Page 100 - MFB State Annual Meeting 2018 -- RESOLUTIONS BOOK

5 expectations and enhance Michigan’s competitive
6 position.
7 We recommend USDA update the grade standards
8 for apples so the Risk Management Agency can utilize
9 current industry standards in crop insurance.
10 We encourage Farm Bureau to work with Michigan
11 State University and the Michigan Tree Fruit
12 Commission to encourage tree fruit research into the
13 development of new varieties specifically geared for
14 growers just in the Midwest for growing and marketing.
15 Other growing regions have or are doing this to remain
16 competitive within the marketplace and to offer
17 consumers better products. 
#15 INDUSTRIAL HEMP
1 U.S. legislation makes it illegal to raise industrial
2 hemp commercially. However, Michigan Public Acts
3 547 and 548 of 2014 removed industrial hemp from the
4 state’s legal definition of marijuana and authorized
5 industrial hemp research by the Michigan Department
6 of Agriculture and Rural Development and Michigan
7 universities.
8 We support the Hemp Farming Act of 2018.
9 Pending federal approval of hemp production, we
10 support an effort by the state of Michigan to facilitate
11 the legal permitting process of agricultural production of
12 industrial hemp for industrial and food uses, and as a
13 sound rotational crop with established and emerging
14 markets, without the need for a permit from the Drug
15 Enforcement Administration. 
#18 MARKETING AND BARGAINING LEGISLATION
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
The Michigan Agricultural Marketing and Bargaining Act (PA 344, as amended) has proven to be a fair and equitable procedure through which marketing and bargaining associations and processors negotiate fruit and vegetable prices and other terms of trade.
We support:
 Legislation or legal actions that strengthen the
operation and effectiveness of PA 344 including but not limited to returning the definition of the "opt out clause" to its original intent and meaning.
 We support the Efforts of producers under PA 344 to further enhance their position in the marketplace and secure the sale of their product through the provisions of the marketing and bargaining legislation.

We will work with Efforts of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to ensure
State Policies – Page
14