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2008 Policy Book
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Forestry should be treated and defined as an integral part of Michigan agriculture. The production of forest products requires inputs and management, which are similar to those necessary for the production of other commodities. Michigan forests contribute much to the Michigan economy with new industrial uses of forest products such as the construction of bridges, guard rails, sign posts and other uses on roads and highways. We urge the Michigan Department of Transportation and county road commissions to use these Michigan-grown and processed forest products.
We support:
- Efforts to clarify forest industry activities as agricultural for things such as truck licenses, tax on equipment, insurance, supply purchases, real estate taxation and agriculture classification.
- The multiple use management philosophy of our public forests with emphasis on sustainable management and harvest of state-owned forestlands. We urge the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to base timber sales from public lands on reasonable aggregate economic, biological and social impacts.
- Requiring a market-value bid on purchase offers of Michigan state-owned forests.
- Timber management with techniques best suited for public lands along roads and highways.
- Legislation that protects timber operations from liability involving individuals using the land for recreational purposes.
- Tax reverted lands acquired by the state be maintained or improved through reforestation or other approved soil and water conservation practices.
- An ongoing Michigan forest inventory and analysis with joint funding by industry, state and federal sources.
- The American Forest and Paper Association Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
- Changes in current programs and/or the development of new initiatives that provide landowners with incentives to improve forest resources, encourage proper management, promote sustainability of forestlands, and benefit the forest products industry.
We oppose:
- Mandating forest practice rules unless compensation is provided to landowners.
- The closing of existing roads on state forest lands.
We will support efforts by the timber industry on the development of a common scale for hardwood saw logs.
We encourage Michigan State University (MSU) to conduct an economic study comparing the economic returns of the Michigan forestry industry to the economic returns from Michigan's other major commodities.
Regeneration of new seedlings, ensuring future crops of trees in our woodlots and forests, is being seriously depleted by deer populations that are too high. We will work with the DNR, conservation organizations, hunting groups and other interested groups to bring the deer population down to acceptable levels.
We urge the creation of an industry-driven initiative funded by State of Michigan appropriations for forest management, research, education and outreach at MSU, University of Michigan, and Michigan Technological University. Michigan Farm Bureau should provide assistance and expertise to such an initiative.
We encourage County Farm Bureaus to work with their local school districts to retain the ownership and use of school forests. The retention of school forests will help preserve educational opportunities for students, help conserve forest resources, and provide both short- and long-term income for school districts.
