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Michigan Farm Bureau policy diverse as the state

Michigan Farm Bureau members amended more than 100 policies at this year’s annual meeting which stretch from cell-cultured meat to animal welfare, industrial hemp and more.

Policy Development Chair Andy Haganow tells Brownfield more than 800 policies were brought forth from the local level.  “It ranges from everything like crop specific policies to some things dealing with Right to Farm Act, along with a policy on genomic editing.”

Michigan delegates are recommending American Farm Bureau prohibit the labeling of cell-cultured products as “meat,” and are calling on the dairy industry to host a national dairy summit between AFBF and the National Milk Producers Federation to address balancing excess production with consumer demand.

Members also want to create an animal care standards board in Michigan that would be like the state’s Right to Farm Act, giving the industry a voice rather than ballot initiatives or the legislature.

While Michigan Farm Bureau opposed Position 1 on the November ballot, which legalized recreational marijuana and industrial hemp in the state, delegates voted to support the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 which would facilitate a legal permitting process for ag production.

AUDIO: Brownfield interview with Andy Haganow