Ag Groups Urge Action on Estate Taxes
More than 30 agriculture groups recently sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate urging them to provide farmers and ranchers with permanent relief from the estate tax....
View ArticleMichigan Farmers Concerned About Wetland Use Permit Changes
Michigan farmers have been exempt from seeking permits for various activities since the 1980s, including performing drain maintenance within a private agricultural drain. They have also been allowed...
View ArticleMISS Dig Bills Pass in Michigan Senate, Stall in House
Legislation creating a new MISS Dig law passed the Michigan Senate on November 29 in a 26-12 vote, but failed to make it through the House before the 2012 Legislative Session closed on December 13....
View ArticleUnderstanding the Impacts of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
While many of the key provisions and requirements of "Obamacare" (otherwise known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("ACA")) do not go into effect until 2014, there is much that can be...
View ArticlePreparing for Seasonal Agricultural Labor
The U.S. government's expected focus on immigration and employment law enforcement in 2013 will continue to significantly impact agricultural employers. In 2012, the U.S. Immigration and Customs...
View ArticleState Agricultural Leaders Praise Gov. Snyder’s 2014 Budget
Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposed 2014 budget faced favorable reception from two key state groups – the Agricultural Leaders of Michigan (ALM) and the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB). They praised him for...
View ArticleMichigan Tax Changes Will Benefit Farmers in 2013
Farmers will avoid some tax liabilities and keep more of their money thanks to amendments made in 2012 to Michigan’s tax policies, according to Rebecca Park, a state lobbyist with Michigan Farm...
View ArticleBill to Fix NPDES Permitting Duplication Introduced in Senate
Sens. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) introduced legislation in January that would eliminate a paperwork-laden redundancy in pesticide application permitting, according to an article by...
View ArticleFarm Leaders Make Case for Crop Insurance
A panel of farm leaders urged Congress to “do no harm” to crop insurance in the upcoming Farm Bill and to remember that crop insurance is a top priority for most of America’s farmers, according to...
View ArticleSen. Reid Re-Introduces Previous Senate Farm Bill
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in January re-introduced the Senate-passed version of the five-year farm bill, calling it a “revolutionary piece of legislation,” according to an Agri-Pulse...
View ArticleEffects of American Taxpayer Relief Act Overshadowed by Sequester Talk
With much of the current news cycle discussing mandatory federal budget cuts known as the "sequester," one may tend to forget that Congress narrowly averted the country's fall over the "fiscal cliff "...
View ArticleBridge to Prosperity: New Bridge Between U.S. and Canada Approved
Michigan farmers are among legions of organizations expressing gratitude now that a new bridge between the U.S. and Canada has been approved by the Obama Administration, setting the stage for a sharp...
View ArticleMonsanto Wins Supreme Court Patent Case Concerning Roundup Ready Soy Beans
This case involved an Indiana soy bean farmer who, for his first crop of the year, bought Roundup Ready soy bean seed from an approved Monsanto dealer. After harvesting that crop, the farmer planted a...
View ArticleFarm Bill Moves Forward But Remains in Doubt
Having passed the Senate Ag Committee, the Farm Bill moves to the floor this week with hopes of passage so the Senate can move on to another important issue for agriculture – immigration reform....
View ArticleHealth Tax Hammers Small Business
A prominent member of the agriculture community wants to see part of the so-called Obamacare health care reform package thrown out, saying it will cause undue hardship on small business owners,...
View ArticleMichigan’s Inaugural Wolf Hunt Debuts in November
In recent years, farmers and residents have complained about wolf attacks on livestock and family pets as the population continues to grow and expand its range. The Michigan Department of Natural...
View ArticleFarmers Win Some And Lose More in Michigan Wetland Amendments
Public Act 98 of 2013 signed by Gov. Rick Snyder on July 2, 2013 brought about long-expected changes to Michigan's wetland statute (see related article). In the face of the inevitable changes,...
View ArticleRight-to-Know Pesticide Legislation Proposed
House Bill 4841 was introduced in June by Michigan State Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) that would allow residents to sign up and be notified when a commercial applicator sprays lawn or ornamental...
View ArticleMuskegon Considered for Barge Terminal Connecting to Gulf Coast
Some members of the Michigan Agri-Business Association and Muskegon officials have been investigating the possibility of a river barge terminal on the east end of Muskegon Lake. Association President...
View ArticleGov. Snyder travels to China on Trade Mission
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder traveled to China in September for the third time in as many years. Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Jamie Cover Adams, among others,...
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