Page 50 - MFB State Annual Meeting 2018 -- RESOLUTIONS BOOK

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We support:
The Lake Erie Domestic Action Plan.
Streamlining the process of allocating funds to improve water quality at the farm level.
The use of sound science methods to determine water quality.
MFB taking a leadership role in developing protocols for water quality monitoring.
An unbiased study to determine contributors that negatively impact water quality before additional regulations are imposed upon agriculture.
Changes to well siting requirements. Given the intended use of the water supply, we support allowing water quality testing in lieu of existing well setback standards to satisfy the siting requirement. MFB coordinating with neighboring states and Canada where a watershed is shared to reduce nutrient loading issues.
The state of Michigan to cease and desist in the removal of dams located on all drains and waterways recharging aquifers of the state and require all owners of existing dams to maintain such
producers for conservation practices.
The CleanSweep Program with MDARD accepting responsibility for any future liability for chemicals collected.
Use of the Saginaw Bay Optimization Model.
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55 Agriculture should lead watershed management, or
56 EPA will make efforts to place permits on the industry.
57 We encourage full representation of agricultural
58 interests in watershed initiative projects that are
59 publicly funded through the Clean Water Act. Any
60 management practices prescribed by the project should
61 be voluntary rather than mandatory. We support the
62 continued MAEAP verification of all farms and
63 recognize Michigan law that offers MAEAP-verified
64 farms presumption of meeting the obligations for
65 watershed pollutant loading determinations.
66 We encourage Michigan Farm Bureau to work with
67 state and federal agencies, land grant universities and
68 stakeholder groups to develop standards that indicate
69 agriculture’s positive impact on the environment. We
70 believe environmental credit standards should be
71 developed and applied against any new regulations to
72 offset the regulatory burden on producers. State
73 regulations and standards enforced by the Department
74 of Environmental Quality (DEQ) should not be more
75 restrictive than federal standards.
76 Municipalities share the same responsibilities to our
77 environment and should be held to the same standards
78 and penalties as private individuals.
Page 8 – Thursday Delegate Session