Search Site   
News Stories at a Glance
Deere 4440 cab tractor racked up $18,000 at farm retirement auction
Indiana legislature passes bills for ag land purchases, broadband grants
Make spring planting safety plans early to avoid injuries
Michigan soybean grower visits Dubai to showcase U.S. products
Scientists are interested in eclipse effects on crops and livestock
U.S. retail meat demand for pork and beef both decreased in 2023
Iowa one of the few states to see farms increase in 2022 Ag Census
Trade, E15, GREET, tax credits the talk at Commodity Classic
Ohioan travels to Malta as part of US Grains Council trade mission
FFA members learn about Australian culture, agriculture during trip
Timing of Dicamba ruling may cause issues for 2024 planting
   
Archive
Search Archive  
   
Michigan FB: Help push two animal bills through

By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

GREENVILLE, Mich. — Michigan Farm Bureau President Wayne Wood is calling on members to push state lawmakers to move two animal care bills that are stalled in the State House.

Wood addressed Montcalm County Farm Bureau members during their annual meeting Aug. 31, and urged them to call their legislators about House bills 5127 and 5128.

“Getting them out of the House Agriculture Committee might have been the simplest step of the process because our friends are there,” he said. “We have to have people calling very regularly now to remind them of their word.”

Wood was referring to recent action in which the committee passed new versions of the bills that would make comprehensive standards for farm animal care state law.

The problem now is that the bills are essentially “stuck” in the House.

The redrafted bills, sponsored by state representatives Mike Simpson (D-Jackson) and Jeff Mayes (D-Bay City), address many public concerns posed with the initial bills, but they still provide a solid framework to assure consumers that livestock in Michigan have been raised with the highest safety and accountability standards.

The pair of bills would amend the Animal Industry Act to establish animal care guidelines, a third-party auditing and certification program and the Animal Care Advisory Council. The bills are tie-barred to each other, which means that unless both are enacted, neither will take effect.

Bill 5127 would grant the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Commission of Agriculture sole authority to regulate livestock health and welfare.

It would adopt specified guidelines developed by national agricultural interest groups, as they existed on the bill’s effective date, as the standards by which Michigan farmers would have to comply by July 1, 2020.

It also requires the MDA to develop a system of third-party auditors to certify whether farms are in compliance with animal care guidelines.

Bill 5128 would create an Animal Advisory Council within the MDA and includes guidelines for doing so. One of the recently approved legislative revisions calls for expanding the Animal Care Advisory Council from 10 to 12 members and includes two members representing the general public.

Other revisions strike all language referencing the preemption of local ordinances governing farm animal welfare; and call for information submitted to the MDA by a third-party auditor regarding a farm’s failure to pass an audit for compliance with animal care standards, to be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
Gregg Heinze, chairman of the county Farm Bureau’s Farmers Care Action Team, also encouraged local members to take a stand on the bills.

“We would like to see heavy support for these bills,” he said.
The bills have the support of a broad-based agricultural coalition that includes the Dairy Farmers of America, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, Michigan Agri-Business Assoc., Michigan Allied Poultry Industries, Michigan Cattlemen’s Assoc., Michigan Corn Growers Assoc., Michigan Equine Partnership (MEP), Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Milk Producers Assoc., Michigan Pork Producers Assoc. (MPPA), Michigan Sheep Breeders Assoc., Michigan Soybean Assoc. and Michigan Veterinary Medical Assoc.

The legislation also has the support of the MDA, American Humane Assoc., Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Michigan Press Assoc. and Michigan Great Lakes International.

In June, several members of Michigan’s ag community provided testimony at the State Capitol in support of the bills.

“The agriculture community respects that some consumers want reassurance that farm animals raised for food are well cared for. This legislation validates the ethical standards demonstrated by Michigan’s livestock farmers and assures families that the meat, milk and eggs on their tables have been raised with the highest safety and accountability standards,” said Sam Hines, executive vice president of the MPPA.

“This system would give Michigan the most proactive approach in the nation to making changes to animal care standards and ensure that everyone has a voice,” said Larry Julian, legislative liaison for the MEP.

The proposed legislation doesn’t go to unnecessary extremes but doesn’t under-deliver on animal care either, Wood said.

“The intent of the legislation is sound, and that’s to guarantee the continued care and ethical treatment of all animals in the food chain,” he said. “These bills provide a holistic, balanced approach that is good for animals, people, rural communities and our state.”

9/9/2009