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 key victories in 2024:
Securing Agriculture Funding
Farm Bureau supported a state budget that delivered:
- A 2.5% funding boost for MSU Extension and AgBioResearch
- $3 million in ongoing funds for the voluntary and statewide, Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program
- $4 million to support state FFA programs
- $7 million for climate resiliency and regenerative agriculture efforts
- $3 million in continued funding for the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture
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.
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.
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
Farm Bureau, partnering organizations, and farmers are fighting to keep in place a judicial opinion that helps large livestock farms stay in business while protecting water quality.
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.
Maximizing Action Request Campaigns
In 2024, Farm Bureau members and supporters sent over 5,000 messages to state and federal legislators and regulatory leaders — a remarkable effort! Our organization’s dedication played a key role in advancing and protecting Michigan’s agriculture community.
Campaign Highlights:
- EPA Public Comment Periods: Early in the year, nearly 900 individuals participated in three Environmental Protection Agency public comment periods. These addressed critical topics such as treated seed regulations, livestock air emission reporting, and pesticide labeling.
- Defending Legislative Oversight: In April, over 900 supporters sent 1,800+ messages to state lawmakers, opposing bills aimed at removing legislative oversight from Michigan’s water quality rulemaking process. In December, when the legislation resurfaced, your efforts doubled: 1,278 messages were sent, urging representatives to vote against the bills. Persistence paid off and the legislation was abandoned.
- Advocating for a Modernized Farm Bill: Throughout the fall, more than 1,200 advocates sent over 3,500 messages to Michigan’s Congressional delegation, urging them to set aside partisan politics and pass a new farm bill. While Congress approved a one-year extension, member advocacy laid the groundwork for securing a five-year farm bill with stronger crop insurance, conservation programs, and more.