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At the end of the session, Representative Mueller moved to excuse absent members; seeing no objections, the motion was ordered.

No roll-call votes were recorded for these routine procedural actions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Appropriations - Agriculture and Rural Development and Natural Resources Wednesday, April 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the start and end of the meeting the subcommittee approved minutes from March 19 and excused absent members by unanimous consent.","taxTitle","Appropriations - Agriculture and Rural Development and Natural Resources, Appropriations, House of Representative, Committees\t\t\t\t\t, Legislative, Michigan","taxId",30757,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6270232,"MDARD bureau details invasive-species detection, Right to Farm mediation and regenerative-agriculture pilot",650,1415000,2065000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3037484-4a8626789922a512892ac528515e464e&start=1415&end=2065","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3037484-4a8626789922a512892ac528515e464e/thumbnail_1415000.jpg","/articles/6270232/Michigan/MDARD-bureau-details-invasive-species-detection-Right-to-Farm-mediation-and-regenerative-agriculture-pilot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270232-b3f867e4c1c5167e7282c1a13e7f5880/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206075&Signature=VUiYBOZmFtNXP47q3d0U8y6RS~JDI6PNR8dHR~rzWNRyUsr~1ugazI27-SzKv8lhY8Smd83xkQ0NnHoBNMR62a1jt8Zzns~O3jB7LzFpgZQuxyquVfbLA2jz~ue2El4-gAGJFm5d4zNv0PxpZuHu4R7FgoUsJSVh7eq10y4irieia~g2E~pXKu5wuO0TwVlV~4vJor9RJSkRkccBUpozkpB6xTWCyglKHoa5ibIBqp2uEjJWr07ZEw0YzSQXlLJi-sxbnd0Q2GvdOX7j20De0yuU1tTfbri0AVJrUk9tYzqXDfuCMJ8X3LtAFDlsj8-MXkAwS8vEXZ5ZffRZfccYNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","LANSING — Mike Phillip, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Bureau of Environment and Sustainability, told the House Appropriations Subcommittee that the bureau focuses on invasive-species prevention, water and soil quality, Right to Farm complaints and support for agricultural trade.

Phillip described a plum pox virus detection years ago that MDARD identified on a single backyard plum tree, sent for USDA confirmation and then eradicated; subsequent surveying of roughly 200,000 leaf samples found no further detections, which Phillip presented as an example of early detection and successful eradication.

The bureau oversees Right to Farm complaint investigations and promotes generally accepted agricultural management practices (GAMPS). Phillip gave an example in which MDARD and partners — including Michigan State University Extension and a county conservation district — worked with a producer found out of conformance. The farm subsequently adopted grazing-management plans, obtained cost-share assistance and expanded operations, Phillip said.

Phillip also described a federal grant-funded regenerative agriculture demonstration farm established with the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Home in Eaton Rapids; the project trains residents and supports workforce development in agricultural practices. He told lawmakers that the bureau issues roughly 7,000 phytosanitary and export-related certificates annually to support Michigan shipments to nearly 100 countries and described the operational detail required to meet importing countries’ pest-freedom rules.

Representative Joe O’Neil asked about cross-border trade and potential tariff impacts with Canada. Phillip said MDARD and state leadership have met with Canadian counterparts and industry stakeholders, and that “there is quite a bit of concern” among stakeholders; he added the department’s focus is on maintaining service and support while monitoring developments.

Phillip closed by urging legislators to contact the department if they want MDARD staff to attend local events or provide district-level briefings.

No formal policy votes were taken on the bureau’s programs during the presentation; MDARD officials offered to supply additional materials on request.","The Bureau of Environment and Sustainability described early detection and eradication of plant pests, Right to Farm complaint mediation that led to on-farm improvements, a regenerative agriculture demonstration with a Veterans of Foreign Wars National Home, and export-certification work.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":44,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":50,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6270237,"MDARD outlines food-safety and animal-disease response; bird-flu figures limited by confidentiality",1160,1286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3037484-4a8626789922a512892ac528515e464e&start=126&end=1286","/articles/6270237/Michigan/MDARD-outlines-food-safety-and-animal-disease-response-bird-flu-figures-limited-by-confidentiality","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270237-c61d16c62f24cbea3a2995d27bf19bf0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206075&Signature=GQpauvV56JF-EyfU-1gF5Fjx4C5RQHLWxT26FLGDit3m7gfe9V~wecwhmMH-Cn60qAVglWuvbaygUy4cUMkoidb~nMqCymbuBoTdZBO9mQrJofhEclHrqBsVFhlXYlugyX-6uSHURTYR99x~j7Rk2nIVGvaIu~42h~6uIT9SERf5tNNyOabu3cXcNl8Lj11rCAFwP6jp6iRW5Aq7DNPQcimMXIMhpdd9xim6exdZj-bioQlnyFKxq3Nzv7P1cUD8mcX2vbojLhuFCK3OJYst0DAGlDuNCZp2v~t8h-3mSnjond33n3V7uwgrq8yY7zrgz1aCzBIUvG9yU8I7Jdz~MQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","LANSING — Officials from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) briefed the House Appropriations Subcommittee on “Appropriations - Agriculture and Rural Development and Natural Resources” on their Bureau of Food Safety and Animal Health operations, including the department’s recent work on highly pathogenic avian influenza and retail food safety.

MDARD legislative liaison Mikayla Heffernan and Tim Slowinski, director of the Bureau of Food Safety and Animal Health, described the bureau’s mission to protect food safety, agricultural production and Michigan’s economy, and outlined responses to recent product and animal-disease incidents.

The presentation emphasized rapid response and prevention. Slowinski said MDARD staff removed an apple-sauce product with elevated lead levels from “over 325 locations that the product was known to be distributed to to make sure that product was off the shelves.” He also described a targeted retail sampling effort that identified contaminated cucumbers and helped trace the source to an out-of-state operator, working with the Ohio Department of Agriculture to remove affected products.

Slowinski told the committee MDARD has focused substantial effort on highly pathogenic avian influenza in the last year, saying the bureau has managed multiple large outbreaks and worked with affected operators to contain the virus and support recovery. He also described the department’s bovine tuberculosis (TB) work: after a TB-positive wild deer detection, MDARD identified and tested dairy and beef farms within a 10-mile radius; those tests came back negative and thus did not expand testing requirements statewide. Slowinski noted Michigan’s “split state” TB status, with a four-county modified accredited zone distinct from the rest of the state.

Committee members pressed for more data about avian influenza impacts. Representative Matt DeSena said he had difficulty finding counts of birds that died from the disease versus those euthanized. Slowinski said MDARD does not have a consolidated public total readily available, explaining that “there are confidentiality things” under federal rules and Michigan’s PA 466 of 1988 that can limit the release of location-identifying information. He added, “we do try to be as transparent as possible, as transparent as as the law allows us to be,” and offered to follow up with members’ offices. He pointed legislators to MDARD’s public page for case information: michigan.gov/birdflu.

On baby and children’s products, Slowinski said MDARD conducts inspections and partners with federal agencies on baby formula and other products targeted to children. He told Representative Andrew McKinney that federal inspections for formula can be more detailed and that MDARD coordinates testing with federal partners.

Slowinski also described operational supports for animal-incident response: five emergency response trailers staged statewide to help local responders contain livestock after road accidents; the dairy program that allows Michigan producers to participate in the Interstate Milk Shippers Program; roughly 2,500 consultations per year with new or expanding food businesses; and preparedness exercises for threats such as African swine fever.

The subcommittee requested an updated MDARD organizational chart following a department reorganization. Slowinski and other MDARD staff said they would provide follow-up information to legislators.

Votes and formal subcommittee procedure during the meeting were limited to approving minutes and excusing absent members; those procedural actions are recorded separately.","Officials from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development told a legislative subcommittee they have responded to recent food-safety incidents and avian influenza outbreaks, but said federal and state confidentiality rules limit the public release of some outbreak counts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Subcommittee approves March 19 minutes and excuses absent members

MDARD bureau details invasive-species detection, Right to Farm mediation and regenerative-agriculture pilot

MDARD outlines food-safety and animal-disease response; bird-flu figures limited by confidentiality