More than 400 county Farm Bureau voting delegates considered and approved policy recommendations, establishing formal state-level organizational and national policy recommendations at Michigan Farm Bureau’s 105th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, Dec. 3-4.
The two-day delegate session marked the final step in the organization’s grassroots policy development process, originating with 500 policy recommendations submitted by 59 county Farm Bureaus this past year for consideration and consolidation at the state level.
A wide range of issues including animal health emergencies, wildlife crop damage, American-based drone manufacturing, farm markets and labor related policy were considered and approved as amendments to existing policy or as new organizational policy.
Approved national recommendations advance to the American Farm Bureau Federation level for consideration and, if included, would be considered during the AFBF Annual Meeting policy resolution session in January.
Wildlife
Delegates approved a major overhaul to existing wildlife policy calling for increased focus on species management based on “sound biological science with an emphasis on limiting crop damage and reducing disease transmission.”
Additional policy calling for programs, regulations and methods, such as providing financial incentives that “lead to increased harvest and help control wildlife species” was also approved. Additional language called for increased access to processing as well as streamlining the ability to donate game meat.
Policy calling for greater flexibility for farmers to effectively manage all wildlife species causing damage was also approved, including a call for timely lethal authority provided at low or no cost to producers.
Animal health emergencies
Prompted by member concerns over the outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza on dairy and poultry operations earlier this year, voting delegates approved several policy-related items.
Policy calling for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to evaluate current emergency preparedness procedures to enable more timely responses and communication toward the Michigan agricultural industry was widely supported and approved.
Existing policy calling for development of animal health emergency management guidelines was amended to include industry collaboration with respective commodity organizations, Michigan Farm Bureau, and other agricultural groups as issues arise.
Finally, delegates approved policy calling for “oversight and staffing for national animal health issues, especially livestock diseases, be housed within USDA and all coordination in livestock-related disease issues be led by USDA.”
Drone use and manufacturing
Delegates approved multiple national policy recommendations for consideration at the American Farm Bureau level including language to support federal incentives to encourage U.S.-based manufacturing of key component parts for unmanned aircraft systems.
Delegates also approved state-level policy addressing use of drones, calling for legislation to limit the use of drone technology for commercial purposes, but prohibit the use of drones for investigation and enforcement purposes without a search warrant to protect private property rights.
Agricultural labor
While delegates advanced a national policy recommendation calling for the outright elimination of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, they advocated seeking legislation that would cap year-over-year increases and account for regional variability with competitive labor rates in the meantime.
Delegates also called for changes in the H-2A program wage rate methodology that would reflect a direct correlation to state-level minimum wages, noting that “existing minimum wages set a floor that works for every other industry in the country and that does not preclude any employer from paying higher wages, as most currently do. Agriculture should not be held to a higher standard than every other business in America.”
National policy recommendations also called for improvements to the existing H-2A seasonal guest worker program to address ag sectors that need year-round workers, in addition to streamlining the H-2A and H-2B process, including national immigration policy that is farmer friendly and provides a legal agricultural workforce that would benefit producers, farm workers and the American consumers.
Direct marketing and agritourism
Delegates approved national- and state-level policies regarding the growing number of farm operations involved in direct marketing and agritourism.
National policy recommendations included calls for USDA to recognize and accept state inspection of meat and poultry products at USDA facilities, as well as programming to enhance and promote agritourism, the development of guidelines and best practices, and on-farm direct marketing opportunities.
Policy calling for the development of an agritourism act, administered by MDARD, to preempt local ordinances for event barns, corn mazes, farm stays, and farm animal related activities, if more than 50% of the farm income is generated by the sales of commodities grown on the farm and if the facilities can meet the building code’s public safety requirements was also approved.
The approved policy would not prohibit local governments from enacting reasonable hour, noise and parking regulations and would encourage zoning authorities to adopt the Agricultural Tourism Model Zoning Ordinance Provisions developed by the Michigan Agricultural Tourism Advisory Commission and MDARD.
Plant pests and diseases
Delegates also approved new policy language to support the creation of a grain inspectors license program to be administered by MDARD, and policy requiring a grain inspectors license for any person administering a grain quality test with the intent of applying a discount/rejection based on the test result.
Existing policy was also reaffirmed by delegates supporting coordinated research through Michigan State University and the Michigan Cherry Committee for control of spotted wing drosophila, as well as viable control methods for Spotted lanternfly, Phytophthora, downy mildew, and other plant pests and diseases.