Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

I think the next step is to grass roots this to the state. Collect signatures and propose our own GAAMPS, one that allows X number of animals based on lot size, and not on abritrary zoning. Also ones that will not exempt CAFOs from environmental issues. If we can get people on board with the "No poisons in our water" then it wouldn't be hard to include a rider that will support suburban/urban farming.

The whole "you're not a farm if you are in residential" is BS anyways, because I could be a potato farmer on 2-3 acres, or have such a huge garden that I could run a CSA, but they don't consider that farming? ***.

We have been offering to help create a balanced way of keeping animals for small farm operations for over two (2) years now. The commissioners and MDARD have steadfastly refused to listen to us or even consider us a stakeholders in this game. The MDARD spokesperson (Jim Johnson) said yesterday that it is too difficult to include small numbers of animals and/or small farm operations. I suppose it is so since the GAAMPs were written for CAFOs after the 1999 amendment.

However, the data for the care and feeding of small scale farm operations is already out there. It even covers manure output by species and minimal pasture area required and shelter requirements. This is a pretty easy task, any grad student could compile a comprehensive database as a semester project.
I did it for my MAEAP verification last year. My residential "farm" is recognized as a "real farm" by MAEAP, USDA, NRCS and has a ID with the Farm Service Agency.

Agreed... I also suggest, getting involved with your township, run for council...I've been thinking about it myself.

It might be different in other areas but in my city there is an entrenched group that keeps getting re-elected despite the epic fails that they have visited upon the city. Some of the seats have been in the same family for decades and that makes it hard for a new-comer.
But do get involved, you just might be able to win and effect an improvement in your community.

 

[RaZ]

This was in my messages.

Congrats On Your BYC Ovations! You're one of the top 0.1%!!

Conversation between Nifty-Chicken and me

Nifty-Chicken
Apr 9, 2014 at 6:04 pm
Hey!

This is just a quick note to share something really interesting with you! I was just browsing through our list of members that have received the most “Ovations” and I was pretty impressed with what I saw!

Well, out of literally hundreds of thousands of members, your name was in the top 0.1% (yes, that’s 1/10 of one percent) with the most ovations received! GREAT JOB!!! It’s fantastic to see other members helping to recognize the contributions you’ve made to our wonderful community.

Hopefully you’ve taken a moment to look over the ovations you’ve received from other BYCers. If not, here’s a direct link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/reputation/details/

It’s often hard to know to what extent the things we do help and impact other people in a positive way. Fortunately the ovations you’ve received have pointed to the fact that other members really like what you’ve been posting! What’s even more interesting, is for every member of BYC that your posts have helped, inspired, uplifted, etc., there are literally hundreds of thousands more site visitors (lurkers) over the world that have been helped, but haven’t logged into BYC yet to show their appreciation.

Again, I just wanted to share with you what I discovered and thank you for your contributions to our amazing group! Keep up the great work!

All my best,

Rob Ludlow
Owner - BackYardChickens.com

 

[aart]

I got one of those too a couple weeks ago.......... I agree

 

[RTFchickens]

Im

...

Thanks everyone for the congratulations for my engagement and the birth of my niece. My grandparents have been married for 61 years, and my parents have been married for 31 years, so I do hope for a very long and happy marriage for Grace and I.

My coops and cow shed and hog sheds are more than 250 feet from the neighbors homes, so I am safe for the time being. But I am very depressed for my fellow farmers/small livestock owners that are not as fortunate as I was. I am so ticked off! [/quotI'm confused more now then ever about who is and who is not protected with this new change! Farmerboy, are you zoned res or ag? How many acres do you have?

 

[ladyrsanti]

Lady if I sent you a sample of his wool later this fall... could you offer your opinion on his wool quality? I am very much a noob when it comes to wool.

Along with some good pictures of him, sure. The quilting and britch wool you can really only judge by seeing the whole lamb. Though if you're only using the wool for your own use and not breeding the ram, the quilting would not be much of an issue I wouldn't think.

 

[RaZ]

http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/Commission-of-Agriculture-Changes-Su-257080531.html?ref=531

 

[SillyChicken]

http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/Commission-of-Agriculture-Changes-Su-257080531.html?ref=531

They're just rolling in their own giddy soup aren't they..................

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

RaZ, your quote is awesome!!!

 

[snowflake]

Thank you Raz for all your hard work, I think they had their minds made up a long time ago, all the state township leaders were on their backs to help them out, to bad for the little guy, he is not important

politics as usual

 

[gladahmae]

Ugh. Politics. I'm fortunate enough to live in an area where having more than 13 neighbors within 1/8 of a mile is pretty much impossible, and our township is for the most part ag. friendly, but this is pretty ridiculous.



I was able to re-home 2 cockerels today! That should cut the crowing down by 1/3 at LEAST since they won't have so many boys to compete with!


The rain stopped by the afternoon and I was able to get half of my fence line weeded and mulched, as well as get my snap peas planted! I'm REALLY hoping they do something this year. I planted 2 of the big "value" packets and one small packet that was left-over from last year in a 10ft line, so HOPEFULLY they'll come up thick enough to produce plenty for us to snack on!!