Michigan has been a national leader since 1976 in encouraging recycling and preventing roadside trash by enforcing the only ten ($.10) cent bottle return law in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the current law only applies to certain soda pop, beer and wine cooler containers while an increasing proportion of containers are used for water, tea, juice, energy drinks, and similar items; and

WHEREAS, farmers bear a substantial share of the burden in dealing with the roadside trash caused by those containers. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lapeer County Farm Bureau urges the Michigan Legislature to expand the existing law for ten ($.10) cent bottle deposits to include all plastic or metal containers sold for individual drinks.

DEER CONTROL

WHEREAS, the southern counties of Michigan have an overpopulation of deer which have a negative impact on farm production and income by eating crops, making paths through crops, bedding down in crops, and contaminating crops; and

WHEREAS, high cost antlerless license fees are counterproductive to reducing the crop destruction caused by the Michigan deer herd because fewer hunters are interested in purchasing a license at the current fees of Fifteen ($15.00) Dollars for residents and One Hundred Thirty-Eight ($138.00) Dollars for non-residents for each antlerless deer.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lapeer County Farm Bureau encourages the DNR to help control the Michigan deer herd by reducing antlerless license fees to Five ($5.00) Dollars each for residents and Ten ($10.00) Dollars each for non-residents. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Lapeer County Farm Bureau encourages the DNR to promote deer herd control by not unreasonably limiting the number of antlerless permits per hunter in farming areas.

MDEQ ROAD AND BRIDGE PERMITS

WHEREAS, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has increasingly required permits for activities that are exempt as defined by MCLA 324.30305(2)(k) "the road work exemption"; and

WHEREAS, the recent court case of Oceana County Road Commission v MDEQ is another example of the MDEQ requiring a permit for exempt activities by road commissions; and

WHEREAS, the increased costs for road and bridge projects and the time consumed due to unnecessary permit requirements are not an efficient expenditure of public funds; and

WHEREAS, the only options available for county road commissions are to seek unnecessary permits for exempt activities or go to court on a case-by-case basis to establish that a permit is not required.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

1. Lapeer County Farm Bureau urges MDEQ officials to meet with road commission representatives to clarify various definitions and develop a Memorandum of Understanding which recognizes certain construction projects near wetlands as exempt from permit requirements. 

2. Lapeer County Farm Bureau supports allowing county road commissions to perform more activities in an exempt manner as long as the road commission has a certified person on staff to ensure that proper protective measures are taken.

3. Lapeer County Farm Bureau supports broadening the exemptions to include other

FARM BUREAU PRODUCTS MADE IN THE USA

WHEREAS, Michigan Farm Bureau often distributes items such as hats, coffee cups, calculators, and other small items for public relations purposes at meetings and events; and

WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of Lapeer County Farm Bureau members that virtually all of these items are made in China rather than in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Farm Bureau should encourage the use of American products whenever possible.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Lapeer County Farm Bureau encourages the Michigan Farm Bureau to utilize American made products whenever feasible for distribution to Farm Bureau members and members of the public.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if Michigan made products are available for a reasonable price, that such locally produced products be given first preference for Farm Bureau purchasing purposes.

RETAIN FARMLAND TAX CREDITS (P.A. 116)

WHEREAS, the State of Michigan adopted Public Act 116 of 1974 to provide property tax relief to Michigan farmers in exchange for farmland preservation agreements; and

WHEREAS, farmland tax relief is essential for Michigan farmers since Michigan property taxes are substantially higher than in other Midwestern farming states; and

WHEREAS, thousands of farms across the State of Michigan are enrolled in the farmland preservation tax credit program, including many farms with Lapeer County; and

WHEREAS, proposals are being considered in Lansing for the repeal or substantial modification of the Farmland Preservation Property Tax Credit Act; and

WHEREAS, in 2011 the Michigan Legislature has already increased the long-term income tax rate on Michigan farm families from 3.9% to 4.25% and reduced the availability of the homestead exemption.

FERAL SWINE

Feral swine cause a tremendous amount of damage to Michigan's natural resources and private property. MFB supports the statewide eradication of feral swine.

PURE MICHIGAN

We propose that a phone number at Michigan Farm Bureau and/or the MDA where Ag tourism events and festivals can be advertized to the public on the Pure Michigan web site.

National Resolutions

EQUINE SLAUGHTER

Whereas, the lack of equine processing in the U.S. for human consumption has created a surplus of unwanted and abandoned horses, placing financial burden on animal control, taxpayers, and responsible horse owners; and

Whereas, law abiding business owners involved in the processing of equine meat have been forced to outsource their business to Canada and Mexico, resulting in lost jobs and income in the U.S. and increased stress for the equines being shipped unnecessary extra miles to reach processing plants in the aforementioned countries; and

Whereas, proponents of the anti-slaughter bills have no safety nets or plans in place for the increased numbers of unwanted horses and want to compound the problem by closing the borders to Mexico and Canada for future equine processing.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Lapeer County Farm Bureau encourages the U.S. government to reopen equine processing plants in the U.S. and allow processing for human consumption.

Be it further resolved that the Lapeer County Farm Bureau encourages the government to allow the borders of Canada and Mexico to remain open for the business of equine processing.

FEDERAL ESTATE TAX

WHEREAS, the Federal Estate Tax is an onerous burden on many farm families who wish to transfer their farming operation to the next generation; and

WHEREAS, the current Federal Estate Tax exemption for farms and other businesses is scheduled to drop to One Million ($1,000,000.00) Dollars beginning in 2013 with a tax rate of fifty-five (55%) percent; and

WHEREAS, estate taxes at these asset levels and tax rates would have the effect of making it extremely difficult for young family farmers to take over their parents' farming operations; and

WHEREAS, it is not in the best interest of the country or agriculture to allow a tax system to force young family farmers out of agriculture.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lapeer County Farm Bureau urges the U.S. Congress to continue the exemption for farm and farm business estates at five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) and to set the tax rate on all farm and farm business estates to no more than thirty-five (35%) percent.