Efforts to break through the same wildlife woes facing farmers across Michigan earned Oceana County Farm Bureau the Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2026 Grassroots Lobbying award at the organization’s Lansing Legislative Seminar, Feb. 24.
Hoping to effectively reopen the lines of communication between its members and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Oceana County Farm Bureau organized a deer management meeting last summer.
The event allowed local farmers an opportunity to meet with legislative and regulatory stakeholders about deer crop damage concerns, then use that information to fine-tune organizational policy recommendations. Throughout, Oceana County farmers raised concerns and asked questions about population modeling, damage-permit turnaround times, the cost of deer fencing, hunter availability, and the need for the DNR to manage the deer population more assertively.
“Our members shared the number of deer they see locally, the cost of deer pressure to their operations, and the financial and logistical barriers to effective deer management,” explained Rob Rudat, president of the Oceana County Farm Bureau. “I think we had 30, 35 growers there that day,” Rudat continued. “There was a lot of back and forth for the first half hour or so, but then everyone settled in and started really communicating with each other.
“That’s what it was really all about: Building that relationship, especially with the DNR.”
With the lines of communication more open than ever, Rudat looks forward to his members continuing the conversation toward their goals.
Dist. 32 State Sen. Jon Bumstead emphasized the role Oceana County Farm Bureau played in maintaining open communications between constituent farmers and their representatives in Lansing. He utilized the event to present his DNR hunting-season and license-reform legislation and the activities of the agriculture and natural resources appropriations subcommittee.
“When I started running for office years ago, I didn’t know a whole lot of people, especially over in Oceana County,” Bumstead said. “I appreciate Farm Bureau and what they’ve done here.
“I made it a point to attend all their meetings and became very good friends with all of them. That relationship has grown over the years.”
Michigan Farm Bureau Public Policy Director Andrew Vermeesch provided an update on Farm Bureau’s deer-management efforts and damage permit reform. DNR biologist Pete Kailing updated the group on deer-population trends, pest-management resources and accessing damage permits.
At least one elected official involved in the event needed no introduction to the county Farm Bureau’s role in connecting growers with lawmakers.
“My relationship with the Oceana County Farm Bureau is: I am a member,” boasts Dist. 101 State Rep. Joseph Fox. “They are very encouraging and connecting.
“In Oceana, we are a strong agricultural area — and our agriculture is our national security,” Fox added. “The fact that we produce so much and we’re able to share it with the nation and the world — it’s a powerful testimony to who we are.”
Moving into policy development, the Oceana group recommended amendments to MFB’s wildlife policy to be voted on at the county annual. New proposals included support for a bounty on does; allowing the use of archery equipment, thermals and spotlights for damage permits; an earlier start to the firearm season; and include two free antlerless tags with the purchase of a buck tag.
Between the member turnout and their eager participation in the conversation, Rudat saw noteworthy successes in both advocacy and policy. Equally important was connecting organizationally with the DNR, an achievement any county Farm Bureau can surely appreciate.