A state representative and farmer says tractors circling Michigan’s capitol during National Agriculture Day were not there to celebrate.
Luke Meerman tells Brownfield, “Frustration has come to a boiling point for Michigan farmers, with mostly the Department Environmental Quality, EGLE and their treatment of farmers.”
He says many farmers are so discouraged by interactions with the agency, that they are entertaining closing or moving out of state.
“I would say it’s in five main categories from biodigesting, so collecting cow farts, to fruit and vegetable washing, to animal processing, water withdrawal, and the CAFO permit,” he shares.
“In trying to get people to come and testify, (there) was fear of retribution for stepping forward, retribution of their permits,” he says. “It’s not a good position at all that agriculture is in and we really need to have a change.”
Meerman says farmers want government oversight, but not in the current form that threatens their viability.
He says there have also been some Democratic lawmakers who have called on the Department to investigate regulatory practices in the past year but there still haven’t been changes.
