GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) members tackled two policies to give direction about right-to-farm during the organization’s 95th annual meeting last month.

Existing policy stated the integrity of Michigan’s Right to Farm Act and science-based Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMP) should not be weakened or jeopardized by including practices that are not integral to or directly related to farming.

In 2014, some urban farmers attempted to invoke right-to-farm protections in defense of their practices when facing opposition because of their violations of local zoning ordinances. As originally composed, the law was designed specifically to protect farms from encroaching suburbia.

Since it was enacted in 1981, the law had not addressed urban agriculture siting except to note that farmers everywhere were expected to comply with local zoning ordinances. Delegates approved policy language to “support a cooperative effort among Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), MFB and other stakeholders to establish a definition for commercial production of farm products within the GAAMPs framework.”

Language also was added that seeks a collaborative effort among MFB, MDARD and other stakeholders “to write a model local ordinance to promote protection of and guidelines for urban agriculture.”

GAAMPs are voluntary guidelines farmers must follow to receive right-to-farm protection against nuisance lawsuits over common farming activities. Subsequent confusion prompted this year’s additions to MFB’s long-standing right-to-farm policy.

“We’re seeking to clarify what it means to be a commercial farm so we can avoid future misunderstanding,” explained Sarah Black, director of MFB’s public policy division.

“We continue to support protections for traditional farm operations while creating new opportunities for urban farms in a responsible manner.”

Farm Bureau policymakers voted to further clarify the application of right-to-farm to housing developments and windmill projects. Discussion included comments from delegates that wind farms are not traditional farms and should not be included in the definition of a “farm,” which prompted the insertion of language into the policy that opposes inclusion of commercial wind turbine facilities as part of a definition of a farm.

Transportation continued to be of concern to members. New language that would “regionalize” the administration of spring weight restriction requirements instead of individual county oversight was struck down by the delegates. The issue arose from the belief spring weight restrictions are not being applied systematically from county to county.

“This is a local and county issue,” said Carl McBroom from Iron Range. “Our county already makes adjustments.”

Lester Langland from Ottawa County agreed. “A few years ago, we had a very restrictive road commission,” he said. “I think local control is county by county. I don’t think we want to give up local control of our roads.”

Delegates also considered policy changes related to drones and data. Regarding the use of drones, they supported the use of unmanned aircraft systems for commercial purposes without registration. Members also opposed excessive regulation of farm-use drones and drone-based services.

MFB delegates reaffirmed the importance of its proprietary data policy, while making small changes to increase existing security concepts. Delegates considered new language that states that anybody who collects, stores and analyzes proprietary data, including photographs, would have to provide full disclosure of their intended use of the data.

Language was added to the policy to protect crop yield and other data, noting that members advocate “utilizing all safeguards” in that effort. Policy also advocates that “data (be) stored at an entity that is not subject to a Freedom of Information Act request.”

During the course of the annual meeting, about 500 members from Michigan’s 67 county Farm Bureaus considered more than 100 resolutions on a range of issues. Those dealing with national issues were forwarded to the American Farm Bureau Federation for consideration at its 96th Convention and Annual Meeting in San Diego Jan. 10-14.