Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

I don't think these guys understand the impact this will have on other business... there are quite a few restaurants and stores that sell grown in Michigan food... and the food don't all come from large farms. lets not forget stores like tsc that have increased business because of chickens! I would even support separate gaamps for small operations, (save for the not processing on one's own property idea, I prefer to process my own food).

I don't think it's a case of the commissioners per se not understanding the impact, I think the group of people suggesting the changes are the ones missing the impact.

The reason that the GAAMPs are reviewed each year is to keep up with new scientific discovery, process, treatment, etc. The review is meant to evolve in a positive manner for agriculture. The GAAMPs did this with the Farm Market inclusion a couple of years ago.

I fail to see how allowing local units of government to dictate the zoning and ordinance is any way based in hard science. I'm reading through each set of GAAMPs for language and intent.

More later as I compile my notes...

 

[SillyChicken]

Well, I finally found out what all the commotion was last Saturday by me. If you look at the map in the article, while this event was taking place, I was traveling in the same area at this time!! I live just a street over!

It always pays to keep your cars and homes locked at all times, even when you're home....... you never know when someone will steal it, break in or .....well, try to kill you!

http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/i...aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

I want to thank everyone for their prayers for my former DIL's unborn baby. Pauline went to a Perinatalogist and he said the baby will be fine!!! We are all so thrilled for her!! Keep praying that this baby will be born healthy. Thanks!

Pauline and her hubby are so relieved.
Great morning... hope you all get to enjoy.

YAY!!! I am so happy for them!


RaZ I saw wood stove pipes on CL in farm and garden section if you are interested

I found a pygmy goat on "there" to... Somebody talk me down!!!

My MIL asked if I would watch someone (that I do not know)'s chickens over the winter while they went on vacation. I think she was upset when I said no. I will not risk my flock by bringing them to my house and I am not driving over there twice a day in the snow... Sorry... no thank you!

 

[Farmerboy16]

I want to thank everyone for their prayers for my former DIL's unborn baby.  Pauline went to a Perinatalogist and he said the baby will be fine!!!  We are all so thrilled for her!!  Keep praying that this baby will be born healthy.  Thanks!     Pauline and her hubby are so relieved.  
Great morning... hope you all get to enjoy. 

That is great news!!!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

And Opa, do you know what this is? Maybe a rainbow trout or a splake? I have not seen a black-mouthed fish before.

DH says it looks like it may be a steelhead........wants to know where he came from!

People are so afraid of, any form of smell, dirt or .. work.... that they've separated themselves from whats natural.

Or like my father, who grew up where farming was considered dirty work for the poor; a lot of negative image. I think the hobby farms have gone a long way towards erasing the old stereotypes, even if they are an unrealistic model (vast difference between what has to be done to make a commercial farm profitable)

During the break I spoke with Commissioner Don Coe (and the commissioner from the UP listened in), Mr. Coe offered some friendly advice that we backyard might want to consider not being so closely associated to the large commercial farming operations as we make our arguments. Some of the public comments touched on the animal unit method of measuring (i.e. 50 animal units = 5000 chickens) and that there is no way backyard keepers could ever get close to that number.

I think his advice was based in part to how I tried to relate lessons learned from large operations can be pared down to small flock owners; how set-backs can be proportioned to backyard dimensions. Same hold true with manure management, protective shelter, etc.

So I came from the meeting thinking that we should address two (2) aspects of the MRTFA as it relates to us backyard keepers.
1) Work to immediately halt the proposed 2013 changes that restore zoning and ordinance to local government.
2) Help define a set of GAAMPs that apply to backyards and hobby farms.

Since the committee vote is December 12th, there is not much time. I suggest that we mount a letter campaign to ask the commissioners to NOT ACCEPT the proposals at all and return to the language of the 2011 GAAMPs.

I'll have some more thoughts as I try to separate the hard science from the political science behind the proposed changes.

Well, that is awsome advice BUT i have no other choice, as the proposed changes do not make such a distinction. That is the part i wanted him to READ! From 1-5000 chickens is ONE category. There is no category for a farm with a dozen or so cows, chickens, a goat, or a horse or two. It is all lumped in that one HUGE category! The next category of 5000+ commercial farms is only required 25 more feet than the rest of us.
Yes, even a goat is going to be included in this if you read the fine print. This is for ALL "livestock" ie. non cat or dog animals. That is my main issue, other than the zoning. When you first read the space requirements, it is deceptively simple, sounds good until you actually drive around and start evaluating the farms. In my little area i see at least 5 farms without even trying that are going to be in trouble potentially. Sure you could move a fence, but what about barns?

I am glad you got to talk with him, i really hope he takes you up on your offer, or perhaps you could make some written recommendations over a cup of coffee......... I definitely agree that there is NOT going to be enough time to make any significant change within the month that they have to work with, the best we can do is get them to veto the changes so they have time to work on another draft.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdard/2013_DRAFT_SITE_SELECTION_GAAMP_392878_7.pdf
From the home page, you can get to each and every GAAMP.
http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1567_1599_1605---,00.html
Excerpts taken directly from the proposed new draft of the site selection gaamp

Animal Units....................... 50
Number of Animals:
Slaughter and Feeder Cattle 50
Mature Dairy Cattle 35
Swine *2 ........................*."For facilities with 50 animal units or more the minimum setback will be 250 feet for new livestock production facilities"
Sheep and Lambs 500
Horses 25
Turkeys 2,750
Laying Hens or Broilers 5,000
All other animal classes, types or sizes (eg. Nursery pigs) not in this table, but defined in the Michigan Right to Farm
Act or described in Michigan Commission of Agriculture Policy, are to be calculated as one thousand pounds live
weight equals one animal unit

Category 1 sites are those sites which have been traditionally used for agricultural purposes and are in an area with a relatively low residential housing density.
Table 2. Category 1 Site Setbacks, Verification and Notification in areas where local zoning allows for agricultural uses
Total Animal Unit..................................................................................0 - 49
New Operations Non-Farm Residences within Distance...........0-5 within ¼ mile /Expanding Operations 0-7 within ¼ mile
Property Line Setback.........................................................................100 ft
MDARD Site Review and Verification Process ..............................Upon Producer Request............."An Odor Management Plan (OMP) will not be required for these sites in most circumstances. It is however, recommended that all producers develop and implement an OMP in order to reduce odor concerns for neighboring non-farm residents. "

Category 2 sites are those where site-specific factors may limit the environmental, social, or economic
acceptability of the site for livestock production facilities and where structural, vegetative, technological,
and management measures may be necessary to address those limiting factors. These measures should
be incorporated into a Site Plan and a Manure Management System Plan, both as defined in Section IV,
which are required for all new and expanding livestock production facilities seeking verification. New and
expanding livestock production facilities should only be constructed in areas where local zoning allows for
agriculture uses. Due to the increased density of non-farm residences in Category 2 sites, an OMP is
required for all proposed new and expanding livestock production facilities.
Category 2 Site Setbacks, Verification and Notification – New operations in areas where local zoning allows for agricultural uses
Total Animal Units ................................................................................0-49
For new Operations Non-Farm Residences Within Distance ...6-13 within ¼ mile/ for expanding operations 8- 20 within ¼ mile
Property Line Setback...........................................................................100 ft
MDARD Site Review and Verification Process ................................Upon Producer Request

 

[RaZ]

2) Help define a set of GAAMPs that apply to backyards and hobby farms.

Thus the separation from the broader commercial/large farm operations. This is the part that I think is up to us to address.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Right, which i hope they let you help with! If this passes as-is, we won't get that opportunity

 

[gladahmae]

well, eggs I bought last friday still aren't here, tracking hasn't updated since the 11th, but says they should be delivered by today. My mail person has already delivered today's mail. Contemplating calling the PO and seeing if it came on their afternoon delivery truck and if so, if I could come pick it up. Anyone done this?

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Reading this, it is clear to me that a bunch of folks will be caught unprepared, if we could somehow get their attention maybe we'd have a better chance of shooting this down, then we could go in and add another category for the small "farms"? (We really need a name for what we do)?