By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

GREENVILLE, Mich. — Montcalm County Farm Bureau is calling on the state’s largest farm organization to fight for funding to support Michigan agriculture.

During its annual meeting on Aug. 31, the county Farm Bureau approved two resolutions aimed at addressing funding issues due to the state’s budget deficit. All policies approved at the county level will be forwarded to the Michigan Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee, which will select policies to be considered at the MFB State annual Meeting Dec. 1-4 in Grand Rapids.
One of the county resolutions calls for pushing lawmakers to restore funding to both premiums and matching funds for county fairs. The second resolution seeks support for the continuation of Michigan’s conservation districts, which are facing devastating budget cuts from the state.

“At one point, the state said they would fund conservation districts at $20,000 per year. That never happened. They have cut, cut, cut, and this year we have zero,” said Montcalm Conservation District Chairman Bruce Noll. “I don’t know how we’re supposed to continue to provide the services we do with no funding.”

In its resolution, the county Farm Bureau recommended that “Michigan Farm Bureau foster a closer working relationship with the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts and local conservation districts to ensure landowners’ conservation needs are met now and into the future. These groups working together should review the current structure and delivery system, as well as determine what resources and appropriate authorities are needed for conservation districts to provide services fulfilling state and federal environmental mandates.”

Funding for county fairs in Michigan was wiped out this year due to the state’s budget crisis.

An executive order issued by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm on May 5 reduced the state’s spending by nearly $350 million. It was the second reduction in this year’s fiscal budget – the first issued in December, 2008, cut $134 million in spending.

The order included the elimination of $6.8 million from the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) budget, of which $1.46 million was cut for prizes at local, county and state fairs.
“A few years ago, matching funds for equipment rentals, repairs and maintenance were cut from the budget. This year all support for premiums paid to exhibitors was cut from the state budget,” said Lisa Johnson, chairwoman of the county Farm Bureau’s Policy Development Committee. “County fairs are an important part of rural Michigan and a tradition worth keeping alive.

In approving this resolution, the county’s delegation “urge lawmakers to reconsider the budget cuts to Michigan Fairs and restore funding to both premiums and matching funds.”
Some of the other policies approved by the county Farm Bureau organization include support of a fund-raising campaign for a new Montcalm County 4-H Fairgrounds; support of an initiative to retain, preserve and grow Michigan’s food industry; agricultural tax classification for forest land that is used to produce agricultural commodities such as maple syrup, walnuts and Christmas trees; year-round running of raccoon dogs in order to discourage damage to crops; and support for the creation of a United States trade prosecutor to help ensure that when the U.S. enters into a free trade agreement, it stays a free and fair trade agreement.