Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Our Roost]

Okay Michiganders! I am missing out on this action and having a hard time following all the jargon being slinged around regarding legislative changes. Jalocha hen farms is in Freesoil and we frequent to tsc and ffh plus a local grainery. Naturally, we raise chickens for hobby, meat and eggs. And yes, we do sell or trade stock to offset feed costs when possible. We very much support any effort made to support our rights to do this. Any assistance I can get involved in that you may need assistance or support in would be an honor to voice my opinion. Please respond accordingly.

 

[RaZ]

I got a case number. I don't know if I should be flattered, insulted, or proud of myself.

I got one as well back in September that is similar but I don't think was intended for me. I think it was an alert to other departments to tell Byrd 2 if they heard from me. (see below) I would like to know which departments this was intended for.

Despite what the letter says, I have NEVER been contacted by the governor's office and I don't expect that I will be in the future.
Hello -

Governor Snyder's office has received a constituent inquiry from Randy Zeilinger. In an effort to meet Governor Snyder's expectation that we provide world-class customer service that supports, drives and enables prosperity for Michigan's residents and businesses, I am asking for your assistance with this case. To help us track the correspondence, we've assigned this inquiry the unique reference number of S199972.

I've just provided an update to the constituent that I've referred this correspondence to our rapid response team for review and follow up. I would appreciate a copy of correspondence exchanged with this constituent on Governor Snyder's behalf, but I understand you may be limited by law in what you can share. Please let me know if you are unable to follow up with this constituent within two business days or if you believe I have made a mistake in referring this to your attention.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your assistance.

John Byrd II
Office of the Governor
O: 517-335-7858

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CASE OPEN DATE: 9/6/2013 12:11 PM

NAME: Randy Zeilinger
ADDRESS: XXX.
CITY/STATE/ZIP: Garden City, MI 48135
E-MAIL: XXXX
TELEPHONE: XXXXXXXX

CONSTITUENT INQUIRY: Dear Governor Snyder,

Given that you actively promote agriculture within our great state, I would like to ask for your help in allowing the voice of the small scale farm operation to be heard at the state level.

The 2014 GAAMPs are under consideration and the potential for negative impact to some 80% of Michigan citizens engaged in small scale farming is at stake.

As a board member of the Michigan Small Farm Council(MSFC), I ask that you discuss with Director Clover-Adams the inclusion of our group as stakeholders in the proposed changes to the GAAMPs.

Respectfully submitted.
Randy Zeilinger
MAEAP Verified
Garden City, MI

 

[M.sue]

@ Ladysranti, thanks for the cute videos!

I got a case number. I don't know if I should be flattered, insulted, or proud of myself.

~~Dear Nicole, Thank you for the recent inquiry submitted to Governor Rick Snyder's office. As a member of Governor Snyder's staff, please accept this response on his behalf. Your initial inquiry was received in this office on 1/23/2014 8:11 PM. We assign each case a unique reference number -- which it makes it easier for us to assist you moving forward. Your case number is S*****3. For your convenience, I've included a copy of your initial inquiry just below my signature line and contact information. In an effort to be of assistance, I can report that I've forwarded your correspondence to our rapid response team for review. We will be following up with you in the immediate future. Meanwhile, please do not hesitate to contact me directly for updates or if there is anything else I can be doing for you. Sincerely, John Byrd II Constituent Services Division Executive Office of the Governor, Rick Snyder O: 517-335-7858

All 3......I have a friend who use to work in a governors office. His job was to send replies back. Yes basic generic form letter BS. Don't know, but maybe being bombarded with letters & phones calls might get their attention. The reply says do not hesitate to contact me directly.

 

[BigHope888]

Okay Michiganders! I am missing out on this action and having a hard time following all the jargon being slinged around regarding legislative changes. Jalocha hen farms is in Freesoil and we frequent to tsc and ffh plus a local grainery. Naturally, we raise chickens for hobby, meat and eggs. And yes, we do sell or trade stock to offset feed costs when possible. We very much support any effort made to support our rights to do this. Any assistance I can get involved in that you may need assistance or support in would be an honor to voice my opinion.

Please respond accordingly.

The Generally Accepted Agriculture and Management Practices (GAAMPs) are under review, with wording in the proposed changes that would deny Michigan Right to Farm protection from ALL small farms. It doesn't matter if you live in a semi-agricultural or residential area, under the proposal if you have 1-4999 livestock units, you would be deemed "Generally not accepted for agriculture use" or, to residential small farmers, "Not acceptable for agriculture." Basically, if you don't already live inside a barn, you are, at this moment, at high risk of losing your MRTF. Your county or township could have a poultry allowing ordinance, or you may perchance be living in an area zoned for agriculture, but that is subject to change at any time at your local township's discretion (whim). Needless to say, new suburbs are being developed all over the state, so you are very likely to lose the rights you do have as soon as your township decides to develop an area. Hopefully you can attend the meeting in Lansing below to make an argument to preserve your rights.


I also suggest to you, as well as all you other established chicken/small farmers on this thread, when you visit your local feed store, hardware store, or supplier, to bring this mess up to the owner or manager. I saw plenty of backyard chicken farmers on Wednesday, but I don't remember seeing other business owners who supply ya'll. They should be made aware that their businesses will suffer if small farms become "unzoned," as you chicken (or pig, goat, or bee) keepers undoubtedly bring a lot of business to these establishments! The hopeful image in my brain is to have a dozen farm supply owners explain join us and explain to these suits how much they are able to contribute to their immediate economies because of us (ya'll-I don't have my chickens yet).

If you can't attend, please write.

They closed the public comments at 5:00 pm yesterday. They only allowed about 8-10 days notice and failed to provide the proposed changes for a few days.

However, the Ag Commissioner meeting is
Wed., Feb. 12, 2014
9:00 a.m.
Constitution Hall, ConCon Room
525 W. Allegan, Lansing

The meeting is open to the public and you have an opportunity to speak there. Just note that you are limited to a mere three (3) minutes. And you can send e-mails directly to the commissioners. Here are the contacts: http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1572_2878-8251--,00.html

 

[Trefoil]

Okay Michiganders! I am missing out on this action and having a hard time following all the jargon being slinged around regarding legislative changes. Jalocha hen farms is in Freesoil and we frequent to tsc and ffh plus a local grainery. Naturally, we raise chickens for hobby, meat and eggs. And yes, we do sell or trade stock to offset feed costs when possible. We very much support any effort made to support our rights to do this. Any assistance I can get involved in that you may need assistance or support in would be an honor to voice my opinion.

Please respond accordingly.

It would help if you wrote,emailed, or called: the governor, the ag committee, anyone you know in government, and tsc, ffh, ect. About the changes in gaamps. I posted my letters, but we need someone better "qualified" to give us a template letter. Could someone post letters for the rest of us to copy and alter?
Our Roost if you go to one of Raz's posts, at the bottom I think is a link to the small farm council, there is probably help there. Or you could read back on here for the explanation.

 

[Our Roost]

BigHope888, Thankyou for your response and the link contacts. Very depressed as Govenor Snyder seemed so "up" on agricultural development at his state of the state message he delivered. A lot of mouths would go unfed if we dont try to preserve and redirect promotion of these rights. I think they need to rethink the definition of a farm and farmer. Agriculture covers a multitude of practices within itself and the term used in legislation permits legal authority and intervention with anything implied or directed to it if it is so included or declared. I will write the govenor and also Carl Levin on this matter concerning rural, residential and urban blite development that effects farm, farmer, and agricultural concerns.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Quote:Originally Posted by Our Roost Oh, he IS. Just not on "little ag". He likes the big, warehouse style animal production facilities.

Keep in mind that he's been showing chinese around the state, and trying to "secure" our ag products a steady market by selling to them. They don't have the space/ land/ knowledge that we do about livestock. A big beef venture in china bottomed up a year or two ago simply by not understanding breeding/ calving. That's not even including the exploding watermelon fiasco that happened over there! (If you need a good giggle google it. ) Many chinese don't eat their own produce due to contaminated soil. So they are very excited to get our products! Snyder was very proud of securing this market with the chinese, i heard it in one of his big speeches.

Add that to the sudden interest and unknown money being poured into "big ag" at the moment. I think i know why we are being shut down. I just don't like it. The big ag/ state is gonna try to eat up all the land they can get, and try to get us out of the pic at all cost. I'm all for promoting our state and like the idea of selling to china; i just don't like being shoved out of the way like this. Most of small ag is aimed at their communities; i support it best i can by eating the products made by the "little guys". I think it's much tastier and better for you than the "warehouse" made food! So i don't see why we are apparently such a threat????

My operation will go quiet and small, i'm not giving up my birds. I like the nutrition and freshness. Not going back to store bought!!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

I feel like such a "chicken bandit" LOL.

We are such rebels and subversives to eat those unchecked fresh eggs, LOL.

 

[Our Roost]

fuzzybutt love, Okay, I get your jest. I myself fall right into that category. SMALL TIME CHCKEN being pushed out by big time agriculture. Do you have any idea how much property the state of Michigan owns? Enough to farm and feed the whole world if they wanted to. I dont dismiss Govenor Snyders intentions and only hope they include us residents as well in that directive. Lets see what he has to say in response to that accusation you are stating. I surely dont have a problem relating that concern to him in the proper perspective stating our concerns, do you?

 

[Our Roost]

fuzzybutt love, Yumm! Some of our birds are just starting to lay again unbenownst to me. Stealing them before they freeze is like robbing the bank before it opens!