Legislative Accomplishments

Farm Bureau members work year-round to implement grassroots policy for the benefit of the agriculture industry and likewise, to oppose initiatives that would harm the agriculture industry. Over the past 12 months, Farm Bureau was successful in advocating on the following issues: 

State Issues

Reinforcing Right to Farm

The Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development voted to remove zoning provisions from the site selection GAAMPs. Strongly supported by Michigan Farm Bureau, the change protects the Right to Farm Act’s integrity and helps ensure local governments cannot attempt to prevent new livestock farms. The GAAMPs, as amended, uses science-based information to determine how to best site livestock farms. 

Updating the Animal Industry Act 

Farm Bureau advocated for legislation making comprehensive updates to the state’s animal agriculture laws. The seven-bill package received final approval by the Lt. Gov. Gilchrist in Nov. 2019. The legislation marks the first rewrite of the laws in more than 20 years. Read more 

Supporting Wagering on Horse Races
Amendments to the state’s horse racing law were made to allow advanced deposit wagering on horse races. Signed into law by Gov. Whitmer in Dec. 2019 and supported by Farm Bureau, the updated law now allows betting on horse races online or via cell phones through third-party facilitators that contract with licensed track owners.

Improving Taxation of Alternative Energy Systems

Farm Bureau supported legislation to clarify the tax classification for alternative energy systems and provide related tax exemptions. The new law prevents the installation, replacement, or repair

of certain alternative energy systems from increasing the true cash value of a residential property. It also provides owners with a personal property tax credit for commercial or industrial use of certain alternative energy systems.

Defending Science-based Oversight

Farm Bureau supported the Michigan Legislature voting to overturn Gov. Whitmer’s Executive Order that would have abolished three environmental oversight panels advocated for by Michigan Farm Bureau in 2018. Read more

Opposing an Overreaching Large Livestock Permit

Farm Bureau members, agribusinesses, commodity partners and other stakeholders submitted more than 800 comments opposing the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s draft permit for large livestock operations. The permit is proposed to take effect Apr. 1 barring any changes from the department. Read more

Supporting No-fault Auto Insurance Reforms

Farm Bureau supported much-needed improvements to the state’s no-fault auto insurance law. Approved by Gov. Whitmer in June 2019, the updated law:

• Allows consumers to choose their level of medical coverage,
• Implemented a fee schedule to address overcharging for medical procedures, and
• Created a fraud authority to address fraud and abuse in auto insurance, which costs the average family hundreds of dollars a year in additional premiums.

Ensuring Viability in Tough TImes

Following an unprecedented cool and wet spring, $15 million in state funds was made available through the Agricultural Disaster Loan Origination Program. Given certain qualifications, the program pays loan origination fees and provides lower interest rates for farmers during challenging times. Additional legislation is being considered to further bolster the program by making it more clearly defined and financially sound. Read more  

Federal Issues 

Improving Trade with Mexico and Canada

Farm Bureau advocated to President Donald Trump and Michigan’s Congressional delegation, urging passage of the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement to modernize trade and expand agricultural export markets. 

Broadening Trade with Japan

Farm Bureau supported a new trade agreement that will allow more than 90% of U.S. food and agricultural products imported into Japan to be duty-free or receive preferential tariff access. Japan is also a $146 million trade destination for Michigan food and agriculture products and that state hopes to see continued growth in agricultural exports because of the deal. Read more

Advocating for Federal Programs

Farm Bureau was successful in advocating for the funding of several items with a federal spending bill passed in late 2019. Items included:

• 1.5 billion in additional disaster aid to expand recovery efforts to those impacted by severe weather in 2018 and 2019.
• Funding of the Farmer and Rancher Stress Assistance Network at $10 million to help those struggling to cope with a tough year in agriculture.
• $550 million in grant funding for the ReConnect program to help expand broadband access and allow people living in underserved areas to utilize new technologies to reach customers, access precision agriculture technology and connect to communities worldwide.
• Retroactively extending the biodiesel tax credit to apply to 2018 and 2019 and extending it through 2022 to bring stability to producers.
• Delaying the requirement for implementation of electronic logging devices on livestock haulers through Sept. 30, 2020 will help safeguard the welfare of livestock during transportation.

Asking for Tax Code Improvements

Farm Bureau supported federal legislation making improvements to the tax code. Signed into law in December 2019, the following changes were adopted:

• Permanent repeal of the Health Insurance Tax. Previously levied on health insurance companies, the tax was passed being passed along to individuals who purchase their own insurance, like many farmers.
• Reinstatement and extension of tax incentives for biodiesel and renewable biodiesel.
• Extension of the tax credit for alternative refueling property through 2020.
• Restoration and extension of the 50 percent tax credit for short line railroad maintenance
• Allowing rural electric cooperatives to maintain their tax-exempt status when they receive grants for such things as expanding broadband or power restoration.
• A one-year extension of the Craft Beverage Moderation Act to maintain lower federal excise taxes for small breweries, wineries and distilled spirits producers as they foster rural economic development and provide additional markets for agricultural products.
• Extension of the wind energy Production Tax Credit and an increase of the tax credit value to 1.5 cents/kilowatt hour.
• Repeal of a 21-percent unrelated business income tax on tax-exempt employers that provide certain fringe benefits to employees.