LAWS IN MICHIGAN

Im retiring this year and want to start a hobby farm in Northern Michigan, and need to know if I can sell eggs, process meat birds, on a small scale without inspections, permits or licensee

Hey there,
I am in Mid Michigan, nice to meet you.
Ok, I think I can help you with the egg part, a friend of mine wanted to sell her eggs and went through the dept of Ag for all of the liscensing.
Basically what she needed to do was to of course fill out the app and send in fee, have them come out and inspect her place, test her well and inspect her washing facility. She had to set up a room that was just specifically for washing the eggs. It could be a corner in the garage or the barn, whatever. But it had to be just for washing eggs. She couldn't just wash the eggs in the kitchen.
Anyways, hope that helps. You can go to the dept of Ag website and all the forms and information are on there. Of course, everything on there is so confusing you are better off calling in the first place,lol.

And to answer the question, can you legally do it without liscenses and permits, even on small scale. No. You can try and play dumb if you get caught, but it is better just to go through the channels.
Good luck
Mama

Thank You Mama, I will start the process at once.....

For processing (or catering or any home-based food business) the kitchen counters and sink need to be stainless steel. You may want to take some "ServeSafe" classes through MI's health dept. When I was a manager at McDonald's, I had to take those. 4 classes, 1 day a week for 4 weeks. Ask at the USDA or county building what you need to do for processing--but a stainless steel processing area will be part of it. You may also have to make provisions for the offal.


I'm in Arenac County, not far from Iva's Chicken Shack. They used to also run the Sterling Hatchery and raised their own fryers and roasters until the county slapped too many restrictions on them. By then, there was the cornish-rock hybrid and it was just as easy to get them from other processors. Ironic because now Arenac county has fairly lax health regulations. Don't eat at PQ's in Standish. Go across the street to McDonald's instead or eat in Bay or Ogemaw County.

Hello all,
I am brand new to this site. It looks fantastic. I have yet to be a chicken farmer. We are going to start next year. We want only about 12 layers/

The research I have been doing has led me to believe the following:

Michigan's Right to Farm Act of 81 (I believe), allows any property owner to produce and sell anything that is "useful to mankind" on his own land. This means that if I live on a postage stamp or a mointain top, I can raise chickens, goats, bees, cows etc.... As long as what I am doing complies with GAMMPS of the MI dep of Agriculture. City ordinances cannot override this right. They may try, but MI Supreme court cases say it all. %99 of the time justice sides with the citizen. It also protects the homesteader from being harassed by neighbors or city employees. The Rigt to Farm Act also protects the selling of and marketing of, WITHOUT lisencing, within your own property. i.e...fresh eggs for sale on your mail box.

Has anybody had any other experiences?

Someone said in an earlier post that the dep of Agriculture will come out to inspect your washing area. Is this on a small scale backyard coop?

Also, I know of several farmers who do not wash the egg unless its really bad. Washing removed the natural barrier that keeps germs and liquids outside of the egg.

Thanks

Hi I have recently moved to Southgate Michigan and was wondering if anyone knows if there is a ban on having chickens? I was reading about someone trying to fight for the right to own but I could not find the out come. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Michigan just changed the right to farm. And it's very confusing. What is a farm. I do not sell my eggs. So am I not a farmer also they say your coop must be 250 feet from a home. Does this include my own home. It's scarry. I might lose my babies

emskalski said:

Hi I have recently moved to Southgate Michigan and was wondering if anyone knows if there is a ban on having chickens? I was reading about someone trying to fight for the right to own but I could not find the out come. Any help would be greatly appreciated

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skater139 said:

Michigan just changed the right to farm. And it's very confusing. What is a farm. I do not sell my eggs. So am I not a farmer also they say your coop must be 250 feet from a home. Does this include my own home. It's scarry. I might lose my babies

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Check out the Michigan Small Farm Council. Those of us who created the council all met here on BYC on the Michigan Right To Farm Thread, years ago, and have been working on this issue for several years. Check out that thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/182280/michigan-right-to-farm-law-what-does-it-mean/1790, but also the Michigan Small Farm Council website and FB page. And, email us if you have any questions. [email protected]

http://www.michigansmallfarmcouncil.org
https://www.facebook.com/michigansmallfarmcouncil

wingless said:

Check out the Michigan Small Farm Council.  Those of us who created the council all met here on BYC on the Michigan Right To Farm Thread, years ago, and have been working on this issue for several years.  Check out that thread:  https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/182280/michigan-right-to-farm-law-what-does-it-mean/1790, but also the Michigan Small Farm Council website and FB page.  And, email us if you have any questions.  [email protected]

http://www.michigansmallfarmcouncil.org
https://www.facebook.com/michigansmallfarmcouncil

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I checked out the website and it doesn't seem that active, is this group still a thing?
I'm trying to gain more information on the Meat birds side of the spectrum, mainly how Michigan views the different federal exemptions, Personal use vs. Grower/Producer and so on. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!