Giving Michigan agriculture a voice
Michigan Farm Bureau members and policy staff work year-round to bring grassroots policies to life. Here’s a look at some of our recent successes:
Securing Agriculture Funding
Farm Bureau supported a state budget that delivered:
- 2% funding increase for MSU Extension and AgBioResearch
- $1.5 million for the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture
- $1 million for agricultural climate resiliency programs
- $11.2 million for animal disease prevention and response efforts
- $3 million to support Conservation Districts
- $4 million for the Double Up Food Bucks program
- $3 million to continue the Farm to Family program
- $7.8 million for the Qualified Forest Program
Ahead of the budget’s approval, nearly 870 members and supporters sent more than 1,720 messages to state lawmakers, urging passage of a budget that protected critical agriculture programs and avoided putting farm families and consumers at risk.
Continued Support for MAEAP
Legislation supported by Farm Bureau and signed into law reauthorized the funding mechanism for the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program through 2029. The bill renews existing fertilizer and pesticide fees paid by farms and agribusinesses — without any increase — to support the voluntary, statewide program that has helped farms of all sizes and commodities prevent or reduce pollution risks for nearly 30 years.
EGLE Permitting Reforms
The 2025-26 state budget included new boilerplate language supported by Farm Bureau to reform the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s permitting process — promoting greater transparency, accountability, and clearer guidance. The changes require the agency to develop stakeholder-informed permitting guidebooks and publish a report outlining the number of permits issued beyond statutory timelines.
Defending Agriculture
Throughout the 2023-24 legislative session, Michigan Farm Bureau actively opposed more than 50 bills that threatened the agricultural sector. Thanks to dedicated advocacy, these bills either failed to advance beyond their respective House or Senate committees or were ultimately abandoned.
Strengthening Advocacy and Engagement
County Farm Bureau members played a vital role in shaping agricultural policy through direct advocacy, candidate support, and local engagement. Key efforts included:
- Policy Development: Over 500 policy recommendations were submitted by 59 county Farm Bureaus to support farms, families, and communities.
- State & National Advocacy: More than 300 members engaged with state lawmakers in Lansing, while over 100 advocated in Washington, D.C.
- Elections & Endorsements: 368 members served on candidate evaluation committees, helping AgriPac-endorsed candidates achieve nearly 90% success in the November 2024 elections.
- Local Engagement: Members built relationships with decision-makers and, with support from 176 public policy committee members, coordinated farm tours, meetings, and outreach to advance member-driven policies.
Protecting Water Resources and Driving Conservation
Farm Bureau is committed to science-based, data-driven approaches to conserving water and improving quality, with a focus on the Western Lake Erie Basin, Saginaw Bay Watershed, and beyond. We actively support voluntary conservation programs that help farmers enhance environmental practices, including the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Manure Hauler Certification, and 4R Nutrient Stewardship, among others.
Fighting to Protect Livestock Farms
Partnering with the American Farm Bureau Federation, Michigan Farm Bureau is pushing Congress to pass a new, bipartisan farm bill, giving farmers the long-term stability needed for business planning.
Pushing for a Modernized Farm Bill
Partnering with the American Farm Bureau Federation, Michigan Farm Bureau is pushing Congress to pass a new, bipartisan farm bill, giving farmers the long-term stability needed for business planning.
Advocating for Agricultural Workforce Reform
Farm Bureau is leaving no stone unturned as we continue advocating for long-overdue agriculture workforce reforms. With more and more farms at risk of going out of business due to unchecked wage rate increases, we are working relentlessly with our Congressional Delegation to get action and results from USDA and the Department of Labor.