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Forestry is considered an integral part of Michigan agriculture. Producing forest products requires inputs and management practices similar to those necessary for the production of other agricultural commodities. Michigan forests contribute substantially to the state’s economy.

We support:

• Efforts to define forest industry activities as agricultural with respect to matters such as truck licenses, equipment taxes, insurance, supply purchases, real estate taxation, zoning, and land-use classification.
• New/expanded industrial uses of forest products in transportation infrastructure, such as bridge construction, guard rails, and other uses, and urge the Michigan Department of Transportation and county road commissions to use Michigan-grown and processed forest products.
• The increased and continued utilization of forest products in Michigan as a renewable resource for products such as pallets, as opposed to non-renewable or petroleum-based products.
• The use of cross-laminated timber in building construction due to its many benefits including carbon sequestration, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits, and reduced construction time.
• Changes to the state building code and other regulations to address the advancements of mass timber. 
• Promoting cross-laminated timber manufacturing in Michigan.
• Clarifying the use of the log plate to include all activities connected with logging operations.
• Classifying logging equipment as implements of husbandry.
• Multiple-use management of public forests, emphasizing sustainable management and harvest of state-owned forests.
• The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) basing public-land timber sales on reasonable aggregate economic, biological and social impacts.
• Requiring a market-value bid on purchase offers of state-owned forests. Sales should be based on a total-value bid rather than on sales of species or product estimates.
• MDNR finding markets for oversized red/white pines and tamaracks.
• The MDNR timber sale extensions period being increased to one year.
• The MDNR timber sale extension fee being waived due to poor market or weather conditions of a period longer than six months.
• Timber management practices suited for public lands along roads and highways.
• Legislation that protects timber operations from liability for individuals using the land for recreation.
• Requiring log book use to ensure hunter safety on public lands being logged.
• The maintenance and improvement of tax-reverted lands acquired by the state through reforestation or other conservation practices.
• Ongoing forest inventory and analysis funded jointly by industry, state, and federal sources.
• Programs that incentivize landowners to improve forest resources, encourage proper management, promote forest sustainability, and/or benefit the forest products industry.
• Farms and landowners managing forests, wetlands, and habitat participating in the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), completing as many recommendations as possible to help preserve air, water, and soil quality, and to practice sustainable land management.
• State government’s efforts to provide education and outreach for private forest landowners.
• Expanding post-high school education programs in applied/skilled forestry to help ensure a sufficient and skilled workforce.
• The Right to Forest Act and urge landowners to utilize Generally Accepted Forest Management Practices.
• State government action to encourage local utilization of ash lumber and biomass, near its point of origin, to minimize the potential for ash borer invasion and spread.
• Better defining foresters’ duties and responsibilities in the Occupational Code, and a voluntary forester registration program.
• MDNR assisting with prescribed burns on private land. Prescribed fire is an important management tool to control unwanted vegetation and helps prevent accumulated dead wood, needles, etc. from becoming a fire hazard.
• Reviewing recent changes to the Forestry Best Management Practices (BMP) manual. It is imperative BMP guidelines reflect current industry practices and standards, not ideology. Standards should be based on outcomes, not a prescriptive set of rules.
• Timber industry efforts to develop a common scale for hardwood saw logs.
• Michigan universities’ conducting an economic study comparing Michigan forestry industry returns to the economic returns from those of other major Michigan commodities.
• Michigan State University (MSU) collaborating with the University of Wisconsin on a forestry economy specialist.
• Working with the MDNR, conservation organizations, hunting groups and other interested groups to reduce wildlife populations to acceptable levels that will not deplete the regeneration of new seedlings in woodlots and forests.
• Michigan Farm Bureau providing expertise and advising the creation of an industry-driven initiative supporting forestry research, education and outreach with MSU, University of Michigan, and Michigan Technological University, funded by State of Michigan appropriations for forest management.
• The MDNR and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) prioritizing growing and developing new markets, new products, and processing facilities.
• Conservancies and other non-profits having to pay an average of the qualified forest property tax rate in that county.
• County Farm Bureaus working with local school districts to retain the ownership and use of school forests. Retaining school forests helps preserve educational opportunities for students, conserve forest resources, and provide both short and long-term income for school districts.
• County Farm Bureaus referring members to local conservation districts for a list of qualified foresters for woodlot owners.
• Removing unnecessary rules that are restricting growth and viability of the forestry industry.
• Permitting requirements being reasonable and practical for applicants as well as grounded in science with consideration from industry experts. The state permitting process should be done in an expedited manner with strict timelines for issuance. Permit requirements should be considered for removal when no adverse impact is found or possible.

We oppose:

• Logging restrictions during hunting season.
• Additional licensing or regulatory requirements on forest management professionals.
• Mandating forest-practice rules.
• Closing existing roads on state forest lands.
• Legislation restricting the sale of forest products for non-traditional use.