Developing management practices unique to new and expanding urban agriculture, including livestock care standards, crops and cropping standards, and environmental standards, is important to increasing understanding of and support for agriculture in Michigan. For food safety reasons, all rules, regulations, and licenses applicable to commercial agriculture should be applicable to urban agriculture.
We support:
- Urban farming as defined by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
- Economic development practices to accept agricultural businesses as part of urban centers.
- Developing agreements that allow urban agricultural production, but also protect the rights of farm businesses with production sites within Michigan municipalities.
- Recommendations of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Urban Livestock Workgroup.
- Michigan Farm Bureau’s continued collaboration with MDARD, Michigan State University Extension and other stakeholders to write a model local ordinance to promote protection of and guidelines for urban agriculture.
- Urban agriculture training and education programs and curricula.
- Assisting and educating farmers in urban areas in acquiring grants and financial assistance available through local, state and federal agencies.
We oppose:
- Compromising Right to Farm protections for commercial agricultural practices.