Rally will coincide with committee hearing on ag red tape

State Reps. Jennifer Wortz and Luke Meerman invited Michigan farmers concerned about government overreach to participate in a tractor rally on Tuesday, March 18, at the state Capitol.

The rally will occur the same morning as a hearing by the House Oversight Committee, which will be taking testimony on burdensome regulations that have increased costs on the agriculture industry. Wortz, R-Quincy, and Meerman, R-Coopersville, also encouraged farmers who have experienced the burdens of overregulation to volunteer to testify before the committee.

“Out-of-control bureaucracy has heaped heavy burdens on farmers, food processors, and other Michiganders who work hard to put safe, healthy food on tables around the world,” said Wortz, who grew up on a crop and beef farm and currently owns and operates a poultry farm. “In the House of Representatives, we’re shedding a light on unnecessary regulations, and farmers should come to the Capitol to make their voices — and tractors — heard loud and clear.”

The legislators pointed to arbitrary rules from various state regulators, including the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Water withdrawal restrictions, hazardous waste permit requirements just for fruit washing, overinclusive wetland regulations, hefty fees and fines, slow permit approval, and other state decisions all consume time, effort, and money from Michigan’s agriculture sector.

“The current regulatory environment affecting agriculture is driving many family farms out of business, which will mean higher and higher prices for customers,” said Meerman, a fifth-generation dairy farmer and a member of the Oversight Committee. “Republicans are taking action to make government work better for the people of our state. Farmers and others in the industry know best how these regulatory barriers have obstructed their essential work. It’s time for them to share their stories and call on state government to get out of the way so agriculture can flourish in our state.”

The rally will take place from 8 to 11 a.m., launching off from 2200 S. Washington Ave. in Lansing. Participants can park at the rendezvous location. From there, tractors will drive two miles to the Capitol, where they will rally and loop around the area downtown.

Farmers interested in attending the rally or testifying before the committee can contact either representative’s office:

• Rep. Luke Meerman | [email protected] | 517-373-0838
• Rep. Jennifer Wortz | [email protected] | 517-373-1788

More information is available online here.