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#2 ABANDONED AND NEGLECTED ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS
Abandoned and/or neglected fruit orchards, vineyards, blueberry and bramble plantations harbor diseases and insects. We support the removal of such orchards and vineyards before the growing season starts, in the year they are abandoned and/or neglected, through the Department of Agriculture Removal Program, upon the request of a commercial grower. We urge the strict enforcement by the Michigan Department of Agriculture as mandated by law and the development of rules to strengthen enforcement provisions.
In order to accomplish this and enable farmers to utilize integrated pest management, we support necessary funding and the exploration of alternative funding sources for MDA to remove trees, vines and problematic perennials from abandoned and/or neglected sites. We recommend the cost of removal be placed as a state lien against the property if the owner refuses to comply. All monies owed through this lien must be collected and returned to the program. We urge the Michigan Legislature and Governor to fund the Department of Agriculture Removal Program, to find the necessary seed money, and support the subsequent development of a workable self-funding mechanism.
We support an amendment to extend program benefits to include abandoned and/or neglected nurseries, Christmas tree farms, and asparagus fields.
