LANSING, MI —

At a special meeting Monday,

the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development

for farm animals raised in neighborhoods with more than 13 homes within 1/8 of a mile of the animals, or with any home within 250 feet of the proposed facility. Such facilities would not be in compliance with the generally accepted practices that are the basis of state protection.

The Commission voted 4-1 to approve the Site Selection Generally Accepted Agriculture Management Practices (GAAMPs), an outline of livestock farming practices protected from nuisance lawsuits by state law, with controversial changes proposed for 2014. The new GAAMPs for livestock include the addition of a new category barring animals "if the site is determined to be primarily residential, and zoning doesn’t allow agriculture as a use by right."

That new Category 4 site, further defined with setbacks and numbers of houses in an amendment proposed Monday, is not considered an area acceptable for a livestock facility, no matter the number of animals.

Trever Meachum of Hartford, vice-chairman of the five-member Commission, said after the vote that he believes the action is a step in the right direction toward easing conflicts between urban and suburban farms and their neighbors.

He said the change allows local governments to decide what is best for their residents, depending on the setting, and gets the state out of the business of setting arbitrary rules.

In Ann Arbor, for instance, an urban area, it may make sense for chickens to be allowed but no roosters, because of noise concerns, Meachum said. In his hometown of Hartford, different rules might make more sense.

"Depending on how densely populated they are, they may have different ideas," Meachum said, but in any case "I think it makes sense to let democracy rule rather than have the state set an arbitrary number."

The Right to Farm Act was originally established to protect commercial farms in rural settings from nuisance lawsuits by non-farm residents who might object to farm practices, or push for changed zoning ordinances to squeeze farms out. But people who live in non-agricultural settings likewise deserve some protection from an influx of farm animals and the nuisances they may create, Meachum said.

Meachum said Monday's discussion and public comment included suggestions to create a work group to tackle the concerns of people who have urban or suburban operations, either commercial farms or to grow their own food.

No action was taken Monday to form the work group.

"We realize we have made some people happy, and we have made some people sad," Meachum said of the vote. "We need now to address agriculture in an urban setting" to address the concerns of those who are not pleased by the action.

He said the MDARD is working on guidelines for livestock within the city of Detroit, "sort of a brownfield redevelopment," that when finished could be a pilot for other cities and towns.

"I think we can start making this a 'win-win' for all for all sizes of agriculture," Meachum said.

"Agriculture in Michigan only gets stronger with more voices," he said, noting the growth in small and medium sized farms.

"I think this will make Right to Farm stronger, for more people, by refining these definitions."

Commission Chair Diane Hanson agreed, according to a news release from the MDARD.

“As interest in urban agriculture has increased, it became clear the language in the previous siting GAAMP was not suitable for livestock in urban and suburban areas,” she said. “The Commission believes this approved management practice recognizes what is generally acceptable for livestock, allows for community involvement in raising livestock in areas where agriculture is a non-expected use, and provides continued opportunity for people to be closer to local food sources.”

The GAAMPs, which outline practices Michigan farmers must follow, are reviewed each year by a committee of experts in their field, tweaked as needed based upon changing technology and conditions in Michigan. The Site Selection GAAMPs outlines a voluntary framework for the siting of new and expanding livestock operations in Michigan.

That now includes category for site selection that excludes animal operations unless OKed by local municipal authorities-- locations that are primarily residential and don’t allow agricultural uses by right. A community that doesn’t allow agriculture as a use by right can allow animal agriculture as a special or permitted use but the landowner must conform to the requirements set by the community.

Dru Montri, a new commissioner appointed by Gov. Governor Rick Snyder to the Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development in January, cast the only "No" vote Monday on the proposal to redefine portions of the livestock GAAMPs.

Opponents of the Monday's changes, fearful the move strips small farms of protection from heavy-handed local zoning and other challenges, called the action "bad news" on the Michigan Small Farm Council Facebook page, which posted updates on the discussion throughout the meeting.

