During the 107th American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting delegate session in Anaheim, California, on Jan. 13, your Michigan Farm Bureau Board of Directors took our seats, three rows from the front.
It’s always a humbling experience — with a tremendous sense of obligation — that marks the culmination of the extensive grassroots policy development process that began at the county Farm Bureau level with farmer-volunteers drafting policy on issues that matter.
Michigan had the second most membership growth of any state Farm Bureau and gained an additional delegate seat as a result. Our voice has always been strong, and this year, it got even stronger with 12 voting delegates representing your policy.
Your state board advocated for policies that you, our members, passed at MFB’s Annual Meeting this past December. We strengthened policy that is important to you, pushed back against unwise proposals, and negotiated common sense compromises that improve American agriculture.
Your state board members were prepared and very influential during the delegate session. Michigan Farm Bureau members expect and deserve nothing less. MFB’s influence is second to none on policy priorities, including:
Labor
New labor policy was approved, including an MFB-member approved resolution supporting the U.S. Department of Labor’s new rule determining the H-2A guest worker program’s minimum wage, known as the Adverse Effect Wage Rate.
The new labor policy also calls for additional improvements to avoid unpredictable rate swings in the future while providing longer terms of employment for H-2A guest workers to make the program more farmer-friendly for all producers, including livestock.
Trade and tariffs
AFBF voting delegates resoundingly approved a Michigan-driven resolution calling for more analysis on the impact and opportunities related to tariffs, culminating in policy directing the AFBF Board and the Trade Advisory Committee to analyze the impacts tariffs and trade have on farmers.
Thanks to MFB’s policy initiative on this issue, I’m pleased to share that following the annual meeting AFBF President Zippy Duvall asked that I serve on the AFBF Trade Advisory Committee, ensuring that your voice will be represented at the national level as we dig into the consequences of tariffs and create trade policy recommendations going forward.
Specialty crops
When Michigan speaks on specialty crops; the whole country listens, thanks to our longstanding history of representing specialty crop growers at the national level. MFB’s delegation weighed in heavily on specialty crop policy discussions again this year.
MFB members know firsthand the unique challenges facing specialty crop growers and what is needed in federal policy, including trade, labor, research and USDA risk management tools through improved crop insurance options.
Delegates worked to ensure the definition of specialty crops maintained its integrity, avoiding an overly broad interpretation, while still recognizing the value of including heirloom and heritage seed through thoughtful debate on the delegate floor.
Regenerative ag
With a growing focus on farming practices through the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, “regenerative agriculture” is the newest buzzword within the Washington, D.C., Beltway, displacing the predecessor terminology of “sustainability.”
Delegates approved MFB policy recommendations defining regenerative agriculture in the eyes of federal agencies as “as any production system that increases profitability, minimizes negative environmental impacts, maximizes production, promotes stewardship and increases the productivity of soil over time.”
More importantly, delegates approved policy calling for regenerative agriculture practices and related initiatives to remain voluntary versus mandatory.
Within a week of the AFBF delegate session, MFB leaders kicked off the 2027 policy development season, gathering in Lansing for the annual Issues and Outlook Conference, proving the adage that “a farmer’s work is never done.”
While policy discussions at the state and national level are important, it all begins at the county Farm Bureau level, making your involvement the most critical and essential component to effective policy development.
We face no shortage of challenges in agriculture in 2026. Trade, low commodity prices, high input prices, labor shortages and burdensome regulations reinforce the importance of individual farmers staying engaged and united through Farm Bureau’s policy development process.
With your help, I know we can continue to influence state and national policies that will build brighter futures for all of agriculture.