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Proposed Policy
State Resolutions
Bovine T. B.
Whereas, the prevalence of T. B. in deer has increased in Michigan's T. B. zone;
Whereas, T. B. is spreading to more areas of the state;
Whereas, the D.N.R. has monitored infection rate (in percent of population) down to each township across the state;
Therefore, be it resolved: We demand that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the Natural Resource Commission (NRC) develop a more aggressive depopulation plan to eradicate Bovine T. B.
We recommend the D.N.R. and the NRC target all townships in the T. B. zone which exceed the state T. B. prevalence percent average with a pilot plan to aggressively decrease the deer population/complete deer depopulation in those townships.
We recommend complete depopulation of all deer in at least one township with the highest rate of infection and closely monitoring of all its neighboring townships to the change in the T. B. prevalence. ADOPTED
Biodegradable Products
More biodegradable products need to be manufactured so that more products would be environmentally friendly.
Biodegradable plastics are plastics that will decompose in their natural environment. Biodegradation of plastics can be achieved by enabling micro-organisms in the environment to metabolize the molecular structure of plastic films to produce humus-like material that is less harmful to the environment. They may be composed of either bioplastics, which are plastics whose components are derived from renewable raw materials, or petroleum-base plastics.
The use of bioplastics is especially good for disposable items such as packaging and catering items (crockery, cutlery, pots, bowls and straws). The use of bioplastics for shopping bags is already very common. After their initial use they can be reused as bags for organic waste and then be composted. Trays and containers for fruit, vegetables, eggs and meat, bottles for soft drinks and dairy products and blister foils for fruit and vegetables are also already widely manufactured from bioplastics.
We need more done about non-disposable applications including mobile phone casings, carpet fibers and car interiors, diapers, etc. These areas need to be biodegradable. Our landfills are filling up with non-biodegradable waste.
Therefore, be it resolved: We need to encourage manufacturers of non-disposable items to invest in creating environment 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
Land Assessments
We farmers are being assessed on our agricultural land at a flat rate of $3500 per acre no matter if it is productive land or pasture, wetlands or floodplain. It is all being assessed at the same rate. Our woods, brush, etc. is assessed at $3900 an acre. We need to have the county and the state recognize the different value of land that a farmer owns. It's not all productive.
Therefore, be it resolved that agricultural land be assessed on its use value and not at a flat rate. ADOPTED
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 in the best interest of our state to repeal term limits. Every election is an opportunity to limit the term of an elected official. ADOPTED
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
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
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 $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;
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 store.
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
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 and often do not allow for townships 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
AgriPac
The Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) Political Action Committee (AgriPac) has asked the County Candidate Evaluation Committee to identify candidates for public office who are "Friends of Agriculture". Our committees worked diligently to review surveys returned by candidates prior to the August primary election. These included surveys from several candidates in various races. After review, our local Candidate Review Committee forwarded to the state committee the recommendations of endorsing several candidates as "Friends of Agriculture".
When the AgriPac release was made, several candidates who were endorsed were not included. Upon inquiring as to why some were not endorsed, the reason given was that candidates who were unopposed are not endorsed in the primary election. To make matters worse, we have found several other political candidates in other parts of Michigan who were running unopposed were included on the list.
MFB is a grassroots organization and the County Candidate Review Committee is where recommendations for the "Friends of Agriculture" are begun. These recommendations need to be followed by the MFB AgriPac Committee when there is agreement.
Therefore, be it resolved, the Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPac Committee should not change the endorsements of a county or multiple counties, if they are in agreement, of a candidate, recommend as a "Friends of Agriculture", whether opposed or unopposed in the primary election. ADOPTED
Slow Moving Signs
Slow moving signs use for only as originally meant to be. Mail boxes and paper boxes on same side of road. ADOPTED
Township Government - Reaffirmation
The Monroe County Farm Bureau represents the farm communities of the 15 townships in Monroe County. State Representative Paul Condino has proposed legislation to do away with Township Clerk, Treasurer and Assessor for those townships that have less than 10,000 population and/or those townships that have less than 20,000 population and do not have a full-time fire department and police protection. House Bills
4780-4788, if passed, would transfer for assessing, clerk duties and tax collection responsibilities from townships to the county after December 31, 2008.
This legislation would affect 13 of our 15 Monroe County townships in a negative way for our members and the citizens of Monroe County.
All of the named services would force our members and the citizens of Monroe County to conduct all of the noted services during regular business hours at the Monroe County Courthouse rather than the one-on-one service that we are accustomed to with our local township.
No evidence exists to prove that the transfer of these services to the county would produce a cost savings. Shifting of these services could actually increase cost to our citizens.
The members of Farm Bureau and the citizens of Monroe County do not feel support of House Bills #4780-4788 is in our best interest.
Be it resolved that the Monroe County Farm Bureau and its members support the Michigan Township Association in its efforts to defeat this legislation.
Be it further resolved that Monroe County Farm Bureau send copies of this resolution to our State House and Senate leadership, specifically to Representative Kathy Angerer, Representative Kate Ebli and Senator Randy Richardville and also to the proposer of the bill, Representative Paul Condino and the Honorable Governor Jennifer Granholm. ADOPTED
Soil Conservation - Reaffirmation
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
US23 Becoming An Interstate - Reaffirmation
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
Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (M.A.E.A.P.) - Reaffirmation
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
State Police Motor Carriers - Reaffirmation
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
National Resolutions
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 store.
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
Farm Bill
With ever raising input and production cost 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
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
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 it's 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
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
Repeal Of Small Farm Prohibition In 2008 Farm Bill
• Farms with 10.0 acres or less of crop base are ineligible for DCP or counter-
cyclical payments
• Counties near urban population have opportunity to sell smaller parcels - usually 5 to 10 acres.
• USDA has encouraged these smaller farms to be separated into their own farm serial numbers.
• USDA/FSA policy is to have outreach and service smaller farms and farmers.
• No previous announcement or opportunity to consolidate these small tracts back into the "parent" farm.
• Some counties are impacted to a great deal. Monroe County has nearly 30% of these farms with less than 10.0 acres of crop base (1100 farms).
• Farms may have a larger crop land but may not have been reported resulting in a crop base of less than 10.0 acres.
Therefore, be it resolved: Repeal provision or allow these ≤ 10.0 acre crop base farms to be consolidated. ADOPTED
Conservation Security Program - Reaffirmation
Whereas, the Conservation Security Program was designed to reward farmers for practicing good environmental stewardship during the past number of years and continuing those practices into the future.
And, whereas, there is currently pressure being brought upon the United States to move away from commodity related programs for farmers and, therefore, it is likely that we will see an increase in environmental stewardship programs.
And, whereas, the current CSP program stipulates that the producer have control of the land for at least the next five crop years and there is some confusion over the eligibility of rented cropland.
And, whereas, in many areas cash rents are common and many contracts are renewed annually.
Therefore, be it resolved, that American Farm Bureau work to encourage changes in this and future programs to include those farmers who are practicing good environmental stewardship on the lands that they cash rent. Eligibility for the programs could be shown by the producer proving compliance with the requirements at the beginning of enrollment and annually showing proof of cash rent contracts.
We would also recommend the inclusion of the Huron River watershed, the Stoney Creek watershed, the Swan Creek watershed, the Bay watershed, the Otter Creek watershed and all of the watersheds of Monroe County in the Conservation Security Program. ADOPTED
