Proposed Policy

Local Resolutions

Tire Collection

We commend the Shiawassee County Health Department, Shiawassee County Road Commission, Shiawassee County Building and Zoning, The Nature Conservancy and the Friends of the Shiawassee River for partnering in the August 2009 Tire Collection in Owosso.  We especially appreciate the free disposal of tires collected from the river during the Annual Shiawassee River Clean-up Day.

Acquiring grants to support activities like the tire collection and the household chemicals collection minimizes consumer out-of-pocket environmental costs, engages volunteers, builds a sense of community, and enhances the quality of the Shiawassee River as a recreational resource.

We encourage the Shiawassee County Health Department, Shiawassee County Road Commission, The Nature Conservancy, and the Friends of the Shiawassee River to secure funds and commitments to continue an annual tire collection day.

Zoning Ordinance

We are concerned that the Shiawassee County Zoning Ordinance Act, that defines a bona fide farm or commercial agricultural operation as a parcel of land of 20 acres or more in size, violates the Right to Farm Act as interpreted by the Michigan Court of Appeals (Charter Township of Shelby vs. Vicki and Martin Papesh, docket # 259965, June 23, 2005).

Therefore, we urge that the Shiawassee County Zoning Ordinance be amended to remove the 20 acre minimum from the definition of a farm.

State Resolutions

Taxation

With the current economic situation in Michigan, there have been discussions about increases in fees and/or fines for farmers.  There has also been discussion about the possible loss of exemptions from taxes, fees or fines.  We would encourage MFB to work to assure that any of these changes will be captured as designated funds, not general funds, and be used to fund programs that are beneficial to the farmers of Michigan such as funding for Conservation District programs.  Furthermore, MFB will need to be alert to prevent the further erosion of general fund dollars from agricultural programs so that these additional funds are not seen as replacements for the general fund money.

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 agriscience 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 agriscience, metals shop, etc.  Not all students are college bound.  We will always need plumbers, welders, builders and auto technicians.  The 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.

Uniform Well and Septic Codes

The housing industry and market extend beyond county lines.  Well and septic standards are critical issues that should be uniformly addressed.

Therefore, we urge the State to adopt uniform health codes for wells and septic systems.

Local Elections

Cities and villages can utilize nonpartisan elections to save money and to allow all people to vote for whom they feel is the best candidate.

We support allowing townships to hold nonpartisan elections for local offices.

Directional Drilling of the Great Lakes

With current energy prices, increasing world-wide demand, and controlled foreign production, the US needs to increase domestic oil and natural gas production. We recognize increased domestic oil and natural gas production as one of many intertwined strategies to manage energy costs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil and is not a stand-alone solution.

Currently there is an oil drilling ban in or on the Great Lakes in Michigan.  We oppose platform drilling for oil in or on the Great Lakes.  We are in favor of reopening directional drilling if adequate funds are raised from the permitting process to fund strict enforcement of the permitted drilling activity and monitor compliance.  (This assumes due diligence by MDEQ in citing the drilling sites.)

The Great Lakes are an irreplaceable natural resource!  We cannot afford accidental discharges on the lands near, or waters of the Great Lakes or its tributaries. Directional natural gas and oil drilling should only be allowed to resume under a rigorous permitting process.  Michigan DEQ's top priority for the revenue from the directional drilling permits and royalties must be strict policing and enforcement of directional drilling permit activities.

Economic Development

We understand the value of getting business investment into Michigan.  Employment opportunities for our residents and an increased non-residential tax base are essential to our economy.  The economic well being of Michigan is the responsibility of all who reside here.

More economic development efforts should be focused on new and expanding ventures of Michigan residents.  These projects are far more likely to remain part of our economy long term and profits from them will remain in the Michigan economy.

Michigan Economic Development Corporation

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has achieved limited success in improving the Michigan economy.  We feel that many of the new businesses stay until the incentives run out and then leave or change ownership.  Existing Michigan businesses are forced to compete against them.

Therefore, we urge the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to concentrate their efforts on expanding Michigan based businesses including agriculture and agri-businesses.

Highway Safety

In the interest of safety on public roads and highways all persons eighty (80) years of age and older should be required to renew their drivers license in person and pass the eye test.  Applying by mail should not be an option.

MSU Research Farms

The current discussions concerning animal care issues necessitates sound unbiased scientific data to evaluate animal care practices and standards.  There are a number issues to be dealt with in the formulation of GAAMPS that require ongoing scientific research that can best be provided by the MSU Agricultural Experiment Stations and the MSU research farms.

Therefore, we encourage adequately funding the MSU Agricultural Experiment Stations and the MSU research farms.

Animal Care Standards

We support legislation that would give sole control over animal care standards and enforcement of such to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Agriculture Commission and codifies into statute scientific- based animal care standards.

Michigan Fair Tax

There is a movement in Michigan to change from the income tax to the Fair Tax.  This would eliminate the Michigan Income Tax and increase the sales tax on goods and services, food and medicines among other changes.  Agriculture has been successful in obtaining many concessions in the current tax structure which may disappear in the change to a new system.

Therefore, we oppose Michigan changing to the Fair Tax.

Grain Dealers Act

With the upward trend in grain prices we feel that the monies in the Michigan Grain Dealers Act would be insufficient to cover the potential losses in an elevator bankruptcy.

Therefore, we urge that the $5 million cap on the Michigan Grain Dealers Act be raised to adequately protect Michigan farmers.

Michigan Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices

The Michigan GAAMPS provide voluntary compliance to generally accepted agricultural management practices for private or public nuisance protection.  While the GAAMPS review committees are well represented in each of their areas (Manure Management and Utilization, Pesticide Utilization and Pest Control, Nutrient Utilization, Care of Farm Animals, Cranberry Production, Site Selection and Odor Control for New and Expanding Livestock Production Facilities and Irrigation Water Use) by our land grant university, state government and some industry representation, there is a lack of producer representation.  We recognize the open public comment procedure in the review process as essential, but believe more producers need to be seated on the actual GAAMPS review committees.

Therefore, we recommend the Michigan Commission of Agriculture appoint more producers to each of the review committees for the respective GAAMPS.

Michigan Conservation Districts

Conservation Districts were formed by local communities to work within those communities to establish priorities regarding the natural resource 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 an increase in funding for Conservation Districts programs (e.g., soil, water and forestry) to develop, improve and provide assistance to agricultural landowners.  We strongly support the full restoration of state funding for Conservation Districts 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 for 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 MFB 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 MFB 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 MFB 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.

ECO System Services

Society benefits from a multitude of resources and processes supplied by natural ecosystems, which farmers provide by growing crops, trees, and livestock. Collectively these ecosystem services provide benefits and goods such as wildlife habitat, open space and clean drinking water. Farmers have benefited from "ecosystem services" markets in the past.  Examples include leasing hunting rights, selling carbon credits, and cost share through Farm Bill conservation programs.

As a result of the 2008 Farm Bill, USDA created an office of Ecosystem Services and Markets to assist the Secretary of Agriculture in developing guidelines and science based methods to assess ecosystem services. Carbon credit trading is one example of an ecosystem service that has reached the marketplace.

Currently carbon credit trading is undervalued. For more of these ecosystem services to successfully reach the marketplace, the true value of the service must be recognized by the market place.

Therefore, we recommend Michigan Farm Bureau, and our Land Grant University, Michigan State University, be at the table with USDA to develop criteria for arriving at fair market value for voluntary ecosystem services and develop education materials supporting the marketable ecosystem services.

National Resolutions

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Most of our medical care professionals are schooled in a chemical and surgical based form of treatment which is influenced by the pharmaceutical industry.  This monopolistic control of our health care industry has increased the cost of health care and discouraged the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).  Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Acupuncture, Herbal supplements, and other Whole Medical Systems from around the world which have proven themselves effective in other societies, could be beneficial as they are added to the options available to people in our society.  We are encouraged by the increasing number of Medical Doctors, Doctors of Osteopathy, Chiropractors, Registered Nurses, and Dentists who are continuing in their education in these CAM fields of health care and adding them to their health care practices.

Therefore, we encourage more medical professionals to continue their education in the fields of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and add them to their medical practices.

National Fair Tax

There is a movement to change from the income tax to the Fair Tax.  This would eliminate the IRS and the Federal Income Tax and increase the sales tax on goods and services, food and medicines among other changes.  Agriculture has been successful in obtaining many concessions in the current tax structure which may disappear in the change to a new system. 

Therefore, we oppose the Fair Tax.

ECO System Services

Society benefits from a multitude of resources and processes supplied by natural ecosystems, which farmers provide by growing crops, trees, and livestock. Collectively these ecosystem services provide benefits and goods such as wildlife habitat, open space and clean drinking water. Farmers have benefited from "ecosystem services" markets in the past.  Examples include leasing hunting rights, selling carbon credits, and cost share through Farm Bill conservation programs.

As a result of the 2008 Farm Bill, USDA created an office of Ecosystem Services and Markets to assist the Secretary of Agriculture in developing guidelines and science based methods to assess ecosystem services. Carbon credit trading is one example of an ecosystem service that has reached the marketplace.

Currently carbon credit trading is undervalued. For more of these ecosystem services to successfully reach the marketplace, the true value of the service must be recognized by the market place.

Therefore, we recommend Michigan Farm Bureau, Farm Bureau and state Land Grant Universities, be at the table with USDA to develop criteria for arriving at fair market value for voluntary ecosystem services and develop education materials supporting the marketable ecosystem services.