Page 103 - MFB State Annual Meeting 2018 -- RESOLUTIONS BOOK

7 MDARD to continue to be proactive, focus on core
8 programs and eliminate redundancies where possible.
9 Program areas of a stronger, more encompassing
10 MDARD might include, but would not be limited to:
11 consumer protection, environmental protection,
12 resource-based economic development programs,
13 aquaculture, privately owned cervidae, commercial
14 fishing and forestry programs.
15 We have concerns with the lack of expertise and
16 understanding of farming in other state departments.
17 Therefore, we request MDARD be the primary
18 representative of government on our farms. We are
19 opposed to multiple inspections by a variety of
20 jurisdictions.
21 [Relocated in policy] We support strategic
22 investments in MDARD with the following funding
23 priorities:
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27
28  29
30 
31 
32 
33
Food safety.
Oversight of industry regulatory programs.
Animal and plant disease protection and agriculture security.
Producer protection; integrity of agricultural products.
Market access inspections.
Statistics and information.
Industry and trade advocate.
We encourage MDARD to follow these
34 recommendations when prioritizing their current budget.
35 Regulatory or enforcement program funding should be
36 taken from the General Fund with a limited portion of the
37 cost to be generated from industry fees. We support
38 restoration of the consumer/producer protection
39 programs in seed, feed and fertilizer through increased
40 efficiencies and reforms, and, as a last option, fees.
41 [Relocated text] We support strategic investments in
42 MDARD with the following funding priorities:
43 
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45 
46
47  48
49 
50 
51 
52
53  54
55 
56 
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Food safety.
Oversight of industry regulatory programs.
Animal and plant disease protection and agriculture security.
Producer protection; integrity of agricultural products.
Market access inspections.
Statistics and information.
Industry and trade advocate.
We support:
Protection of animal health through testing,
quarantine and depopulation, if necessary.
State funding of all required testing.
Plant inspection, testing and quarantine to control disease.
State Policies – Page 17