On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, state legislators looked out their windows to see tractors circling the Michigan capitol building. The event was scheduled to coincide with a meeting of the bipartisan House Oversight Committee.
The “tractor rally” was organized to show support for Michigan farmers and farm workers who “work hard to put safe, healthy food on tables around the world,” said State Representative Jennifer Wortz.
In recent years, increased regulation from state agencies like the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) have placed burdens on farms, especially some of the smallest and most vulnerable farms in the state. Some of the tractors were from Ottawa County, with others joining from various locations in Michigan.
Over 95% of Michigan farms are family-run operations. The ones hardest hit by regulatory changes are small family farms and animal processors, which cannot afford regulations that sometimes require hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment. EGLE is also starting to require “hazardous waste” permits to wash fruits and vegetables, even for farms that have washed their produce for over 50 years without a permit.
According to the 2022 Agriculture Census, there are over 1,000 farms in Ottawa County producing nearly $750,000,000 in market value of products sold. Products produced in Ottawa County are distributed across the country and to various locations outside the United States.
Rallygoers hoped their tractors would be a visual reminder of hardworking people and the struggles they face as farmers in Michigan. State Representative Luke Meerman released a statement following the rally:
“When you run a business as a family, your number one priority is preserving the heritage and way of life that was passed on to you. More and more, families are facing a tough decision: is there a future in this industry for my children? It’s difficult to reconcile, and the administrative state is raising the cost to do business year after year.”
- Rep. Luke Meerman
It's not just Rep. Meerman concerned with new regulations from EGLE. State representatives on both sides of the aisle have voiced concerns.
Rep. Meerman, whose district has large rural areas and many farms, said he is concerned that farmers are being forced to contract with expensive consultants so they can work with the state and meet new regulatory burdens.
Michigan's agriculture sector is gearing up for Spring, which officially started March 20, 2025. West Michigan's weather is prone to fluctuations, but the last couple days makes us think that spring is "officially" in the air!
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