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Michigan Farm Bureau applauds progress on farmland preservation reforms

Michigan Farm Bureau is celebrating legislative wins at this year’s state annual meeting.

State Legislative Counsel Rebecca Park tells Brownfield reinterpretations of the state’s Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program (P.A. 116) and permanent conservation easements could cost some farmers years in back taxes.

“We were able to get everybody to the table, the departments included, our preservation experts across the state, as well as farmers and landowners who were being directly impacted by this regulatory change,” she says. “It’s so exciting today the package passed the Senate unanimously.”

The Michigan House has six legislative days left in the session to approve the measures and send them to the governor.

Park says farmers need action before the end of the year.

“They’ve also received notice from the Department of Treasury that if they either don’t amend their agreements, as the department originally requested, or these bills get signed into law, their 2025 tax credits would also be affected.

She says this year, state lawmakers also approved the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program through 2030, which has been a major Farm Bureau priority.