Has Anyone Read the Farm Bureau's Management Policy?

[Luv2hunteup]

Here's a link. What do you think?

http://www.michiganfarmbureau.com/policy/index.php?function=fetch&year=2006&number=084

Here's my favorite part, has anyone taken advantage of this offer?

We support a Michigan Hunter and Farmer Partnership Initiative that will forge new levels of cooperation and communication between hunters, farmers and the DNR. Under this initiative, Michigan Farm Bureau will:

Make available to its members the opportunity to list their farm on an MFB database of farms willing to accept hunters.
Develop a list of hunters and make this list available to interested farmers.
Encourage farmers to implement on-farm hunting practices that result in maximizing antlerless harvest and thus reducing deer populations

Now for the part I don't like.

Significant hunting activity is necessary to effectively reduce the number of deer to a level that will alleviate overpopulation concerns. We support the following measures:

A statewide ban on feeding and baiting of free-ranging deer.
Strengthening the fines and penalties for illegal feeding and baiting, in the absence of a statewide feeding and baiting ban, to those similar for poaching violations (heavy fines, seizures of guns and vehicles).
Timely issuance of antlerless permits when needed.
No permit fees if a landowner has experienced damage in the current crop production year.
Continued availability of crop damage and disease control permits throughout the year with an expanded number of shooters.
Significant expansion of both early and late seasons.
Any other legal technique to increase the harvest.
Continuation of an early hunting season for youth, senior citizens, and handicapped individuals.
Granting all farmers, family members, and farm employees, where crop damage occurred, the right to hunt deer on their farm without license fees.
Automatic issuance of block permits for new fruit tree plantings and other crop plantings, which are very susceptible to damage, during the first few years of the planting.
Increased voluntary checks of all deer taken in Michigan.
An increased number of DNR approved check stations for added convenience.
A free replacement hunting tag for hunters who turn in a deer that is suspect for TB and confiscated.
Identity protection for landowners and/or farmers who request block and/or crop damage permits.
Automatic issuance of permits for four years to farmers who have new plantings of fruit trees.


I don't want to begrudge anyone from making a living but some of this goes way too far. I think we already give the Michigan farmer enough. If you have any doubts click here, find your local farmer. http://www.ewg.org/farm/region.php?fips=26000

[jimmyboy]

Odd isn't it that the MFB wants a ban on feeding/baiting while their members are a major source of bait/feed supplied to retail outlets for sale of that which they decry. A double standard me thinks.

[GVDocHoliday]

Actually in my opinion that just does away with the argument that the only reason we have baiting is because the farmers want it. Seems like they are OBVIOUSLY against it as their proposal.

[One Eye]

Funny how the us hunters are reminded by the DNR that they manage the deer for everyone in the state, not just hunters, but the Farm Bureaus wants seem to only focus on their wants/needs. Very interesting! Thanks for sharing.

Dan

[farmlegend]

Actually in my opinion that just does away with the argument that the only reason we have baiting is because the farmers want it. Seems like they are OBVIOUSLY against it as their proposal.

Good catch, GV. I'd completely missed that one.

I guess the only folks that are really strong proponents of continuation of the practice of baiting are...hmmm...deer hunters that bait. A shocker.

[riverman]

Funny how the us hunters are reminded by the DNR that they manage the deer for everyone in the state, not just hunters, but the Farm Bureaus wants seem to only focus on their wants/needs. Very interesting! Thanks for sharing.

Dan

I would bet 8 out of 10 delegates to the FB annual meeting where the policy was passed could explain why 65 years ago there were no deer in southern MI. I would also bet less than 1 out of ten hunters could. I wonder how many business could take a 10% hit on the bottom line like farmers are this year due to oil and natural gas prices and yet adopt a policy that hurts their business in the same year. And for the record, the teacher's union, auto union, plumbers union, the list goes on and on, focus only on their wants/needs, so whats the diffrence?

[Swamper]

MI Farm Bureau is a business group. How deer friendly are the home builders in our areas? How bout the builders of shopping malls, golf courses, strip malls, interstates and new roads, airports, etc? We live in the homes, shop at the new Walmarts, drive the new roads - we support many things that are not deer friendly each day. What would our food cost if measures were not taken to control deer,control insects, control weeds, control moisture through irrigation? All damage the environment to a certain extent, yet we still buy, eat, and support those activities.

Farm Bureau is in the business of farming,insurance, and a few other things. They are not in the business of promoting deer hunting. That's up to us. Its up to us to build the relationships with farmers so we can hunt their farms.

Swamper

[UPhunter]

What I don't like is that no where in the FB propsal do they differentiate the areas of the state, I hunt in the UP and if those proposals went into effect state wide it would totally wipe out deer herds in parts of the UP. We can't be put in the same class as most of the counties downstate.

With the deer yards getting smaller every year and lack of natural food, there are areas that need to suplamental feed the deer herds in thier areas.

I just don't like the fact that an organization that is so one sided against something has as much influence as it does and is allowed by the all mighty dollar to help dictate the practices of a state agency that is supported by the sportsmans $$$.

Why can't the FB sit down with sportsmans groups and work out comprimises with the sportsmen?? Why does the DNR seem to take thier views into more consideration then the sportsmen ???

I'm afraid that in the end unless we all work together(DNR, farmers,sportsmen) the deer herd in Mich. will continue to suffer and by the time we figure it out it will be to late, lets hope not, there is a way that all parties involved can benefit, lets hope we don't wait to long to figure it out.

[jimmyboy]

Good catch, GV. I'd completely missed that one.

I guess the only folks that are really strong proponents of continuation of the practice of baiting are...hmmm...deer hunters that bait. A shocker.

A proposal against a practice you for which you supply and profit from...hmmmm...perfect logic.

[GVDocHoliday]

I believe in the whole scheme of things that farmers make very very little profit from the sale of 'bait'. I would bet that farmers actually lose tripple from crop damage than what they are able to make up from the sale of bait. So the smart business decision would be to curb crop damage.

[UPhunter]

GVD, it depends what type of crops your talking about. Here in the UP the local potato farmers make a very nice profit from the left over spuds, the ones not picked or not sold to market for differn't reasons, the ones they used to just leave in the ground or throw away

over the past 5 years my brother in law has made as much as $15,000 selling his "garbage spuds" to deer hunters. So he for one as a farmer is all for baiting.

[mau]

if crop damage is such a problem why dont they fence their fields in?maybe FB would give them a break on premiums if they did.

[Whit1]

if crop damage is such a problem why dont they fence their fields in?maybe FB would give them a break on premiums if they did.

Simple! $$$$$

When putting up a fence it must be a deer proof fence which demands that the fence be quite high. There is an orchard on M22 not far from the house that is surrounded by a deer proof fence. I should get down there tomorrow and take a photo of the fence to give those unfamiliar with deer proof fences some idea of what is required.

Even with the fence there have been times when fawns get through.

I'd describe it here, but am not sure about the spacing of the wires (electrified) and the height of the fence.

The orchard is small, about 60 acres.

[riverman]

That's a great idea. Fence my farm, let the critters trapped inside grow big racks and then offer them to the public for high dollar. Wonder why no one has ever thought of that!!!:lol:

[jimmyboy]

For those who are unaware,apples,carrots,and cob corn pawned off for bait consists of unmarketable culls in the case of apples and carrots,while high moisture content cob corn is what's sold for bait.Marketable corn must meet strict moisture content restrictions. As for sugarbeets-that's a whole nother thing.

[Trophy Specialist]

When the Farm Bureau kicks in as much money into the DNR as hunters do, then I’ll listen to their input. The Farm Bureau is just another big dollar, special interest trying to influence the political landscape to best suit their agenda. They don’t seem to be concerned at all about deer or other wildlife or how their political manipulation hurts other people. They have no credibility in my book and it angers me that the DNR even gives them the time of day.

[NorthJeff]

Pretty interesting to read their ideas. I like GV's observation that it's apparently hunters who bait, that are the only ones that want baiting to continue. I was actually surprised by that statement they made about getting rid of all baiting and feeding..had to read that a few times to make sure I was understanding that correctly. I believe we have to feed in order to have a deer herd in some very limited areas in the U.P....but those areas are few and far between. Personally, I don't want my local deer going to areas of feed stations to the south (especially smaller deer like yearling bucks) where they may become sitting ducks for predators. I was at a place in Shingleton where close to 25% of the deer herd he was feeding in the open hardwoods-non wintering cover behind his house was killed by predators back in the winter of 2003-2004. I asked him if he was baiting for deer?...or coyotes. Glad they weren't the local deer from around my house, but it's always my fear that's the type of place where they may end up.

[FREEPOP]

I'm sure FB kick inlots of money, but it is done under the table and lining a few pockets.
Farmers get 2.60 or so a bushel, around 100 lbs. Elevators sell it for 8.50+ a hundred pounds. Who's making the money?

[Swamper]

"The Farm Bureau is just another big dollar, special interest trying to influence the political landscape to best suit their agenda. They don’t seem to be concerned at all about deer or other wildlife or how their political manipulation hurts other people. They have no credibility in my book and it angers me that the DNR even gives them the time of day."

Farm Bureau is a business,not only a special interest group. They lobby the govt to pursue their business interests, just like thousands of other business. They provide great insurances and services to thousands of people.

Swamper

[Rafrin]

There's a farmer near me that has had a block permit for years and I'm convinced that he has had a catostrophic impact on the deer herd in my area. That said, this same farmer sells bags of corn to deer hunters out of his farm.
His logic was/is that if he couldn't kill em himself, he was going to make it easier for others to kill em. Another arguement against baiting, if you think about it.

[FREEPOP]

Farm Bureau is a business,not only a special interest group. They lobby the govt to pursue their business interests, just like thousands of other business. They provide great insurances and services to thousands of people.

...and Insurance Companies don't profit much either :rolleyes: . Ever see some of their buildings?

[Swamper]

I would hope they do profit...otherwise we are looking for a different insurance company frequently.

Swamper

[FREEPOP]

Don't know how old you are, as you haven't filled out any info in your bio.

You should Insurance shop every couple of years or you're throwing money out the window. Ever notice your rates are always "one way". Always up and not down.
Their profits are enough to gag a few bazillion horses.

[Swamper]

Back to the original thread.

Swamper

[riverman]

Farmers get 2.60 or so a bushel, around 100 lbs. Elevators sell it for 8.50+ a hundred pounds. Who's making the money?

A bushel of corn weighs around 60lbs and if a farmer got over 2.00 a bushel in 05 he did damn good.

[Whit1]

Guys, the discussion of the topic is fine, even healthy, but let's not get ourselves into a pitched battle of farmers vs. non-farmers and whose making $$$, etc. We have enough battles being found on these boards without adding an ag war!!!!!