Dear Fellow Michigan Farmers & Consumers:
You have just a few days to protect your Right to Farm!
On December 12, the Agriculture Commission will vote on changes to the "Site Selection" and "Manure Management" sections of the Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices (GAAMPs). The GAAMPs are an integral piece of the Michigan Right to Farm Act.
The problem is that the proposed changes to the GAAMPs will undercut your Right to Farm Act protection in two ways:
1. They would require even the smallest farmer-- that's right, even with just one farm animal-- to comply with the GAAMP setback requirements [see pp. 6-9]. For example, with even one chicken (or pig or bee hive), a 100-foot setback from property lines would be required. In urban areas, this would be the end of most farming.
2. They would subject every Livestock Production Facility (again, just one animal would qualify) to local zoning restrictions [see p. 5]. This change gives the power to control where farming can and cannot occur to your city, township or village -- a big problem. Just ask the many farmers who have used the Right to Farm Act to protect themselves from local efforts to stop their farms.
The Michigan Right to Farm Act is currently one of the best in the country. With these changes, it will be gutted and useless to many of you.
It matters. Already townships are using the proposed GAAMP changes to try to zone out farming. One farm is already being sued; see a short video about the Buchlers of Shady Grove Farm.
ACTION TO TAKE
Please contact the Agriculture Commission today -- with these requests:
- Do not drop the animal units down to 0 in the definition of a Livestock Production Facility. This will create undue burdens on small farmers.
- Do not gut the Right to Farm Act by giving local zoning ordinances the power to control where farming can happen. This change would violate the language and intent of the Right to Farm Act.
Act now. The Agricultural Commission votes this coming Wednesday, Dec. 12.
