Michigan Farm Bureau’s member-developed policy supports strategic investments in the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) with funding priorities including food safety, regulatory program oversight, animal and plant disease protection, producer security, integrity of agricultural products, market access inspections, statistics and information, and industry & trade advocacy.
These guide the organization’s position and decision-making as we advocate for funding during the 2024-25 annual state budget process.
Current Status
The executive budget recommendations released Feb. 7 by Gov. Whitmer proposes a 14.5% decrease for MDARD, reflecting removal of one-time funding measures from the prior fiscal year. The Governor’s recommendations signal the start of the budget process and the House and Senate appropriations committees and subcommittees now work to craft their respective budget proposals.
Major changes being proposed by the Governor that are of interest to agriculture include:
- $3 million in continued funding for the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture.
- $2 million to conservation districts for base funding.
- $4 million for a new farm-to-family program to “create a holistic approach to support regenerative farming, supply chain investment and promote MI food products.”
- A significant structural change to the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP).
Within the higher education budget, a 2.5% increase for institutions including MSU Extension and AgBio Research.
Moving the Office of Rural Development (from MDARD) to the Department of Licensing and Economic Opportunity and renaming it the Office of Rural Prosperity. Whitmer recommends this program receiving $2.5 million for grants to enhance services, partnerships and programming in rural communities.
Further on the MAEAP proposal, Whitmer is proposing to forgo offering contracts to 38 conservation districts to hire MAEAP technicians. If adopted by the legislature, the proposal would transition 24 technicians to be state employees charged with implementing conservation across the state with a focus on Western Lake Erie Basin and Saginaw Bay. Read the related Michigan Farm News story: Future of MAEAP? Expect technicians to be state employees, per governor’s recommendations
MFB continues to engage in dialogue with the department and stakeholders to address concerns with the MAEAP proposal.
Additional Priorities
There are additional funding areas MFB continues to advocate be addressed:
Innovative Research
Among many industry partners, MFB supports investment to enhance plant-based commodity education, outreach, and research of technologies that promote environmental sustainability.
Agricultural Workforce Funding
MFB supports efforts to continue addressing the farm employee shortage by pursuing reinstatement of a grant program that helps farms maintain high quality housing and build additional housing for workers.
Supporting Beginning Farmers
MFB supports creation of a beginning farmer tax credit or grant program where the tax credit or grant could be applied to an established farmer who rents or allows purchase of any agricultural asset to a new farmer.
Senate Bill 11 was introduced in early 2023 to support this effort and has yet to be considered by the Senate Finance, Insurance and Consumer Protection Committee.
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