Page 189 - MFB State Annual Meeting 2018 -- RESOLUTIONS BOOK

42 conservation delivery system. We encourage farmer
43 leaders in conservation districts to use their annual
44 meetings as an opportunity to promote conservation
45 programming in agriculture.
We support Michigan Farm Bureau:
Working with districts to develop materials to educate members about agricultural stewardship and support efforts to make the public aware of the benefits of an investment in good stewardship. Working 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.
Supporting a legislative or regulatory change that would enable conservation districts with budgets
less than $50,000 to participate in grant programs
by submitting a financial review in lieu of a formal audit.
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79 species for conservation purposes. Under PA 451 of
80 1994 as amended, conservation districts are allowed to
81 propagate, grow and sell plants that are beneficial for
82 conservation practices and have been designated as
83 “conservation species” by the Conservation Species
84 Advisory Panel. The legislative intent of PA 451 was to
85 limit the negative impact on the private nursery and
86 greenhouse industry from plant sales by state-
87 subsidized, tax-exempt conservation districts.
88 As a result of recent reductions in funding,
89 conservation districts have begun efforts to generate
90 additional sources of revenue, one of which is to greatly
91 enlarge the approved list of “conservation species” so
We support conservation districts:
Focusing on conservation for agriculture. Evaluating and adopting relevant successful programs from other conservation districts and states (e.g., water quality assistance and ditch maintenance). Programming could vary from county to county, based on the direction of the district boards and the needs of agriculture.
Partnering at a watershed scale.
Providing multi-disciplinary cross-training for all conservation district technicians.
Being the primary agency to initiate watershed management programming and technical assistance.
Conservation districts shall only offer non-invasive
State Policies – Page 103