Proposed Policy

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State Resolutions

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Humane Society Of The United States

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is an organization that has no connection to the Humane Society that operates our local shelters.  The HSUS uses this name to give the illusion of being part of local Humane Societies.  The HSUS is a powerful organization with millions of donated dollars which are being used to try and change animal agriculture in America.  One of the goals of HSUS is to eliminate animals for human consumption.  They have succeeded in passing legislation in three states that has dramatically impacted animal agriculture by reducing profitability and raising food costs.

Michigan and Ohio are now in their sights.  They have brought in a staff person from MN to get things started in Michigan.

Therefore, we urge Michigan Farm Bureau to continue their efforts to defeat HSUS in its attempt to change or eliminate animal agriculture in Michigan which would also have an adverse effect on many other types of farming that are connected to animal agriculture.  ADOPTED

Biodegradable Products

More biodegradable products need to be manufactured so that more products would be environmentally friendly.  Our landfills are filling up with non-biodegradable waste.  Comparing the cost between biodegradable and other products, there is little to no extra cost.  It would depend on what product you are using and the manufacturer you are buying from.

Therefore, be it resolved:  We need to encourage manufacturers of non-disposable items to invest in creating environmentally friendly options.  Having companies share technology may also lead to production of biodegradable products sooner so that these items are available for consumption by the public and friendlier to landfills.  ADOPTED

Positioning Michigan Farm Bureau To Better Defend And Promote Michigan Agriculture

Whereas, Michigan agriculture has seen its fair share of challenges to the way we produce food, feed and fiber.  The vast majority of our consumers and urban residents are many generations removed from any idea how or where their food comes from.

We, as growers, have been the strongest defenders and promoters of our farms and farming methods.  Member action on both the local and legislative levels has rewarded us with a high level of trust and believability when communicating with our urban neighbor.

However, agriculture again finds itself with an ever increasing challenge to the way we operate and more specifically raise livestock from extremely well-financed organizations with wide-ranging motives.

Therefore, we resolve: Michigan Farm Bureau immediately set up a "Critical Issues Fund" to be administered separately from the general operating monies of the Michigan Farm Bureau.  The "Critical Issues Fund" would act as a source of monies for local county Farm Bureaus, regional cooperatives of local county Farm Bureaus and Michigan Farm Bureau.

1) Michigan Farm Bureau shall establish a governing board to oversee requests for monies from the fund and provide an annual accounting of how the monies were spent.  The oversight board shall consist of both local county Farm Bureau members, representing all Michigan Farm Bureau districts, staff from Michigan Farm Bureau and the Michigan Farm Bureau treasurer.

2) Funds shall be awarded for projects that:

a) consumer education to defend/promote Michigan agriculture

b) media campaigns both local, regional and statewide

c) promotion of local grown products

d) projects not currently being carried out by Michigan Farm Bureau and/or local P & E Committees

3) This "Critical Issues Fund" shall be funded by a mandatory increase in all REGULAR MEMBER annual dues of $10.00 per member.

4) The oversight board shall complete guidelines for submission of proposals, structure of and operating rules of the board.  ADOPTED

4-H

4-H youth programs provide valuable educational opportunities for rural and urban youth.  Our programs in Monroe County continue to expand both in numbers of youth and the types of clubs offered.  It is far better to develop the talents of youth than to have to punish the misdeeds of juveniles.  We, the members of Farm Bureau, strongly support 4-H.

Therefore, we urge the Michigan legislature and Governor Granholm to reinstate funding for fair premiums.  ADOPTED

Slow Moving Vehicle Signs

Slow Moving Signs are being used for driveway and mailbox markers.  They were designed for warning people of a SLOW moving piece of equipment driven by a farmer.  Farmers need to replace worn-out Slow Moving Vehicle emblems.

Be it resolved, the misuse of Slow Moving Vehicle signs be issued a penalty and let the signs be used for what they were designed to do - WARN people of slow moving equipment.  ADOPTED

Overhead Utility Lines

Overhead utility lines, including cable television over fields and field driveways, can cause problems for large farm equipment.  These service providers should work together to provide a minimum height of 15 feet above ground level to protect their lines, farmers and farm equipment.

THEREFORE, we urge Michigan Farm Bureau to continue working with MPSC and utility companies to insure that overhead cables are at a safe height.  ADOPTED

Michigan Conservation Districts - Revised

Conservation Districts were formed by local communities to work within those communities to establish priorities regarding the natural resources and conservation needs in the individual areas.  They also have a primary purpose of assisting the United States Natural Resource Conservation Service district conservationists in working with the farmers and landowners within their counties.  This cooperative effort brings federal farm bill money earmarked for conservation practices to Michigan producers and landowners.  Enhancing farmland conservation practices and natural resource stewardship benefits both farmers and the public.

We strongly support the full restoration of state funding for Conservation Districts from the general fund and continue to support efforts to find a dedicated source of funding for the Conservation Districts.  This will allow them to plan long-term projects knowing that funding is secure.

Dedicated funds derived from agricultural sources should focus on providing cost-share to producers to implementing conservation practices.  We urge Michigan Farm Bureau to work with the MDA and the local Conservation Districts to see that all producers in the state have equal access to the producer-funded Groundwater Stewardship Program.  The Michigan Legislature should initiate the redirection of Department of Environmental Quality non-regulatory responsibilities and accompanying funding to the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) for distribution to the Conservation Districts.

We encourage the Conservation Districts to take full advantage of Farm Bill programs, federal watershed initiative programs and other grant opportunities to provide services and programs for farmers in addition to dedicated funds.  Where co-location is possible, the NRCS should continue to allow Conservation Districts to co-locate at no charge.  Where NRCS does not have resources available, the Conservation Districts should look to co-locating with other agriculture/conservation related entities.  We support efforts to leverage NRCS funding with state and local funding to increase the farm bill money coming to Michigan agricultural producers.  We urge Michigan Farm Bureau to keep its members informed of the cooperative efforts between NRCS, MDA and the Conservation Districts and the amount of federal farm bill conservation money coming to the producers and landowners of Michigan from this cooperation. 

Conservation Districts regularly apply for grants involving conservation practices.  Many of those grants have specific, not customary, plant requirements.  Michigan Farm Bureau should work cooperatively with the Commodity Executive Directors of Michigan and the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts to find Michigan private industry suppliers for the plant material needed by the Conservation Districts to fulfill grant requirements that they may encounter.  We encourage the Conservation Districts to offer only non-invasive species for conservation purposes.

Under PA 451 of 1994 as amended, Conservation Districts are allowed to propagate, grow and sell plants that are beneficial for conservation practices and have been designated as "conservation species" by the Conservation Species Advisory Panel.  The legislative intent of PA 451 was to limit the negative impact on the private nursery and greenhouse industry from plant production by state-subsidized, tax-exempt Conservation Districts.  This "conservation species" list is reviewed annually.  We are concerned about the number of recent additions to the approved propagation list.  Conservation Districts should be encouraged to purchase their plant materials from Michigan private industry suppliers whenever possible.  (The current production acres of the nursery run by Newaygo CD will be excluded from this directive.) The affected Commodity Executive Director should assist in finding an appropriate number of suppliers within their membership to provide the volume of plant material needed by the Conservation Districts.  We encourage Michigan Farm Bureau to take an active role in encouraging this cooperation.

We encourage Farm Bureau members to support and become actively involved with local Conservation Districts.  We encourage Michigan Farm Bureau to educate members about agricultural stewardship and support efforts to make the public aware of the benefits of an investment in good stewardship.  We urge all farmers to utilize Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices to protect soil, water and other resources.

We support proactive watershed management at the local level with the Conservation Districts as the primary agency to initiate watershed management programming and technical assistance.  We encourage Conservation Districts to review current funding mechanisms and assess the benefits of changing to a watershed based structure.  ADOPTED

Animal And Environmental Care

Farm employees occasionally commit acts of improper treatment towards animals and the environment and do not tell the farm manager or owner.  Sometimes these individuals not only work for the farm but also for other organizations collecting evidence of this abuse while keeping it from the farm manager.  This has been the case with the farm displayed on HBO's Death on a Factory Farm and the slaughter house incident in California.  In order to protect Michigan farmers from such an incident, Oakland County Farm Bureau (for the state level Michigan Farm Bureau) supports accepting the Employee Code of Animal and Environmental Care as part of its policy and that it is displayed on the county's (or state's) website in a manner where all Michigan farmers have access to it.  ADOPTED

Michigan Merit Curriculum Policy

The Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC) is a state law that dictates what credits are required in order to graduate from High School.  Students now need the following credits:  4 math, 4 English language arts, 3 science, 3 social studies, 1 physical education, 1 visual performing or applied arts, and 2 foreign language for a total of 18 credits.  These credits are required and the students will be tested on them via the Michigan Merit Exam (MME) which is given in the 11th grade.

Local school districts have the flexibility to determine which classes meet the curriculum requirements.  Some school districts have added additional classes to the graduation requirement to ensure that their students are prepared for the MME.  While some school districts have approved agri-science classes for science credit, there are many that have not.  This further hinders a student's ability to choose elective classes, like vocational and technical education classes.

Concern:  This new curriculum is making it more difficult for students to fit career and technical education coursework into their schedule (especially if the student is in band or chorus, which already accounts for 4 credits they will take).  The agriculture industry relies on vocational training programs like agri-science, metals shop, etc.  Not all students are college bound.  We will always need plumbers, welders, builders and auto technicians.  These new MMC requirements unfairly force students that could otherwise thrive in vocational programs into college prep classes.

Potential solutions:

1.  Reduce the foreign language requirements to 1 credit.

2.  Encourage schools to strongly recommend Algebra II and Chemistry, but don't make them required for a diploma.

These changes, along with other changes, are needed for vocational classes to survive in Michigan high schools.  With less flexibility in selecting classes, students are not able to enroll in vocational classes.  With less numbers in each class, coupled with the current budget situation, schools will have to start cutting vocational classes.

Michigan Farm Bureau shall work with legislators to amend the MMC to provide more opportunities for students to enroll in vocational training programs.  ADOPTED

Michigan Department Of Agriculture

The Michigan Department of Agriculture protects everyone, everyday in food safety, grocery store inspections, Right-To-Farm and weights and measures.  It protects the environment, land and water.

Therefore, be it resolved:

• The Department of Agriculture continue as a stand-alone department of state government.

• We strongly support the commission form of government oversight of the department.

• We request an increase in funding back to 2008 levels.

• We support that forestry be moved to MDA from DNR.  Forestry is a crop, just a slow growing one.

• The Capitive Cervid program be moved back to MDA from DNR.

• The complete jurisdiction of the T.B. program be entirely under MDA for Cervid free-range and livestock when disease issues arise.  ADOPTED

Conservation Districts

BE IT RESOLVED, Michigan's conservation delivery system, including NRCS,

MDA and Districts, is not functioning for farmers and needs to be changed.  We recommend Michigan Farm Bureau inform members that federal funds (EQIP, cost-share, etc.) are reverting back to the federal government from Farm Bill programs because conservation districts are not being effectively utilized, in part due to the decline of farmer involvement.  We recommend Districts restructure at a watershed scale.  Combining districts by watershed will increase efficiencies and potential to generate federal, state and local revenue.  The focus of the Conservation Districts should be, or at least include, agriculture.  We suggest Conservation Districts explore services ranging from water quality assistance to ditch maintenance, as being accomplished in other states.  Programming could vary from county to county, based on the direction of the district boards.  Conservation Districts should help simplify Farm Bill programming for farmers because NRCS programming is paper-driven and difficult to manage.  We encourage Conservation Districts to adopt successful programs from other Conservation Districts.  We encourage farmer leaders in Conservation Districts use their annual meetings as an opportunity to promote conservation programming in agriculture.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) And Agriculture Experiment Station (AES)

AES must work closely with production agriculture, agribusiness and other research entities so research efforts are focused on the most appropriate agricultural needs.

Research, in conjunction with the plant and animal initiatives, should be a priority.

Special attention must be given to the dissemination of research information from AES to the farm.  We support a funding level that maintains an appropriate balance between research and dissemination of that research to MSUE field staff and to the farm.

The current condition of the State budget requires that MSUE make necessary adjustments to function in a changing economic environment.

The purpose of MSUE is to provide a linkage between University researchers and producers in the field.  Over the years the dynamics of this relationship have changed.  Administration should be streamlined to achieve maximum efficiencies with an emphasis on field services.  When related, combining the efforts of MSUE and AES with Conservation Districts should be explored to reduce costs.

The MSUE decision to require a Master's degree as a minimum requirement for all educator positions has made it difficult, in some instances, to recruit top-tier applicants for MSUE educator positions.  We urge MSUE to look at ways to address this problem.

MSUE should develop its structure in recognition of new technologies, and use these technologies to enhance the efficient and effective delivery of services from MSU field specialists to producers.

MFB supports MSUE funding for production agriculture and forestry programs.  We believe:

• Field staff positions should be a priority and vacancies filled as soon as possible.

• MSUE must keep its work with farmers, processors, marketers and agribusiness as a high priority.

• Field staff must facilitate exchange of information between researchers and producers.

• There should be prompt filling of agriculture-related positions at MSU, such as breeder, plant pathologist and other positions crucial to maintaining industry competitiveness.

• County Farm Bureaus should be involved in Extension Advisory Councils.  Farmers need to provide aggressive input to ensure agriculture's needs are being met.

• MFB should continue to communicate with MSUE administration to evaluate content and delivery of these services, which are critical to agriculture.

• We support adequate funding for programs critical to production agriculture.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - Grain Insurance Fund

The Grain Insurance Fund has been a very good tool to protect farmers from the risk of financial failure of a grain buyer.  The program has been funded by check-off dollars collected from grain sales.  The funds are collected until it achieves a 5 million dollar escrow, then they stop collecting.  As funds are drawn down, the collection of the check-off dollars resumes when it drops to 3 million dollars.

Due to the high values of today's crops and the dollars which grain elevators have had in margin calls and other rising operating expenses.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:  The grain insurance fund board study the opportunity of purchasing re-insurance to bring the protection level to 10 million dollars.

If this is not cost effective, the legislation be amended and check-off vote to raise the limit of collection to 10 million dollars.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - Term Limits

In November of 1992, the people of Michigan voted to change the constitution to limit the number of terms a person could serve in the legislature and Governor's office.  The change limited members of the House to three terms of two years each, the Senate to two four-year terms and the Governor to two four-year terms.  These changes took effect on January 1, 1993.

Since then, we have seen a steady turnover of legislators, which was the intent of the constitutional change; however, there have been some unintended consequences of term limits.  Among these are the problems that arise from not having any experienced people in Lansing providing leadership during times of economic trouble.  We have witnessed this during the last few years' budget problems in the legislature.

THEREFORE, we believe it is the best interest of our state to repeal term limits.  Every election is an opportunity to limit the term of an elected official.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - Text Messages

Safe travel on highways and roads is of the utmost importance.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:  It is illegal to utilize any instrument for text message communication while operating a vehicle.

These devices are not hands free and are distracting to the operator.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - State Roads/P.A. 51

WHEREAS, because roads in many Michigan counties continue to disintegrate due to poor construction or lack of maintenance and because bridges and overpasses are a constant safety concern due to structural flaws and deterioration, many townships in Michigan have some very serious road issues.

The reason for these problems is much in part due to a lack of funding because many townships rely on a County Road Commission.

State law currently places road funds into the hands of County Road Commissions and are earmarked for a township giving the Road Commission a very strong hand in how the funds are spent.  This problem has caused gross mismanagement in many County Road Commissions because they can charge any amount on a road project to bid out much of their road work in order to get competitive bids which, in many cases, would likely allow for a lower cost of repair and would give townships and its residents the say on how road funds should be disbursed and allow for better accountability of contractors.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:  Public Act 51 monies should be given to the townships in order that they have more control over how the money is spent on road projects.  We would encourage our legislators to work with MTA on changing the current funding procedure in order that Michigan roads be improved.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - Soil Conservation

Whereas, the protection and conservation of the state's natural resources is important;

Whereas, we recognize the important assistance and services that county conservation districts provide to all residents;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, we recommend that congress and MDA reinstate all funding for county conservation districts in the state.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - US23 Becoming An Interstate

We recommend that US23 from Toledo to Flint be reclassified as an interstate highway because it handles a tremendous volume of traffic daily.  If US23 became an interstate, it would qualify for more federal dollars.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (M.A.E.A.P.)

Michigan agriculture is the state's second largest industry.

Agriculture is one of the new growing segments of the Michigan economy with a 60 billion dollar impact to this state.

Livestock is a vital part of this industry.  Livestock consumes the crops we grow, co-products from ethanol plants.  The agricultural industry is all inter-related.  Success of one segment helps the rest of the industry.

M.A.E.A.P. is a voluntary program which is available for farmsteads, livestock and cropping system verification.  The records of the operation and production methods are reviewed.  Standards are set by universities, NRCS, USDA and industry experts.

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality attempts to over-regulate Michigan agriculture, large or small, without expertise or experience within this industry.  This has left the future of this industry with great uncertainty.

Example:  M.D.E.Q. wants to require pollution discharge permits for farm operations.  If you don't pilot airplanes, should you be required to have a pilot's license anyway?  So, if a farmer does not pollute, why should he be required to pay dollars to the state for a permit which is illegal to use?

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Michigan Farm Bureau commends the Michigan Senate for passing Senate Bills 447, 448, 501-504.  We ask that the Michigan House pass these bills as presented by the Senate.  We ask that our State Representatives Kate Ebli and Kathy Angerer support these bills as presented.

These bills strengthen the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program by giving greater incentives and greater benefits to participate which, in turn, gives even greater protection for the Michigan environment.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - State Police Motor Carriers

Due to the growing number of farm trucks on public highways and the weight restrictions placed on these vehicles, Michigan State Police have made them a target because of their inability to have a certified weight before entering public highways.

Overweight vehicles on public highways are a concern for everyone whether they are commercial or agricultural trucks; however, in most cases, commercial trucks are weighed before they enter the public highways unlike most agricultural trucks.  Therefore, this difference makes farm trucks more susceptible to being overweight, although often times they do not overload intentionally.  When trucks are stopped for a weight check, they are typically both weighed and inspected, a process that has been known to take four hours or more.

Due to the fact that farm trucks are not weighed before entering public highways, they should be allowed some tolerance on axle overweights since that is often times the reason they are ticketed.

Therefore, be it resolved, we urge our state legislators to enact law to allow for a 20% tolerance over the legal weight limit on axles provided the vehicle is at or below its legal gross weight.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - Michigan Ag Council

Farmers are held in high regard by the general public.  So says a study by a public relations firm hired by the Michigan Ag Council, a group of farm organizations and businesses organized to promote agriculture.  They have partnered together to produce promotional materials to tell the farmer's story.  County Farm Bureaus can make use of these materials to run locally in their county, but most radio and television stations serve many counties and states and the advertising is expensive.

The efforts of the Michigan Ag Council are needed because, if farmers do nothing, other groups will define who we are and what we do.  Some animal rights and environmental groups are engaging in a disinformation campaign.  This information often gets printed or broadcast by the media with very little scrutiny of factual accuracy.  They are attempting to redefine what a family is and distorting the good environmental record of farmers.

THEREFORE, we would like to see the efforts of the Michigan Ag Council expanded and encourage Michigan Farm Bureau to partner with American Farm Bureau Federation and other state Farm Bureaus, organizations and agricultural businesses on a regional level to fund a Great Lakes or Mid West Ag Council.  This would eliminate duplication of efforts by individual states and pool resources to hire a public relations firm to produce top quality television and radio ads to give the public an accurate portrayal of agriculture.  ADOPTED

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National Resolutions

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Conservation Districts

BE IT RESOLVED:  Michigan's conservation delivery system, including NRCS, MDA and Districts, is not functioning for farmers and needs to be changed.  We recommend Michigan Farm Bureau inform members that federal funds (EQIP, cost-share, etc.) are reverting back to the federal government from Farm Bill programs because conservation districts are not being effectively utilized, in part due to the decline of farmer involvement.  We recommend Districts restructure at a watershed scale.  Combining districts by watershed will increase efficiencies and potential to generate federal, state and local revenue.  The focus of the Conservation Districts should be, or at least include, agriculture.  We suggest Conservation Districts explore services ranging from water quality assistance to ditch maintenance, as being accomplished in other states.  Programming could vary from county to county, based on the direction of the district boards.  Conservation Districts should help simplify Farm Bill programming for farmers because NRCS programming is paper-driven and difficult to manage.  We encourage Conservation Districts use their annual meetings as an opportunity to promote conservation programming in agriculture.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - Campaign Finance Reform

With the ever-increasing amount of monies from outside a district being spent to influence an election,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:  We recommend a set amount of dollars be set per district, State House seat, Senate seat and Congressional seat.  Any dollars raised above the set amount must be donated to a school, library, hospital, university, public work, etc. for public good.

Let's get back to understanding the candidate's platform and not deciding by sound bytes and 15 second TV ads.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - Food Vs. Fuel

WHEREAS, we have all read the headlines, "Ethanol driving food prices up";

WHEREAS, an 18 oz. box of corn flakes, which is priced at $2.97 or more in the store, has only about 7 cents worth of corn in it and the $1.78 loaf of bread has less than 9 cents worth of wheat in it;

WHEREAS, these are the gross values of the farm products and over 70% of the Farm Bill expenditures go to non-agriculture uses and farmers have had very little benefit from increased food prices in the grocery stores.

BE IT RESOLVED that the true increase in the cost of food in our kitchen cupboards is oil and energy cost.

These costs are throughout the entire processing, manufacture, distribution and retailing of the food system.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - Farm Bill

With ever raising input and production costs of food and fiber, the safety net of the newly passed Farm Bill loan rates are inadequate.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:  The Farm Bill be amended to increase the loan rate of all commodities to reflect the true cost of production.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - Trade Promotion Act Of 2001

WHEREAS, trade is important to U. S. agriculture and Michigan agriculture.  The United States exports over 60 billion dollars of agricultural products with over 1 billion dollars worth from Michigan.  One out of every four acres grown in Michigan goes to the export market.

In Michigan, exports help boost farm prices and income while supporting about 11,900 Michigan jobs on and off the farm in food processing, storage and transportation.

WHEREAS, with the collapse of the discussion due to agriculture and other protection issues, the United States needs to continue a high level of commitment to conclude the Doha Round of Trade Negotiations.  The United States' ability to negotiate trade agreements is more critical than ever.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:  The Monroe County Farm Bureau, along with Michigan Farm Bureau, strongly requests Congressman Dingell, Senator Stabenow and Senator Levin to support the renewal of the Trade Promotion Act of 2001 (formerly known as Fast Track) which calls for the adoption of agriculture negotiating objectives to obtain competitive opportunities in the U. S. marketplace.

The act requires continued consultation with Congress during negotiations, including House and Senate Agriculture committees.  It stipulates the establishment of congressional oversight groups jointly appointed by the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tem of the Senate to oversee the negotiations and serve as official advisors.

Michigan farmers need renewal for trade promotion authority for the office of President and request the commitment of the entire Michigan Congressional delegation to support the trade authority reauthorization.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - Sustainability

The term sustainability has become very popular.  Many entities have written definitions of sustainability to identify and promote their agendas.  These entities include strong environmental groups that seek to change farming as we know it today.

We believe that agriculture as a whole, led by AFBF, should create its own definition of sustainability that supports profitable agriculture now and for future generations while respecting and protecting the environment.

THEREFORE, we strongly urge AFBF to form a task force to write a definition of sustainability as it pertains to both large and small U. S. farmers and shows a commitment to the future of American agriculture.  ADOPTED

Reaffirmation - Denaturing Of Ethanol

WHEREAS, part of the cost of the production of Ethanol is the purchase of gasoline to mix with the Ethanol at the production plant prior to shipping from the Ethanol plant.  This process is called denaturing.  This is done before Ethanol goes to the gasoline distribution centers where it is blended to make E-10 or E-85 or anything in between.

This additional cost of the gasoline and transportation cost to bring it to the Ethanol plants is inefficient, destructive to the environment and is a needless increase in the cost of production of a renewable fuel.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:  We recommend Congress repeal the laws or regulatory rules at Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and any other federal or state agencies with regulations which apply to the requiring of the denaturing of Ethanol.  ADOPTED